Everything to Know About the How to Train Your Dragon Franchise
From three animated DreamWorks films, to a new world at Universal Orlando's Epic Universe, to a live-action film releasing this summer, here is the complete history of the How to Train Your Dragon Franchise across NBCUniversal's film, TV, and theme parks.
April 17, 2025
The How to Train Your Dragon franchise is a critically acclaimed series produced by DreamWorks Animation.
How to Train Your Dragon Film Series
Based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, the animated films follow the adventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a young Viking who befriends a rare dragon, Toothless, and challenges his village’s long-standing beliefs about dragons.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
The first film introduces Hiccup, a misfit Viking who discovers that dragons are not the enemies his people believe them to be. His friendship with Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, changes the course of Viking history. Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the film debuted at #1 at the North American box office, earning $43.7 million in its opening weekend.
It then went on to gross $494.9 million worldwide, making it one of DreamWorks Animation’s most successful original films at the time. Critics praised the film’s stunning animation, emotional depth, and dynamic flying sequences, particularly in IMAX 3D, leading to a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Academy Awards nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.
Showcasing a more mature and heartfelt storytelling approach, the film’s combination of action, humor, and heart ensured its place as a beloved classic, launching the highly successful animated trilogy and an enduring franchise.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
Following the massive success of the first film, DreamWorks Animation released How to Train Your Dragon 2 on June 13, 2014. Directed again by Dean DeBlois, the sequel took a more expansive and emotional approach, further developing the world and characters. Set five years later, Hiccup and Toothless uncover a hidden world of dragons and face a new enemy, Drago Bludvist. The film explores Hiccup’s growth as a leader and his emotional journey following the loss of his father, Stoick. The film’s more mature themes, including loss, leadership, and destiny, were widely praised, helping to elevate the franchise beyond just a children’s series.
The film earned $49.5 million in its opening weekend, and went on to gross $621.5 million worldwide, making it one of DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing films. With widespread critical acclaim and a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score, it was praised for its darker themes, breathtaking animation, and emotional storytelling.
Many critics regarded it as one of the best animated sequels ever made, and it was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. It won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, marking DreamWorks Animation’s first win in that category.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
The third and final installment in the trilogy, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, was released by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures on February 22, 2019. This marked the first How to Train Your Dragon film released under NBCUniversal, following its acquisition of DreamWorks Animation in 2016.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, the film resolves the story of Hiccup and Toothless, focusing on themes of leadership, love, and letting go. The trilogy’s conclusion sees Hiccup searching for a safe haven for dragons while confronting a formidable dragon hunter, Grimmel. Toothless also finds a mate, the Light Fury, leading to a bittersweet farewell as dragons retreat to the Hidden World.
The film opened at #1 in the North American box office with $55 million, making it the biggest opening weekend of the franchise, before grossing a total $525.7 million worldwide. Like the first two films, it received high critical praise, holding a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score. Critics and audiences praised its visual beauty, emotional depth, and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, earning a third franchise nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.
While The Hidden World marked the end of the iconic animated film trilogy, the How to Train Your Dragon franchise still had many journeys ahead.
How To Train Your Dragon (In Theaters June 13)
From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. 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. The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones). How to Train Your Dragon is written, produced and directed by DeBlois.
It is also produced by three-time Oscar® nominee Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land) and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Drive, 2 Guns). How To Train Your Dragon is part of the Filmed For IMAX® Program, which offers filmmakers IMAX® technology to help them deliver the most immersive movie experience to audiences around the world.
Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, DeBlois transforms his beloved animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny.
How to Train Your Dragon at Universal Destinations & Experiences
See the fantasy worlds of How to Train Your Dragon come to life at Universal's theme parks.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk at Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe
Take to the skies and soar with dragons in a larger-than-life world of viking adventures coming to Universal Epic Universe in 2025. For the first time ever, guests can step into the mythical Isle of Berk – based on the wildly popular “How to Train Your Dragon” films.
