Audiences are having very mixed reactions after the release of theHow to Train Your Dragontrailer. Originally a DreamWorks animated movie,How to Train Your Dragonwas an animated film trilogy. Since then, alive-actionHow to Train Your Dragonwas announced, which would retell the tale of Hiccup and his relationship with an endearing dragon, Toothless. The first trailer forHow to Train Your Dragonwas recently released. The live-actionHow to Train Your Dragonfeatures a leading cast including Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, and Bronwyn James.
Following the release of theHow to Train Your Dragontrailer, audiences are taking to social media to react, and their response is not very positive.Viewers largely did not see the point of making a shot-for-shot recreationofHow to Train Your Dragonfor the live-action version, criticizing the trailer. Some questioned “why was this necessary in the first place?“in a batch of reactions that overall slanted negative. Check out some of the reactions below:
Pairing their commentary with a frame-by-frame comparison between the animated movie and the trailer, @patminiuttiartsays that they “really don’t understand the point of trying to recreate the movie frame for frame but somehow executed worse.”
@JonasJCampbellechoes a similar statement, expressing fears that the whole film would be “a shot for shot remake,” which this user would not appreciate.
Some questioned “why was this necessary in the first place,” including @300mirrors, who also does not approve of the shot-for-shot style.
While still poking fun at the similarities, others were more lighthearted in their responses, such as @dkdeberry, who writes “crazy that they were able to find a live-action dragon that looks so such like toothless.”
@vmeojimeomade the point about how adapting visual media is different from adapting books. Whereas they believe book adaptations should stick as close to the original story as possible, visual media should see creators “change it enough to feel different.”
Some people were particularly critical of Thames acting as Hiccup, with @abc_pumpkinzaccusing the actor of being more concerned with “mimicking the movements and shot composition of the original” rather than conveying deep emotions.
@gb_lukeeagrees with this statement, saying “the animated Hiccup has infinitely more expression than a real person.”
A rare few did seem to want to see the movie, like @prannzzz, who says “i am so watching this w my brother.”
Others still were so bluntly against the trailer, like @olivrgardn, who writes “whatre we doing here what’s the point.”
@Opera_Ghost_Kaybrought up Hollywood’s history with pointless remakes, accusingHow to Train Your Dragonof being “like Carrie 2013 all over again.”
What This Means For How To Train Your Dragon
This Is Not Good For The Film’s Prospects
This initial reaction to theHow to Train Your Dragontraileris not a great sign for the movie as a whole. The original film trilogy has become a beloved part of modern animated film history. If audiences are already feeling that this trailer taints that legacy,they may be unlikely to see the moviewhen it comes to theaters next June.
10 Best Dragon Fights In How To Train Your Dragon’s Movies & Shows, Ranked
How to Train Your Dragon is a sprawling animated franchise that has countless fights between its titular beasts, but not all of them can be the best.
At the very least, it seems likeHow to Train Your Dragon’s live-action endeavor is not going to get a positive Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter with audiences when it does come to theaters based on initial reactions. However, given that this is only the first bit of footage released, the marketing campaign still has a chance to build excitement around the movie.
Our Take On The How To Train Your Dragon Trailer
How To Train Your Dragon Needs To Be More Than A Shot-For-Shot Remake
When taking in this audience reaction, it is also important to be mindful of the fact that the way the trailer represents the filmwill not necessarily be what the entire project looks like. What’s worrisome, however, is that the shot-for-shot nature of the trailer was promoted by Fandango. This would suggest theHow to Train Your Dragonpublicity team sees its mimicry as a positive. This shows a misunderstanding of the movie’s potential audience, which does not bode well for how the feature will resonate with audiences overall.
How to Train Your Dragon
Cast
How to Train Your Dragon, released in 2025, depicts the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who defies tradition on the isle of Berk by befriending Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their friendship uncovers the true nature of dragons, challenging entrenched Viking perceptions and societal norms.
