Animated Classic Based on the Book Series

Currently, the animated film, How to Train Your Dragon (2010) has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating and an audience rating of 91%. But is this movie suitable for all children. In this How to Train Your Dragon 2010 Christian Movie Review & Parent Guide, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

How to Train Your Dragon Christian Movie Review 2010

Studio Synopsis:

Hiccup is a Norse teenager from the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. His progressive views and weird sense of humor make him a misfit, despite the fact that his father Stoick is chief of the clan. Tossed into dragon-fighting school, he endeavors to prove himself as a true Viking, but when he befriends an injured dragon he names Toothless, he has the chance to plot a new course for his people’s future.

My Synopsis:

Hiccup is a Viking and should be a dragonslayer. As the son of the chief of the clan, he is expected to be a great warrior who protects the people of Berk, but he seems to mess up everything he does. One night, he does hit a night fury, but when he goes looking for the dragon the next day, he ends up friends with Toothless and sees that dragons are not their enemies.

How to Train Your Dragon Christian Movie Review – What Parents Want to Know

Language:

While most of the language is pretty tame, there is one use of “h-ll.” Furthermore, there is some other crude language such as gosh and son of a half-troll. Additionally, people are called names such as coward, butt elf, etc.

Violence:

There is a history of Vikings and dragons fighting. There were deaths on both sides. In fact, Vikings are expected to kill dragons to prove they are men. Toothless is injured, and Hiccup is also injured.

Hiccup says that he is going to cut out a dragon’s heart and take it to his father.

There are small Viking and dragon battles, leading up to the ultimate battle between a monstrous dragon. There are plenty of scenes with battle axes, flames, catapults, sheep being taken from the village by the dragons, and more. House are burned; there is a avalanche of stones, and a huge dragon beast that breaths fire that is scary beyond all reason. Furthermore, the dragon burns all the ships.

Finally, one of the things that bothered me a lot was the fact that Astrid kept hitting Hiccup. While it appeared to be a friendly tap, or a punch on the arm, it still is not okay.

Spiritual Content:

Norse gods are mentioned – Odin and Thor; “Odin help us,” and “Almighty Thor.” Someone utters, “unholy offspring.” Hiccup says that the gods must hate him.

Additionally, Stoick calls Toothless “devil.”

Adult Content:

Hiccup, who is a teenager (15 years old), has a crush on Astrid. There are several scenes where he is googly-eyed over her. She kisses him on the mouth.

Furthermore, people drink from steins in a bar-like setting.

Deception:

Hiccup hides Toothless from everyone in his village. Additionally, he lies about where he is going when he goes to visit Toothless.

Positive Content:

The message that sometimes you need to defend your beliefs is one that is important. As Christians, we need to teach our children that sometimes the world will not understand why you are doing what you are called to do. Even parents can sometimes stand in the way of what God is calling our children to do. This film is a great illustration of standing up for what you believe in.

Finally, in one of the ending scenes, Stoick apologizes to Hiccup and tells him, “I’m proud to call you my son.” This is a great lesson for parents and children. Even though we expect our parents to be right all the time, they do make mistakes. Being able to ask for forgiveness and apologize when wrong is a great lesson.

How to Train Your Dragon Christian Movie Review 2010 – My Viewing Recommendations

While this movie is rated PG, it is intense. On the screen at home, movies are always milder, but even at home, there are battles with dragons that could be pretty scary. My age recommendation is 6-8 and up.

However, there are people that will object to this movie because of the mention of false gods. These are Viking gods. We would do well as parents to teach our children that people worship false gods, and many cultures don’t believe in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.

About the Movie:

Rating: PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language

Release Date: March 26, 2010

Runtime: 1 hour, 38 minutes

Genre: Family/Fantasy

Style: Animated

Studio: DreamWorks Animation

Directed by: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois

Written by: Will Davies, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders

Based on the book, How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Produced by: Bonnie Arnold

Edited by: Darren Holmes, Maryann Brandon

Music by: John Powell

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

The Dragons of How to Train Your Dragon 2010

Night Fury

Boneknapper

Changewing, Red Death

Deadly Nadder, Grapple Grounder

Gronckle – Side Note: When McDonald’s came out with toys based on this movie, the Gronckle was purple. However, in the film the Gronckle is green with yellow eyes. I know that in my household this caused major anxiety, especially with my autistic son. Thankfully, he has a resourceful and artistic older brother who painted the McDonald’s toy to match the movie Gronckle. However, all these years later, I still have questions for DreamWorks and McDonald’s. The number one question would be WHY? and then WHO approved this?

Hideous Zippleback, Monstrous Nightmare, Scauldron, Skrill, Smothering Smokebreath, Snaptrapper, Speed Stinger, Terrible Terror, Thunderdrum, Timberjack, Whispering Death

The Cast of How to Train Your Dragon 2010:

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III voiced by Jay Baruchel

Toothless vocal effects by Randy Thom

Astrid Hofferson voiced by America Ferrera

Stoick the Vast voiced by Gerard Butler

Gobber the Belch voiced by Craig Ferguson

Snotout Jorgenson voiced by Jonah Hill

Fishlegs Ingerman voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston voiced by Kristen Wiig and T.J. Miller

Spitelout voiced by David Tennant

Ack voiced by Robin Atkin Downes

Starkard voiced by Philip McGrade

Hoark the Haggard voiced by Kieron Elliott

Phlegma the Fierce voiced by Ashley Jensen

How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake 2025 Review

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where is the How to Train Your Dragon 2010 animated film streaming?

Currently, How to Train Your Dragon 2010 animated film is streaming on Peacock.

How much did it cost to produce the original animated How to Train Your Dragon?

The budget for the original How to Train Your Dragon was $165 million