Introduction
How many How to Train Your Dragon movies are there? If you’re a fan of the franchise, you might think that the answer is simple – three. However, you would be shocked to learn that there is much more to the series than just the three movies that hit the theaters. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the How to Train Your Dragon movie series, from its origins to its deep lore and everything in between.
A Complete Guide to the How to Train Your Dragon Movie Series: From the Original to The Hidden World
The How to Train Your Dragon movie franchise began in 2010 with the first installment of the series of the same title. The film introduces us to the world of Vikings and dragons, where a young Viking named Hiccup becomes friends with a dragon named Toothless. As he learns more about his new friend and his kind, Hiccup realizes that dragons are not the savage beasts his people believed them to be.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 continued the saga in 2014, picking up five years after the events of the first movie. The sequel saw Hiccup discovering a new threat to his village, as he encountered new dragons and reunited with old friends.
The third movie, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, premiered in 2019. The film brought the series to a close, showing Hiccup and his friends on a mission to rescue captured dragons, while also exploring themes of family, love, and sacrifice.
Each film boasts breathtaking visuals, memorable characters, and thrilling action scenes. The How to Train Your Dragon movies have earned critical acclaim, grossing over $1.6 billion worldwide.
The Evolution of How to Train Your Dragon Movies: A Look at the Series and How it Has Developed Over Time
Throughout the How to Train Your Dragon movie series, the characters have grown and matured, dealing with more complex themes with each passing movie. The first movie focused mainly on accepting those who were different, and defying traditional norms. Meanwhile, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and The Hidden World delved deeper into the concepts of change and growing up, exploring how even the best of alliances can still experience friction.
By the third movie, the once-children have grown into young adults, and we saw them learning valuable lessons about what it means to be a true leader. The going got tough for Hiccup, as he had to find the courage to embrace leadership in a way that was appropriate to his character.
Despite the series’ success with audiences and critics alike, there were some criticisms directed towards the franchise, particularly around animation style and the lack of depth in some of the characters outside of a select few.
All the How to Train Your Dragon Movies in Order: Which One is Best, and Why?
From adrenaline-fueled dragon battles to heart-wrenching character moments, each How to Train Your Dragon movie has something to offer viewers. That said, some films stand out above the rest.
The original How to Train Your Dragon remains a fan favorite, with an engaging plot and solid character development. While How to Train Your Dragon 2 struggled to match the original’s high standards, it stood out for its well-executed villain and exquisite visuals. Finally, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World brought the trilogy to a satisfying conclusion, featuring stunning animation and an emotive storyline. Ultimately, which movie is considered the best narrows down to one’s personal taste.
From Book to Screen: The Process of Bringing How to Train Your Dragon to Life in Four Films
The process of transforming a book series into a movie franchise is always a challenging one, but Dreamworks managed to pull off something truly remarkable with How to Train Your Dragon. Taking guidance from the original books, they created a rich world populated with unique and colorful characters. Along with that, the adaptation process consisted of the film’s third act being entirely unique to the franchise.
Dreamworks collaborated with several experienced writers and directors, including Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, and Craig Ferguson, to bring How to Train Your Dragon to life on the big screen.
How to Train Your Dragon Movies Ranked: A Breakdown of the Best and Worst
Let’s move away from subjectivity and examine the films themselves. Which movie is considered the best, and which one fell short? Did any not hold up as well as the others?
Working from worst to best, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World falls between second and third place. With a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an array of awards, it’s clear that it’s not one to be overlooked by fans. Similarly, while the second movie may not have reached the heights of its predecessor, it is still a visually stunning movie with fantastic characterizations. Finally, the first movie remains the cream of the crop, combining memorable and well-written characters with thrilling action sequences to establish a classic franchise.
The Success of the How to Train Your Dragon Franchise: What’s Next for the Beloved Series?
The How to Train Your Dragon movies have become a financial powerhouse for Dreamworks with multiple spinoffs such as Netflix’s Dragons series. With the popularity of the characters and the universe, the next installment of the franchise could be another sequel, a spin-off, or a new continuation focused on some of the other characters. As of now, Dreamworks has not made an official announcement.
The Role of the How to Train Your Dragon Movies in Pop Culture: Why These Movies Matter and What They’ve Taught Us
The How to Train Your Dragon franchise has resonated with audiences worldwide, teaching valuable life lessons to viewers of all ages. The movies have triumphed on themes such as friendship, acceptance, and perseverance through struggle, while also promoting ecological ideals and intergroup understanding, making them more than just mere cartoon films.
Conclusion
The How to Train Your Dragon movie series has established itself as one of the great franchises of modern animation, with its memorable characters, beautiful animation, and thought-provoking storylines. From their inception in 2010 through to the final installment in 2019, the movies entertained audiences of all ages and left a lasting impact on popular culture. With that, it would be criminal not to give these movies a chance.