You never forget watching the first movie that made you fall in love with film. For me, that moment happened when I was five and watched the 2010 animated film “How to Train Your Dragon” for the first time. From the first second those dragons flew across my screen, I was enthralled with the world of Berk. And up until the release of the 2025 live-action “How to Train Your Dragon,” which came out in theaters June 13, that magical sense of uninhibited wonder was something I thought you could only truly experience as a child.
This latest live-action remake follows the plot of its 2010 predecessor almost to a tee. The film centers on Hiccup (Mason Thames), a young Viking from the village of Berk, as he tries to train Toothless, a dragon described as the “unholy offspring of lightning and death itself.” In Berk, there’s only one thing that makes someone a true Viking: their ability to kill dragons. As the son of Berk’s chief, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), pressure to fit in feels even heavier for Hiccup. But when he meets Toothless and faces the realization that he won’t kill a dragon, the two begin to bond and try to work towards a reality that will hopefully change Berk for the better.
When I first heard that a live-action remake was set to be in production in 2023, I was instantly hit with a mix of both excitement and trepidation. On one hand, there’s nothing more exciting than hearing your favorite animated film is getting a live-action remake, knowing you’ll get the chance to see the world you love brought to life in a new way. On the other hand, there’s nothing more frightening than hearing your favorite film is getting a live-action remake, knowing you might have to see something you love crash and burn. Those feelings followed me through every trailer and new announcement, and they didn’t subside until I was sitting in my theater seat and heard Thames voice as Hiccup.
The thing about the newest version of “How to Train Your Dragon” is that it is nearly a shot-for-shot remake of the original film. Sure, the dialogue doesn’t completely match in every scene, and some scenes from the 2010 film were left out, but for the most part, everything from the angle of a shot to the slightest tilt of someone’s head was done to mimic the original film.
Before watching the movie, I thought this would be one of the biggest point of contention I had with the film. With a franchise I hold so close to my heart, I figured the remake would be the perfect opportunity to introduce some new content (as so many live-action remakes do) and was disappointed to learn this would not be the case. But, having now seen the film, it’s clear that this was the right choice for the production of this movie. Even if they’re telling an old story it’s not one that feels like it’s been done already.
With the other films in the trilogy as well as the specials and shows, so much new material is introduced and built upon. The 2015 Netflix series “Dragons: Race to the Edge” brought new dragons and characters to the franchise. The final film in the original trilogy, “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” introduced a hidden land of dragons to explore. While every addition to the “How to Train Your Dragon” universe holds a special place in my heart, this new live action remake brings fans back to the core of the franchise without any fancy bells or whistles.
A large part of this original but still incredibly nostalgic feeling from the 2025 film seems to be thanks to the directorial return of Dean DeBlois. Known for his work in the animation space, DeBlois was one of the writers and directors to work on the original trilogy.
When remaking a film cherished by so many people, it’s important to know the person in charge has that same kind of love for the movie they are adapting. It’s here where I think many recent live-action remakes have made their first mistake. There’s not as many people working on these remakes with as big of a stake in the original film. A good example of this is the latest “Lilo & Stitch” film, which was also originally directed by DeBlois, though he did not come back for the remake. While the live action film is good for a children’s movie and has the same moments that made the original film so loved, it lacks that same nostalgic essence that brings the audience back to simpler times.
“How to Train Your Dragon” does not follow those same footsteps, in the film it’s obvious that DeBlois knew exactly what made the original movie so special. This remake clearly had the same heart and effort put into it, and I attribute a large part of that to DeBlois knowing exactly how to pay tribute to one of the films that helped launch his career.
Whether you’re a fan of the original series or you are completely new to the world of Berk, the remake does not disappoint. From the talented and often hilarious acting of the cast to the beautiful look of the dragons, “How to Train Your Dragon” is everything it should be and more.
