Where to start withHow to Train Your Dragon
7 versions · originally a film, 2025
Themes: Bridging the Divide, Acceptance of the Other, Challenging Tradition, Unlikely Friendship, Man and Nature.
Start with How to Train Your Dragon (Dean DeBlois, 2025) — the film. How to Train Your Dragon exists in 7 versions across media, beginning as a film in 2025; each is ranked below by what it does best.
The saga explores the profound, transformative bond between a young Viking outsider and a powerful, misunderstood Night Fury dragon.
✦ Most fans start here
How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
The original movie
✦ Start hereHow to Train Your Dragon
Dean DeBlois · Film · 2025
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) serves as the definitive origin story, establishing the essential connection between Hiccup and Toothless against the backdrop of a divided Viking society.
2011 film
Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury
Tom Owens · Film · 2011
Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (2011) offers a shorter, festive adventure that focuses on the discovery of new species, perfect for those wanting a brief, lighthearted expansion.
2012 series
DreamWorks Dragons
Chris Sanders · Series · 2012
DreamWorks Dragons (2012) provides an episodic television format, allowing for deeper world-building and extended character development as Hiccup and Toothless explore the dangerous edges of their vast world.
2014 film
Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers
Elaine Bogan · Film · 2014
Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014) is a niche short film centered on the competitive sport of dragon racing, ideal for viewers interested in the mechanics of Berk.
2014 film
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Dean DeBlois · Film · 2014
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) matures the narrative significantly, thrusting the protagonists into a larger conflict involving hidden dragon sanctuaries and the weight of newfound leadership responsibilities.
2019 film
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming
Film · 2019
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019) is a sentimental epilogue that explores the lingering legacy of the dragon-Viking bond, specifically tailored for those attached to the franchise's emotional core.
2019 film
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Dean DeBlois · Film · 2019
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) concludes the cinematic arc with a focus on independence and legacy, ideal for those seeking a grand, emotionally resonant finale.
Common questions
What order should I watch the How to Train Your Dragon movies and series in?
To experience the story chronologically, start with the 2025 How to Train Your Dragon movie. Follow this with the 2011 Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury, the 2012 DreamWorks Dragons series, the 2014 Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers, How to Train Your Dragon 2, How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming, and finally The Hidden World.
Is How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming a direct sequel to the main film series?
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming is a short film released in 2019 that serves as an epilogue set after the events of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. It focuses on the characters reflecting on the bond between dragons and humans years after their initial separation.
How long is the 2012 DreamWorks Dragons series compared to the How to Train Your Dragon movies?
The 2012 DreamWorks Dragons series offers a significantly longer runtime than the individual How to Train Your Dragon feature films. While the movies like How to Train Your Dragon 2 or The Hidden World provide a contained narrative, the television series expands the world through multiple episodes and seasons.
Should I watch Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers before How to Train Your Dragon 2?
Yes, Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers was released in 2014 as a short film that bridges the gap between the original How to Train Your Dragon and the events portrayed in How to Train Your Dragon 2, providing additional context for the dragon racing culture within the franchise.