Last updated: September 24, 2026
If you’re wondering how many How to Train Your Dragon movies are there, the answer is four theatrically released feature films as of September 2026. That total includes the original three animated movies and the 2025 live-action remake. However, there are five theatrical entries if you also include the officially confirmed live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2, which is scheduled for 2027.
That count does not include television series, holiday specials, or short films. Shows such as Dragons: Race to the Edge and Dragons: The Nine Realms, along with the special How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming, belong to the wider franchise but are not theatrical feature films.
For a broader overview of the franchise, DreamWorks maintains an official How to Train Your Dragon franchise page covering the different eras of the series.
Quick Answer
| Number | Movie | Format | Release Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How to Train Your Dragon | Animated | 2010 | Released |
| 2 | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Animated | 2014 | Released |
| 3 | How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Animated | 2019 | Released |
| 4 | How to Train Your Dragon | Live action | 2025 | Released |
| 5 | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Live action | 2027 | Upcoming |
The total is four released theatrical movies, or five when the confirmed upcoming live-action sequel is included.
The franchise has grown far beyond the original movies, but separating the theatrical releases from TV shows and specials makes the movie order much easier to understand.
How Many How to Train Your Dragon Movies Are There?
There are currently four released How to Train Your Dragon movies.
The first three form the original DreamWorks Animation trilogy:
- How to Train Your Dragon — 2010
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 — 2014
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World — 2019
DreamWorks then restarted the story in live action with:
- How to Train Your Dragon — 2025
A fifth theatrical entry is officially on the way:
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 — live action, scheduled for 2027
The 2025 movie is not a continuation of The Hidden World. Instead, it begins a new live-action version of the story, which is why the franchise now has two separate movie continuities.
How to Train Your Dragon Movies in Release Order
For most viewers, the simplest How to Train Your Dragon movie order is the theatrical release order.
1. How to Train Your Dragon — 2010
The original animated movie introduced Hiccup, the Viking island of Berk, and the friendship between humans and dragons that became the heart of the franchise.
According to DreamWorks’ official page for the original movie, the film was released in 2010 and launched the theatrical series that would eventually become a full animated trilogy.
The first movie establishes the key relationships and conflicts that drive everything that follows, so it remains the best place to start if you are watching the franchise for the first time.
2. How to Train Your Dragon 2 — 2014
The second animated movie arrived four years later.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 expands the world beyond Berk and moves Hiccup’s story forward as he faces new responsibilities, new dragon riders, and a larger threat.
The official How to Train Your Dragon 2 movie page confirms the 2014 sequel as the second theatrical chapter in the animated series.
Unlike the 2025 remake, this movie directly continues the storyline established in the original animated film.
3. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World — 2019
The third animated theatrical film arrived in 2019.
The Hidden World completes the main animated movie trilogy and brings Hiccup and Toothless’ central story to its conclusion.
DreamWorks’ official page for How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World identifies it as the third major theatrical chapter of the animated franchise.
For viewers interested only in the original animated storyline, this is the natural stopping point.
4. How to Train Your Dragon — 2025
The franchise returned to theaters with the live-action How to Train Your Dragon in 2025.
Rather than functioning as a fourth chapter after The Hidden World, the movie retells the beginning of Hiccup’s story in live action.
That means viewers should think of the franchise as having two different movie continuities: the completed animated trilogy and the newer live-action series.
The 2025 movie revisits Berk, Hiccup’s relationship with Toothless, and the conflict between Vikings and dragons while presenting the story through a new live-action interpretation.
5. How to Train Your Dragon 2 — 2027
The next live-action movie is officially confirmed.
Universal Pictures currently lists the sequel for a June 11, 2027 U.S. theatrical release on Universal Pictures’ official live-action sequel page.
It will continue the live-action continuity established by the 2025 movie rather than continue directly from the animated trilogy.
For the confirmed release date, returning cast and production updates, visit our complete How to Train Your Dragon 2 live-action guide.
The Original Animated Trilogy
When people refer to the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, they usually mean the three animated DreamWorks movies released between 2010 and 2019.
Those movies are:
- How to Train Your Dragon — 2010
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 — 2014
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World — 2019
Together, the three films tell one continuous story.
They follow Hiccup as he grows from an inventive young Viking into a leader while his friendship with Toothless gradually changes the relationship between the people of Berk and dragons.
You do not need to watch any of the TV shows to understand the main animated movie storyline.
The television series can provide additional adventures and world-building, but the three theatrical films work as a complete story on their own.
The 2025 Live-Action Remake
The 2025 How to Train Your Dragon starts the story again instead of extending the animated timeline.
That is why calling it simply “How to Train Your Dragon 4” can be misleading.
It is technically the fourth theatrically released feature film carrying the How to Train Your Dragon name, but within the storyline it functions as the first movie in a new live-action continuity.
The film revisits many of the characters, relationships, and events associated with the original 2010 story.
So if you only want to watch the animated saga, you can stop after The Hidden World. If you want to follow the new live-action franchise as well, begin again with the 2025 movie.
