How to Train Your Dragon Soars Again: A Nostalgic Yet Bold Live-Action Reimagining

18 June 2025

Photo: Universal Pictures

A sweeping wave of nostalgia hit theaters today with the release of How to Train Your Dragon, now reimagined in live action after its 2010 animated debut. Directed once again by Dean DeBlois, this first-ever DreamWorks remake offers a breathtaking plunge into a world many thought they already knew. The film sticks closely to its source material, nearly shot for shot from the sweeping landscape to the emotional beats. Yet within that familiarity, the production teams have heightened realism and tension for an experience that feels at once reverent and thrilling.

Box office figures confirm audience appetite: an impressive $197.8 million opening weekend. The addition of tangible human presence magnifies the scale of danger, the brutal confrontations between village warriors and dragons feel more visceral than in animation. Based on early critic responses, the film delivers on its promise of immersive aesthetics and intensified dramatic stakes.

Central to the remake’s emotional magnetism is young actor Mason Thames, who embodies Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III with surprising depth. Known previously for his lead role in The Black Phone, Thames channels an intimate connection to the character. In conversation with Entertainment Weekly, he admitted that he still “walks like Hiccup” in his dreams and that the role “won’t leave me,” underscoring a genuine bond forged with the character.

Nico Parker takes on the role of Astrid Hofferson, delivering a fresh and inclusive take. Her casting has drawn both acclaim and controversy, some fans miss the blonde, Scandinavian original, while others celebrate the step toward diversity. Parker addressed the backlash head on, stating she “just doesn’t care” about exclusionary criticism and encourages audiences to embrace the adaptation on its own terms. Reflecting on her role, she emphasized that real change in representation is taking shape in Hollywood “though there’s still a long way to go”

Only one original voice actor returns in live action: Gerard Butler. He brings Stoick the Vast from animation into three-dimensional life. With this role, Butler also commemorates his late mother, to whom the film is dedicated. He expressed that he “was so excited for her to see it, but I had a feeling she wasn’t going to make it,” and DeBlois honored that by reserving a heartfelt dedication.

The supporting cast helps ground the story. Nick Frost portrays the blacksmith mentor Gobber, Julian Dennison embodies sensitive Fishlegs, Gabriel Howell takes on cocky Snotlout, Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn bring to life the comical Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and Ruth Codd appears as Phlegma. All new cast members work to capture the spirit of their animated counterparts, bringing human quirks and relational texture to the screen.

One of the remake’s most praised enhancements involves expanded emotional scenes. Film critics and People magazine note that this version includes deeper character arcs for example, a moving conversation before the arena test and Astrid comforting Stoick in a moment of father‑daughter vulnerability. Such additions enrich the storytelling without veering far from its roots.

Director DeBlois explained that fidelity was not the problem, Universal insisted on preserving what worked but he was also allowed to deepen mythology, emotional nuance, and visual realism. The result is a film that doesn’t feel like a cash grab but a respectful evolution of the original tale.

For some viewers, the story still feels too familiar. Critics from The Daily Beast called it “a fire‑breathing cash grab,” pointing to its near shot‑for‑shot structure and questioning whether live action adds enough creative reinvention. Others warn that despite emotional highs, the live film may lack the subtle magic of animation. Still, the movie earns praise from those who appreciate real-world scenery and heartfelt performances.

Behind the visuals, familiar creative minds help preserve the film’s soul. Composer John Powell returns with his soaring score, Framestore handles dragons with a mix of puppetry and CGI, and Bill Pope’s cinematography brings the rugged beauty of Northern Ireland (standing in for Berk’s wild cliffs) into sharp focus. Puppeteers were deployed on set to help actors interact authentically with their dragon co‑stars.

Despite running 125 minutes and following the original closely, How to Train Your Dragon strikes balance between homage and modern realism. Loyal fans might wish for more divergence; newcomers may appreciate straightforward storytelling. What’s clear is the film’s ambition to fuse nostalgia, inclusivity, and cinematic scale into a single dragon-fueled journey.

A sequel is already in the works, scheduled for June 2027, suggesting that Universal has every intention of keeping this live-action franchise flying. Whether audiences soar with this new iteration may come down to one question: does retelling a beloved story with real humans under real skies renew its wonder or remind us how much we loved it in animated form?