- PG
- 2h 5m
- Directed by
-
- Dean DeBlois
- Book
- Cressida Cowell
- Premiered
- June 06, 2025
- Language
-
- English
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $150,000,000.00
- Revenue
- $635,213,100.00
- Awards
-
- 1 win & 2 nominations total
- Country
-
- United States of America
How to Train Your Dragon
- Production
-
- DreamWorks Animation
- Marc Platt Productions
Spoiler
The rugged, windswept island of Berk, a land where survival is a daily battle against the elements and a centuries-old animosity towards dragons, serves as the stark backdrop for a transformative journey. For the Vikings of Berk, led by the formidable Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), life is a constant struggle against the winged beasts that plague their shores, primarily by pilfering their precious sheep. Amidst this perpetual conflict, Hiccup (Mason Thames), a lanky and inventive teenager, finds himself an anomaly. While his peers, including the boisterous Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), the mischievous twins Ruffnut (Bronwyn James) and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn), the earnest Fishlegs (Julian Dennison), and the fiercely capable Astrid (Nico Parker) – the object of Hiccup’s quiet admiration – are being rigorously trained by the seasoned blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost) to combat the dragon menace, Hiccup is largely viewed as more of a hindrance than a help.
Despite his fervent desire to contribute to his tribe's defense, Hiccup's unconventional approach often leads to unintended consequences. His mind teems with ingenious contraptions, a stark contrast to the brute force favored by his fellow Vikings. One such invention, a bola launcher, becomes the focal point of a dramatic aerial encounter. As a swarm of dragons descends upon the village, a creature of myth and terror, the elusive Night Fury, streaks across the sky, unleashing a devastating blast upon the settlement. In a desperate attempt to protect his home, Hiccup fires his bola shooter, successfully striking the Night Fury. However, this act of defiance draws the attention of another dragon, which relentlessly pursues him. It is only through the swift intervention of his father, Stoick, who bravely engages the beast, that Hiccup is saved. The remaining dragons, their livestock secured, make their escape. Stoick, exasperated by Hiccup's interference, voices his displeasure, lamenting how his son’s actions have complicated their efforts to quell the dragon threat. Hiccup, in turn, confides in Gobber, expressing his deep-seated longing to be like the other Vikings, to possess the strength and prowess they so readily display.
Meanwhile, within the Viking council, a palpable sense of urgency and dwindling morale pervades. For years, the Vikings have been on a relentless quest to locate the dragons' hidden nest, a mission aimed at eradicating the creatures once and for all. Their persistent lack of success has begun to erode their resolve. Following a stirring address by Stoick and the sage counsel of Elder Gothi (Naomi Wirthner), the Chief rallies his fleets for a perilous expedition. Before their departure, Stoick engages in a candid conversation with Gobber, wrestling with his paternal anxieties about Hiccup's place within the tribe and his perceived lack of aptitude for the Viking way of life. Gobber, ever the pragmatist, suggests a novel approach: Hiccup should join the other teenagers in the dragon training program.
Driven by an overwhelming need to prove his worth, Hiccup ventures into the wilderness, determined to find the Night Fury. His search leads him to a secluded clearing where he discovers the magnificent creature ensnared in one of his own traps. As Hiccup approaches, prepared to end the dragon's life, he is struck by the profound vulnerability in its eyes. In that moment of shared understanding, Hiccup makes a pivotal decision. Instead of delivering a fatal blow, he opts to release the Night Fury. The dragon, after a defiant roar, takes flight, but its damaged tail fin renders it incapable of sustained flight. Upon Hiccup's return, Stoick informs him of the dragon training, a prospect Hiccup greets with considerable reluctance.
The "Trial of Flame," the initial phase of dragon training, proves to be a humbling experience for Hiccup and his peers. Under Gobber's tutelage, the teenagers are introduced to the formidable challenges of dragon handling. Most of the group, with the exception of Fishlegs, mock Hiccup for his perceived ineptitude and the embarrassing situations he consistently finds himself in. Hiccup, however, finds his voice, retorting with pointed jabs at Ruffnut and Tuffnut's repeated setbacks in training and Snotlout's rather uninspired moniker. Their first encounter is with a Gruesome Gronckle, a beast that proves too cunning for the young Vikings, requiring Gobber's intervention to be safely corralled.
Haunted by the image of the struggling Night Fury, Hiccup returns to the woods. He witnesses the dragon's arduous attempts to fly with its injured tail. Later, during a communal dinner, Hiccup presents the teens with the "Book of Dragons," a compendium of knowledge about the various dragon species, urging them to study and understand their adversaries. He tentatively suggests to Astrid that the Vikings might be overlooking crucial aspects of dragon behavior. Astrid, however, is singularly focused on her ambition to become chief and views Hiccup as an obstacle to her aspirations. During their subsequent training session, the teens face the agile Deadly Nadder, another dragon that tests their mettle.
Concurrently, Stoick and his fleet navigate a treacherous, fog-shrouded waterway. A contingent of dragons launches a surprise attack, forcing the Vikings to defend their ships with renewed ferocity.
Hiccup's clandestine encounters with the Night Fury deepen. Approaching the dragon with a offering of fish, he observes its retractable teeth, leading him to bestow upon it the name "Toothless." In a surprising gesture of reciprocity, Toothless regurgitates a fish head, which Hiccup reluctantly consumes. As their bond strengthens, Toothless allows Hiccup to touch his snout, a profound sign of trust. Back in his workshop, Hiccup dedicates himself to crafting a prosthetic tail fin for Toothless, a device that, with Hiccup's guidance, enables the dragon to fly once more, albeit with Hiccup assisting in controlling its trajectory.
