How to Train Your Dragon
2025 · Directed by Dean DeBlois
Original language: English
- fantasy
- family
- action
- adventure
The story
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
What it’s like
Wide, sweeping landscapes of jagged coastline, misted fjords and storm-grey skies, shot with the sun-washed grandeur of a live-action epic that still keeps its eye on the faces of its characters. Flying sequences carry the most weight: swooping handheld-feeling chases over open water, dragons rendered with a glossy, weighted presence, and a dense orchestral score that swells with brass and choir during the aerial set pieces and drops to soft strings in the quieter scenes between friends. The vibe is warm, earnest and wondrous, with a steady current of adventure and a playful, gently comic edge. Pacing is brisk and full, moving from village bustle to cliffside training to open-sky spectacle. Its emotional arc follows a restless, underestimated boy slowly earning trust from a creature everyone has been taught to fear, and a community learning to question its own certainties. The action is frequent and cinematic, with dragon battles, fiery blasts and peril that can feel intense, but the violence stays mostly bloodless and fantastical, with no gore. Suited to family viewing, a rainy weekend afternoon, or anyone wanting a big-screen adventure with heart and a touch of nostalgia for the animated original.
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