Summary:
- Follow Hiccup and Toothless’ journey from misfit friendship to heroic legacy across movies and shows in How to Train Your Dragon franchise.
- Includes chronological and release order watch guides, plus where to stream or buy every installment of How to Train Your Dragon.
- With a live-action remake arriving, relive the saga before dragons take flight once again.
With the live-action How to Train Your Dragon film hitting theaters this June, there’s never been a better time to go back and revisit the classic story of Hiccup and Toothless. What started as a single animated film in 2010 has grown into a vast franchise with short films, TV shows, and now a modern-day continuation and a highly anticipated live-action adaptation.
Whether you’re watching it all for the first time or looking for a full rewatch, here’s your complete guide to the best viewing order, where to watch each title, and what’s next for the franchise.
Note: Watching chronologically gives you a smoother story flow, while release order lets you experience the franchise the way longtime fans did.
How to Train Your Dragon Franchise Chronological Watch Order (Story Timeline)
To follow Hiccup’s evolution from awkward Viking teen to visionary leader, watching the film in chronological order gives the best sense of his transformation:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99% (Critics), 91% (Audience)
- Where to Watch: Max, Peacock, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Zee5, Hulu, Apple TV, Fandango at Home (Vudu), Microsoft Store
Hiccup is a Viking boy from the village of Berk who wishes to be a dragon slayer just like his father. But when he injures a rare Night Fury, he learns that dragons are not the horrors his folk think.
Rather than killing it out of pity, he bonds with the dragon, giving it the name Toothless, and finds a hidden truth that will forever change how humans and dragons live together.
2. Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010)
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A
- Where to Watch: Plex, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store
In this short adventure, Gobber shares the tall tale of a dragon named the Boneknapper, claiming it has been bothering him for years. Hiccup and his friends, determined to uncover the truth, accompany him on a high-adrenaline adventure.
Along the way, they face a series of zany challenges, and Gobber’s wild tale becomes a laugh-out-loud mix of Viking lore, humor, and heart.
3. Book of Dragons (2011)
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%
- Where to Watch: Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies
As an entertaining companion piece to the other series, this short film is really an illustrated encyclopedia of dragons. Narrated by Hiccup, Astrid, and the gang, it brings viewers into the “Book of Dragons” and provides a look at some of the various dragon species, their ways, abilities, and how they live in harmony with humans. It’s a great way to expand the world of Berk and its dragon lore.
4. Gift of the Night Fury (2011)
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
- Where to Watch: Max
Presented as a Snoggletog holiday special, this moving short tracks the dragons as they suddenly depart Berk with no warning, leaving their riders bewildered and upset.
Hiccup constructs a new tail fin for Toothless so that he can fly independently. When the dragons return, they bring a shocking twist with them, making this holiday one of celebration of bonding, learning, and emotional reunion.
5. Dragons: Riders of Berk – Season 1 (2012)
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
- Where to Watch: Apple TV, Prime Video
Picking up from where the last film had ended, this animated series continues to trace the lives of Hiccup and his friends as they learn to ride their dragons and protect Berk from new enemies.
From dragon sightings in the wilderness to Viking tribe wars, every episode strengthens the riders’ bond with their dragons and sets the stage for the challenges that lie ahead. It’s part of the growing saga of Berk’s warriors.
6. Dragons: Defenders of Berk – Season 2 (2013)
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
- Where to Watch: Prime Video, Binge
Defenders of Berk see Hiccup and the gang struggling with everything from stubborn villagers to external threats as they transition into this dramatic new world. Though the animation isn’t on par with the film, the lore deepens, and Hiccup begins honing his dragon training skills.
7. Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014)
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A
- Where to Watch: Prime Video
This fun short is about how dragon racing became the new hottest trend in Berk. When the young Vikings are racing each other to come up with rules for the first race, their ideas create chaos, laughter, and friendly rivalry. It was especially released as a special feature on the DVD/Blu-ray/digital release of How to Train Your Dragon 2.
8. Dragons: Race to the Edge – Seasons 1-6 (2015-2018)
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
Set between the first and second films, this series, courtesy of Netflix, has Hiccup and his crew set off from Berk and discover new territories.