Watch an Official Trailer From the Animated Trilogy
The animated trilogy remains the foundation of the movie franchise, and the official trailer for How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World offers a good look at the scale and tone of its final chapter.
Embed this official YouTube video here:
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD | Official Trailer
YouTube video ID: SkcucKDrbOI
The Confirmed Live-Action Sequel
Yes, How to Train Your Dragon 2 live action is confirmed.
The sequel is currently scheduled to reach U.S. theaters on June 11, 2027.
That makes it the fifth theatrical How to Train Your Dragon entry overall, although only four have actually been released as of September 2026.
The distinction is important:
- Released theatrical movies: 4
- Released movies plus confirmed upcoming sequel: 5
The upcoming film belongs to the live-action continuity that began in 2025.
It should therefore be viewed as the second movie in the live-action series, even though it becomes the fifth theatrical How to Train Your Dragon feature when both animated and live-action releases are counted together.
Release Order vs. Chronological Order
There is no single chronological order that combines all five theatrical entries because the animated and live-action movies tell separate versions of the story.
For the animated continuity, the chronological order is identical to the release order:
- How to Train Your Dragon
- How to Train Your Dragon 2
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
The live-action continuity is separate:
- How to Train Your Dragon — 2025
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 — 2027, upcoming
Because the 2025 movie restarts the story, it should not be watched as though its events take place after The Hidden World.
That distinction is the key to understanding the How to Train Your Dragon movies chronological order.
Do TV Shows and Specials Count as Movies?
No.
The franchise includes multiple television productions, short films, and specials, but they should not be included when answering how many theatrical How to Train Your Dragon movies exist.
Dragons: Race to the Edge, for example, is a television series rather than a theatrical movie.
The same applies to Dragons: The Nine Realms, which expands the franchise into another era but remains television content.
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming is a holiday television special. It may include familiar characters and connect to events from the movie saga, but it is still not another theatrical feature film.
Short films and other franchise specials should be treated the same way.
They may be worth watching for fans who want to explore everything in the universe, but they do not change the main theatrical movie count.
Best Order for First-Time Viewers
For someone watching the franchise for the first time, release order is the easiest approach.
Start with the complete animated trilogy:
- How to Train Your Dragon — 2010
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 — 2014
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World — 2019
Then move into the live-action version:
- How to Train Your Dragon — 2025
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 — 2027 when released
This approach lets you experience the original version of the story first and then see how the newer live-action adaptation reinterprets the same world.
If you are interested only in the live-action films, however, you can begin directly with the 2025 movie. Watching the animated trilogy first is not required to understand the newer version.
Where to Watch the 2025 Live-Action Movie
Streaming availability changes over time and can differ between countries, so it is better to check current availability instead of relying on an older platform listing.
If you want to watch the 2025 remake, check our updated guide to where the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is streaming in the United States.
That separate guide tracks the latest streaming, rental, and purchase options without turning this evergreen movie-order page into a constantly changing streaming list.
Watch the Official How to Train Your Dragon 2 Trailer
How to Train Your Dragon 2 expanded the animated world far beyond Berk, introducing new locations, larger dragon battles, and a more mature stage of Hiccup’s journey. This official DreamWorks trailer gives readers a quick look at the second chapter of the original animated trilogy without repeating the videos already used elsewhere on CinePulse24.
FAQ
How many How to Train Your Dragon movies are there?
There are four theatrically released How to Train Your Dragon movies as of September 2026: three animated movies and the 2025 live-action remake. The total becomes five if you include the confirmed live-action sequel scheduled for 2027.
What order should I watch the movies in?
For a first viewing, watch the three animated movies in release order and then start the live-action series with the 2025 remake. The upcoming live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 comes next in that continuity.
Is How to Train Your Dragon a trilogy?
The original animated movie series is a trilogy consisting of How to Train Your Dragon (2010), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019). The franchise has since expanded into a separate live-action series.
Does the 2025 live-action movie count as a fourth movie?
Yes, if you are counting all theatrically released How to Train Your Dragon feature films. It is the fourth theatrical release overall, although it starts a new live-action continuity rather than continuing the animated trilogy.
Is How to Train Your Dragon 2 live action confirmed?
Yes. The live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 is officially scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on June 11, 2027.
Are the TV shows part of the movie order?
No. Series such as Dragons: Race to the Edge and Dragons: The Nine Realms belong to the wider franchise but are not theatrical feature films and should not be included in the movie count.
Is How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming a movie?
No. How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming is a television holiday special rather than a theatrical feature film, so it does not increase the theatrical movie count.
Will there be another live-action movie?
Yes. The live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 is officially scheduled for 2027 and will continue the live-action story that began with the 2025 movie.
Final Answer
So, how many How to Train Your Dragon movies are there?
There are four released theatrical movies as of September 2026: the three-film animated trilogy and the 2025 live-action remake.
If you include the officially confirmed live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2, scheduled for June 11, 2027, the theatrical franchise has five total entries announced or released.
TV series, short films, and specials such as Dragons: Race to the Edge, Dragons: The Nine Realms, and How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming do not count toward that theatrical total.
