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How to Train Your Dragon
Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
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  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    91
    Rouses you in conventional ways, but it's also the rare animated film that uses 3-D for its breathtaking spatial and emotional possibilities.
  2. Tampa Bay Times
    Reviewed by: Steve Persall
    91
    There's much more to the adventure, a deft balance of fantasy and teen angst that never loses its contemporary sense of humor.
  3. Boxoffice Magazine
    Reviewed by: Pete Hammond
    90
    An exciting, fun and sensationally entertaining movie for everyone.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    88
    Seeing "Dragon" in 3-D really is a must. Its formidable realm of Vikings and dragons and nerds (oh my!) should be enjoyed to the fullest extent theaters allow.
  5. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    88
    Who would have thought a fire-breathing monster could be one of the most adorable on-screen critters since Babe?
  6. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    88
    Can be best categorized as a fantasy adventure. Unlike many animated movies, it's not a musical, nor is it overstuffed with age-appropriate comedy,
  7. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: M. E. Russell
    83
    It's charming, funny, exceedingly well-made and features enough comically thrilling flying-lizard mayhem to cause your child's head to lightly explode.
  8. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Keith Phipps
    83
    It's a great-looking film--and an impressive use of 3D--but ultimately, the story makes it memorable.
  9. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Andy Klein
    83
    While almost entirely family-friendly, the film deserves its PG rating: One plot point near the very end would have totally freaked my tender childhood sensibilities.
  10. NPR
    Reviewed by: Bob Mondello
    80
    What gives their story emotional heft has to do with a different kind of dimension: a depth of feeling surrounding the Black Stallion-style bonding of boy and beast.
  11. Empire
    Reviewed by: Helen O'Hara
    80
    The start wobbles, but once boy and dragon connect, this becomes a thrilling flight.
  12. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Betsy Sharkey
    80
    There are times the action lags, and when the dialogue falls back on pop cultural references it feels contrived and forced but, mostly, like the mythical creatures at the heart of this tale, the movie soars.
  13. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    80
    The reason it deserves to be seen in a theater with special glasses on, rather than slapped on the DVD player when the children are acting up -- lies in those airborne sequences.
  14. Variety
    Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    80
    A thrilling drama interspersed with amusing comedic elements (rather than the other way around).
  15. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Cliff Doerksen
    80
    Witty and satisfying.
  16. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    78
    The swarming dragon attacks may truly frighten the littlest viewers, but the depiction of the pleasures of flight and the conquering of one's fears should make How to Train Your Dragon a perennial delight.
  17. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    75
    Works enough miracles of 3-D animation to charm your socks off.
  18. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    Some movies seem born to inspire video games. All they lack is controllers and a scoring system. How to Train Your Dragon plays more like a game born to inspire a movie.
  19. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    75
    Doesn't have the depth and resonance of a classic, but the picture's modesty is refreshing, and its artistry is awe-inspiring.
  20. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    75
    Has two or three booming and intense action sequences that may leave the littlest audience members more quaking than charmed. But the notion of having a pet dragon - just like a pet whale, or a pet lion - is a scenario that should appeal to children of all ages.
  21. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Amy Biancolli
    75
    The multiply authored screenplay is based very loosely on Cressida Cowell's popular children's books, but it owes just as much to "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" and the John Lennon songbook.
  22. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    75
    A briskly paced computer-animated entertainment that uses the format to maximum effect, the way "Avatar" does.
  23. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Tom Russo
    75
    Finds DreamWorks Animation looking to Viking territory for its next Shrek-sturdy comedy tentpole. By Odin, they make it work.
  24. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Stephen Cole
    75
    It's a corny, old fashioned boy-dog love story, as adorable as anything Walt Disney ever signed off on.
  25. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Joe Williams
    75
    In steering a course between the rock of rude humor and the hard place of perilous drama, How to Train Your Dragon flies high.
  26. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    70
    A 3D movie that will intrigue kids and adults alike but might play raggedly in both camps.
  27. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    70
    Makes the most of its format, soaring when its young hero rides on his winged reptilian pal, and full of heart and heroism even when its action is grounded.
  28. Arizona Republic
    Reviewed by: Bill Goodykoontz
    70
    Baruchel is outstanding, giving Hiccup just the right amount of confidence buried several layers beneath the shame he feels in not continuing the family business. Butler's a head-banger from way back, so he's convincing. And Ferrera gets the grrl-power vibe just right.
  29. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Roger Moore
    63
    Dreamworks hired the directors of "Lilo & Stitch" to turn Cressida Cowell's romp of a novel into an animated film and can't be too surprised that they made, in essence, "Hiccup and Stitch."
  30. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: David Fear
    60
    You could chalk this kid's flick up as another manic Saturday-matinee time killer if it weren't for a singularly impressive element. It's not the stretchy, lava-lamp–ish animation, which offers the usual in-your-face 3-D tricks.
  31. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    60
    Beyond its easy-on-the-psyche message, the picture is reasonably pretty to look at.
  32. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    50
    You could say the 3-D animated kidpic How To Train Your Dragon is "Avatar" for simpletons. But that title is already taken, by "Avatar."
  33. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    50
    Adequate but unremarkable animated tale.
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 244 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 72
  3. Negative: 0 out of 72
  1. grandpajoe6191
    8
    Dreamworks Animation's new viking animation "How to Train Your Dragon" is surprisingly enjoyable compared to recent films made by them. It has unusually strong love and passion throughout the animation as well as a enjoyable story that will definitely make you laugh and jump in excitement. A family must-watch… Full Review »
  2. IanB
    10
    Fantastic movie. Kids loved it. Wife loved it. I loved it. If taking a family of five to the movies wasn't so expensive, we'd have gone a second time. I can't believe some of the professional critics are scoring it so low. It was a great movie.… Full Review »
  3. gm101
    10
    I like movies done by DreamWorks Animation, but none seemed to reach the emotional tone of Pixar movies, until this fantastic movie came. Had "Toy Story 3" not been released in the same year, this movie would've definitely been my pick for best animated movie of the year.… Full Review »
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