How to Train Your Dragon (2025) review: a familiar flight into Berk
Director and screenwriter Dean DeBlois returns to the world he helped bring to life in DreamWorks’ 2010 animated classic. This 2025 live-action adaptation tells the story of Hiccup, a young Viking whose unexpected friendship with the dragon Toothless challenges his community’s beliefs. The film stars Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid, Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast and Nick Frost as Gobber.
Story and characters — spoiler-light
On the island of Berk, generations of Vikings have been taught to fear and fight dragons. Hiccup, the son of the village chief, struggles to fit the traditional image of a warrior. When he encounters a rare Night Fury, his decision to understand rather than destroy it changes his future. The film explores the gap between inherited prejudice and personal experience, making friendship and empathy the emotional center of its adventure.
What works: Toothless, flight and emotional connection
The film’s greatest attraction is the visual realization of Berk and its dragons. The detailed creature effects make Toothless expressive and believable alongside live-action performers, while the flying sequences offer the scale that audiences expect from a big-screen fantasy. Gerard Butler brings familiarity and force to Stoick, and Nico Parker gives Astrid confidence and presence. The Hiccup–Toothless relationship remains a compelling reason to follow the story.
Where the remake falls short
Faithfulness to the original can be both a strength and a limitation. Much of the narrative follows the animated movie closely, leaving comparatively few surprises for longtime fans. Some critics have questioned whether the added runtime improves the pacing or whether the more realistic imagery sacrifices some of the animation’s playful freedom. Those reservations matter especially to viewers who already regard the 2010 version as a near-perfect family film.
What critics and audiences say
Rotten Tomatoes records a generally positive critical response and particularly enthusiastic verified audience ratings. Screen International praised the effects and the spirit of the adaptation, while RogerEbert.com raised concerns about repetition and the lack of a fresh creative perspective. These contrasting responses capture the central question: is a technically impressive retelling enough when the original still works so well?
Verdict: is the live-action How to Train Your Dragon worth watching?
Editorial assessment: The 2025 remake is an accessible fantasy adventure for newcomers and a visually ambitious return to Berk for existing fans. Its strengths lie in the creature design, the cast’s commitment and the enduring friendship between Hiccup and Toothless. Its main weakness is that it rarely escapes the original’s shadow. Families and fantasy-adventure fans are likely to enjoy it, while viewers seeking a bold reinterpretation may prefer the animated classic.
Film facts: Director Dean DeBlois; cast Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost; genre fantasy adventure; theatrical release June 13, 2025; runtime 125 minutes; rating PG.
Watch the trailer: How to Train Your Dragon (2025) official trailer on Movies Knowledge.
Sources: Rotten Tomatoes film details and critical reception, Screen International review, and RogerEbert.com review.