HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Live-Action Remake First Reactions Land Following CinemaCon Screening

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Live-Action Remake First Reactions Land Following CinemaCon Screening

Universal/DreamWorks held the first screening of the live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon at CinemaCon yesterday, and the first reactions have now been shared online...

By MarkCassidy - Apr 03, 2025 08:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: Via Toonado.com

Universal and DreamWorks Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon screened for members of the press and theater owners at CinemaCon yesterday, and the first reactions are now online.

Attendees were advised that they were about to see an unfinished version of the movie, but a few incomplete VFX shots weren't enough to dull an incredibly enthusiastic response.

Quite a few posts hail How To Train Your Dragon as "the best live-action remake" yet, and it sounds like the movie does a great job of recapturing everything that made the animated original so popular. The only minor criticism we can see is that the new elements introduced don't work quite so well.

We all know not to put too much stock in these initial reactions at this stage, but have a look at some X posts below, and we'll be sure to bring you what will no doubt be a slightly more balanced consensus once the full review embargo lifts.

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon.

Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.

As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

The film also stars Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout, Bronwyn James as Ruffnut, Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut and Nick Frost as Gobber.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 Officially Announced At CinemaCon; Sets Summer 2027 Release Date
Related:

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 Officially Announced At CinemaCon; Sets Summer 2027 Release Date

WICKED: FOR GOOD - Elphaba And Glinda Face-Off On First Poster For Upcoming Sequel
Recommended For You:

WICKED: FOR GOOD - Elphaba And Glinda Face-Off On First Poster For Upcoming Sequel

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

newhire13
newhire13 - 4/3/2025, 9:06 AM
Considering the director wrote and directed the 3 animated movies I have no doubt he’ll deliver.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/3/2025, 9:27 AM
@newhire13 - yep

Hell , the only reason he did the film was because the studio was gonna do a live action version anyway so he wanted it done “right”then.
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 4/3/2025, 4:20 PM
@newhire13 - BIG facts!
Odekahn
Odekahn - 4/3/2025, 9:40 AM
Never watched the original and haven’t seen the trailer. But, knowing Disney, I gotta ask… which character/s are getting race/gender swapped?
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 4/3/2025, 9:44 AM
@Odekahn - This is not a Disney product.
As far as racelifting and gender swapping, this is "modern Hollywood" so it'll be all of them.
mountainman
mountainman - 4/3/2025, 9:57 AM
@Odekahn - It’s not Disney, but yes the studio race swapped a character on an isolated Norse island. You know isolated islands set in the past were well known for being racially diverse.
BB8ANG
BB8ANG - 4/3/2025, 11:05 AM
@NoDaysOff - And modern American accents and mannerisms, but god forbid one of them is... only 75% white! *gasps* The inaccuracy! The audacity! The caucasity!
mountainman
mountainman - 4/3/2025, 11:17 AM
@NoDaysOff - Wait dragons aren’t real? No way!
NoDaysOff
NoDaysOff - 4/3/2025, 11:21 AM
@mountainman @BB8ANG - Don't forget the thick accented scottish Vikings! If there ever was a line that would cross it. 🤣
mountainman
mountainman - 4/3/2025, 11:28 AM
@NoDaysOff - I never liked the Scottish accents or music in the originals. There is some historical context for it though. The vikings conquered the northern scotts for years and the two cultures did clash and integrate at some points. That being said, no norse to my knowledge ever adopted scottish culture. They dominated it.

Regardless of the setting of any fantasy story, isolated cultures being racially diverse will never make sense. I guess we now know one of Astrid’s ancestors must have been captured and enslaved in a raid at some point, as that would be the only reason that racial diversity would be introduced into that culture. Cultural realism in a kids movie!
NoDaysOff
NoDaysOff - 4/3/2025, 12:00 PM
@mountainman - I'm mostly being kinda silly with it. :P but Race swapping is ok i find when there's no cultural significance.

I get the setting is in "Viking Times" BUT it's a fantasy movie for kids (core audience). made in western America. This is the same audience we're trying to instill lessons of equality and acceptance of diversity. The accuracy to Viking culture really doesn't need to be absolute (yet), and when they grow I'm sure History's Vikings will be popular still on streamers or they can then consume materials from the real historic places.

If it's a case like Harry Potter with the sequels where the audience grows with the movies then yeah they can maybe explore a background akin to what you described.

It's the same director from the animations, so i'm sure he's kind of mapped out how things go already.
micvalpro
micvalpro - 4/3/2025, 9:48 AM
I got to see it. first like 10-15 mins are questionable, but then the movies kicks into gear and its just takes you on a ride. This may be the hit of the summer.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/3/2025, 9:56 AM
Well , it’s good to hear the positive response so far…

The movie has looked just fine to me overall but perhaps I’ll enjoy it even more aswell when I do watch it whether it’s in theaters or not.

I’m honestly most interested to see the tweaks & things that they weren’t able to put in the animated film according the director due to time & resources such as fleshing out characters like Astrid more or adding more lore even if it is a very faithful adaptation.

Anyway , hope it turns out well!!.

User Comment Image
Evansly
Evansly - 4/3/2025, 10:06 AM
The original animated film is great! Excited to see this with my kids
nibs
nibs - 4/3/2025, 10:12 AM
are these real critics or are these just the dummies that say they love everything for more access, like the comic book movie critics
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 4/3/2025, 10:39 AM
This is my daughters favorite series, so I cant wait to take her to see it. Glad to see these early responses but you always have to read between the lines. They are usually overly positive, but the effusiveness of these ones leads me to believe that it is the real deal.
AdamBrash3ar
AdamBrash3ar - 4/3/2025, 10:59 AM
Enjoyed watching all the animated films with the kids. My only gripe with them was always Toothless' design. He was this badazz alpha dragon but his design and size was always so bland compared to the others.
CholoScorpion
CholoScorpion - 4/3/2025, 11:10 AM
This is an insult to the CGI animated movies. Like, those dragons are the dam same, just with a few more scales or minor changes. This kind of projects dimishes animation, because HTYD is already an awsome experience with great CGI animation, BUT Hollywood is always trying to remind us that live-action is the definitive format for a movie.
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 4/3/2025, 4:29 PM
Never had a doubt this film would be great. Dean DeBlois is a pretty good writer, director, and producer.

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder