Cara-Lynn BranchWithin a month of each other, the live-action versions of two beloved early 2000s animated films arrived in theatres, Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon. With all the live-action adaptations of animated properties, this probably doesn’t sound all that surprising or noteworthy. However, both of the original films were co-written and co-directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders (William Davies is also credited with the How to Train Your Dragon animated script). Chris Sanders returned to voice Stitch in the live-action 2025 film, and DeBelois returned to direct and script the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, this time solo, blazing an incredible less than 30-day time frame for the pair and the works they’ve brought to the screen.
Since the first How to Train Your Dragon film inspired audiences with its story of the would-be dragon rider, Hiccup, from a village of dragon slayers in 2010, media has probably been living in the age of dragons with the entry of Game of Thrones the following year, and it hasn’t stopped. This has primed audiences for a live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon; it’s family fare with broad appeal, and the packed theatre I saw it with was feeling it.
I grew up loving Pete’s Dragon, so I am ripe to love a mix of animation with live-action to create the sense the believability of real, especially because a dragon does not have to look like a cat or dog, because it something altogether different, so I don’t care if it has a vfx sheen to it. So, my ability to buy a 2D animated Elliott makes it that much easier for me to believe Toothless and the other dragons in this film are “real” in a live-action way more so than I can for the live-action The Lion King films. And Mason Thames’ portrayal of Hiccup has an emotional vulnerability, especially in the scenes with Toothless, that he sells the realness of the dragon.
DeBelois does a very faithful adaptation of the animated film, with some moments recreated to match the animation at key parts. However, most only go to the heart of the story, expanding some moments and cutting others. There is a little more time spent on Stoick (played by Gerard Butler), his role as the village chieftain, and thus his relationship with Hiccup. By doing this, it hits harder each time they come at odds as the film progresses. Especially after they have their brief moment of connection under false pretenses, making the moments leading into the final act resonate more emotionally. There were some wet eyes in my auditorium. I knew what was coming, so I did not cry, but my chest was still very tight.
The cast portraying the young Vikings of Berk stands out, with Nico Parker skillfully taking on the role of Astrid. Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn play oft-held-back twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, serving as comedic relief—a familiar position for James, who audiences may recognize for a similar role in last year’s Wicked. Rounding out the group are Fishlegs (played by Julian Dennison), the dragon expert, and Snotlout (played by Gabriel Howell). While Snotlout in the animated film comes off merely as a bully to Hiccup, this version introduces a subtle shift that allows the characters to reflect each other more closely. Snotlout repeatedly asserts that his father loves him, yet every time we see his father, he ignores Snotlout. Given their society, Hiccup’s ambition to be a dragon slayer can be viewed as a similar yearning for his father’s affection. This small but significant change adds much more depth to Snotlout’s character.
How to Train Your Dragon is currently in theaters.
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