How to Train Your Dragon
Recommended. Age: 6+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
A shy Viking boy named Hiccup finds a hurt dragon and decides not to kill it. He makes friends with the dragon and learns that dragons are not what his village thinks. His father, the chief, learns to be proud of him. This is a warm, beautifully made story about mercy. Hiccup spares an enemy, and that one act of compassion ends a long war. A father who misjudged his son says sorry. The one age is 6, set by Lumen's Kids & Up rating and matched by Common Sense Media (6+); there is no Catholic classification on record and the PG carries no age. Expect intense but bloodless dragon battles, a scary giant dragon, the hero losing a foot, one mild swear, a breast-shaped helmet joke, and a few passing nods to Norse gods.
For parents
Best for six and up, set by Lumen's Kids & Up rating and matched by Common Sense Media (6+). No Catholic classification was found for this film. The opening dragon raid, the arena fights and the giant Red Death can scare small children. No blood is shown, but Hiccup loses his foot at the end. Vikings say things like For Thor's sake, and Hiccup says the gods hate him. Explain that these are what Vikings believed, and that the true God is the one who loves us. Ask: why could Hiccup not kill Toothless? Why did his father change his mind? Who in your life seems scary but might just need understanding?