Universal Orlando Resort invites guests of all ages to soar with dragons in a colorful, fully-alive world filled with Viking adventures in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk – one of the five worlds featured at the all-new Universal Epic Universe theme park opening in 2025.
Here, guests will see what it’s like to live amongst dragons as they explore a larger-than-life world that includes exciting attractions, beloved character meet-and-greets, dining, shopping – and even flying dragons – based on DreamWorks Animation’s multi-award winning and Academy Award-nominated trilogy, “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Universal Epic Universe - Isle of Berk
Developed in partnership between Universal Creative and the powerhouse filmmakers from DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk captures the heart, humor and scale of the films within an authentic recreation of the rugged, rocky world where raucous Vikings and rambunctious dragons live together in hilarious harmony.
Guests visiting Berk will encounter one of the most breathtaking environments Universal has ever created – complete with immense architecture featuring hand-carved details, lush landscaping, and extraordinary heights of rolling hills surrounding vibrant dragon houses and local establishments. And everywhere guests look within the bustling village, they’ll find endless activity – from active dragons in their natural habitats and sheep attempting to disguise themselves as Terrible Terror dragons to sporadic bouts of fire – making Isle of Berk an attraction unto itself.
Untrainable at Universal Beijing Resort
'Untrainable' at Universal Beijing Resort
Untrainable is a dragon-filled live spectacular, located in Universal Beijing Resort’s Hollywood land, with captivating musical numbers, breathtaking sets and life-sized dragons soaring overhead. Immerse yourself in the land of Berk, and come face to face with the wonderful world of dragons and characters from How To Train Your Dragon. Watch Hiccup and Toothless attempt to train a new dragon in the village, with the help of Astrid and her dragon, Stormfly. Find out if the gang can train the untrainable.
How to Train Your Dragon in Television
In between feature films, the franchise has had four unique television series expanding the storytelling universe of Hiccup and Toothless' adventures.
DreamWorks Dragons (2012–2014)
DreamWorks Dragons was the first animated television series based on How to Train Your Dragon, serving as a bridge between the 2010 film and its 2014 sequel. Several original voice actors, including Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera, reprised their roles from the films.
With a darker and deeper tone, it premiered with a one-hour special in August 2012, followed by two seasons, Riders of Berk and Defenders of Berk, on Cartoon Network.
DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge (2015–2018)
The story continued on Netflix, with an Emmy-winning, 78-episode series Dragons: Race to the Edge debuting in June 2015. Race to the Edge took the dragon riders beyond the borders of Berk for the first time, expanding their world and further filling in the story between the first two films, including the origins of Hiccup's Dragon Blade and winged suit seen in HTTYD2. The series was a top kids' series on Netflix during its run until its finale in February 2018, and saw Jay Baruchel win his first Emmy for his outstanding voiceover performance as Hiccup.
Characters of DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders
DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019–2022)
DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders is an animated television series in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise created for a preschool audience. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, the show follows human twins Dak and Leyla, who were raised by dragons and have the unique ability to communicate with them. Using this gift, they help rescue dragons and assist the people of Huttsgalor. It premiered on September 27, 2019, with a second season following on February 7, 2020, and three specials released throughout the year. In November 2021, the series moved to Peacock, where it continued for four more seasons, concluding with its sixth and final season on September 29, 2022.
Tom Kullersen and Thunder in DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms
DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021–2023)
DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms is the third animated spin-off of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, produced by DreamWorks Animation. Set 1,300 years after How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, the series follows a group of kids who discover a hidden world of dragons beneath a massive fissure caused by a comet. Led by Tom, they work to protect the dragons’ secret while exploring new realms and uncovering Tom’s connection to his Viking ancestry. The show premiered on December 23, 2021, and ran for eight seasons, concluding on December 14, 2023. The voice cast includes Jeremy Shada, Ashley Liao, Marcus Scribner, Julia Stiles, and Haley Joel Osment.
