The live-action remake of beloved animated film How To Train Your Dragon has been dubbed "perfect" after early screenings by critics.
The remake, set to be released in June, follows Viking boy Hiccup (Mason Thames) who lives on the isle of Berk as he defies tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless when his ancestors have historically fought the beasts.
When an ancient threat endangers both humans and dragons, Hiccup and Toothless band together to create peace among the kingdoms.
As well as Thames, the cast is rounded out by Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Nico Parker, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, and Gabriel Howell among others.
The first How to Train Your Dragon was released in 2010, followed by How to Train Your Dragon 2 in 2014 and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World in 2019.
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Following the release of the film's first trailer giving us a glimpse of the reimagining of Berk, early reactions to the movie itself at this year's CinemaCon have seen it dubbed "visually stunning" and "one of the most faithful" live-action remakes thus far.
"A visually stunning and emotionally engaging retelling of the animated classic," Scott Menzel wrote on X.
"Director Dean DeBlois recreates the magic of the original with lots of action, humor and heart. Mason Thames as Hiccup is the definition of perfect casting as is the majority of this cast… it’s a must see on the big screen and is a reminder to why audiences love going to the movies. This is going to be a massive hit."
Emmanuel Gomez added: "How to Train Your Dragon might be one of the most faithful animation to live-action I’ve seen.
"Spot on cast with a great balance in dragon designs that don’t take you out of the movie. The score is amazing. You won’t want to miss this! I want a Dragon!"
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"How To Train Your Dragon is the best live-action adaptation film I’ve seen," Dorian Parks began.
"Big fan of the original, and it was everything that I wanted to see- the score, the acting, and the VFX were PERFECT. Cried a few times. I’ve never loved a CGI creature more than Toothless."
Junior Felix echoed the same sentiment, posting: "How To Train Your Dragon was INCREDIBLE. There are jaw dropping sequences that truly took my breath away. 2 scenes in particular had me in tears.
"Mason Thames truly embodies who Hiccup is and it was a sight to behold. This is the family film of the summer."
The latest film comes to cinemas on June 13, 2025, with Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the animated trilogy, returning to write, direct, and produce. A sequel has already been confirmed for release in 2027 too.
How to Train Your Dragon's live-action adaptation is due to be released in cinemas on June 13, 2025.
