Finding a story that hits the same way DreamWorks’ masterpiece does is actually pretty hard. You know that feeling. It’s that specific mix of soaring flight sequences, a "boy and his dog" bond (even if the dog is a plasma-blasting reptile), and a world that feels lived-in. When we talk about movies like How to Train Your Dragon, we aren’t just looking for cartoons with lizards. We want heart. We want stakes. Most of all, we want that feeling of flying.
Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders did something magical with Hiccup and Toothless. They didn't treat the audience like kids who couldn't handle grief or physical disability. Hiccup loses a leg. Toothless loses a tail fin. They complete each other. Honestly, most animated films are too scared to go that dark, but that’s exactly why the trilogy stays in our heads years after the "Hidden World" brought it all to a close.
Why The Bond Matters More Than The Dragons
If you're hunting for a similar vibe, you have to look at the "creature-feature" bond. It’s the core. Without that connection, it’s just CGI noise.
Take Big Hero 6. It’s probably the closest thing in terms of emotional DNA. You have Hiro, a brilliant but lost kid, and Baymax, a high-tech marshmallow who replaces a lost brother. Just like Hiccup and Toothless, they have to learn to communicate through action rather than words. The flight scenes over San Fransokyo are a direct spiritual successor to the "Test Drive" sequence from the first Dragon movie. You see the same physics-based movement, the same joy of discovery.
Then there’s Lilo & Stitch. It’s no coincidence that this movie feels familiar; Chris Sanders co-directed it before he moved over to DreamWorks. Stitch is basically Toothless but with more chaos and a better vocabulary. It explores that same "outcast" theme. Lilo is the Hiccup of Hawaii—weird, misunderstood, and finding kinship in something the rest of the world sees as a monster.
Sometimes the bond isn't even with a living creature. The Iron Giant is the blueprint for this entire genre. Brad Bird’s 1999 classic handles the "misunderstood weapon" trope better than almost anything else in cinema history. Hogarth Hughes finds a giant robot from space, and instead of a war movie, we get a story about choice. "You are who you choose to be." That line resonates in every frame of the Dragon trilogy.
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High-Stakes Fantasy Worlds That Actually Feel Real
A big part of why people search for movies like How to Train Your Dragon is the world-building. Berk felt cold. You could almost feel the salt spray and the sheep wool.
Raya and the Last Dragon tried to capture this, and while the humor is a bit more "modern Disney," the world of Kumandra is visually stunning. Sisu, the dragon voiced by Awkwafina, is a far cry from the sleek, predatory Night Fury, but the stakes are high. It deals with tribalism and the breakdown of society—pretty heavy stuff for a PG movie.
If you want something that feels more "Viking" or "Ancient," look toward Brave. Pixar’s take on Scottish lore has that same rugged, misty atmosphere. It’s less about a pet and more about family dynamics, but the transformation themes and the bears give it that wild, creature-heavy energy you’re likely craving.
The Studio Ghibli Connection
You cannot talk about flying in cinema without mentioning Hayao Miyazaki. The creators of How to Train Your Dragon have openly cited Miyazaki as a massive influence.
- Spirited Away: While the plot is a fever dream of spirits and bathhouses, the relationship between Chihiro and Haku (in dragon form!) is pure magic.
- Castle in the Sky: This is the peak of "flight" cinematography. The airships, the floating islands, the sense of scale. It’s breathtaking.
- Princess Mononoke: This is for the fans who liked the "humans vs. nature" conflict in Berk. It’s much more violent and philosophical, but it treats its animals with the same respect and weight as the Dragon series.
Hidden Gems You Might Have Skipped
Everyone knows Kung Fu Panda. It’s great. Po is a legend. But does it feel like How to Train Your Dragon? Sorta, but not really. It's more of a comedy-action flick.
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Instead, look at Abominable. It’s a DreamWorks production that flew under the radar for many. It follows a girl named Yi who finds a Yeti on her roof in Shanghai. They travel across China to get him home. It has that "musicality" and travel-log feel that made the second Dragon movie so special. The Yeti has these magical powers involving nature that feel very much like the "Alpha" abilities Toothless eventually unlocks.
Sea Beast on Netflix is another heavy hitter. It’s basically How to Train Your Dragon but on the high seas. You have monster hunters, a young girl who stows away, and a "Red Bluster" creature that turns out to be more than just a mindless killer. The animation is top-tier, and the ship combat is some of the best seen in years. It’s probably the most direct "if you like X, you’ll love Y" recommendation on this list.
Why We Keep Coming Back to These Stories
There is a psychological itch these movies scratch. It's the "secret friend" trope. We all want to be the one person who understands the thing everyone else is afraid of.
In How to Train Your Dragon, the dragons were a metaphor for the unknown. For disability. For "the enemy." When Hiccup reaches out his hand and closes his eyes, he’s not just taming a pet; he’s bridging a gap between two warring worlds.
Movies that pull this off successfully:
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- The Water Horse: A bit more "family-friendly" and grounded in history (WWII Scotland), but the bond with the Loch Ness monster is heartbreakingly similar.
- Pete’s Dragon (2016): The live-action remake is surprisingly soulful. Elliot the dragon is furry and dog-like, emphasizing that "beast as protector" vibe.
- Wolfwalkers: This is a masterpiece from Cartoon Saloon. It uses a unique hand-drawn style to tell a story about a girl in Ireland who discovers a tribe of people who turn into wolves. It’s moody, atmospheric, and fiercely emotional.
What To Do After The Credits Roll
If you've exhausted the movies, the journey doesn't actually have to stop. There are layers to this franchise and genre that many fans miss.
Check out the "Art of" books. The production design for the Dragon movies is legendary. Seeing the sketches of how they designed the different dragon classes (Boulder, Stoker, Sharp) gives you a huge appreciation for the biology they tried to bake into the world.
Watch the shorts. Most people miss Gift of the Night Fury or Homecoming. They aren't just fluff; they actually bridge the gaps between the films and provide some of the best emotional payoffs for Hiccup’s family life.
Look into the books—but be warned. Cressida Cowell’s original book series is almost nothing like the movies. In the books, Toothless is a tiny, green, common dragon who talks. It’s a completely different vibe, but it’s a fun, chaotic ride if you can separate it from the films.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist:
- Start with Sea Beast if you want the closest visual and thematic match.
- Queue up The Iron Giant if you want the "misunderstood outsider" emotional punch.
- Watch Wolfwalkers if you want a fresh, artistic take on the "human-animal bond" that feels grown-up.
- Explore Big Hero 6 for that high-flying, technical action and a "healing" protagonist.
The "Dragon" shaped hole in your heart is hard to fill because those movies were made with a rare kind of sincerity. But the "creature-bond" subgenre is alive and well. You just have to know where to fly next.