How to Train Your Dragon is one of DreamWorks’ most popular franchises.The story of a young Viking who befriends a dragon despite their hostile past captivated audiences with its gorgeous animation and strong writing. It has grown into a thriving franchise with fans from around the world invested in its immersive world, creatures, and characters.
Plenty of other fantastic fantasy movies like How to Train Your Dragon can entertain fans looking for similar arcs or characters. Themes in the franchise, like overcoming prejudice, discovering one’s hidden talents, and the strength of coming together, are universal, which allows them to be depicted in many creative ways.
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‘Pete’s Dragon’ (1977)
Image via Buena Vista Distribution
Fleeing an abusive foster family, Pete (Sean Marshall) and his dragon friend Elliot (Charlie Callas) arrive in Passamaquoddy. Elliot is accidentally seen by the lighthouse keeper while his daughter has taken a liking to Pete. However, trouble comes from Pete’s evil guardians and a local snake oil salesman interested in Elliot.
While praised in its day, nowadays, Pete’s Dragon is considered one of Disney’s lesser films. There is a lot to love in the movie, from the catchy musical numbers to the early innovations in combining live-action and hand-drawn characters. The relationship between Pete and Elliot is also well executed as a coming-of-age metaphor.
9
‘Dragonslayer’ (1981)
The final fight in Dragonslayer, where Peter MacNicol’s Valerian battles Vermithrax Pejorative.Image via Paramount Pictures
To appease the dragon Vermithrax Pejorative, the kingdom of Urland sacrifices two maidens every year to the dragon’s hunger. Seeking a way out, a young woman named Valerian (Caitlin Clarke), disguised as a man, seeks the aid of the sorcerer Ulrich (Ralph Richardson). When he is killed, Valerian turns to his apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol).
Dragonslayer combines a classic coming-of-age story with the hard bite of ’80s fantasy films. Many human characters prove their worth in unexpected ways, from Valerian hiding her identity to Galen’s refusal to surrender. The film is topped off by Vermithrax, who remains one of cinema’s greatest dragons thanks to revolutionary special effects.
8
‘The Flight of Dragons’ (1982)
The wizard Ommadon and the dragon BryaghImage via Warner Bros Television Distribution
As the world shifts from magic to technology, the green wizard, Carolinus (Harry Morgan), summons his three brothers to create a magical sanctuary. The blue and gold wizards agree, but the red wizard Ommadon (James Earl Jones) does not since technology strengthens his power. Since wizards cannot battle each other, Carolinus summons a dragon-obsessed game designer from the future to bridge science and magic and stop Ommadon.
While not as pretty as some of Rankin/Bass’ other fantasy films, The Flight of Dragons makes up for it with its writing. The characters are enjoyable for the fantasy archetypes they embody, and the main character stands out for his wide-eyed enthusiasm. The film does a superb job trying to explain how a magical world operates, especially regarding dragons, while leaving a few things to the imagination.
7
‘The Last Unicorn’ (1982)
A lone unicorn looks up at the moon in the night sky in The Last UnicornImage via ITV Studios Global Entertainment
When an immortal unicorn (Mia Farrow) learns she may be the last of her kind, she departs from her forest home to find answers. She learns that King Haggard (Sir Christopher Lee) imprisoned the unicorns with his demonic Red Bull. On her journey to Haggard’s castle, she is joined by two unlikely companions: a bumbling magician and a bandit’s wife.
Having the magical creature as the main character allows The Last Unicorn to delve into some interesting themes. Among these are the importance of regret and what it means to be immortal (also making The Last Unicorn an essential watch for kids). The contrast between how the mythical and human characters approach these topics offers a fascinating contrast that helps both to grow in ways they never imagined.
6
‘Dragonheart’ (1996)
Bowen and Draco together in Dragonheart.Image via Universal Pictures
When Prince Einon (David Thewlis) is mortally wounded in a rebellion, his mother pleads to a dragon (Sean Connery) to save him. The dragon agrees to share half of his heart with Einon, but the boy grows up to be cruel and vicious. His teacher, Sir Bowen (Dennis Quaid), blames the dragon for his behavior and vows revenge.
