If you've been meaning to revisit the Viking village of Berk or introduce a new generation to the bond between Hiccup and Toothless, time is running out on Netflix. The first two How to Train Your Dragon movies are officially flying off the streaming service on May 1. But don't despair—this beloved DreamWorks Animation franchise has plenty of life left beyond the Netflix library.
Based on Cressida Cowell's novels, How to Train Your Dragon (2010) follows Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel), a scrawny Viking teen who'd rather invent than fight. When he wounds a rare Night Fury dragon he names Toothless, Hiccup discovers that dragons aren't the mindless beasts his village fears. Their unlikely friendship challenges everything Berk believes, leading to breathtaking aerial sequences and a story that balances fantasy with the awkwardness of growing up.
The sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), expands the world considerably. Hiccup faces the warlord Drago Bludvist (Djimon Hounsou) and reunites with his long-lost mother, Valka (Cate Blanchett). The film deepens the mythology while raising the stakes—and the visual splendor. Director Dean DeBlois has cited Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back as a key influence, aiming to mature Hiccup the way Luke Skywalker grew between films.
Why These Films Are Animated Masterpieces
What sets How to Train Your Dragon apart is its commitment to visual storytelling. Extended sequences unfold with little to no dialogue, letting the animation convey emotion and plot. One iconic moment shows Hiccup sketching Toothless in the sand, erasing a fin to explain how the dragon was captured—a simple, elegant way to build backstory without a word. Later, when Hiccup crafts a prosthetic fin and they take flight together, the result is pure cinematic magic.
The sequel pushes boundaries further, introducing a wider variety of dragon species while grounding the fantasy in emotional realism. Time passes believably: Hiccup transforms from a scrawny teen into a confident young leader, mirroring the way audiences grow alongside their favorite characters.
A Franchise That Refuses to End
DeBlois only agreed to direct How to Train Your Dragon 2 on the condition that he could complete a trilogy. He got his wish with 2019's How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which brought Hiccup and Toothless's journey to a poignant close. But the franchise didn't stop there. Netflix itself helped launch the animated series DreamWorks Dragons, which bridges the first two films, while Hulu and Peacock later picked up DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms. Most recently, Universal announced a live-action adaptation, with a sequel already in development.
For those looking to fill the dragon-shaped hole in their streaming queue, our May 1 Binge Guide offers plenty of alternatives. And if you're in the mood for more fantasy adventures, check out our list of universally beloved Westerns for a different kind of epic journey.
While the first two How to Train Your Dragon films are leaving Netflix, their impact on animation and fantasy storytelling remains undeniable. DreamWorks proved that a story about a boy and his dragon could be as emotionally resonant as any live-action epic—and that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones that teach us to see the world differently.