The next training exercise pits the teens against a formidable two-headed Hideous Zippleback. While the dragon unleashes clouds of smoke, Hiccup, drawing upon his observations of Toothless's aversion to certain stimuli, employs a smoked eel to subdue the creature, astonishing his classmates. Hiccup's secret meetings with Toothless intensify, focused on refining the dragon's flight capabilities and expanding his own understanding of dragon behavior. He discovers that Gronckles are susceptible to allergies, causing one to become disoriented, and that scratching a Nadder's neck can induce docility. These newfound skills earn him grudging respect from Snotlout, Fishlegs, and the twins, but also pique Astrid's suspicion. He further demonstrates his growing expertise by using reflected light to pacify the tiny, but nippy, Terrible Terror, which promptly bites Tuffnut on the nose. Even Elder Gothi takes note of Hiccup's remarkable progress.
Armed with a "cheat sheet" to aid him, Hiccup and Toothless ascend to unprecedented heights, soaring across the landscape. However, a sudden gust of wind snatches the sheet, sending them plummeting. Regaining control of Toothless, Hiccup discards the crutch of the cheat sheet, allowing instinct and his connection with Toothless to guide their flight, achieving a state of exhilarating freedom.
Stoick returns to Berk, his fleet diminished but intact. He is met with the surprising news of Hiccup's exceptional performance in dragon training. Overwhelmed with pride, he informs Hiccup that his final test requires him to slay a dragon. In a desperate bid to protect Toothless, Hiccup attempts to flee with his companion. However, Astrid, following him, stumbles upon their hidden sanctuary and discovers the Night Fury. To prove Toothless's harmless nature, Hiccup, with Astrid in tow, takes her on a flight. Upon hearing Astrid's apology, Toothless softens, allowing her to experience the exhilaration of flight.
Moments later, Toothless instinctively flies towards a distant island, leading Hiccup and Astrid to the dragons' nest. There, they confront the colossal queen of the dragons, the Red Death. Witnessing a Gronckle's insufficient offering, the Red Death devours it whole. The realization of the true scale of the dragon threat dawns on Hiccup and Astrid. As they return to Berk, Astrid insists on informing the other Vikings about the nest, but Hiccup, fearing the inevitable consequence for Toothless, hesitates.
The following day, Hiccup is scheduled to face the Monstrous Nightmare, a dragon capable of igniting itself. As Hiccup attempts to demonstrate the dragon's non-threatening nature, Stoick's intervention provokes the Nightmare into a frenzied rampage. Toothless, sensing Hiccup's peril, bursts into the arena to defend him. The other Vikings, overwhelmed by the chaos, subdue and capture Toothless, despite Hiccup's impassioned pleas. Stoick forcibly removes Hiccup, confronting him about his defiance of tradition. Hiccup, however, asserts that it is time for the Vikings to cease their dragon hunts. In his fervor, he inadvertently reveals the location of the nest and Toothless's ability to guide them there. His attempt to prevent Stoick's departure results in his father disowning him.
As the Viking fleet sets sail, Astrid finds Hiccup consumed by despair over his predicament and the impending danger to his best friend. Encouraged by Astrid, Hiccup rallies the other four teenagers. Together, they commandeer the captive dragons, intending to fly to the nest and rescue Toothless and the rest of the Vikings.
The Viking fleet arrives at the entrance to the dragon nest. Stoick orders his warriors to breach the formidable walls. Upon their success, the Red Death emerges, unleashing a torrent of fire that engulfs the Viking ships. The teenagers arrive with their dragons, diverting the Red Death's attention from the beleaguered Vikings. Even Snotlout's father, Spitelout (Peter Serafinowicz), expresses pride in his son's bravery. Hiccup attempts to free Toothless, but as the ship sinks, Stoick, witnessing his son's emergent leadership, intervenes to release the Night Fury. Stoick offers a heartfelt apology to Hiccup, entrusting him and Toothless to handle the situation.
Hiccup and Toothless ascend to great heights, luring the Red Death into a skyward confrontation. As they soar above the clouds, the Red Death unleashes a massive fiery blast, causing the prosthetic tail fin to ignite. With quick thinking, Hiccup and Toothless dive, with the Red Death in pursuit. Hiccup directs Toothless to fire a blast directly into the Red Death's mouth, causing it to combust and crash into the mountainside, erupting in a colossal fireball. Hiccup is caught in the blast, but Toothless swoops down, rescuing him.
As the flames subside, the Vikings gather around the fallen Toothless. Stoick, consumed by remorse for his harsh words, begins to mourn Hiccup, only for Toothless to reveal that he saved his rider. A wave of relief and jubilation washes over the Vikings as they cheer for Hiccup's survival.
Days later, Hiccup awakens at home, discovering he has lost his right foot and now wears a prosthetic. Toothless greets him, and Hiccup is astonished to find that the Vikings have returned to Berk with the dragons, and a newfound peace now exists between humans and creatures. Astrid visits Hiccup, sealing their burgeoning relationship with a kiss. Gobber presents Hiccup with a new, improved fin for Toothless, allowing them to fly together once more.
The teenagers, now accompanied by their dragon companions, take to the skies, soaring joyfully around the island. Hiccup's narration concludes with a poignant reflection: while Berk remains a challenging place to inhabit, its greatest asset, he now understands, is its dragons.
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