‘How to Train Your Dragon' is the best live-action adaptation ever, but some parents may hate it
Now this is how you make a live-action adaptation of a beloved animated classic.
While Disney's live-action remakes of films from its animated library have been a mixed bag, DreamWorks' reimagining of its 2010 'How to Train Your Dragon' is the first that actually might be better than the original.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, the filmmaker behind not only all three 'Dragon' animated films but also the original ' Lilo & Stitch ' (2002), the new version excels because it makes its teenage protagonist deeper and more mature — and its monsters extra frightening.
In fact, this 'How to Train Your Dragon,' while rated PG feels like PG-13 and might be too scary for some children, even those who love the original animated feature. These CGI dragons are truly terrifying. But with 'Jurassic World Rebirth' arriving in theaters soon, that's the cinematic world we live in.
The story remains mostly unchanged. Hiccup (Mason Thames, star of ' The Black Phone '), the sensitive, peace-loving son of the fierce Viking king Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, who voiced the same character in the animated films), struggles to find his place in Berk, the seaside mountain village that is under constant threat from dragon attacks.
Stoick, disappointed in Hiccup, hopes to toughen the kid up by enrolling him in dragon-fighting school. Among his classmates is his school crush Astrid (Nico Parker) and the jocular Fishlegs (Julian Dennison, seen earlier this year in ' Y2K ' and the star of 2016's ' Hunt for the Wilderpeople ').
Hiccup's desire to kill dragons takes a serious hit when he meets Toothless, a small dragon caught in a trap in a wooded area. Instead of killing the dragon, Hiccup frees him, then makes daily visits to understand the creature.
The movie doesn't succeed unless the dragons are good, and the team behind this 'How to Train Your Dragon' hit the mark. The CGI work and DeBlois' swooping, dizzying camera work — this is the director's first live-action film — during the battles are top notch.
While the story is predictable even to those who haven't seen the original, the strength of this remake is its thematic plea for cultural understanding and the art of diplomacy. For generations, it's been dragons against humans, but why are dragons attacking? The Viking king is right to strengthen his village's defenses, and to train his subjects in the art of war. But is war the only solution or is there another way?
As Hiccup, the 17-year-old Mason is sensitive and appealing, a young boy who goes from dazed and confused to meeting the moment — and teaching dad a thing or two. Butler brings some touching moments to the proud king's gradual understanding of his son.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
DIS Q1 Earnings Call: Streaming Integration, Theme Park Expansion, and Strategic Partnerships Highlight Growth Plans
Global entertainment and media company Disney (NYSE:DIS) beat Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 7% year on year to $23.62 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.45 per share was 19.8% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy DIS? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $23.62 billion vs analyst estimates of $23.17 billion (7% year-on-year growth, 2% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.45 vs analyst estimates of $1.21 (19.8% beat) Operating Margin: 15.1%, up from 13.7% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $213.4 billion Disney's first quarter results were shaped by strong execution in its Experiences segment, notably theme parks and cruise lines, and continued momentum in content creation. CEO Bob Iger highlighted the performance of domestic theme parks and the successful integration of new intellectual property into cruise offerings, noting that investments in the Experiences segment "have delivered impressive returns on invested capital with returns from our experiences businesses at all-time highs." The quarter also saw an uptick in audience engagement and lower churn rates for Disney+ as Disney introduced more Hulu and sports content to its streaming platform. Management acknowledged the positive impact of these changes on user experience and retention, underlining the importance of product integration across digital and physical channels. Looking forward, Disney's guidance centers on driving growth through further integration of its streaming services and expanding its global footprint in experiences. CEO Bob Iger announced the partnership to develop Disneyland Abu Dhabi, marking Disney's seventh theme park destination, with the company overseeing design and operations while its partner funds construction. Management expects continued growth from the streaming business by deepening the integration of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN, leveraging technology enhancements and localized content investment. Hugh Johnston, CFO, stated, 'We absolutely have opportunities to reduce costs,' pointing to both revenue growth and operational efficiencies as contributing factors to future margin expansion. The company also sees the upcoming direct-to-consumer ESPN launch as a key driver for streaming engagement and revenue. Management credited the quarter's growth to expanded theme park offerings, improvements in streaming engagement, and global content success, while also announcing a significant international theme park expansion. Theme park expansion: Disney announced plans for a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, its first in the Middle East, through a partnership with Miral Group. The company will license its intellectual property and oversee operations, while construction and capital come from its partner. Disney's Imagineering team is already at work, and this destination is expected to tap into a large, previously underserved market. Streaming integration gains: The integration of Hulu content and live sports into Disney+ led to higher user engagement and lower churn. Management sees bundling and seamless user experience as differentiators, aiming for a fully integrated offering that combines Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN content. Paid sharing initiatives and improvements in personalization are also underway to further boost streaming performance. Content strategy shift: Disney is focusing on quality over quantity in its film and series production, especially within Marvel Studios. CEO Bob Iger acknowledged that in the past, producing too much content diluted quality. The company is now consolidating efforts around major theatrical releases and expects upcoming films like 'Lilo & Stitch,' 'Elio,' and 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' to support its content-driven business model. Parks and Experiences margins: Domestic park and cruise businesses