Jump to content

How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How to Train Your Dragon
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDean DeBlois
Screenplay byDean DeBlois
Based onHow to Train Your Dragon
by Cressida Cowell
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBill Pope
Edited byWyatt Smith
Music byJohn Powell
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • April 2, 2025 (2025-04-02) (CinemaCon)
  • June 13, 2025 (2025-06-13) (United States)
Running time
125 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$150 million[2]
Box office$42.6 million[3][4]

How to Train Your Dragon is a 2025 American fantasy adventure film that is a live-action remake of the 2010 animated film produced by DreamWorks Animation, itself loosely based on the 2003 novel by Cressida Cowell. Co-produced, written for the screen and directed by Dean DeBlois, the film stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz, and Nick Frost, with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast from the animated films.

Plans for a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon were announced in February 2023 with DeBlois returning to write, direct, and produce after previously spearheading the animated film trilogy. John Powell, who also worked on the trilogy, additionally returned to compose the score for the film. Thames and Parker joined the cast by May 2023 with additional casting revealed in January 2024. Filming began later that month in Belfast, Northern Ireland and wrapped in May.

How to Train Your Dragon premiered at CinemaCon on April 2, 2025, and was released in the United States by Universal Pictures on June 13, 2025. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $42.6 million worldwide. A sequel is scheduled to be released on June 11, 2027.[5]

Plot

[edit]

Dragons frequently attack the Viking village of Berk, stealing livestock and endangering villagers. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the 16-year-old misfit son of chieftain Stoick the Vast, is apprenticed to the local blacksmith Gobber, and attempts to create mechanical devices to overcome his physical weaknesses. During one dragon raid, Hiccup shoots down a rare dragon called a Night Fury with a bolas launcher, but no one believes his story. Wanting to prove himself, Hiccup sets out to find and kill the downed dragon; however, when he sees the dragon helpless and wounded, he compassionately sets him free. Though angered, the dragon spares Hiccup; this surprises Hiccup, as Vikings believe dragons always go for the kill.

Meanwhile, Stoick gathers his fleet to find and destroy the dragons' nest. Before leaving, Stoick heeds Gobber's advice and enrolls Hiccup in a dragon-fighting class with other local teens: Fishlegs, Snotlout, twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and Hiccup's "crush" Astrid. Hiccup is mocked by his peers and struggles in class; he returns to the forest and finds the Night Fury trapped in a cove, unable to fly because Hiccup's bolas tore off half of his tail fin. Hiccup befriends the dragon, naming him "Toothless" for his retractable teeth; he builds a harness, saddle, and prosthetic fin, allowing Toothless to fly with Hiccup riding on his back to guide him. Hiccup also learns about dragon behavior from Toothless, which allows him to subdue the captive training dragons; this impresses the village, but sparks Astrid's suspicions.

Meanwhile, Stoick's fleet is damaged while attempting to find the nest, and returns to Berk. Upon learning he must kill a dragon for his final exam, Hiccup attempts to flee with Toothless, but Astrid discovers them. Hiccup takes her on a flight to show her that Toothless is friendly; during the flight, Toothless is drawn to a dragon's nest, where a massive dragon, the Red Death, commands smaller dragons to feed it to avoid being eaten themselves. Realizing the dragons attack Berk for survival, Astrid wants to inform the village, but Hiccup advises against it to protect Toothless.

In his final exam, Hiccup faces a captive Monstrous Nightmare dragon; instead of killing it, he attempts to publicly prove dragons can be tamed. An impatient Stoick inadvertently enrages the Monstrous Nightmare, causing Toothless to emerge from hiding to protect Hiccup. The Vikings capture Toothless; when Stoick learns the truth of the situation, he rashly disowns Hiccup for 'siding with the dragons' and keeping the dragons' nest a secret. Using Toothless as a captive guide, Stoick's fleet sets out to find the nest in spite of Hiccup's warnings. Astrid reminds a depressed Hiccup that he spared Toothless out of sympathy, not cowardice, and challenges Hiccup to take action. Hiccup gathers the other teens and tames the training dragons; riding on the dragons' backs, the teens set out after the fleet.

