HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON First Reactions Hail Remake As "The Best Live-Action Adaptation" Of All Time

Universal and DreamWorks Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake has just been screened for members of the press and theater owners at CinemaCon, and the first reactions are positively glowing.

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.

Get ready to fall in love with Toothless all over again.#HowToTrainYourDragon is an exceedingly faithful adaptation that brings the classic story and world to life.

All of the dragons look absolutely incredible, and the movie cleverly does more to flesh out the characters. pic.twitter.com/QvIA9cJYEZ

— Russ Milheim - The Direct (@RussMilheim) April 2, 2025

#HowToTrainYourDragon was everything I wanted as someone utterly obsessed with original. Once you settle in, you're back in Berk. The dragons look fantastic and that first flight is the thing of dreams. I'm thrilled this worked so well. #CinemaCon #CinemaCon2025 #HTTYD pic.twitter.com/frNTJ2QUvn

— Kaitlyn Booth ✈️ #CinemaCon2025 (@katiesmovies) April 2, 2025

#HowToTrainYourDragon is a GORGEOUS reimagining of one of the most beloved animated films of all time. Full of heart, it takes everything that made the original so special and soars to new heights with BREATHTAKING visuals and a spectacular story for a whole new generation. pic.twitter.com/s52JACGowt

— Daniel Baptista @ CinemaCon (@dbapz) April 2, 2025

#HowToTrainYourDragon is the best live-action adaptation film I’ve seen. Big fan of the original, and it was everything that I wanted to see- the score, the acting, and the VFX were PERFECT.

Cried a few times. I’ve never loved a CGI creature more than Toothless. #CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/X8IgYvfoEu

— Dorian Parks (@DorianParksnRec) April 2, 2025

The live-action #HowToTrainYourDragon captures the magic of the original in almost every way. All the big moments are there, all the heart and excitement too. Wonderful performances all around. My only gripe is the new stuff, while good and subtle, never elevates things enough. pic.twitter.com/4ReJ9WQYE2

— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) April 2, 2025

Gotta be honest that HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025) does find its own sense of magic, whimsy, and awe-inspiring scale... only when it's not remaking the original shot for shot for shot for shot. Gerald Butler is clearly having the time of his life though! #CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/oNTte4dukb

— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) April 2, 2025

#HowToTrainYourDragon is the best live-action adaptation film I’ve seen. Big fan of the original, and it was everything that I wanted to see- the score, the acting, and the VFX were PERFECT.

Cried a few times. I’ve never loved a CGI creature more than Toothless. #CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/X8IgYvfoEu

— Dorian Parks (@DorianParksnRec) April 2, 2025

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON—lives up to the live-action hype. If you loved the trilogy, this will evoke strong nostalgia. Toothless really comes to life in this version. Should be a sizable hit for DreamWorks and Universal.

The flying sequences thru the canyons were spectacular.

— Exhibitor Relations Co. (@ERCboxoffice) April 2, 2025

The #HowToTrainYourDragon live action flick was a blast. Beautifully mounted, and well cast. Gerard Butler and Nico Parker are standouts.

— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) April 2, 2025

The How to Train Your Dragon remake was written and directed by Dean DeBlois, who also penned and helmed the original animated trilogy.

Retelling the franchise’s first entry, the live-action reboot follows Hiccup (Mason Thames), a scrawny Viking boy who refuses to follow his tribe’s tradition of hunting dragons. This is much to the chagrin of his proudly traditional father, Stoick (Gerard Bulter), who happens to be the village leader and a legendary dragon butt kicker.

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.