How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film) |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Dean DeBlois |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by | Dean DeBlois |
| Starring |
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| Music by | John Powell |
| Cinematography | Bill Pope |
| Editing by | Wyatt Smith |
| Studio |
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| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | April 2, 2025 (CinemaCon) June 13, 2025 (United States) |
| Running time | 125 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $150 million |
| Money made | $371 million |
How to Train Your Dragon is an exciting 2025 American fantasy film. It's a live-action version of the popular animated movie from 2010. The story is inspired by the books by Cressida Cowell. DreamWorks Animation made this film.
Dean DeBlois wrote and directed this new movie. He also worked on the original animated films. The movie stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, and Gerard Butler. Gerard Butler plays Stoick the Vast again, just like in the cartoons.
They announced plans for this live-action movie in 2023. John Powell, who created the music for the animated movies, also wrote the music for this one. Filming started in January 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This is the first live-action film from DreamWorks Animation.
How to Train Your Dragon first showed at CinemaCon on April 2, 2025. It came out in the United States on June 13. Many people enjoyed the film. It earned $371 million around the world. It was one of the highest-earning films of 2025. A new movie, based on the second animated film, is planned for June 11, 2027.
Contents
Story of Friendship and Dragons
Life in Berk Village
The Viking village of Berk faces a big problem: dragons often attack! They steal food and put everyone in danger. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a clever 16-year-old Viking. He is the son of the village chief, Stoick the Vast. Hiccup works as an apprentice for the blacksmith, Gobber. He is not as strong as other Vikings. So, he invents machines to help him.
Hiccup Meets Toothless
During a dragon raid, Hiccup uses his invention. He manages to shoot down a rare dragon called a Night Fury. No one believes him at first. Hiccup wants to prove himself. He goes to find the dragon, planning to defeat it. But when he finds the dragon hurt, he feels sorry for it. He decides to set it free instead. To his surprise, the dragon does not harm him.
Meanwhile, Stoick gathers his ships. He plans to find and destroy the dragons' home. Before leaving, Stoick enrolls Hiccup in a dragon-fighting class. Other teens like Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut are also in the class. Hiccup struggles and is often teased.
Hiccup goes back to the forest. He finds the Night Fury stuck in a hidden cove. The dragon cannot fly because its tail fin is broken. Hiccup becomes friends with the dragon. He names him "Toothless" because his teeth can hide. Hiccup builds a special harness and a new fin for Toothless. This allows Toothless to fly again, with Hiccup riding on his back. Hiccup also learns a lot about dragons from Toothless. This helps him calm the dragons in his training class. The villagers are impressed, but Astrid becomes suspicious.
Discovering the Dragon's Secret
Stoick's ships return, damaged from their search. Hiccup learns he must defeat a dragon for his final test. He tries to escape with Toothless. But Astrid finds them. Hiccup takes Astrid on a flight with Toothless. He shows her how friendly Toothless is. During their flight, Toothless leads them to a huge dragon nest. There, a giant dragon called the Red Death lives. This dragon forces smaller dragons to bring it food. If they don't, it eats them!
Hiccup and Astrid realize why dragons attack Berk. They are just trying to survive. Astrid wants to tell everyone. But Hiccup asks her to keep it a secret. He wants to protect Toothless.
A New Way to Fight
For his final test, Hiccup faces a Monstrous Nightmare dragon. Instead of fighting it, he tries to show everyone that dragons can be peaceful. But Stoick accidentally makes the dragon angry. Toothless comes out of hiding to protect Hiccup. Stoick then captures Toothless. He is very upset with Hiccup for hiding the truth.
Stoick uses Toothless to find the dragon nest. Hiccup warns him not to go. Astrid reminds Hiccup that he saved Toothless out of kindness. She helps Hiccup gather the other teens. They work together to tame the training dragons. Then, they fly off to help Stoick's fleet.
The Final Battle
Stoick and his fleet find the nest. They break it open. But the Red Death wakes up and attacks them. The teen dragon riders arrive to help. They distract the Red Death. Hiccup tries to free Toothless from a sinking ship. Stoick saves both Hiccup and Toothless. He makes up with his son.
Hiccup and Toothless lead the Red Death into the sky. They damage its wings. Then, they make it explode! The Red Death crashes. Hiccup is caught in the explosion. Toothless saves him, but Hiccup loses his left foot.
