How to Train Your Dragon
Universal Pictures | Release Date: June 13, 2025 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
61
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Critic Reviews
Positive:
24
Mixed:
19
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonJun 13, 2025
The new version excels because it makes its teenage protagonist deeper and more mature — and its monsters extra frightening. Read full review
100
The Seattle TimesSoren AndersenJun 12, 2025
There are plot levels here that are deeper than the original, which is quite complex and moving in its own right. Read full review
91
Original-CinThom ErnstJun 11, 2025
DeBlois elevates a beloved cinema memory and creates a spectacle, a mythical fairy tale—Game of Thrones lite—with enough DreamWorks Animation magic to warrant its own theme park ride. Read full review
90
ColliderMaggie LovittJun 9, 2025
How to Train Your Dragon is the gold-star example of how to do a live-action remake right. Read full review
88
The Associated PressLindsey BahrJun 9, 2025
Kids deserve movies that are made on the biggest possible canvas. “How to Train Your Dragon” is one that’s worth the trip to the theater. It might just spark some young imaginations, whether it’s to go back and read the books or dream up their own worlds. Read full review
88
USA TodayBrian TruittJun 9, 2025
Original writer/director Dean DeBlois returns for a revamped “Dragon” that feels like a different experience but is just as good as the original, with moments of wonder and awe featuring characters fleshed out in new ways – literally and figuratively. Read full review
85
Film ThreatAlan NgJun 10, 2025
By preserving the core narrative, characters, and emotional arc of the original, the live-action remake remains true to its roots. Though the cast is new, the heart of Hiccup and Toothless’s friendship still soars. Read full review
83
The PlaylistGregory EllwoodJun 9, 2025
That bond between Hiccup and Toothless, mostly thanks to Thames’ impressive commitment, with that Powell score thrown in for good measure? Heavens, it’s simply glorious. And just like the original, you’ll want to experience it all over again. Read full review
80
Screen DailyNikki BaughanJun 13, 2025
Returning director Dean DeBlois (who helmed the animation alongside Chris Sanders, as well as its sequel) has retained the energetic spirit of the original, and he’s helped by some fantastic CGI and a game cast, both of which lean into the fantastical charm of this tale of a hapless young Viking who discovers he is something of a dragon whisperer. Read full review
80
New York Magazine (Vulture)Bilge EbiriJun 13, 2025
All in all, this live-action adaptation works remarkably well — a rare feat. Read full review
80
Screen RantSarah MoranJun 9, 2025
The How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake is a fantastic movie, not just emulating the animated original, but elevating it, all while also delivering an exciting summer blockbuster poised to thrill Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliJun 13, 2025
How to Train Your Dragon represents solid family entertainment even if it feels like it’s tracing over an existing pattern rather than developing something new. Read full review
75
Washington PostMichael O'SullivanJun 12, 2025
Dragon imparts these pearls of wisdom with verve and delight, in a telling that is as visually impressive as it is emotionally stirring. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyMaureen Lee LenkerJun 11, 2025
There’s honestly no real reason for this iteration to exist. At least, though, it doesn’t cheapen its source material, trusting in the good (dragon) bones that have always been there. Read full review
70
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Aparita BhandariJun 13, 2025
The dragons are fine by today’s CGI standards. Toothless glistens, thankfully. Young audiences will be delighted. Read full review
70
LooperAudrey FoxJun 13, 2025
It's a nice enough movie, and honestly it might just be the best possible version of a live-action adaptation of its source material. But if you're expecting anything more than an almost exact shot-for-shot remake, you may be disappointed. Read full review
70
The New York TimesBrandon YuJun 12, 2025
To be sure, this new iteration is entertaining, bears a sense of heart and brings a tight script of fantasy and friendship to life. Read full review
70
Little White LiesYasmine KandilJun 10, 2025
On the whole, the live-action How to Train Your Drag­on plays it extreme­ly safe. It’s per­fect­ly pass­able, but only because it close­ly mir­rors a nar­ra­tive that’s already well-loved. Read full review
70
VarietyPeter DebrugeJun 9, 2025
At first, DeBlois’ involvement felt like a way of protecting “Dragon” from some other director coming along and destroying it. But by the end, his vision serves to bring the whole fantastical story one step closer to reality. Read full review
70
IGNEric GoldmanJun 9, 2025
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon can feel hemmed in by its faithfulness to the animated original, but it’s re-creating that film’s sense of heart and soul as well as its entire plot and most enduring images. Read full review
69
TheWrapWilliam BibbianiJun 11, 2025
Kudos to everyone here for doing their jobs, and for doing them reasonably well, but the end result of all the effort is a film which, when people talk about How to Train Your Dragon, will eventually be referred to as 'no, not that one. Read full review
67
IndieWireKate ErblandJun 9, 2025
No one needs a live-action remake, but ones this faithful and sweet are not the problem. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeOdie HendersonJun 12, 2025
I’m on the fence here. I enjoyed the animated version of this movie quite a bit, so I’m torn between being happy this film was nowhere near as bad as I’d expected and being frustrated that I sat through a carbon copy. Your enjoyment will depend on whether your Toothless nostalgia has a full set of teeth. Read full review
63
New York PostJohnny OleksinskiJun 10, 2025
The transition from the DreamWorks CGI version from 2010, one of the best family flicks in years, to real human actors is thankfully smoother and not as off-putting as most of Disney’s recent, pitiful princess efforts. Read full review
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