Guided by the mysterious Dragon Eye relic, they encounter new dragons, fight evil hunters, and uncover hidden lands. It’s a big adventure that tests their courage, loyalty, and what precisely it means to be a dragon rider.
9. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92% (Critics), 90% (Audience)
The second installment brings the franchise to a more mature place, with identity, loss, and leadership themes. Hiccup has matured and grown more confident, and his universe opens up in a huge way when he discovers his long-lost mother, Valka, who shares his love and understanding of dragons.
But with a vengeful warlord on the rise and a devastating family tragedy, this film requires Hiccup to become the type of leader Berk needs, blending rousing adventure with genuine emotional weight.
10. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90% (Critics), 87% (Audience)
This last chapter finds Hiccup and Toothless faced with their greatest challenge to date, pursuing the survival of dragons in a world that views them more and more as a threat. As Hiccup takes on his position as Berk’s leader, Toothless falls in love with a Light Fury, complicating their relationship.
The emotional peak is with a choice that turns everything around. The movie ends with a time-skip epilogue, with closure in a beautifully animated and deeply sentimental farewell to this iconic pair.
11. How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019)
- MDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
Years after dragons abandoned human existence, Hiccup and Astrid attempt to educate their kids about the past. To keep the memory of dragons alive, they plan to revive the Snoggletog pageant.
Meanwhile, Toothless, who now resides in the Hidden World, gets the urge to go back for a visit. This nostalgic holiday special looks back on legacy, connection, and how real bonds never weaken.
12. Snoggletog Log (2019)
- IMDb Rating: 4.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A
A quiet, peaceful short in which both Hiccup and Toothless look back on their history during the holidays. With no narrative or dialogue, it’s really just a soothing fireplace clip accompanied by soft music and subtle sounds. Ideal as a background clip or mood piece, it captures the coziness and quiet of Berk’s beloved holiday.
13. DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021–2023/8 Seasons)
- IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 41%
Jumping 1,300 years forward, this fresh series introduces a fresh cast of teens who find a hidden world in which dragons exist. Bonding with the ancient creatures, they battle to defend them against those who want to exploit them for their own purposes.
Blending science fiction and fantasy, The Nine Realms puts a fresh twist on the franchise while staying true to its roots of friendship and discovery.
14. How to Train Your Dragon (Live-Action, 2025) (Set in a different timeline)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78% (Critics), 98% (Audience)
- Where to Watch: TBA
The live-action remake brings the cherished 2010 movie into a new age. Under the direction of Dean DeBlois, the original creator of the trilogy, the remake is set to remain true to the essence of Hiccup and Toothless’s tale.
With real-world visuals and performances, it’s set to give us a more immersive adaptation of the classic story, telling us a timeless tale of friendship, courage, and understanding that reaches new audiences.
How to Train Your Dragon Franchise Release Date Watch Order
If you prefer to watch the franchise in the original order that fans first experienced it, here is the release order:
- How to Train Your Dragon: March 26, 2010
- Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon: October 14, 2010
- Book of Dragons: November 15, 2011
- Gift of the Night Fury: November 15, 2011
- Dragons: Riders of Berk: September 05, 2012
- Dragons: Defenders of Berk: September 19, 2013
- How to Train Your Dragon 2: June 13, 2014
- Dawn of the Dragon Racers: November 11, 2014
- Dragons: Race to the Edge: June 26, 2015, to February 16, 2018
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World: February 22, 2019
- How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming: December 03, 2019
- How to Train Your Dragon: Snoggletog Log: December 05, 2019
- DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms: December 23, 2021, to March 2, 2023
- How to Train Your Dragon (Live-Action): June 13, 2025
What’s Next for the Franchise?
The upcoming live-action How to Train Your Dragon film is just the start of an exciting new adventure. Directed by Dean DeBlois and starring Mason Thames as Hiccup and Gerard Butler returning as Stoick, this fresh adaptation brings the original story to life with real actors and stunning VFX.
But the journey does not end there. Universal Pictures has officially confirmed that a live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 is already in development and will release on June 11, 2027. It will continue to retell the legendary bond between Hiccup and Toothless for a new generation of fans.
