Directed by Dean DeBlois.
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) was released in theaters on June 13, 2025.
Distributed by Universal Pictures.
Movie Review
The 2025 live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon is a touching and visually stunning remake of the beloved animated film.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, it stars Mason Thames as Hiccup and Nico Parker as Astrid.
The movie tells the story of a brave Viking boy who befriends a dragon named Toothless, changing the way humans see dragons forever.
The film keeps the magic and heart of the original, with breathtaking dragon flight scenes and strong performances that make the story feel fresh and emotional.
Fans will love how it stays true to the classic, while new viewers will be drawn into its world of friendship, courage, and adventure.
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) is a powerful and family-friendly story that reminds us that understanding and kindness can change everything.
CR Rating – 8/10
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) Actors
Mason Thames as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
DOB: July 10, 2007.
Bio: Mason Thames is a rapidly rising young actor from Texas known for his work in both film and television.
He has garnered attention for delivering emotional depth and naturalistic performances in genre projects, making him well-suited for the introspective, inventive Hiccup.
Role: Hiccup is the thoughtful and inventive son of Berk’s chieftain.
In this live-action adaptation, he is a 16-year-old outsider whose curiosity and empathy lead him to befriend a Night Fury dragon, setting the stage for a transformation in his village’s understanding and relationship with dragons.
What to Expect: A nuanced performance balancing teenage awkwardness, emotional sensitivity, and inventive courage.
Interesting facts: Thames trained extensively for both physical stunts and dragon-flying sequences.
Press coverage in 2025 highlighted him as an emerging talent following roles in high-profile projects.
Notable works: The Black Phone, For All Mankind (TV), Incoming.
Nico Parker as Astrid Hofferson
DOB: December 9, 2004.
Bio: English actress and the daughter of Thandiwe Newton and Ol Parker.
She gained recognition for her roles in Dumbo and The Last of Us, earning praise for her combination of emotional clarity and physical presence on screen.
Role: Astrid is Hiccup’s skilled and determined fellow trainee, later becoming his close ally and eventual romantic interest.
Courageous, blunt, and uncompromising, she challenges Hiccup to grow while revealing her own vulnerabilities.
What to Expect: Athletic, spirited performance with fierce combat and emotional payoffs.
Interesting facts: Parker has been highlighted by press for her natural toughness and her ability to balance action-oriented scenes with emotional authenticity.
Notable works: Dumbo, The Last of Us, early film/TV roles.
Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast
DOB: November 13, 1969.
Bio: Scottish actor celebrated for his muscular, charismatic performances in films such as 300 and Olympus Has Fallen.
He previously voiced Stoick in the How to Train Your Dragon animated trilogy and now brings the character to life in live-action, combining gravitas with paternal authority.
Role: Stoick is the chieftain of Berk and Hiccup’s father, proud, formidable, yet ultimately humanized through his son’s influence.
Butler’s portrayal anchors the village’s emotional and dramatic stakes.
What to Expect: Broad, commanding energy, a layered father figure who must reconcile tradition with change.
Interesting facts: Butler reprises the role from the animated trilogy.
Press coverage highlighted his on-set intensity and strong chemistry with Mason Thames.
Notable works: 300, The Phantom of the Opera, Greenland, How to Train Your Dragon animated films (voice).
Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch
DOB: March 28, 1972.
Bio: English actor and comedian known for his work in genre comedies such as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.
He brings warmth, physicality, and impeccable comic timing to supporting roles, making him a memorable presence onscreen.
Role: Gobber is Berk’s blacksmith, Stoick’s longtime friend, and the tribe’s rough-but-wise instructor.
He mentors the dragon riders, providing both comic relief and emotional support throughout the story.
What to Expect: Warm, funny beats mixed with surprisingly tender mentorship scenes.
Interesting facts: Frost’s casting was praised for perfectly matching the tone of the live-action adaptation, combining goofiness with physical authority.
Notable works: The World’s End, Paul, Into the Badlands, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz.
Gabriel Howell as Snotlout Jorgenson
DOB: February 19, 1999.
Bio: British actor trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
He transitioned from theatre and television to feature films, earning recognition for his strong character work in tense and physical roles.
Role: Snotlout is Hiccup’s loud and brash rival in dragon-training class, cocky, showy, but with moments of vulnerability that reveal depth beneath his swagger.
What to Expect: Energetic rivalry, comic posturing and a performance that humanizes a cartoonish antagonist.
Interesting facts: Howell’s classical theatre training allowed him to ground Snotlout’s bluster with genuine emotion during pivotal interactions.
Notable works: Bodies (Netflix), stage credits, small films.
Julian Dennison as Fishlegs Ingerman
DOB: October 16, 2002.
Bio: Julian Dennison is a New Zealand actor known for Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Deadpool 2.
He brings comic sweetness, timing, and surprising emotional depth to his roles.
Role: Fishlegs is Hiccup’s gentle, dragon-obsessed friend, nerdy, loyal, and quietly brave when circumstances demand.
Dennison portrays Fishlegs with warmth and deadpan humor.
What to Expect: Comic relief that lands emotionally; a character who grows beyond textbook side-kick territory.
Interesting facts: Dennison’s Kiwi background and natural comedic instincts made him an ideal fit for Fishlegs’s blend of nerdiness, loyalty, and heart.
Notable works: Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Deadpool 2, Godzilla vs. Kong.
Bronwyn James as Ruffnut Thorston
DOB: July 24, 1994.
Bio: English actress Bronwyn James has worked extensively on stage and screen, including Wicked, The Dig, and Slow Horses.
She is known for bringing brash comic energy and physicality to her roles.
