The Vikings residing on the Isle of Berk have been at war with the dragons that constantly attack their village for several generations. They have passed along their knowledge of the creatures—their behaviors, attack mechanisms, and strengths and weaknesses&mmdash;from generation to generation, in the The Book of Dragons. The current chief of the tribe, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, 300, Has Fallen franchise), has been searching for the dragon’s nest, which is rumored to be somewhere near Berk, so that they can eliminate this threat once and for all. He hopes that one day his teenage son Hiccup (Mason Thames, The Black Phone, “For All Mankind”) will follow in his footsteps. However, Hiccup doesn’t really look like much of a Viking. He’s a bit scrawny, and lacks that killer instinct. On the other hand, he’s very smart, creative and caring, working as an apprentice to blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost, Shaun of the Dead, Paul). While Stoick still loves his son, they both have a bit a trouble connecting with one another as their personalities are vastly different. Hiccup is determined to capture and kill a Night Fury—a dangerous dragon no Viking has ever managed to kill, or even see and survive the encountery—so that he can fit in with the other Vikings and finally impress his father.

One evening, the village comes under attack by the dragons, and Hiccup witnesses a Night Fury in the sky, and uses his latest invention to try to take it down. As he checks out the crash site, he discovers the wounded black Night Fury, but neither the dragon nor Hiccup and bring themselves to kill one another. They form a connection and Hiccup names the dragon Toothless. Each evening Hiccup sneaks out to bond with the dragon, and begins working on a gadget to replace the creature’s broken wing, so that he is able to fly again. While spending time with Toothless, he gets a greater understanding of the dragons, and their likes, dislikes and what makes them tick. He also discovers that perhaps the dragons are not the real enemy of the Vikings. However, if he were to tell anyone about this Night Fury, they would capture or even kill it.

Meanwhile, Hiccup and the other teenage Vikings—the cool kids known as the Fire Brigade—are being going through dragon training with Gobber, to prepare them for the Trial of Flame, where one of them will be named Top Slayer, and get to kill their first dragon in front of the entire village. The Fire Brigade include the ambitious Astrid (Nico Parker, Dumbo, “The Last of Us”) on whom Hiccup has a crush; the over-confident Snotlout (Gabriel Howell, “Bodies”) who’s constantly trying to impress his father Spitelout (Peter Serafinowicz, Guardians of the Galaxy); pudgy dragon statistics nerd Fishlegs (Julian Dennison, Deadpool 2); and constantly-bickering twins Ruffnut (Bronwyn James, Wicked) & Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn, “Smothered”) who ae going through dragon training for the fourth time. Hiccup’s last of dragon ability is well known to the whole village, so when he starts to secretly use the knowledge he’s picked up from observing Toothless to accidentally excel at the tasks, Astrid starts to suspect he may be hiding something.

As Hiccup’s secret comes to light, can he convince the rest of the village that Toothless and the other dragons aren’t actually their enemy? Time is running out as a massive new threat looms, and the villagers will need to work together with the dragons in order to stop this ancient evil that threatens both of their livelihoods.

Disney has been remaking its classic animated films in live action for quite a while, but now DreamWorks has jumped into the game, re-imagining the wildly popular 2010 animated film, How to Train Your Dragon, bringing the world of Berk into live action. I will preface this by saying that the animated version of How to Train Your Dragon is quite possibly my favorite animated movie of all time. So I was both nervous to see it remade with a new cast, but also excited by the prospect of a live action version of this story. Much of the new film is a shot-for-shot remake of its animated counterpart, but that isn’t a bad thing. It was a story that worked, and this version recaptures many of the original film’s most iconic visuals, such as Hiccup placing his hand on Toothless’ nose for the first time, or their first flight together—and the emotional rush when composer John Powell’s memorable and amazing score kicks in.

Bringing in the same writer/director from the animated film, Dean DeBlois, was absolutely the correct decision. He knows these characters and this story so well, and really did justice to this new take. While much of the live action version is the same as the original, the filmmakers have also integrated some additional material that helps further define and flesh out these characters, such as giving more of a motivation as to why Astrid is so ambitious rather than just having her come off as simply mean, or delving more into the relationship between Snotlout and his father, which leads to some surprisingly emotional moments.

