We already knew that critics were impressed with the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake thanks to its Certified Fresh score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it seems like they’re not the only ones enjoying the new film. Hitting theaters today, audiences are in full agreement that the movie puts Disney’s recent remakes to shame by giving it a Verified Hot score of 99% on the review aggregator site.
“Never sure what I’m in for when going to see a live action remake, but that being said How to Train Your Dragon was fantastic,” commented Rotten Tomatoes user Jen H, who also had high praise for the film’s cast and visuals, adding that they think they “may have liked this version better than the original animated version that came out 15 years ago.” That’s saying a lot, especially considering the 2010 film is one of the most beloved animated movies ever made.
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Gerard Butler Explains the Major Difference with His Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Remake
The live-action version will ditch a lot of how the franchise began with this new tone.
Lots of other folks also hailed How to Train Your Dragon as the “best live-action remake,” with Brandon R adding that “I appreciate some scenes that maybe felt a little rushed in the original are given room to breathe in this one.” Rotten Tomatoes user Phoebe was another that enjoyed it, noting that it had a “more serious tone” than the animated film, which they very much appreciated. Their words echo those of critics, including MovieWeb’s own Julian Roman, who called the movie “a remarkable accomplishment given the incredibly high bar set by the animated original” in his review.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Is the “Top Gun of Viking Movies”
Starring Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid, and Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast, How to Train Your Dragon doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does raise the standard of excellence for live-action remakes going forward. By sticking close to the source material while at the same time updating a few things to reflect the times we live in (which are vastly different than they were 15 years ago), writer/director Dean DeBlois manages to capture the same magic of the original. It’s a rare feat in this day and age, which is why audiences are smitten with this new version, including one Rotten Tomatoes fan who said:
“Great movie. Almost a 1 for 1 faithful adaptation with a couple of extended scenes, especially at the climax. Great visuals as well! This is what love action remakes should be.”
Another RT user, Peter, went so far as to call How to Train Your Dragon the “Top Gun of Viking movies,” saying it’s “thrilling, fast-paced, and emotionally resonant.” How’s that for a comparison? Szymon T didn’t go that far in their review, but did call the new film a “masterpiece,” adding that, “Yes, it is almost the same as the original, but why would you want to change something in such an epic film?” Perhaps that’s a question for Disney, Szymon.
Needless to say, fans and critics are definitely united in their assessment of the How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake, which is projected to gross anywhere between $70 – $80 million dollars this weekend. You can add your hard-earned cash to the mix, as it’s now playing in theaters everywhere.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
- Release Date
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June 13, 2025
- Runtime
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116 Minutes
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Mason Thames
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
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Nico Parker
Astrid Hofferson
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