So, you’re looking at the How to Train Your Dragon rating and wondering if it’s actually as good as everyone says. Short answer? Yeah. It really is.
I’ve spent way too much time looking at Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores, and honestly, DreamWorks managed something here that even Pixar struggles with sometimes. They made a trilogy that actually gets better—or at least stays consistently incredible—as it goes on. Usually, by the third movie, a franchise is just a tired cash grab. Not here. Hiccup and Toothless somehow kept their souls intact through a decade of filmmaking.
The first film dropped in 2010. It changed everything for DreamWorks. Before that, they were the "Shrek" studio—lots of pop culture references and snark. How to Train Your Dragon was different. It felt earnest. It felt real. Even the flight sequences felt like they had actual physics behind them.
Breaking Down the How to Train Your Dragon Rating Across the Trilogy
When people talk about the How to Train Your Dragon rating, they’re usually looking at the PG rating from the MPAA. All three films—the 2010 original, the 2014 sequel, and 2019’s The Hidden World—carry that PG tag. But "PG" is a broad bucket.
The first movie is a solid 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. That’s nearly perfect. Critics loved the "boy and his dog" vibe, even though the "dog" is a literal fire-breathing Night Fury. The sequel sits at 91%, and the finale at 90%. That’s a remarkably tight spread. You rarely see a drop-off of only 9% over three films.
Why does the rating stay so high?
It’s the stakes. In the first movie, Hiccup loses a leg. Let’s just sit with that for a second. In a "kids' movie," the protagonist ends up with a permanent physical disability that mirrors his dragon’s injury. That is bold storytelling. It’s why parents and critics give it such a high personal rating compared to fluffier fare like Despicable Me or Madagascar.
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What the MPAA Rating Actually Means for Parents
If you’re checking the How to Train Your Dragon rating because you’ve got a sensitive five-year-old, here’s the reality. It’s PG for "scary creatures" and "some intense action."
Basically, there’s fire. There’s a giant, terrifying dragon called the Red Death that eats other dragons. There’s some mild Viking-style talk about killing and war. But it’s never gory. It’s "action-adventure" scary, not "nightmare-fuel" scary.
The Technical Wizardry Behind the Scores
Roger Ebert gave the first film 3 out of 4 stars. He specifically called out the 3D effects, which, back in 2010, were actually a big deal. Most movies used 3D as a gimmick. They’d throw things at the screen. How to Train Your Dragon used it for depth. When Toothless dives through the clouds, you actually feel that stomach-drop sensation.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins—yeah, the guy who did 1917 and Blade Runner 2049—actually consulted on these movies. That’s why the lighting looks so much better than your average animated flick. He taught the animators how to use light like a real camera would.
- Visuals: The textures of the scales, the way the water splashes against the rocks of Berk—it’s top-tier.
- Music: John Powell’s score is arguably one of the best in modern cinema. "Forbidden Friendship" is a track that can make a grown man cry just by hearing the first three notes.
- Character Growth: Hiccup actually ages. By the third movie, he’s a bearded man with responsibilities. Most animated characters are frozen in time. Not here.
Is the "Hidden World" Rating Justified?
By the time we got to the third movie, the How to Train Your Dragon rating faced a lot of pressure. People wanted a perfect ending. Does it deliver?
Most critics said yes. The 90% score reflects a "bittersweet" ending. It’s about letting go. That’s a tough pill for kids to swallow, but it’s handled with so much grace. Some fans felt the villain, Grimmel, was a bit one-dimensional compared to Drago in the second movie, but the emotional payoff between Hiccup and Toothless is what carries the score.
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Honestly, the chemistry between a CGI dragon and a scrawny Viking is more believable than most live-action rom-coms. You can see it in the eyes. The animators studied cats, dogs, and horses to get Toothless's mannerisms right. That attention to detail is exactly why the How to Train Your Dragon rating hasn't dipped into the "average" category even after fifteen years.
Comparing Berk to Other Animated Franchises
Look at Kung Fu Panda. Great series, but the third one definitely felt a bit softer. Look at Ice Age. That franchise fell off a cliff.
The How to Train Your Dragon rating stays high because the creators knew when to stop. Dean DeBlois, the director, insisted it be a trilogy. He had a beginning, a middle, and an end. He didn't want to drag it out until it became a parody of itself.
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010): The Discovery.
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014): The Expansion/Loss.
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019): The Goodbye.
It follows a classic literary structure. It’s basically Star Wars with dragons.
The Live-Action Factor
With a live-action remake on the horizon, everyone is nervous. Will the How to Train Your Dragon rating for a live-action version hold up? It’s a huge risk. Mason Thames and Nico Parker have big shoes (and prosthetics) to fill. The magic of the original often lies in the "squash and stretch" of animation that you just can't replicate with real actors and heavy CGI without it looking "uncanny valley."
But, if they keep the heart—the core relationship—it might just work.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Rating
People see "PG" and think "babysitter movie." That’s a mistake.
The How to Train Your Dragon rating reflects a movie that treats its audience like they have a brain. It deals with grief. It deals with the idea that "peace" is something you have to work for every single day. It’s not just about fire-breathing lizards; it’s about the burden of leadership.
The second movie, in particular, has a scene involving Hiccup’s father, Stoick, that is genuinely devastating. It’s handled with such maturity that it elevated the film's standing with adult audiences. That’s the "secret sauce." You don't get a 90%+ rating by just making kids laugh. You get it by making their parents feel something too.
Making the Most of the Franchise
If you’re diving into this for the first time, don’t just stop at the movies.
- Watch the shorts: Gift of the Night Fury is actually essential viewing for the holidays.
- Check the TV shows: Race to the Edge on Netflix actually fills in a lot of the gaps between movie one and two. It’s not quite "99% Rotten Tomatoes" quality, but it’s better than most spin-offs.
- Listen to the score: Seriously, put on the soundtrack while you work. It’s life-changing.
The real How to Train Your Dragon rating isn't just a number on a website. It’s the fact that people are still talking about it, cosplaying as the characters, and crying over the ending years later. It’s a rare beast in Hollywood: a perfect story told well.
If you’re planning a marathon, start with the first film and pay attention to how the relationship between Hiccup and his dad evolves. It’s the heartbeat of the whole series. Once you finish the trilogy, look up the "Homecoming" holiday special for a little extra closure. It brings the whole journey full circle in a way that feels earned rather than forced.