At the core of the film are these themes of marching to the beat of one’s own drum, and finding oneself and showing that true self to the world. It is about the relationships between fathers and sons, working together, embracing differences, and finding common ground and love. At the start of the film we see Hiccup trying to fit in, rather than embracing what makes him different from the other Vikings. All of the characters, story and themes that made the original animated film so great are carried over to this live action edition as well. In addition, the filmmakers have done an amazing job of bringing Berk and these characters into reality. Not only are the sets and costumes rich in detail, but the filmmakers have also managed to make the dragons still recognizable as their counterparts from the animation, but also feel more realistic and grounded in nature. The effects are well done, and you never doubt or second-guess what you are watching. As the dragons take flight, you are taken along for the ride. And the action sequences are explosive and exciting. And most importantly, Toothless retains all of his adorable charm in live action.

The cast is amazing. I never thought anyone but Jay Baruchel could be the voice of Hiccup, but Mason Thames really embodies this character and his awkwardness and sensitivity. It was also wonderful to see Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick, now live and in person. The whole ensemble has great chemistry, feeling like these characters really are close knit village who have known one another for years. The actors bring a lot of humor and their own personalities to these roles.

Universal has released How To Train Your Dragon on Limited Edition 4K SteelBook, 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. We were sent the standard 4K UH release for review. The presentation looks and sounds phenomenal. With a nearly flawless picture that captures so much detail in the sets, costumes and dragons, whether it’s a nighttime raid on the Island, or Hiccup and Toothless training in a sunny cove, and even during the fast-moving, high-flying action sequences. The film switches between 2.39:1 and 1.90:1 aspect rations, but I actually didn’t even realize this at first, because it does so by slowly expanding or shrinking the black bars at the top and bottom rather than an abrupt cut. It’s primarily the opening of the film, the various training sequences, Hiccup’s flight scenes with Toothless, and the final face-off that are in the more expanded/fill-the-sreen 1.90 ratio. The only disappointment I had with the visual presentation was not getting a 3D option to watch at home—the flying scenes were great in 3D in the theater and I wish I could have experienced this again at home. The audio track is also extremely impressive, making excellent use of the stereo and surround channels to bring this immersive world to life. This is especially noticeable during the opening raid on the village and during other fight scenes, as well as a general ambiance throughout. Dialogue is also clear, and the presentation really showcases John Powell’s uplifting and emotional score.

The 4K and Blu-ray discs reside on either side of a standard 4K keepcase, placed inside of an embossed matte cardboard slipcover. The release also includes a code for a 4K Movies Anywhere compatible digital copy of the film. Both discs offer the same selection of bonus material, which includes a director commentary track, 2 deleted scenes, a gag reel, and over 75 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes with the cast and crew.

What’s Included:

Film: (2:05:20)

4K Ultra HD:
• 2160p / Widescreen Mixed 2.39:1 & 1.90:1
• Dolby Vision / HDR 10
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Blu-ray:

• 1080p / Widescreen Mixed 2.39:1 & 1.90:1
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English DVS (Descriptive Video Service), Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Digital (code may not be valid after 6/30/2026):

• 4K digital copy redeemable via Movies Anywhere

Extras:
Play All, or select from:

