The main How to Train Your Dragon movie series order
The core How to Train Your Dragon trilogy presents the main story arc in chronological order:
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
Watching in this sequence delivers the intended narrative progression and character development, aligning with the source material’s flow and establishing the series’ timeline and emotional beats.
Complete movie list including shorts and specials
Feature films
Beyond the trilogy, DreamWorks produced related projects that extend the universe and add context without altering the main continuity. Use this list to decide what to watch and when.
| Title | Release date | Type | Viewing notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Train Your Dragon | March 26, 2010 | Feature film | Start of the story; establishes Hiccup and Toothless |
| Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon | October 15, 2010 | Short | Lighthearted; watch after the first film |
| How to Train Your Dragon 2 | June 13, 2014 | Feature film | Continues the timeline; deeper character arcs |
| Gift of the Night Fury | October 2011 | Short | Holiday-themed; fits between films one and two |
| How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | February 22, 2019 | Feature film | Concludes the trilogy; watch after the second film |
| Dawn of the Dragon Racers | November 2014 | Short | Racing-themed; aligns with the timeline of the second film |
The Hidden World
Overview short (2019) A recap short to highlight key themes and characters before the finale. |
Recommended viewing orders
Different goals call for different orders. Choose the sequence that matches your intent.
- Narrative (chronological) order: 1, 2, 3, with shorts placed as indicated in the table above for context and completeness.
- Release order: Follow the order films and shorts debuted, which aligns closely with narrative progression except for holiday timing of Gift of the Night Fury.
- Thematic order (recommended for new viewers): Start with the first feature to build attachment, then proceed through the trilogy, inserting shorts thematically where they fit.
How the books relate to the movie sequence
The films adapt and expand Cressida Cowell’s book series, following a broadly similar arc but condensing and reordering certain events. Core character beats and worldbuilding remain consistent, so the movie order provides a reliable guide even if you later explore the books.
Key details at a glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Number of main feature films | 3 | Studio release list |
| Primary trilogy span (first to last) | 2010–2019 | Release dates |
| Runtime range per main feature | Approx. 90–100 minutes | Publicly listed runtimes |
| Availability status of main films | Streaming and purchase across major platforms | Platform catalogs as of 2025 |
| Shorts and specials | Multiple, tied to main releases | Official listings |