Peace in Berk
Later, the villagers of Berk live peacefully with dragons. Gobber makes a new leg for Hiccup. He also makes a new fin for Toothless. Hiccup is now a hero in his village. He and Astrid start a relationship.
Meet the Characters
- Mason Thames plays Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. He is a clever 16-year-old Viking. He is the son of the chief, Stoick.
- Nico Parker plays Astrid Hofferson. She is a strong Viking teen. She trains with Hiccup to fight dragons.
- Gerard Butler plays Stoick the Vast. He is the brave chief of Berk village. He is Hiccup's father. Gerard Butler also voiced Stoick in the animated movies.
- Nick Frost plays Gobber the Belch. He is the village blacksmith. He is a good friend to Stoick. Gobber also teaches the young Vikings how to fight dragons.
- Gabriel Howell plays Snotlout Jorgenson. He is one of Hiccup's rivals.
- Julian Dennison plays Fishlegs Ingerman. He is one of Hiccup's friends.
- Bronwyn James plays Ruffnut Thorston. She is a twin sister.
- Harry Trevaldwyn plays Tuffnut Thorston. He is Ruffnut's twin brother.
- Peter Serafinowicz plays Spitelout Jorgenson. He is Snotlout's father.
- Ruth Codd plays Phlegma the Fierce. She is a member of the Viking village.
- Naomi Wirthner plays Gothi. She is the wise elder of the village.
Making the Movie
How the Idea Started
In February 2023, news came out about a new live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie. Universal Pictures was making it. The film is based on the popular book series by Cressida Cowell. Dean DeBlois was chosen to direct, write, and produce the film. He had also worked on the animated movies. Dean DeBlois wanted to make sure he had full control over the movie's creative choices.
Choosing the Actors
In May 2023, Mason Thames was chosen to play Hiccup. Nico Parker was cast as Astrid. In January 2024, Gerard Butler joined the cast. He plays Stoick the Vast again, just like in the animated films. Other actors like Nick Frost (Gobber), Julian Dennison (Fishlegs), and Gabriel Howell (Snotlout) also joined.
Filming the Scenes
Filming started on January 15, 2024. It took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Filming finished on May 16. The movie was filmed using IMAX cameras. This makes the picture look very big and clear. The filmmakers used many real sets. They also re-created famous scenes from the original animated movie. For example, Hiccup's first meeting with Toothless was filmed almost exactly the same way.
Special Effects and Dragons
Framestore was the main company for the visual effects. They worked on making the dragons look real. To help the actors, puppeteers used puppets on set. This allowed the camera to show where the dragons would be. It also gave the actors something to act with. For flying scenes, actors rode on special moving seats called gimbals. These seats moved like the dragons would fly. This helped the actors give realistic performances.
The Music of the Film
John Powell created the music for this movie. He also composed the music for the original animated films. The movie's soundtrack was released on June 13, 2025. A special song called "Test Driving Toothless" was released before the movie. It was based on music from the first animated film.
When the Movie Came Out
How to Train Your Dragon first showed to the public at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. This happened on April 2, 2025. It was part of Universal Pictures' plans for their 2025 movies. The film also had special showings in Sydney, Los Angeles, and New York.
The movie was released in theaters across the United States on June 13, 2025. You could watch it in many cool formats. These included RealD 3D, IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and ScreenX. The movie was supposed to come out earlier. But its release date was changed to June 13, 2025.
People first saw a sneak peek of the film in Empire magazine in November 2024. The first short trailer was shown in theaters before the movie Wicked. This trailer was then put online on November 19, 2024. A special video also showed Dean DeBlois talking about making the movie live-action.
A new look at the film was shown during the Super Bowl LIX in February 2025. The main trailer came out on February 12, 2025. It was shown before Captain America: Brave New World in theaters. An IMAX trailer was also released in May 2025.
Some companies helped promote the movie. Burger King offered special menu items. BMW cars also helped advertise the film.
What's Next: A Sequel!
At CinemaCon on April 2, 2025, Universal Pictures shared exciting news. They announced that a live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon 2 is being made. This will be based on the second animated movie. It is planned to be released on June 11, 2027.
See also
In Spanish: Cómo entrenar a tu dragón (película de 2025) para niños
