Films featuring creatures like Godzilla, dinosaurs, King Kong, or dragons are often seen as scary. However, anyone who has seen the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon knows it’s a heart-warming and fun-filled experience.

Directed by Dean DeBlois — who also helmed the original animated trilogy — this 2025 adaptation recaptures the magic, celebrating the bond between a young Viking named Hiccup and his friend, the Night Fury, a.k.a. Toothless.

The film checks a lot of boxes — animal-and-boy friendship, coming-of-age themes, epic battles between humans and deadly dragons, and moments that encourage speaking from the heart.

The original movie was released in 2010, followed by several successful sequels. Though slightly longer than its predecessor, this film offers more elaborate scenes of the children’s training, their camaraderie and the eventual taming of dragons. The heartfelt moments between Hiccup and Toothless serve as a touching reminder of the bond shared with a best friend.

Set partly in stunning Icelandic and Northern Ireland locations, Mason Thames takes on the role of Hiccup, the son of a Viking chief who lost his mother to dragons. The loss fuels the village’s hostility toward dragons, who often steal their livestock. The fearless leader of the Vikings, Stoick, played by Gerard Butler, is more of a chief than a father to Hiccup. Nick Frost shines as Gobber, while Nico Parker’s Astrid, strong and self-assured, is the perfect contrast to Hiccup.

When Hiccup manages to hit a Night Fury, no one believes him. But after befriending the creature and naming it Toothless, Hiccup begins to overcome his insecurities. In Toothless, Hiccup sees a reflection of himself — both misunderstood by their kind. Toothless’s expressiveness and realistic animal traits make him even more lovable than his animated counterpart.

John Powell returns to score the film, which complements the fight sequences and airborne scenes. The cinematography is excellent, as is the sound design, which enhances the tactile sense of the Viking world.

This How to Train Your Dragon remake is a sincere homage rather than a reinvention. While most live-action adaptations of animated classics — such as The Lion King, Dumbo and Aladdin — have struggled to match the originals, How to Train Your Dragon not only evokes nostalgia in long-time fans, but also offers newcomers a cinematic fantasy rooted in empathy and wonder. The core themes of understanding, courage and connection still resonate powerfully.

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 26th, 2025