Tell me if this sounds familiar. On a frozen island in the north, where dragons are seen as nothing more than flying pests, Vikings are born into the legacy of slaying them. A scrawny young Viking named Hiccup catches one of the most feared dragons in existence. He doesn’t kill the Night Fury. Instead, he befriends the creature he names Toothless, setting in motion a chain of events that will change everything the village thought they knew about dragons. Oh, wait, it does. But strangely enough, I didn’t mind seeing it again.
The 2025 live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon, directed by Dean DeBlois, who also directed the original 2010 animated classic, is less a reinvention and more a loving retelling.
It sticks so close to the original that at times it feels like déjà vu in flesh and scale. Yet there’s something oddly comforting about it, like revisiting a childhood storybook with newer illustrations. It doesn’t quite hit the spot as its animated original, but it doesn’t crash and burn either. The nostalgia alone is the strength of the story.
Taking on the role of Hiccup is Mason Thames. He has some pretty big, animated shoes to fill. Jay Baruchel’s voice performance in the original was perfect in portraying Hiccup’s mixture of anxiety, intelligence, and optimism. And Thames wisely doesn’t try to copy it exactly, but there’s a familiar rhythm to his delivery. At times, though, it even feels like he’s channeling Baruchel’s tone. However, instead of entirely mimicking, he brings his own style to the character that works well in live-action, and yet he does feel more like a passenger in the story than its engine. However, when it counts, especially in the scenes where Hiccup bonds with Toothless, he delivers.
The real star, of course, is Toothless. Brought to life through exceptional visual effects, the Night Fury remains one of the most expressive CGI characters in recent memory. The scenes between Hiccup and Toothless are where the film rivals the original. There’s wonder, humor, and emotion packed into their interactions, and it’s here that the film’s heart truly beats. The test ride sequence, set again to John Powell’s score, is nearly identical to the animated version, yet somehow, it felt more meaningful when paired with real landscapes and more tactile textures.
Nico Parker from The Last of Us steps into the role of Astrid, and honestly, she did a hell of a job bringing Astrid to life. Astrid is a character who could’ve easily faded into the background of a story so focused on Hiccup, but Parker brings a confident presence to the screen, raising Astrid’s role in a way that feels more active and layered. She’s not just the eventual love interest; she’s a leader in her own right, and in this version, she shares more of the final act with Hiccup.
Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick the Vast, this time in the flesh rather than just giving voice to an animated character. And it works surprisingly well. There’s a sincerity in his performance that helps ground the dynamic between a father and his son. Nick Frost is also perfectly cast as Gobber, bringing out the warmth of the otherwise gruff Viking blacksmith.
Julian Dennison (Fishlegs), Gabriel Howell (Snotlout), Bronwyn James (Ruffnut), and Harry Trevaldwyn (Tuffnut) round out the Viking. though their characters aren’t quite as lively in this version. They feel more like supporting players than the character who stole the scene in the animated original.
If there’s one major critique I have of the live action, it’s that it almost too closely follows the original. While this remake adds roughly 24 more minutes to the story by stretching out the Viking training sequences, it never really strays too far from the animation. It’s like someone turned the original storyboard into a live-action script and didn’t allow much wiggle room.
That tight adherence results in a film that feels a little safe. Other than small tweaks and the natural shift in tone that comes from translating animation into live-action, the story remains largely unchanged. For some audiences who grew up with the original, this could be a plus; at the same time, for those hoping to see a fresh take, the film may come off as creatively restrained.
The early scenes especially suffer from this. The humor that works effortlessly in animation can feel strained and awkward in live-action, and some of the jokes just don’t land the same way. Visually, the film is a mixed bag. The CGI dragons are, for the most part, convincing and majestic, with Toothless in particular being a marvel of design and performance. However, some of the flight sequences feel a little uncanny, especially when too much is happening in the frame. Ironically, the film’s push toward “realism” in a fantasy world ends up highlighting what’s not real.
Still, there’s beauty here. The sweeping shots of Berk, the lush forests, and the fiery skies during dragon raids are all great. And then there’s the music. John Powell returns to rework his original score, and it’s every bit as effective. The emotional swells of “Forbidden Friendship” and “Romantic Flight” carry as much weight as they did 15 years ago.
So why remake How to Train Your Dragon in the first place? It’s a question the film never quite answers. But in a landscape full of remakes that feel devoid of purpose, this one at least has teeth. Dean DeBlois clearly still loves this world, and even if he doesn’t reinvent it, he treats it with care. The live-action format doesn’t add much to the story, but most importantly, it doesn’t take anything away either. And maybe that’s enough.
The live-action feels like cosplay at times. But it’s also a story about empathy, courage, and understanding. These themes feel just as relevant now as they did in 2010. And if a new generation of moviegoers gets to experience that message through this remake, then maybe it’s done its job.
The live-action doesn’t do anything new, but it glides comfortably on nostalgia and solid storytelling. It’s not as fluid or magical as the animated original, but it’s sincere. With strong performances, especially from Nico Parker and Gerard Butler, and the touching bond between Hiccup and Toothless, this remake has just enough fuel to stay airborne. It won’t replace the original in anyone’s heart. But it doesn’t need to. Sometimes, it’s okay to revisit a familiar story, not to rewrite it, but simply to remember why we loved it in the first place.
Screen Rated 