While audiences are just starting to dissect the newly released trailer for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, critics are already sharing their impressions of the full movie.
The remake of the beloved DreamWorks animated film is set to hit cinemas on June 13, 2025, but journalists at CinemaCon in Las Vegas got an early look. And based on the first reactions, Universal Pictures may have struck gold.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, the same filmmaker behind the original, the new version isn’t just a retelling — it’s a fresh chapter in the story of Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless. This time, with live actors, hyperrealistic animation, detailed sets, and a deeper emotional core that fans have apparently been craving.
Critics call it "a stunning and emotionally rich retelling of an animated classic," praising Mason Thames as a perfect fit for Hiccup — along with the rest of the cast. And most importantly, the magic is still there: "Get ready to fall in love with Toothless all over again".
There are even stronger reactions:
"It’s a magnificent reimagining of one of my all-time favourite animated films. It takes everything that made the original so special and soars to new heights." "I lost count of how many times I cried while watching. It’s something fantastic." "One of the most faithful adaptations in history."
Now all that’s left is to wait for June 13 and see with our own eyes whether the heartfelt sincerity that made the original unforgettable for an entire generation still shines through in the new version.