Role: Ruffnut is one half of the Thorston twins, loud, unpredictable, and a constant source of chaos, mischief, and occasional insight.
James portrays Ruffnut as a fierce, anarchic presence with high-energy antics.
What to Expect: High-energy, mischievous setpieces and twin-dynamic comic shorthand with Tuffnut.
Interesting facts: James’s musical theatre and dramatic training prepared her for the physical comedy and stunt work the role requires.
Notable works: Wicked (film), Slow Horses, stage work.
Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut Thorston
DOB: February 14, 1994.
Bio: English comedian and actor Harry Trevaldwyn has built a rising career in TV and film, known for combining a goofy, affable presence with sharp comic timing.
Role: Tuffnut is Ruffnut’s twin, equally chaotic but with his own rhythm and comedic sensibility.
Trevaldwyn plays him with a mix of pratfalls, physical humor, and occasional emotional depth.
What to Expect: Twin gags, physical comedy and an unexpectedly memorable performance amid ensemble chaos.
Interesting facts: Trevaldwyn’s experience in sketch and improvisational comedy enhances the rapid-fire interplay between the Thorston twins.
Notable works: The Bubble, Ten Percent, various comedic TV roles.
Ruth Codd as Phlegma
DOB: June 13, 1996.
Bio: Irish actress Ruth Codd transitioned from social media fame to dramatic acting, gaining recognition for The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
She brings a striking, unconventional presence to supporting roles.
Role: Phlegma is a member of Berk’s community, a small but memorable presence whose scenes enrich village life and local dynamics.
What to Expect: A standout cameo that uses oddball physicality and expressiveness to create an unforgettable bit character.
Interesting facts: Codd’s unusual career path, from makeup artist to TikTok creator to professional acting, has been highlighted in press coverage.
This role marks one of her first major feature-film appearances.
Notable works: The Midnight Club, The Fall of the House of Usher.
Peter Serafinowicz as Spitelout Jorgenson
DOB: July 10, 1972.
Bio: English actor and comedian Peter Serafinowicz has a career spanning cult comedies, voice work, and major studio films (Shaun of the Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy).
He is known for sly, authoritative, and scene-stealing character roles.
Role: Spitelout is Snotlout’s father, a brash, competitive figure whose presence underscores village rivalries and the Viking culture’s emphasis on strength and bravado.
What to Expect: A scene-stealing, wryly comic turn that reminds you why Serafinowicz is a valued character actor.
Interesting facts: Serafinowicz’s extensive experience in comedy and voice acting makes him ideal for bringing a robust, memorable Viking patriarch to life.
Notable works: Shaun of the Dead, The Tick, Guardians of the Galaxy (voice), various comedy projects.
Murray McArthur as Hoark
DOB: May 4, 1966.
Bio: English stage and screen actor Murray McArthur has a long theatrical career and extensive TV/film experience.
Known for rugged, weathered character roles, he brings depth and authenticity to supporting parts.
Role: Hoark is a member of Berk’s older guard, a grounded, quietly memorable character who adds lived-in texture to the village and supports the ensemble’s dynamics.
What to Expect: Grounded character work that helps the film feel like a lived community.
Interesting facts: McArthur is a familiar presence in British TV and film, often cast in roles that require gravitas and physicality, enhancing the film’s world-building.
Notable works: Game of Thrones, British TV dramas, extensive stage work.
Naomi Wirthner as Gothi
DOB: December 25, 1965.
Bio: Actress Naomi Wirthner has built a growing career in TV, film, and stage.
She is known for bringing gravitas, poise, and authority to supporting roles, often elevating smaller parts with a commanding presence.
Role: Gothi is Berk’s spiritual and council figure, serving as a ceremonial guide and moral compass for the village.
She reinforces the community’s traditions and provides context for Hiccup’s challenges to authority.
What to Expect: Quiet, ritualized moments that underline the community’s traditions and the stakes of Hiccup’s rebellion.
Interesting facts: Wirthner’s casting was confirmed via production posts and director acknowledgements; she’s credited with lending ceremony and weight to the village scenes.
Notable works: Slow Horses, The Outrun, various stage and TV credits.
More Actors
• Anna Leong Brophy as Retcha.
• Andrea Ware as Burnheart.
• Pete Selwood as Drül.
• Daniel-John Williams as Fungi.
• Kate Kennedy as Flatula.
• Selina Jones as Loogi.
• Nick Cornwall as Hürl.
• Marcus Onilude as Snorti.
FAQ – How to Train Your Dragon (2025) Movie
What is How to Train Your Dragon (2025) about?
The movie follows Hiccup, a young Viking who befriends a wounded dragon named Toothless, challenging his village’s long-standing hatred for dragons. Together, they change the future of Berk forever.
Is it a remake or a sequel?
It is a live-action remake of the original 2010 animated film, updating the story in a cinematic, realistic format.
Where was the movie filmed?
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) was filmed in Iceland, Scotland, and Vancouver, Canada, chosen for their dramatic landscapes that bring the Viking world of Berk to life.
How long is the movie?
The feature runs about two hours (roughly in the 120–130 minute range).
Is the film suitable for kids?
Yes, it’s a family-friendly adventure with emotional moments and action; parental discretion advised for very young children during tense or intense scenes.
Conclusion
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) is a heartfelt and visually stunning remake that captures the same magic that made the original so special.
With powerful performances, breathtaking visuals, and a timeless story about friendship and courage, it successfully bridges generations.
Whether you grew up with the animated version or are discovering the story for the first time, this live-action adaptation offers an emotional and unforgettable cinematic experience for families and fans alike.