Stoick and his Vikings locate and break open the dragon's nest, awakening the Red Death, which easily overpowers them. The dragon riders arrive and distract the Red Death; in the chaos, Stoick rescues both Hiccup and Toothless from drowning and reconciles with his son. Hiccup and Toothless lure the Red Death into the air, damage its wing membranes, and set its insides alight, causing it to crash and explode. The dying Red Death's tail knocks Hiccup unconscious, and he falls into the explosion's fireball; Toothless manages to save him, but Hiccup loses one of his legs.

Later, Hiccup wakes in Berk and sees dragons living peacefully in the village. Gobber constructs new prosthetics for Hiccup and Toothless, and Hiccup, now admired by all, starts a relationship with Astrid.

Cast

[edit]
  • Mason Thames as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the awkward son of Stoick the Vast[6]
  • Nico Parker as Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup's love interest and fellow student in dragon-fighting training[6]
  • Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast, the chieftain of Berk and Hiccup's father; Butler reprises his role from the animated films.[7]
  • Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch, Berk's blacksmith, a close friend of Stoick's and teacher of the tribe's young dragon-fighting recruits[8]
  • Gabriel Howell as Snotlout Jorgenson, Hiccup's rival[9]
  • Julian Dennison as Fishlegs Ingerman, Hiccup's best friend[9]
  • Bronwyn James as Ruffnut Thorston, Tuffnut's twin sister[9]
  • Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut Thorston, Ruffnut's twin brother[9]
  • Peter Serafinowicz as Spitelout Jorgenson, Snotlout's father
  • Ruth Codd as Phlegma, a member of the Viking village[10]
  • Murray McArthur as Hoark[11]
  • Naomi Wirthner as Gothi

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

In February 2023, it was reported that a live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation's 2010 How to Train Your Dragon film, which was loosely based on Cressida Cowell's eponymous book series, was in development at Universal Pictures, with Dean DeBlois directing, writing and producing the film after previously writing and directing the animated entries, and Marc Platt and Adam Siegel joining as co-producers.[12] DeBlois only accepted to direct the adaptation on the condition that he had full creative control.[13] In November 2024, Forbes reported that Universal had spent over $50 million on pre-production for the film.[14]

Casting

[edit]

In May 2023, it was announced that Mason Thames and Nico Parker had been cast to star as Hiccup and Astrid respectively.[6][15] In January 2024, Gerard Butler was cast to reprise his role as Stoick the Vast from the animated films,[7] with Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn joining the cast later that same month, who were cast to play Gobber, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, respectively.[8][9] In March, Ruth Codd joined the cast of the film, portraying Phlegma.[10]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography was originally scheduled to begin in July 2023 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before it was postponed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[16][17] After the strike concluded, screen tests were set for December 2023, with plans to begin production in mid-to-late January 2024.[17] Filming began on January 15, 2024, and wrapped on May 16, 2024.[18][19][20] Bill Pope served as the cinematographer. DeBlois originally contacted Roger Deakins, who served as a visual consultant on the animated films, about working on the live-action film, but when Deakins declined, he recommended Pope to DeBlois.[21][13] Production was done with heavy use of practical sets and was filmed with the IMAX format in mind. Many scenes from the original film were re-created shot-for-shot in live-action form, notably Hiccup's first encounter with Toothless.[22]

Post-production

[edit]

Framestore is the sole visual effects company working on the film, splitting the work across the company's studios in London, Melbourne, Montreal and Mumbai.[23][24][25] Christian Manz serves as the production VFX supervisor.[26]

To drive authentic performances between the cast and their dragons and to inform the work of the visual effects teams animating the dragons in post production, puppets were used on set. Tom Wilton led a team of puppeteers whose on set performances meant the cameraman could frame where the dragon would be while the actors had something to act against.[27] The Framestore visual effects animation team also programmed eight-axis gimbals which were saddled up for the actors to ride with each of the dragon's heads attached during flight scenes. The gimbals allowed each rider to give performances unique to their dragon's flight cycle.[28]

Music

[edit]

In February 2023, John Powell revealed he was set to compose the film's music, after he previously scored the original film trilogy.[29]

All music is composed by John Powell.

