Before dragons could soar onto the big screen in glorious CGI fire-breathing form, How to Train Your Dragon was just another animated underdog from DreamWorks. But then, boom, it launched one of the most emotionally rich, visually breathtaking trilogies of the 2010s.
Yep, the franchise unloaded stunning animation, tear-jerker-level storytelling, and epic soundtracks. Literally, the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy gave us heart-punching goodbyes, sky-soaring friendships, and enough flying scenes to make Pixar a little nervous.
And now? Well, the franchise has spread its wings into live-action territory. Yup, that’s right, DreamWorks has officially brought a live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, and shockingly, it doesn’t just coast on nostalgia. It actually flies. This remake apparently honors the original’s charm while upgrading the magic for a new audience, and yes, Toothless still steals every scene.
So, while the Dragon legacy still burning brighter than ever, let’s take a high-flying dive into Berk and rank the trilogy, from worst to best.
3. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
Ranked 3rd on our list, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World closes the trilogy with soaring emotions, exceptional visuals, and one heck of a bioluminescent glow-up. Though the finale is heartfelt and eye candy, this threequel does stumble under the weight of side quests and overstuffed subplots.
The third chapter picks up Hiccup as Berk’s chief and Toothless as the world’s most eligible dragon bachelor. Of course, with the addition of dazzling Light Fury. The bond between Hiccup and Toothless is as strong as ever, as their wingman scene was literally one of the most comedic and emotional high points of the movie. Then there’s Grimmel, a dragon hunter who’s delightfully evil, smart, and refreshingly not a misunderstood villain who “just wants a hug.”
Though the titular Hidden World is a jaw-dropper and the visuals rocked, the pacing occasionally dips. In the movie, Valka and Astrid take a backseat while comic relief characters like Snotlout and Ruffnut hog more screen time than necessary. Even with the flaws, the film isn’t just “good for a trilogy ender”, it’s good, PERIOD.
Moreover, the critics agree, giving it a solid 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes while at the box office, the film swopped up $539 million globally against a $129 million budget. (via Box Office Mojo.)
All in all, a satisfying farewell, with Hiccup and Toothless riding into emotional sunset territory.
2. How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
Coming in at 2nd position on our rankings, How to Train Your Dragon is where it all began, boy meets dragon, dragon changes boy’s life, and suddenly Viking values start getting rewritten. While this film didn’t just launch a franchise, it actually redefined DreamWorks’ entire animated brand. Yep, gone were the pop-culture gags and fart jokes, this franchise was all heart, scale, and spectacles.
The first chapter where it all began featured Hiccup, a misfit teen in a land where dragon-hunting is the ultimate flex, who ends up befriending the very creature he’s supposed to kill. And the result? Well, a beautifully awkward bromance with Toothless, a Night Fury with cat-like sass and puppy-level loyalty. Of course, their friendship was the literal soul of the movie, and if you didn’t cry during their silent bonding montage, well, are you even human?
Let’s not forget the music. John Powell’s soaring score is pure symphonic sorcery. And the test flight scene? Well, it was pure cinema. There were no dialogues, just wind, wonder, and one of the greatest pieces of movie music ever composed. Yep, the movie earned Oscar and BAFTA nods.
Though the villain Red Death isn’t exactly iconic, the movie’s charm lies elsewhere. It actually lies in its emotional intelligence, tight storytelling, and even its representation of disability, with Hiccup and Gobber both using prosthetics like absolute champs.
Not to mention the critics, they were spellbound. How to Train Your Dragon holds a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes backed by $494M, via Box Office Mojo. Undoubtedly, it’s a movie that dared to be earnest in an era of sarcasm and became an instant classic because of it.
1. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
Taking up the first place on our ranking, How to Train Your Dragon 2 pulled off what few sequels ever manage. Yep, this second chapter soared higher than the original. The movie is set five years after Hiccup and Toothless first reshaped Berk’s dragon-hating ways. Also, this movie gives us a mature duo gliding through peace until chaos crashes the party.
Well, if you’re a Star Wars fan, you can relate this with Empire Strikes Back of Dragon Tales, and that’s no accident. Director Dean DeBlois literally said it was his blueprint, and boy, did it pay off. Obviously, the stakes were higher, the visuals were grander, and the emotions? They cut deep, especially with one gut-wrenching character death that leaves a tear-shaped scorch mark on your heart.
Also, we have Valka, Hiccup’s long-lost mom, and she’s every bit as fierce and dragon-obsessed as her son. Then there’s Drago Bludvist, our villain, who is a hulking menace with an army of enslaved dragons, bringing real danger to the skies. No, it’s not all doom, but still, this movie revels in sweeping vistas, clever action sequences, and some of the finest flight scenes ever rendered.
Even critics were hooked too, How to Train Your Dragon 2 earned a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and went on to rake in $621M globally, via Box Office Mojo. It’s cinematic firepower with wings, heart, and the kind of depth that makes you wish you had a dragon’s best friend.
You can watch all the three movies of How to Train Your Dragon on Peacock.
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