The first reactions to 2025’sHow to Train Your Dragonhave arrived. The live-action movie, which follows a young Viking named Hiccup (Mason Thames) who befriends a wounded dragon and fights to help his island community learn to stop fearing dragons, is a remake of the DreamWorks animated movie of the same name, which itself is an adaptation of the 2003 children’s book by Cressida Cowell. TheupcomingHow to Train Your Dragon, which was helmed by original co-director Dean DeBlois, also stars Julian Dennison, Nico Parker, Bronwyn James, Nick Frost, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, and Gerard Butler.
The world premiere screening ofHow to Train Your Dragonhas just been held at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, andthe first reactions to the live-action remake have now come pouring infrom across social media. The majority of the reactions are resoundingly positive, saying that the movie justifies its existence, particularly praising the cast, the dragon designs, and the cinematography. While none have said it surpasses the original at the time of writing, many say that it matches it and honors its legacy. See select reaction posts below:
Tessa Smithsaid the movie “has all the charm of the original enhanced into something I never thought it could accomplish,” also praising the cast and the design of Toothless.
Scott Menzelcalled the movie “spectacular,” saying that “Dean DeBlois recreates the magic of the original.”
Jeffrey Harrissaid that the movie “does live action remakes of animated classic right,” adding that “it exceeded all my expectations!”
Emmanuel Gomezalso praised the cast and the Toothless design, calling it “one of the most faithful animation to live-action [movies] I’ve seen.”
Chalice, who admitted to not having seen the original movie, said that the remake was “beautiful and amazing” and that “I just CRIED MY EYES OUT,” praising the cinematography and the score.
The Hollywood Handleheaped even more praise on DeBlois, saying that the director “once again proves his brilliance, seamlessly bringing his animated masterpiece to live-action while preserving its heart and spectacle.”
The HoloFilescalled the movie “the rare animated to live-action remake that truly justifies its existence.”
Daniel Howathas quibbles with the movie’s “obvious sets” and says it is not better than the original, but praises Mason Thames and cinematographer Bill Pope, also saying that “it’s thoroughly entertaining nonetheless.”
What This Means For How To Train Your Dragon
The Live-Action Remake Could Be A Major Success
So far all signs point to the new live-action installment being a worthy follow-up to the originalHow to Train Your Dragontrilogy. However, it is important to note thatCinemaCon is a convention designed specifically to promote upcoming movies to theater ownerswho will be deciding what to screen in the coming months. As it is not a public-facing event, reactions to the movie may be skewed and may not accurately represent how the public will react to the movie when it premieres in just over two months.
CinemaCon was known as ShoWest before the name was changed in 2011.
Regardless,this is a good first step in the rollout for the movie. Should critics' reactions and the Rotten Tomatoes score prove to be just as positive,2025’sHow to Train Your Dragoncould eventually build up to a landmark premiere. Although its box office prospects are somewhat unprecedented, given the fact that it is DreamWorks' first live-action remake, Disney has proven time and again that live-action remakes can become billion-dollar movies with titles like 2019’sThe Lion Kingand 2017’sBeauty and the Beast, and the DreamWorks movie could potentially join that club if its current trajectory holds.
Our Take On The How To Train Your Dragon Reactions
It Could Help Revive The Prospects Of Live-Action Remakes
While these early reactions may not be representative of the general public’s feelings, their overall tenor would seem to prove thatHow to Train Your Dragonis unlike the recent examples of the live-action remakes that have come to theaters.The genre is currently in a downturn amid the lukewarm critical reception of 2024’sMufasa: The Lion Kingand 2025’sSnow White, but between Disney’s upcoming live-actionLilo & Stitchand the DreamWorks movie, this summer could potentially revive the live-action remake’s prospects entirely.
Source: Various (see above)