How to Train Your Dragon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
No.TitleLength
1."This Is Real Berk"7:48
2."I Hit a Night Fury"2:03
3."I Want to Be One of You Guys"1:21
4."Conference of the Tribes"2:12
5."He's Not That Boy"1:19
6."Searching the Woods"3:26
7."Home in the Ring"2:37
8."First Dragon Training"3:57
9."Sketches of a Wounded Dragon"2:43
10."Our Most Valuable Possession"3:01
11."I'm Beginning to Question Your Teaching Methods!"3:47
12."A Really Forbidden Friendship"4:47
13."Carefully Attaching"2:48
14."Charming the Zippleback"1:43
15."He Has a Way with the Beasts"4:28
16."Test Driving Toothless"3:06
17."Top Slayer"2:28
18."Caught Designing Outfits"2:26
19."A Romantic Flight"2:28
20."Taken to the Dragons' Nest"2:05
21."Should We Tell Your Father?"1:40
22."Waiting to Enter the Ring"2:29
23."The Trial of Flame"4:58
24."You're Not My Son"3:12
25."What Are You Going to Do About It?"3:36
26."Prelude to a Battle"2:18
27."Meeting the Queen"4:18
28."Allied Forces"4:32
29."The Wings of the Beast"2:56
30."Finding Hiccup"4:11
31."We Have Dragons"2:52
32."You Are My Homeward"1:45
33."..And Finally, the End Credits Suite"6:28
Total length:1:46:00

Release

[edit]

How to Train Your Dragon had its world premiere at CinemaCon inside The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 2, 2025, as part of Universal Pictures' presentation of its 2025 theatrical slate.[30] It had its first screening outside of the United States at the Sydney Film Festival on June 9, 2025,[31] followed by a Los Angeles premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on June 7, 2025, and a New York premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival on June 11, 2025.[32][33][34]

The film was released theatrically by Universal in the United States on June 13, 2025,[35] including engagements in RealD 3D, IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, ScreenX and D-Box.[citation needed] It was previously set for release on March 14, 2025,[12] but due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, it was delayed to its current release date.[35]

Marketing

[edit]

The first look at the film was revealed in Empire's 2025 Preview on November 15, 2024, ahead of the release of the first teaser trailer in front of theatrical screenings of Wicked.[36] The trailer was later released online on November 19, 2024, followed by a featurette introducing Dean DeBlois's vision in translating the story to the live-action medium.[37] A new look at the film aired during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, ahead of the release of the official trailer on February 12, 2025, before being attached to showings of Captain America: Brave New World.[38][39] An IMAX trailer was released on May 6, 2025.[40]

Burger King released four menu items and BMW cars promoted the film.[41]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

As of June 13, 2025, How To Train Your Dragon has grossed $35.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $42.6 million.[3][4]

In the United States and Canada, the film was released alongside Materialists and is projected gross $65–80 million from 4,000 theaters in its opening weekend.[2][42] The film made $35.6 million on its first day, including $11.1 million from preview screenings.[43]

Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 77% of 177 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Crafted with loving fidelity to the animated classic by original co-director Dean DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon doesn't best the first iteration but still reaches enchanting heights on its own."[44] The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is 98% based on 1000+ verified ratings as of June 14, 2025. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[45] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, the same as the original animated film, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it a 94% overall positive score, with 83% saying they would definitely recommend the film.[43]

Sequel

[edit]