Though the effects of Dragonheart didn’t look impressive even on release, the film excels when it comes to its characters. Bowen’s relationship with the dragon, Draco, is well executed as it changes from bitter enemies to trusted friends. It also touches on themes of redemption and the idea that anything is possible so long as there is hope.
Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
🔧John McClane
🎭Ethan Hunt
01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
02
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
06
Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
07
Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
08
What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
09
Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
10
It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
Rambo
Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
James Bond
Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
John McClane
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
Ethan Hunt
Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
5
‘Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole’ (2010)
Legend of the Guardians The Owls of Ga’HooleImage via Warner Bros.
A young barn owl named Sorrel (Jim Sturgess) loves to listen to stories about heroic owls called the Guardians of Ga’Hoole. After falling out of the nest with his brother, Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), the two are captured by owls loyal to the Guardians’ rivals, the Pure Ones. While Kludd becomes indoctrinated, Sorrel is able to escape and goes to warn the Guardians of the Pure Ones’ new weapon.
While Legend of the Guardians falls into the same trappings of other young-adult fantasy films, there’s a lot to help it stand out. The animation is the most immediate: each of the owls looks and moves uniquely, and the flying scenes are especially breathtaking. The side characters are enjoyable, especially an old screech owl played by Geoffrey Rush, who teaches Sorrel about being a true hero.
4
‘Epic’ (2013)
Upon meeting the dying queen of the Leafman (Beyoncé Knowles), Mary Katherine (Amanda Seyfried) is shrunk down to their size and entrusted with a magic seed pod. Guarded by the Leafman’s captain and the pod’s snail and slug caretakers, M.K. keeps the pod safe until it can choose a new queen. Meanwhile, Mandrake (Christoph Waltz), king of the Boggans, seeks to corrupt the pod after losing his son.
While Epic shares a lot with other environmentally conscious films, there’s still plenty to enjoy. The animation is bright, vibrant, and backed by a wonderful score by Danny Elfman. Combine this with some inventive flying scenes that make use of the character’s smaller sizes; it helps to sell the film as a truly magical world.
3
‘The Box Trolls’ (2014)
Beneath the town of Cheesebridge lives a race of peaceful trolls called Boxtrolls for their habit of wearing boxes. Unfortunately, the people believe that the trolls kidnapped and ate a baby, so they hire Archibald Snatcher (Sir Ben Kingsley) to round them up. The child was actually rescued and raised by the trolls, and as more of his friends go missing, he braves the surface world to rescue them.
The Box Trolls tackles interesting societal themes with Laika’s signature brand of amazing and offsetting stop-motion. The plight of the box trolls serves as strong commentary about man’s fear of the unknown and how it’s often easier to lash out than try to understand. Then there’s Snatcher’s arc of capturing the trolls to raise his own standing in society, which sheds light on the lengths people will go to achieve their idea of success.
2
‘Dragon Rider’ (2020)
Many years ago, humans and dragons lived together in harmony before humans began to expand. Now the surviving dragons are at risk of losing their homes once again, which prompts discussions of war with humans. Fearing this, a silver dragon named Firedrake (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) sets off to find a mythical paradise where dragons can live in secrecy.
The film is based on the 1997 novel of the same name by Cornelia Funke and captures much of the book’s sense of adventure. It explores mythical creatures’ place in the modern world and their relationship with humans, which can easily be applied to man’s responsibility to the natural world. The star of the show is the villain, Nettlebrand (Sir Patrick Stewart), an overly dramatic construct with an addiction to hunting dragons.
1
‘The Sea Beast’ (2022)
A man with his hands on his waist looking at a smiling boy in The Sea BeastImage via Netflix
When the royal family threatens to disband the sea beast hunters, Captain Crow (Jared Harris) and the crew of the Inevitableare given one more chance to hunt the elusive Red Bluster. The hunt goes poorly, and Crow’s adopted son, Jacob (Karl Urban), and stowaway Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator) are swallowed. The Bluster takes them to a secluded island of sea beasts, where they discover that there is more to the creatures than they previously thought.
Netflix’s The Sea Beast takes a lot of inspiration from How to Train Your Dragon but swaps out Scandinavian culture for 17th-century high-seas adventure. This lends itself both to creative monster designs and some of the most cinematic underwater shots ever put to animation. While at times the story can be a little predictable, the characters more than pull their weight due to their likability and diverse personalities.