contributed to higher operating margins, reflecting both increased attendance and efficient cost management. Cruise ships, such as the recently launched Disney Treasure, received high guest ratings and are expected to support growth as new ships debut in global markets. Advertising and sports momentum: ESPN's performance was bolstered by strong live sports programming, with advertising demand particularly healthy in sports and general entertainment. Management noted that ESPN's upcoming direct-to-consumer launch will feature additional "bells and whistles" and features not available on the linear service, aiming to capture both traditional and streaming audiences. Disney's outlook for the coming quarters is driven by ongoing expansion in experiences, further streaming integration, and increased investment in technology and local content. Global theme park growth: The introduction of Disneyland Abu Dhabi and continued investments in Florida and California parks are expected to broaden Disney's reach and reinforce experiences as a growth platform. Management highlighted the potential to serve new markets without cannibalizing existing attendance, leveraging local partnerships to minimize capital outlay and maximize returns. Streaming platform evolution: Disney plans to further integrate Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN into a single, customizable user experience, with an emphasis on technology improvements such as personalization and ad-tech. The upcoming launch of ESPN's direct-to-consumer service and continued investment in local content outside the U.S. are expected to drive subscriber growth and reduce churn. Management is also focused on capturing operating leverage through revenue growth and cost efficiencies. Content and advertising resilience: Upcoming theatrical releases and a strong sports calendar are expected to support revenue growth across both entertainment and advertising segments. Management cited ongoing demand for live sports advertising and a robust general entertainment pipeline. Risks include international consumer weakness, particularly in China, and increased competition in streaming and advertising markets. In future quarters, the StockStory team will closely watch (1) the rollout and consumer uptake of the ESPN direct-to-consumer service, (2) the progress of Disneyland Abu Dhabi's development and early market response, and (3) the impact of further streaming integration on subscriber engagement and churn. Execution on upcoming film releases and continued improvement in park attendance will also be key signposts for Disney's growth trajectory. Disney currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 21.5×. Should you double down or take your chips? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hugh Jackman Teases Whether Wolverine Will Appear In ‘Avengers: Doomsday'
With Wolverine's recent addition to Disney's MCU, Hugh Jackman is navigating questions about the character's onscreen future. Following his return to the role (aka Logan) in last year's Deadpool & Wolverine, the Oscar nominee recently assured he 'actually' has no news about whether he'll slip on the Adamantium claws once again for Avengers: Doomsday. More from Deadline Halle Berry On Returning To Reprise Storm Role In 'Avengers: Doomsday': 'It's Not Going To Be There' How To Stream The 'Wolverine' Movies In Chronological Order Disney Pushes Next Two 'Avengers' Movies; Dates 'The Dog Stars' & 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' 'I really can't say much, except when you say 'appear,' more like dominate and destroy every other character—I'm kidding,' teased Jackman on The View. 'I really have nothing to add, and if I did, I would find a really cool way to not say it, but I actually have nothing to add.' Jackman made his debut as Wolverine in 2000's X-Men, reprising the role in X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Wolverine (2013), Logan (2017) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). Halle Berry previously shut down hopes she'll return to play Storm in Avengers: Doomsday, which premieres May 1, 2026. Meanwhile, Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) and James Marsden (Cyclops) are set to return. Also joining the cast of Avengers: Doomsday are Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom), Pedro Pascal (Mister Fantastic), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Vanessa Kirby (Susan Storm), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Florence Pugh (Yelena), Tenoch Huerta (Namor), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Thing), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Lewis Pullman (Sentry), Danny Ramirez (Falcon), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Winston Duke (M'Baku), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and Channing Tatum (Gambit). Best of Deadline Every 'The Voice' Winner Since Season 1, Including 9 Team Blake Champions Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Marvel Skipping Comic-Con's Hall H This Year
Marvel will not need a spot in San Diego Comic-Con's cavernous Hall H this year, Deadline has confirmed. The news comes as Disney and Marvel last week pushed the release date of its next big Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday, to a December 2026 release, meaning the studio will have Comic-Con 2026 to rev up fans. Sources said that led to the decision to sit out this year's event, which runs July 24-27. More from Deadline Disney Pushes Next Two 'Avengers' Movies; Dates 'The Dog Stars' & 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' How to Watch the Marvel Movies in Chronological Order Ex-'Doctor Odyssey' Crew Members Sue Disney, 20th TV Claiming Sexual Harassment And Wrongful Termination Marvel will still have a presence at the fan confab, we understand, with its usual panels around the brand's comics and games. There are also plans for booth promoting the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the franchise reboot that hits theaters that Friday. It was at last year's Comic-Con during its traditional Saturday night Hall H presentation where Marvel revealed two new Avengers movies — Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars — and revealed that Robert Downey Jr would play Doctor Doom. Avengers: Doomsday now has a December 18, 2026 release date, while Secret Wars is set for December 17, 2027. Marvel's most recent movie, the May 1-released Thunderbolts*, has grossed $359.3 million to date. If a no-Avengers-no-Hall-H scenario sounds familiar, it is: Marvel skipped its Hall H slot in 2011 because the original The Avengers was still in production, and passed again in 2015 and 2018. It also skipped 2020 and 2021 because of Covid and 2023 because of the Hollywood strikes. Next up on the fan confab for Marvel is Team Fantastic Four showing up at CCXP Mexico on Saturday. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
