How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

How To Train Your Dragon’s live-action adaptation is incredibly faithful to the source material, but given how good the original is, can you blame it? Berk and its dragons translate beautifully to a new medium, raising the stakes in a story where they were already pretty high. Plus, the extra half hour runtime allows us to spend more time getting to know the supporting cast and their world. Some dragon designs might be a bit scary for younger viewers, but those brave enough to try might learn the same lesson as Hiccup: Dragons can be friends if we give them a chance.

While the plot of How to Train Your Dragon remains largely unchained in this live-action adaptation, the specific expansions make the film feel fresh. The movie is largely successful in replicating what worked about the original, from the sweeping visuals and score to the grounded emotional beats. Where the film does best is when it expands on the subject material, giving actors like Nico Parker and Gerard Butler more to play with. Coupled with a slightly more grounded tone that helps the emotional beats land harder, How to Train Your Dragon leaves a great impression.