How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
| Detail | Information |
| Release Date | June 13, 2025 (Theatrical) |
| Director / Writer | Dean DeBlois (The same director as the animated trilogy) |
| Genre | Epic Action-Adventure, Fantasy, Family |
| Distributed By | Universal Pictures |
| Budget | $150 million |
Cast and Characters
The film features a mix of rising stars in the lead roles, with a familiar voice actor transitioning to the live-action role of the chief.
| Actor | Character | Notes |
| Mason Thames | Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III | The inventive, awkward son of the chief. |
| Nico Parker | Astrid Hofferson | Hiccup’s ambitious, fierce peer and love interest. |
| Gerard Butler | Stoick the Vast | Chief of Berk and Hiccup’s father. Butler reprises his role from the animated films. |
| Nick Frost | Gobber the Belch | The village blacksmith and Stoick’s best friend. |
| Julian Dennison | Fishlegs Ingerman | The large, stats-obsessed dragon-fighting student. |
| Gabriel Howell | Snotlout Jorgenson | Hiccup’s rival and cousin. |
| Bronwyn James | Ruffnut Thorston | The twin sister of Tuffnut. |
| Harry Trevaldwyn | Tuffnut Thorston | The twin brother of Ruffnut. |
Plot Summary
The live-action film is a faithful adaptation of the original animated story and the Cressida Cowell novels, with some slight character expansion.
- The Setting: The Viking village of Berk is constantly ravaged by dragon raids, making dragon-slaying the core of their culture and identity.
- Hiccup’s Struggle: Hiccup, the awkward and physically weak son of the powerful Chief Stoick the Vast, tries to prove himself by inventing mechanical devices instead of mastering weapons. He is widely considered a misfit.
- The Friendship: During a raid, Hiccup successfully shoots down a Night Fury, the most mysterious and feared dragon of them all. When he tracks the creature down, he finds he cannot bring himself to kill the trapped and injured dragon. He instead frees it and secretly begins to care for it, naming it Toothless.
- The Conflict: As Hiccup studies Toothless and crafts a prosthetic tail wing for the dragon, he discovers that everything the Vikings believe about dragons is wrong. He begins to excel in dragon training by using his knowledge of Toothless, earning the respect of his peers, particularly Astrid. This growing success puts him on a collision course with his father’s traditions, leading to the climactic revelation of the dragon nest and the battle with the monstrous Red Death.
Reception
The film was commercially successful, grossing over $600 million worldwide, and was generally well-received. Critics praised its ability to recapture the heart and emotional sincerity of the original. The CGI for Toothless and the other dragons was highlighted for its realistic and expressive portrayal, and Gerard Butler’s performance as Stoick was noted as a seamless transition from voice-over to live-action.