Last updated: September 23, 2026
If you are wondering how many How to Train Your Dragon movies are there, the answer depends on whether you count only released theatrical films or also include the next confirmed movie. As of September 2026, there are four released How to Train Your Dragon theatrical movies: the three animated films and the 2025 live-action remake. The total becomes five theatrical movies when the officially confirmed live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2, scheduled for 2027, is included.
That count does not include television series, shorts or holiday specials such as Dragons: Race to the Edge, How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming or Dragons: The Nine Realms.
Quick Answer: How Many How to Train Your Dragon Movies Are There?
| # | 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.
DreamWorks describes the original animated films as its acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, while the franchise has since expanded with a live-action reimagining. You can also explore the official How to Train Your Dragon franchise page.
How Many How to Train Your Dragon Movies Are There?
There are currently four released theatrical feature films in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.
Three belong to the original animated trilogy:
- How to Train Your Dragon — 2010
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 — 2014
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World — 2019
The fourth is the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, released in 2025.
A fifth theatrical movie, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2, is officially scheduled to arrive in 2027.
This distinction matters because the franchise includes far more content than just theatrical films. Over the years, DreamWorks has released television shows, specials and short-form adventures, but those are not counted when answering how many How to Train Your Dragon movies have been released in theaters.
How to Train Your Dragon Movies in Release Order
For most viewers, release order is the simplest way to explore the franchise.
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
The original animated How to Train Your Dragon introduced audiences to the Viking world of Berk and the friendship between Hiccup and Toothless.
Rather than following his community’s tradition of fighting dragons, Hiccup discovers that the creatures are more complicated than the Vikings believe. His relationship with Toothless becomes the emotional foundation for the entire animated trilogy.
DreamWorks lists the original movie as a 2010 release on its official page for How to Train Your Dragon.
2. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
The animated sequel moves the story forward as Hiccup and Toothless explore a much larger world beyond Berk.
Released in 2014, the second movie expands the mythology, introduces new characters and raises the stakes considerably while continuing Hiccup’s development as a leader.
DreamWorks confirms the film’s 2014 release on the official How to Train Your Dragon 2 movie page.
3. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
The original animated trilogy concludes with How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
Released in 2019, the movie brings the long-running relationship between Hiccup and Toothless to a major turning point while exploring the future of both Vikings and dragons.
DreamWorks’ official page for How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World identifies it as the 2019 third theatrical film.
4. How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
The franchise returned to theaters in a new form with the 2025 live-action How to Train Your Dragon.
This is not a continuation of the animated trilogy. Instead, it reimagines the story of the first animated movie in live action.
That means viewers should think of the franchise as having two separate screen versions: the completed animated trilogy and a newer live-action movie series.
The 2025 film still counts as a theatrical How to Train Your Dragon movie, which is why the number of released feature films is now four rather than three.
The Original How to Train Your Dragon Animated Trilogy
When people refer to the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, they are normally talking about the three animated DreamWorks movies released between 2010 and 2019.
They form one continuous story:
How to Train Your Dragon → How to Train Your Dragon 2 → How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Watching those three films in release order also gives you the correct narrative order.
The trilogy follows Hiccup over several stages of his life, so there is no complicated alternate timeline to solve. Each sequel takes place after the events of the previous movie.
For viewers interested only in the original animated story, those three movies provide a complete beginning-to-end viewing experience.
How Does the 2025 Live-Action Movie Fit In?
The 2025 film starts a separate live-action adaptation rather than acting as How to Train Your Dragon 4 in the animated timeline.
It revisits the foundation of the first story with live-action actors and photorealistic dragons while retaining the central idea of Hiccup forming an unlikely bond with Toothless.
Because it restarts the story, you do not need to watch the three animated movies before seeing the 2025 version.
However, watching the original animation first can make it interesting to compare how the same characters, relationships and major story beats are interpreted in a different filmmaking format.
Is How to Train Your Dragon 2 Live Action Confirmed?
Yes. A live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 is officially confirmed.
Universal Pictures currently lists the movie for a June 11, 2027 theatrical release.
It will continue the newer live-action film series rather than extend the animated trilogy.
