Missing Toothless, Hiccup, and the inhabitants of the island of Berk? DreamWorks has the solution for you: a live-action adaptation of its animated classic How to Train Your Dragon. But now that Hollywood studios have exhausted our tolerance for remakes, the idea of another industry giant getting involved might worry you, and rightly so. In just a few months, Disney has offered us two reimaginings of cult films, reminding us that the live-action exercise too often struggles to be relevant. In fact, the nature of DreamWorks' project is enough to raise some questions.
What sane studio would dare to dive into the abyss of live-action remakes when Disney is now considering exiting it? And why choose How to Train Your Dragon as the first guinea pig, at the risk of damaging a beloved cult franchise? If DreamWorks felt so empowered (as a dragon) as to want to take all these risks in 2025, it's because it had complete confidence in its vision. And if no one – including us – wanted to believe it, it's clear that the new version of How to Train Your Dragon is a real breath of fresh air, which we would almost venture to call better than the original.
A remake that looks like a carbon copy: a false good idea?
As the various trailers for the film had suggested, the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon is identical to the original animated feature. These first images called into question the point of this production because, after all, who wants to see the same thing again in a different style? We didn't fail to share our concerns about this, enough to lead us to the screening of the film with apprehension and other preconceptions.
But ultimately, the efforts of authenticity demonstrated by this new version are a real asset. With the exception of a few additions of lore and new scenes, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is a carbon copy of its predecessor. And it's thanks to this risky strategy that the magic of nostalgia works. If the sequences of iconic scenes in trailer format gave the impression of a $550,000 marketing stunt, the feeling is very different on the big screen.
From the music, to the sets, to the dynamics and dialogues between the characters, the film has all the tricks to make us smile and rediscover the feeling of comfort that the original brought us. And it's thanks in particular to the impressive acting work of the actors that the remake of How to Train Your Dragon manages to leave an even more lasting impression than its predecessor.
When live action matters
Since the film adopts the strategy of "why change a winning team?" down to the last detail, the whole point of this version lies in the actors' performances. Generally, live action films serve to remind us that certain stories and emotions are better conveyed in animation... And DreamWorks' new film proves the opposite. The 2010 How to Train Your Dragon was excellent, but the 2025 one is even more so.
In this version, all the characters benefit from increased depth. Their discussions are natural, the family, friendship, and romantic relationships are touching, while the arguments are heartbreaking. If the emotional power of the first film was a 10, DreamWorks now manages to give us an 11. It is worth noting the talents of Mason Thames, the young 17-year-old actor who lends his face to the main role of Harold, who offers us an even more authentic and endearing version of the character. The same goes for Nico Parker, who manages to make Astrid shine outside the prism of simple “love interest”.
For once, recreating an animated film with human actors has real interest and manages to elevate the touching moments of the original to new heights. The efforts applied to the animation of the dragons also serve to strengthen our attachment to these creatures: enough to bring a few tears to our eyes, even if we know the animated feature film like the back of our hand. It should be noted that DreamWorks does fall into the trap of excessively computer-generated shots, but fortunately, these disturbing moments can only be counted on the fingers of one hand.
A classic that is already worth revisiting
This new take on the DreamWorks animated classic is also a special case in the live-action remake category. While Disney is still relentlessly revamping classics with timeless 2D animation, 3D animation from a few years ago is already starting to show signs of weakness. In the space of two decades, this technology has evolved at such a surprising pace that some productions are already beginning to look outdated, and Dragon will soon fall into this category. Because the original still manages to hold up in 2025, this film is already 15 years old and will soon seem "has been" to younger viewers.
Here, DreamWorks is not only focusing on nostalgia, but also offering a perfectly reworked version of its classic to offer to future generations. It must be said that with the opening of a Dragons land in its revolutionary new theme park, Universal had every interest in relaunching the franchise on the big screen. Except that for once: marketing ambitions do not encroach on the quality of the production. The ideal recipe for a live action film therefore seems to be the following: total respect for the original work and a cast of iron to push the boundaries of animation. In this way, the two approaches can perfectly coexist without detriment to the other, while leaving the viewer the choice of their favorite version. And for us, the conclusion is clear: this new Dragons has hit us right in the heart.
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