On April 2, 2025, at CinemaCon, Universal Pictures announced that a live-action remake of the second film of the original animated trilogy, How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), was in development. It is scheduled for release on June 11, 2027.[46]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "How to Train your Dragon (PG)". BBFC. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  2. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony; Tartaglione, Nancy (June 10, 2025). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Won't Be Laggin' At The Summer Box Office With $175M-$185M Global Start For Live Action Redo – Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "How to Train Your Dragon (2025) – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "How to Train Your Dragon". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Graves, Sabina (April 2, 2025). "A How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Sequel Is Already on the Way". Gizmodo. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Kit, Borys (May 30, 2023). "How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake Finds Its Hiccup and Astrid". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (January 5, 2024). "Gerard Butler Reprising His Role In Universal's Live-Action Adaptation Of How To Train Your Dragon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Kit, Borys (January 11, 2024). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Remake Adds Nick Frost as One of the Vikings (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  9. ^ a b c d e D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 24, 2024). "How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Pic Expands Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Kit, Borys (March 4, 2024). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Lands 'Fall of the House of Usher' Actress Ruth Codd (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (November 20, 2024). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Teaser Trailer Reveals First Footage From Live-Action Remake". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Kit, Borys (February 15, 2023). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Movie in the Works from Dean DeBlois, Universal". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Taylor, Drew (February 12, 2025). "Why 'How to Train Your Dragon' Director Dean DeBlois Returned for the Live-Action Movie". TheWrap. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Reid, Caroline. "'How To Train Your Dragon' Pre-Production Costs Soar Beyond $50 Million". Forbes. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "Live-action How to Train Your Dragon gets unique tease". February 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Kit, Borys (April 3, 2023). "Live-Action 'Moana' in the Works From Dwayne Johnson, Disney". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Calnan, Ellie (November 30, 2023). "How To Train Your Dragon live-action film to begin Northern Ireland shoot next year". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  18. ^ Bythrow, Nick (January 15, 2024). "How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Movie Filming Announced With BTS Photo". ScreenRant.
  19. ^ Peralta, Diego (January 15, 2024). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Live Action Takes Flight as Production Begins". Collider. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Peralta, Diego (May 16, 2024). "Live-Action 'How to Train Your Dragon' Wraps Filming in Northern Ireland". Collider. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Bill Pope, ASC" (PDF). Dattner Dispoto & Associates. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  22. ^ McPherson, Chris (March 10, 2024). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Movie Built the Arena & Wraps Filming Soon [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  23. ^ Spry, Jeff (May 27, 2025). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Director Dean DeBlois Details the Making of His Live-Action Flight of Fantasy". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  24. ^ "How To Train Your Dragon: Dean DeBlois Breaks Down The Trailer". Empire. February 12, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  25. ^ Welk, Brian (February 9, 2025). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Live Action Teaser Soars During Super Bowl". IndieWire. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  26. ^ "Nick Frost Boards 'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Feature". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  27. ^ Spry, Jeff (May 27, 2025). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Director Dean DeBlois Details the Making of His Live-Action Flight of Fantasy". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  28. ^ Spry, Jeff (May 27, 2025). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Director Dean DeBlois Details the Making of His Live-Action Flight of Fantasy". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  29. ^ "John Powell to Score Dean DeBlois' 'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Film Adaptation | Film Music Reporter". Film Music Reporter. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  30. ^ "'How to Train Your Dragon' to World Premiere at CinemaCon". February 27, 2025.
  31. ^ "How to Train Your Dragon". Sydney Film Festival. April 25, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  32. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 16, 2025). "Tribeca Festival Unveils 2025 Film Lineup With Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Bryan Cranston & 'How To Train Your Dragon'". Deadline. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  33. ^ "How to Train Your Dragon". Tribeca Film. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  34. ^ Chuba, Kirsten (June 8, 2025). "What Sold Gerard Butler on Reprising His Role in the Live-Action 'How to Train Your Dragon'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  35. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 3, 2023). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Feature Pushed Due To Actors Strike". Deadline. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  36. ^ "How To Train Your Dragon Is 'Dialled-Up In Terms Of Stakes' In Live-Action". Empire. November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  37. ^ Betancourt, Emiliana (November 19, 2024). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Trailer: Hiccup and Toothless Come to Life After Hit Animated Trilogy". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  38. ^ Pedersen, Erik (February 9, 2025). "Super Bowl Trailer: 'How To Train Your Dragon' Sees Hiccup, Toothless Go Live-Action". Deadline. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  39. ^ Lang, Matt Minton,Brent (February 9, 2025). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Super Bowl Trailer: Toothless and Hiccup Take Flight in Live-Action Remake". Variety. Retrieved February 10, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "How To Train Your Dragon IMAX Trailer Recreates All the Best Moments From Original Movie". May 6, 2025.
  41. ^ "Burger King unveils new menu inspired by 'How to Train Your Dragon'". USA Today.
  42. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (June 11, 2025). "Box Office: 'How to Train Your Dragon' to Fly to $75 Million in Opening Weekend". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  43. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony; Tartaglione, Nancy (June 14, 2025). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Still On Course For Franchise Best $82M+ Opening After 'A' CinemaScore; 'Materialists' Reps A24's Third Biggest Opening – Saturday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  44. ^ "How to Train Your Dragon". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  45. ^ "How to Train Your Dragon". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  46. ^ Graves, Sabina (April 2, 2025). "A How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Sequel Is Already on the Way". Gizmodo. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=How_to_Train_Your_Dragon_(2025_film)&oldid=1295626033"