For the release date, cast information and production developments, see our complete How to Train Your Dragon 2 live-action guide.
The official listing can also be found through Universal Pictures’ How to Train Your Dragon 2 page.
Once that movie reaches theaters, the overall franchise will have five theatrical feature films: three animated movies and two live-action movies.
How to Train Your Dragon Movie Order: Release vs. Chronological Order
One advantage of this franchise is that the viewing order is relatively straightforward.
For the animated movies, release order and chronological order are the same:
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
The live-action films form their own continuity:
- How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2027 — upcoming)
You should therefore avoid placing the 2025 live-action movie after The Hidden World as though it were a direct sequel. It begins the story again in a separate adaptation.
If you want to watch all How to Train Your Dragon movies, the easiest approach is to finish the animated trilogy first and then move to the live-action series.
Do the TV Shows and Specials Count as Movies?
No. The franchise includes several television productions and specials, but they should not be included in the theatrical movie total.
For example, Dragons: Race to the Edge is a television series rather than a theatrical movie.
Dragons: The Nine Realms is also a TV series.
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming is a television special, so it should not be treated as a fourth animated theatrical movie.
There are also other shorts and specials connected to the franchise. They can add extra context or adventures for dedicated fans, but they are not necessary when calculating the number of theatrical How to Train Your Dragon movies.
That is why lists on the internet can sometimes appear to give different totals: some count virtually every screen production, while others count only feature films released theatrically.
For this guide, we are counting theatrical feature films only.
What Is the Best Order to Watch How to Train Your Dragon?
For a first-time viewer, the cleanest order is to watch the original animated trilogy before starting the live-action adaptation.
Animated series
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
Live-action series
- How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2027 — upcoming)
This order lets you experience the complete animated story without interrupting it with the newer remake.
After that, you can see how the filmmakers reinterpret the franchise for live action.
If you are interested only in the new movies, you can also begin directly with the 2025 film without watching the animated trilogy first.
Where Can You Watch the 2025 Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon?
Streaming availability can change as licensing agreements and platform windows change, so it is better to check current information rather than assume that a movie will remain on the same service permanently.
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 page focuses specifically on current streaming and digital viewing options.
Watch the Official How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Trailer
The animated trilogy concluded with How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World in 2019. Watch the official trailer below for a look at the final chapter of the original animated movie series.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many How to Train Your Dragon movies are there?
There are four released theatrical How to Train Your Dragon movies as of September 2026: three animated films and the 2025 live-action remake. The total becomes five when the confirmed 2027 live-action sequel is included.
What order should I watch the How to Train Your Dragon movies in?
For first-time viewers, watch the animated trilogy in release order — 2010, 2014 and 2019 — before moving to the 2025 live-action remake and its upcoming 2027 sequel.
Is How to Train Your Dragon a trilogy?
The original animated series is a trilogy consisting of How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. The franchise has since expanded into a separate live-action series.
Does the 2025 live-action movie count as a fourth movie?
Yes. When counting theatrical feature films across the entire franchise, the 2025 live-action adaptation is the fourth released movie. It is not, however, a direct sequel to The Hidden World.
Is How to Train Your Dragon 2 live action confirmed?
Yes. Universal Pictures has officially scheduled the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 for June 11, 2027.
Are the TV shows part of the How to Train Your Dragon movie order?
No. Shows such as Dragons: Race to the Edge and Dragons: The Nine Realms are television series and are not included in the theatrical movie count.
Is How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming a movie?
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming is a television special rather than a theatrical feature film, so it is not counted among the main theatrical movies.
Will there be another live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie?
Yes. How to Train Your Dragon 2 is confirmed as the next live-action installment and is currently scheduled for theatrical release on June 11, 2027.
Final Answer
So, how many How to Train Your Dragon movies are there? As of September 2026, there are four released theatrical movies: the three-film animated trilogy and the 2025 live-action remake.
If you also count the officially confirmed How to Train Your Dragon 2 live-action sequel coming in 2027, the franchise has five theatrical feature films in total — four released and one upcoming.
TV series, short films and specials are separate and should not be included in that movie count.
