Director Dean DeBlois brought his beloved animated franchise to life earlier this year with a live-action blockbuster adaptation, and the film now arrives in dazzling form on Ultra HD Blu-ray with How to Train Your Dragon: Collector’s Edition (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, rated PG, 2.39:1 and 1.90:1 aspect ratio, 117 minutes, $34.98).
Set during a mythical era of Viking warfare with dragons, the story unfolds in and around the rugged island village of Berk and centers on Hiccup (Mason Thames), the inventive but awkward son of Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising the role he voiced in the animated series).
Hiccup dreams of proving himself as a dragon slayer, despite lacking the brute strength prized by his warrior father and the rest of Berk’s dragon-fighting culture.
Key Insights
- The live-action adaptation of "How to Train Your Dragon" introduces new elements while staying true to the original animated film's themes of friendship and courage.
- The Ultra HD Blu-ray Collector’s Edition offers a visually stunning experience, bringing the Viking world to life with intricate production design.
- Fans may debate the necessity of a live-action remake, but new viewers and franchise enthusiasts alike will appreciate the immersive cinematic world of Berk.
Encouraged by blacksmith and mentor Gobber the Belch (Nick Frost), Stoick reluctantly allows Hiccup to enroll in dragon-fighting training. There he meets the next generation of Viking warriors, including Fishlegs Ingerman (Julian Dennison), Snotlout Jorgenson (Gabriel Howell), twins Tuffnut and Ruffnut Thorston (Harry Trevaldwyn and Bronwyn James), and the fiercely determined Astrid Hofferson (Nico Parker), who soon becomes Hiccup’s romantic interest.
While exploring the forest outside Berk, Hiccup encounters an injured Night Fury dragon that he secretly befriends and names Toothless. Their bond teaches him that dragons are not the mindless monsters Vikings believe them to be.
During his final dragon-slaying trial, Hiccup faces the fearsome Monstrous Nightmare. Instead of killing the beast, he attempts to calm it — a decision that nearly costs him his life when Stoick angrily intervenes.
The conflict escalates when Toothless rescues Hiccup but is captured by Stoick. Using the dragon as a guide, the Viking fleet sets out to locate and destroy the dragons’ hidden nest once and for all.
But the plan backfires when the Vikings encounter the colossal Red Death dragon guarding the nest. Only Hiccup and his friends — now riding their newly trusted dragon companions — can save Berk from destruction.
The film delivers breathtaking action sequences, heartfelt performances and spectacular aerial dragon-riding moments. At its core, the story remains faithful to the spirit of the original animated film, emphasizing themes of friendship, courage and individuality.
That fidelity does raise a fair question: Was a live-action remake necessary given the visual brilliance of the animated original?
The answer likely depends on the viewer. Families discovering the How to Train Your Dragon story for the first time through this live-action adventure will find plenty to love, while longtime fans of the franchise may appreciate seeing Berk and its dragons realized in a more tangible cinematic world.
4K Video and Audio Review
The Ultra HD presentation is outstanding, showcasing an intricately crafted production design that brings the Viking world vividly to life.
Berk’s gritty environment is packed with detail, from textured leather armor and worn metallic weapons to painted shields and elaborately carved wooden structures nestled among towering cliffs, waterfalls and dense forests.
The film’s wide variety of dragons also benefits from the 4K format. Each creature displays impressive realism through detailed skin textures, razor-sharp teeth, expressive eyes and uniquely designed wings.
Toothless remains the standout. The sleek black dragon features lizard-like skin, neon-green eyes, a horned brow and a playful personality that translates beautifully into live action. He sleeps upside down like a bat and breathes bursts of glowing pink fire.
Other creatures include a two-headed dragon spewing clouds of green gas and the intimidating Monstrous Nightmare, a dragon engulfed in constant flames.
Fans will especially appreciate the film’s IMAX-formatted sequences that expand to nearly fill the screen. Early scenes of dragons dive-bombing Berk deliver spectacular visual chaos, with fiery blasts exploding in vivid shades of orange and red.
The most exhilarating moments arrive during Hiccup’s first flights with Toothless. The sweeping aerial sequences send the pair soaring through clouds, skimming the ocean’s surface and looping through the sky with dizzying speed.
One especially memorable moment features the duo gliding beneath glowing neon-green northern lights, a stunning showcase for the 2160p presentation.
The climactic confrontation at the lava-filled dragon nest, surrounded by swarms of flying creatures, provides multiple jaw-dropping moments that highlight the full potential of the home theater format.
Bonus Features
Universal delivers a strong collection of extras that dive deep into the film’s creation.
The most valuable feature is the optional commentary track with director Dean DeBlois, who also wrote the screenplay. The director offers a detailed and thoughtful breakdown of nearly every aspect of the production.
He discusses casting decisions, building the physical set of Berk, selecting filming locations to represent the mythical island, adapting the animated story for live action and ensuring the dragons retained their personalities.
DeBlois also explains the challenges of filming dragon-riding sequences, the motivations behind character relationships and even small details — such as why Gobber’s prosthetic leg appears on a different side compared with the animated film.
A substantial 45-minute behind-the-scenes documentary follows, featuring DeBlois, author Cressida Cowell and the cast — including an especially enthusiastic Gerard Butler.
The feature explores casting, the chemistry between Hiccup and Astrid, character development, cinematography, production design and the director’s overall vision. It also includes actor auditions, early script read-throughs and footage from the set.
Four additional featurettes (about 25 minutes total) further examine key aspects of the film, including Hiccup’s first flight with Toothless, the puppetry used to help actors interact with the dragon, costume design and the elaborate world-building behind Berk.
The extras also offer a glimpse at the How to Train Your Dragon themed land opening inside Universal’s Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida.
Viewers who redeem the included digital code will also gain access to an additional nine-minute featurette exploring the visual and practical effects used to bring the dragons to life.
The footage shows puppeteers working directly with actors, including sequences where performers ride atop an animatronic dragon torso mounted on a hydraulic gimbal to create realistic flight movement.
The behind-the-scenes techniques demonstrate just how much practical craftsmanship went into making the dragons feel alive.
