In 2010, DreamWorks Animation was mostly known for the Shrek franchise—irreverent, loud, and heavily reliant on pop-culture references. Then came a scrawny Viking named Hiccup and a sleek, jet-black dragon that looked more like a giant house cat than a mythical beast. If you look back at the initial reviews for how to train your dragon, critics were almost caught off guard by the sincerity. It wasn't just another loud cartoon. It was something deeper.
The movie didn't just succeed; it fundamentally shifted how people viewed non-Disney animated features. It earned a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes during its theatrical run. That isn't just "good for a kid's movie" territory. That's a critical consensus that places it alongside the all-time greats of cinema. Honestly, the way Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders handled the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is a masterclass in visual storytelling.
The Critical Consensus: Why the Reviews Stayed Positive
Most reviews for how to train your dragon highlight the flight sequences first. Rightly so. Roger Ebert, who wasn't always a fan of the 3D craze of the early 2010s, gave the film three out of four stars. He specifically praised the "vibrant" visuals and the way the 3D felt integral rather than a gimmick. It’s rare for a film to use technology to enhance emotion, but when Hiccup first reaches out his hand and Toothless leans into it? That’s pure cinema.
The score by John Powell also deserves a massive amount of credit. You can’t read a serious review of this film without someone mentioning "Test Drive" or "Romantic Flight." The music does the heavy lifting in scenes where there is zero dialogue. Critics often pointed out that the film trusts its audience. It doesn’t feel the need to explain every emotion with a quippy one-liner. It lets the wind and the strings of the orchestra tell you how it feels to soar.
Breaking the DreamWorks Mold
Before Hiccup, DreamWorks had a bit of a reputation. They were the studio that did the "DreamWorks Smirk." You know the one. But this film felt different. Total Film and Empire Magazine both noted in their original reviews that the movie had a "Pixar-like soul." That was a huge compliment at the time. It meant the story had weight.
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- The pacing is tight. There’s no bloat.
- The stakes feel real. People actually get hurt.
- The ending is daring.
The fact that Hiccup loses his leg at the end of the first film was a massive talking point in 2010. Most "family" movies wouldn't dream of permanently altering their protagonist. But critics loved it. It signaled that the world of Berk had consequences. It made the bond between Hiccup and Toothless literal—they both needed a prosthetic to fly. It's a beautiful, tragic, and ultimately hopeful piece of symbolism that elevated the film from a distraction to a work of art.
Audience Reception vs. Critical Acclaim
While critics loved the technical prowess, audiences fell in love with the characters. If you scroll through IMDb reviews for how to train your dragon, you’ll see a common thread: "This is the first movie that made me cry since The Lion King." That’s a heavy comparison. People connect with the idea of being an outsider. Hiccup isn't the hero because he's the strongest; he's the hero because he's the most observant.
- Hiccup's Arc: He doesn't change who he is to fit in; he changes his entire society to fit a better truth.
- Stoick the Vast: The relationship between father and son is handled with surprising nuance. It’s not just "dad is mean." It’s "dad is terrified for his son’s survival."
- The Dragons: They aren't monsters. They are animals with distinct personalities, which made the merchandising—and the emotional stakes—skyrocket.
One thing people often overlook is the voice acting. Jay Baruchel's nasally, hesitant tone was the perfect contrast to Gerard Butler's booming Scottish roar. It shouldn't work, but it does. It highlights the gap between the Viking ideal and Hiccup's reality.
Technical Brilliance: The Cinematography of Roger Deakins
Wait, why are we talking about the guy who shot No Country for Old Men and Blade Runner 2049 in an article about an animated dragon movie? Because DreamWorks actually hired Roger Deakins as a visual consultant. This is a detail that many casual fans miss, but film buffs always bring up in reviews for how to train your dragon.
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Deakins taught the animators how to use light like a real cinematographer. He wanted the shadows to look natural. He wanted the "camera" to move like it was being held by a person, not a computer. This is why the film looks "expensive." It has a grounded, earthy quality that contrasts beautifully with the glowing, ethereal scenes in the Dragon’s nest. You can see his influence in the way the fire illuminates the dark caves. It’s not just bright colors; it’s lighting.
What People Get Wrong About the Sequels
Usually, sequels are a cash grab. But the reviews for the second and third installments were surprisingly consistent. How to Train Your Dragon 2 actually holds a very high rating because it dared to age the characters. We saw Hiccup grow into a man. We saw him deal with grief in a way that most animated films avoid.
The third film, The Hidden World, received slightly more mixed reviews, though still largely positive. Some felt the villain, Grimmel, wasn't as compelling as Drago from the second film. Others thought the "separation" ending was a bit of a tear-jerker for the sake of it. But honestly? It completed the cycle. It turned the franchise into a complete coming-of-age story. From "I found a friend" to "I have to let my friend go."
Why the Live-Action Remake is Sparking Debate
As we look toward the future, the conversation around reviews for how to train your dragon is shifting toward the upcoming live-action adaptation. There’s a lot of skepticism. Why remaking a film that is already visually perfect?
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The casting of Mason Thames and Nico Parker has been met with a mix of excitement and the usual internet scrutiny. Fans are worried that a live-action Toothless will lose the charm of the animated version. If you make him look too much like a "real" reptile, does he lose the cat-like expressions that made him famous? This is the hurdle the new film has to jump. It has to justify its own existence beyond just being a 3D-to-live-action port.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning to revisit the trilogy or watch it for the first time, keep these points in mind to appreciate why the reviews are so glowing:
- Watch the Lighting: Specifically look at the scenes at dusk. Notice how the light catches the scales on Toothless's back. That’s the Deakins influence.
- Listen for the Silence: Notice how long the movie goes without dialogue during the "Forbidden Friendship" scene. It’s nearly five minutes of pure character development through action.
- Check the Background: The world-building in Berk is incredible. The blacksmith shop, the dragon training arena, the way the Vikings use sheep—it all feels lived-in.
- Compare the First and Last Scenes: The trilogy begins and ends with Hiccup’s narration about Berk. The change in his tone and the description of the village tells the entire story of his growth.
The legacy of this film isn't just in the toys sold or the TV spin-offs. It’s in the fact that it treated its audience—regardless of age—with respect. It didn't shy away from disability, loss, or the complicated nature of peace. That’s why, sixteen years later, we are still talking about it.
To truly understand the impact, watch the first film followed immediately by the final ten minutes of The Hidden World. The emotional payoff is one of the most earned moments in modern animation. You’ll see exactly why the critics were right to call it a masterpiece from day one. There’s no better time to dive back into the clouds above Berk and remember what it felt like to see a boy and his dragon change the world.