How to Train Your Dragon
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon (2010) is an animated action-adventure film that explores the unlikely friendship between a scrawny Viking teenager named Hiccup and a fearsome Night Fury dragon he names Toothless. Set in the mythical Viking village of Berk, where dragon slaying is a way of life, Hiccup struggles to meet his father's expectations until his bond with Toothless challenges centuries of tradition and prejudice. The movie features thrilling aerial sequences and intense dragon battles as Hiccup tries to convince his community that dragons are not the enemies they perceive them to be. Targeted at a broad family audience, the film is praised for its strong messages of empathy, understanding, and the importance of challenging preconceived notions. While containing elements of peril and fantasy violence typical for its genre, it largely maintains an accessible tone, balancing humor with dramatic moments. The narrative ultimately champions individuality, the strength of friendship, and finding peaceful solutions over conflict.
Things to Consider
Violence
The film features frequent, intense fantasy violence involving dragons and Vikings, including battles, destruction of property, and character injuries, but generally avoids graphic gore. Characters engage in combat with medieval weapons, dragons breathe fire, and there are direct physical confrontations. The animated style softens the impact, yet the intensity and frequency can be significant.
Dragon attacks on the Viking village of Berk are frequent, showing dragons burning homes and carrying off livestock, with Vikings retaliating using swords and catapults. During the climactic battle against the enormous Red Death dragon, Hiccup suffers a severe injury, losing part of his leg, which is later shown as a prosthetic, and Toothless also sustains injuries to his tail.
Scary & Intense Content
The movie contains frequent scary and intense sequences, primarily due to large, menacing dragons and chaotic battle scenes. Young children may find the fierce dragon appearances, loud noises, and the peril faced by characters frightening. These elements are sustained throughout the film's action sequences.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
The animated film 'How to Train Your Dragon' is generally recommended for children aged 6 and up, with parental guidance suggested for those between 6-9, and considered suitable for ages 10 and over without specific warnings. This recommendation is due to sequences of intense action, some scary images, and themes of violence and peril which may be too frightening for very young or sensitive viewers.
Good to Know
The live-action remake of 'How to Train Your Dragon' (scheduled for 2025) is noted to be more intense in its visuals and some scenes compared to the 2010 animated original, particularly concerning the realistic appearance of dragons and the portrayal of peril, which may warrant re-evaluation for younger audiences.
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