‘How to Train Your Dragon’ takes flight in live action: Watch
Mason Thames stars as the Viking boy Hiccup, who instead of slaying dragons befriends one in the live-action remake of “How to Train Your Dragon.”
The live-action remake of the beloved animated tale of a boy and a flying beast will soon be available to watch on your TV screens with the digital release of “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Set on the rugged isle of Berk, “where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations,” the movie is based on the 2010 animated adventure of the same name.
The film follows Hiccup (Mason Thames), the inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), who “defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury Dragon.” The two forge an unlikely bond which “reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society,” the film’s synopsis says.
“As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future,” it adds. “Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.”
‘A lesson for anybody tackling a remake’
USA TODAY’s Brian Truitt gave the film ★★★½ out of four, writing “the new ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ manages to be a rousing success” on “all counts.”
“‘How to Train Your Dragon’ is a lesson for anybody tackling a remake,” Truitt wrote in his review. “It doesn’t try to half do something old and something new, like ‘Snow White,’ and makes the case for being actually necessary, unlike ‘Lilo & Stitch’.”
“As it was back in the day, Toothless is a joy to watch and the movie’s best special effect but he’s also a symbol of growth: as watchable and lovable as ever, yet with a slightly more mature sheen,” the review adds.
Here is what to know about the “How to Train Your Dragon” digital release and when it will be available to stream.
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When will ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ be released digitally?
“How to Train Your Dragon” will be available to buy and rent on digital platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, on Tuesday, July 15, Universal Pictures, the studio behind the live-action film, announced on June 14.
Watch ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘ on Amazon Prime | Apple TV
“How to Train Your Dragon” was released in theaters on June 13.
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‘How to Train Your Dragon’ 4K Blu-ray/DVD release
“How to Train Your Dragon” will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on Aug. 12, per Universal Pictures.
The studio, in a news release, said the digital and Blu-ray version of the movie will offer exclusive bonus features, such as deleted scenes with introductions by writer-director Dean DeBlois, a gag reel and featurettes, including a “glimpse at the technology, artistry, and imagination involved in bringing life-like dragons to the screen,” building the berk and the “elaborate transformations” of the cast.
Will ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ come out on Peacock?
Universal Pictures’ films typically release on Peacock a few months after their theatrical release, which means “How to Train Your Dragon” could drop on the streaming platform sometime in October. However, neither the studio nor the streaming platform has made an official announcement regarding the film’s streaming release.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ cast
The cast of “How to Train Your Dragon,” according to Universal Pictures, includes:
- Nico Parker as Astrid
- Mason Thames as Hiccup
- Gerard Butler as Chief Stoick the Vast
- Nick Frost as Gobber
- Gabriel Howell
- Julian Dennison
- Bronwyn James
- Harry Trevaldwyn
- Peter Serafinowicz
Watch ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ trailer
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Contributing: Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.