• Deleted Scenes (5:11)
  Two deleted scenes presented with incomplete effects. Each opens with an introduction by director/writer/executive producer Dean DeBlois. Play All, or select from:
  • Village Sneaking (3:00)
    Astrid nearly catches Hiccup with Toothless in the blacksmith shop.
  • Beach Break (2:09)
    Following their test-drive, Hiccup and Toothless are taking a break on the beach when they get accosted by Terrible Terrors.
• Gag Reel (2:47)
  The cast laugh and have fun on set.
• Love and Legacy: Making How To Train Your Dragon (45:44)
  Extensive look at the making of the film, taking the beloved animated film into live action, adapting the books, casting the characters, the characters and performances, recreating Berk, creating the detailed sets, the filming locations, designing and riding the dragons, the costumes and weapons, the action sequences and stunts, training the actors, the cast bonding, and more. Includes pre-vis and behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director/writer/executive producer Dean DeBlois, author Cressida Cowell, producer Marc Platt, producer Adam Siegel, executive producer David Cain, director of photography Bill Pope, set decorator Daniel Birt, property master David Cheesman, animation supervisor Glen McIntosh, SFX supervisor Terry Palmer, creature puppetry supervisor Tom Wilton, costume designer Lindsay Pugh, head metal worker Luca Giampaoli, costume armory HOD Mark Miller, weapons master Tommy Dunne, stunt coordinator Roy Taylor, and stars Gerard Butler (“Stoick”), Mason Thames (“Hiccup”), Nico Parker (“Astrid”), Julian Dennison (“Fishlegs”), Bronwyn James (“Ruffnut”), Harry Trevaldwyn (“Tuffnut”), Gabriel Howell (“Snotlout”), Peter Serafinowicz (“Spitelout”) & Nick Frost (“Gobber”).
• Building Berk (8:06)
  The cast and crew talk about designing, recreating and building the Isle of Berk, combining both the animation and real Viking locations as inspiration. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director/writer/executive producer Dean DeBlois, executive producer David Cain, visual effects supervisor Christian Manz, set decorator Daniel Birt, property master David Cheesman, construction manager Tom Martin, head sculptor Darren Fitzsimons, weapons master Tommy Dunne, production designer Dominic Watkins, SFX supervisor Terry Palmer, producer Adam Siegel, and stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Gerard Butler & Nick Frost.
• Dreaming Up the Dragons (8:30)
  The cast and crew talk about redesigning the dragons to look realistic in live action while also keeping them recognizable, finding the sounds of the dragons, the use of puppets, making the dragons fly, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, concept artwork, animatics, and interviews with director/writer/executive producer Dean DeBlois, animation supervisor Glen McIntosh, supervising sound designer Randy Thom, producer Adam Siegel, creature puppetry supervisor Tom Wilton, visual effects supervisor Christian Manz, and stars Gerard Butler, Mason Thames, Harry Trevaldwyn, Julian Dennison & Nico Parker.
• Fit for a Viking (5:04)
  The cast and crew discuss the costumes and physically transforming into these characters. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director/writer/executive producer Dean DeBlois, costume designer Lindsay Pugh, hair and makeup designer Alessandro Bertolazzi, and stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James & Gabriel Howell.
• Forbidden Friendship (6:38)
  Director/Writer/Executive Producer Dean DeBlois provides an introduction to this working version of the “Forbidden Friendship” sequence, where Hiccup befriends Toothless. In this in-progress version, star Mason Thames acts alongside head puppeteer Tom Wilton who is seen controlling a puppet head of Toothless.
• Test Drive (3:32)
  Director/Writer/Executive Producer Dean DeBlois provides an introduction to an in-progress version of Hiccup’s first flight sequence, with footage of star Mason Thames filming on the animatronic mechanical buck, intercut with rough animation and the final version for comparison.
• Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Dean DeBlois (2:05:20)
  Writer/Director Dean DeBlois provides an entertaining and informative commentary throughout the film. He talks about casting the movie, creating the village, being faithful to the original but also expanding upon it. He shares lots of behind-the-scenes stories about the production, and points out some of the changes from the animated film.
• Exploring the Isle of Berk at Epic Universe* (2:19)
  Only included in the digital bonus features, a promo for the How To Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk attraction at the new Epic Universe section of Universal’s Theme Park.

Final Thoughts:

The original animated How to Train Your Dragon is one of my all-time favorites, and this new live-action version manages to recapture the same magic that made that so special, with a heartwarming story, well-defined characters and relationships, and some exciting action sequences. The new live action cast is wonderful, and it was great to see Gerard Butler returning to his role, now in person. Fans of the original animated version will certain fall in love again with this new version, and those who aren’t animation fans can now experience why folks loved the original. This is a Must Own for any fan of the HTTYD franchise. Universal’s 4K disc looks and sounds great, and contains hours of entertaining and informative bonus material. My only negative is that there was no 3D Blu-ray or digital option for those of us who still have the ability to view that at home.