Credit: Netflix

Alright, fantasy fans, it’s time to fasten your seatbelts because Netflix just dropped something wild with this live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, and the fact that it is immediately trending shouldn’t be a surprise.

We’ve all grown up watching the animated version of this masterpiece, and when it was turned into live-action last year, people lost it. You see, there is a different kind of pleasure in watching your childhood favourite animations turn into live action. But more than pleasure, there’s curiosity, and many of the viewers are here to quench that thirst.

How to Train Your Dragon follows Hiccup trying to survive in a village where dragons are treated as threats, and it is so easy to connect with him because he is clearly trying to find his place without pretending to be someone he is not. Then he meets Toothless, and instead of going straight for a fight, he chooses trust, which is exactly where the film peaks. Watching them learn each other’s rhythms feels even better in live action.

Fantasy lovers are losing it over the flight sequences, because the remake goes big with those, lifting the camera high enough to give you that dizzy rush that only a dragon story can. The sky feels massive, and the wind almost seems like it could hit you if you lean a little too close to the screen. And yes, those who watched it on the big screens in 4DX might have had a little better experience, but Netflix lets you feel the same with very little difference.

Coming back to the story, we believe Toothless alone could carry half the chart. The details in his expressions are so sharp that every head tilt lands with his dramatic personality, and the way he reacts to Hiccup has viewers replaying the scenes just to enjoy the little shifts in his face. That creature has the entire audience wrapped around his paw, and the remake knows exactly how to use that.

Hiccup’s struggle stands out more clearly this time because the actor stays focused on making him feel real rather than performing him like a caricature. Astrid brings her confidence as usual the second she enters the frame, and Stoick comes in with that heavy presence.

The nostalgia wave is also playing a huge part in the remake’s popularity. People who watched the animated version when they were younger are showing up to see how the remake handles the key moments, and the film does not disappoint. The emotional push between humans and dragons holds the same charm even with updated visuals, so it’s safe to say that the live-action version did justice to the story.

But, but, but, you’ve got to appreciate Netflix audiences here too and the way they gracefully appreciate these kinds of experimental movies. Liking it or not is a question that follows, but pressing play is the first step, and that’s where the filmmakers win half the battle.

So if you want something full of dragons that look ready to leap off the screen, How to Train Your Dragon is exactly the movie to put on next. It brings back that old fantasy thrill with a splash of fresh energy and reminds you why this story matters to so many fans.