When the animated How to Train Your Dragon movie released in 2010, it was an immediate success. It grossed just shy of $500 million at the worldwide box office and was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Animated Feature and Original Score). The title reached new heights once it hit streaming services, spawning an entire franchise of animated films, television series, video games, books, and shorts, while firmly entrenching itself in the hearts of millions.
Flash forward to 2025, in an era of numerous animated classics being remade in live-action, it’s no surprise that How to Train Your Dragon cracked the list of properties being transformed into a new medium. Although the newest installment to the Drefranchise hardly deviates from the original in a near one-for-one retelling, the combination of incredible CGI and the charm brought to the film by both Mason Thames as Hiccup and Nico Parker as Astrid proves it was a worthwhile endeavor.
Mason Thames and Nico Parker Are the Biggest Upgrades in the New ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
Mason Thames is an up-and-coming star of the new generation, and in addition to being an incredible Hiccup, he also gives off major Peter Parker vibes. He’s able to portray the awkward, clumsy, creative genius that is necessary to play Hiccup, but also brings a new sense of gravitas to the role in the later acts that deviate from the animated How to Train Your Dragon film. Most importantly, the young star maintains the same strong comedic timing that Jay Baruchel demonstrates in the original.
I remember thinking the first time I watched HBO’s The Last of Us that Nico Parker would one day be a star. Those feelings were reinforced upon seeing her performance as Astrid, as she continues to excel in powerful and emotional roles. I’m not sure if Astrid was always planned to have an expanded role in the live-action remake or if it was added because of Nico Parker’s performance, but either way, the movie significantly benefits from her presence. The future of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise is in great hands with Parker and Thames leading the charge.
Stunning CGI Makes Toothless and the Other Dragons Feel As Real as Possible
I’m admittedly a person who doesn’t stress too much over poorly-executed CGI unless it’s over-the-top awful. Yet, even with the most critical of lenses, it’s undeniable that the CGI of the dragons, particularly Toothless, looks incredible. Amidst the most intense sequences, as characters fly through the air, I remained immersed in the story with the action wonderfully tiptoeing between realistic and mystical.
Like in any movie, there are tiny nits to be picked. Some interesting filmmaking choices are made, like certain scenes where backgrounds are somewhat blurred and glossed over without the camera focusing on anything in particular (almost as though most of the budget went exclusively to the dragons). Ultimately, though, the negatives are so small, they don’t take too much away from the movie.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’s Themes Are As Important as Ever
With veterans like original director and writer Dean DeBlois returning and Gerard Butler reprising his role as Hiccup’s father, Stoick the Vast, it’s no surprise the How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake hits just as hard as the original. However, while the performances are very strong, it’s the underlying themes throughout the movie that make it special.
When we are witnessing the rise of fascism throughout the world, the protagonist is anti-establishment and chooses to challenge authority. As those same real-life powers try to eliminate the rights of LGBTQ+ communities, Hiccup’s journey sees him fight back against a regime that’s telling him he needs to be someone he isn’t to fit in with their society. While including these themes will by no means solve all the real world’s problems, these are the types of films that can help inspire the next generation to fight back against oppression.
These themes have existed in the DreamWorks Pictures franchise since the original How to Train Your Dragon film, and they are executed just as well by DeBlois in the remake. In fact, when combining the slight characterization changes with the great performances from Mason Thames, Nico Parker, and Gerard Butler, in addition to the top-tier CGI, the new live-action version soars to even greater heights than the original.
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'How to Train Your Dragon' Review
'How to Train Your Dragon' ReviewThe Good
- Mason Thames brings a new level of charm and charisma to Hiccup while maintaining Jay Baruchel's level of comedy.
- Astrid is a more fleshed-out character with an awesome performance from Nico Parker.
- The CGI designs of the dragons are phenomenal.
- Important and timely story themes are as well executed as the original.
The Bad
- Weird moments with blurred backgrounds and minimal camera focus give the impression that the dragons took creative focus over other visual details.
