12 Epic Dragon Movies That Will Take Your Breath Away
Dragons have captured our imagination for centuries, with their mythological presence inspiring countless stories and legends. From the unnamed dragon in the 8th-century tale Beowulf to Smaug the Golden in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, dragons has been ever present in literature for years. The allure of these powerful creatures has not diminished in the world of cinema, where dragon movies have become a staple of the fantasy and adventure genre.
Dragon movies have brought us some of the most thrilling and memorable moments in cinematic history. Whether it’s the friendly and loyal dragons from How to Train Your Dragon to the terrifying beasts of Reign of Fire, dragon movies are great fun and always entertaining. Join us as we take a look at the best dragon movies that have roared across our screens and captivated audiences with these epic tales of heroism, magic, and wonder.
12 Epic Dragon Movies That Will Take Your Breath Away
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
This computer-animated movie follows a young Viking, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), who befriends a dragon and learns that they are not the fierce creatures he thought they were. A heartwarming tale about friendship that earned $494.9 million at the box office, How to Train Your Dragon also features the vocal talents of Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller, America Ferrera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
Unlike the rest of the dragon movies on this list, How to Train Your Dragon has a lot of different dragon species and plenty of jokes that both kids and adults can enjoy. Arguably the best-animated dragon movie of all time.
Watch on Netflix2. Reign of Fire (2002)
In between making romantic comedies, Matthew McConaughey made the time to star in this underrated post-apocalyptic dragon movie. In the not-too-distant future, dragons have been awoken from their slumber and now rule the Earth. Only small pockets of humans have managed to survive, including an underground settlement in England kept safe by local Quinn (Christian Bale).
When a group of American dragon slayers led by Van Zan (McConaughey) arrive intent on taking down the dragon terrorizing Quinn’s people, things go up another level as the locals and Van Zan join forces to take down the fire-breathing demons. It might not have been a huge hit when released in 2002, but Reign in Fire is wildly good fun with some great special effects.
Watch on Amazon3. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Nobody thought Peter Jackson could successfully bring Lord of the Rings to the big screen, but he did just that, so when he announced he was also adapting J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic book The Hobbit, people got excited.
While your enjoyment of the trilogy will depend on how much you love the books, there is no denying the middle film, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, contains one of the great movie dragons.
The main antagonist of the film is brought to life via amazing CGI that looks incredibly life-like. Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) is the definition of an evil dragon who looks out only for himself and wants nothing more than to cause death and destruction.
Watch on Prime4. Spirited Away (2001)
Considered one of the great Japanese animated movies, Spirited Away is a classic that also features a friendly dragon. The story centers on a young girl, Chihiro Ogino, whose parents have been turned into pigs after entering the spirit world Kami.
Forced to find a way to transform them back, she gets a job at Yubaba’s bathhouse and interacts with several strange and insightful characters, including a white dragon. Although only a minor character, the dragon does play a significant role in the movie and is one of the great underrated movie dragons.
Watch on Netflix5. The Neverending Story (1984)
Based on the 1979 novel The Neverending Story by Michael Ende, this 1984 adaption is a fantastic kid’s movie about a young boy who is drawn into a magical world where he must defeat the evil Nothing. Ten-year-old Bastian Bux discovers a book about a young hero named Atreyu who is aided on his journey by Falkor the “Luck Dragon,” who looks like a giant dog you just want to cuddle.
Falkor, although not a major character, aids Atreyu in saving the world of Fantasia and always entertains when on screen. As far as popular movie dragons go, Falkor is certainly near the top as he is one of the most recognizable.
Watch on Prime6. Eragon (2006)
Here’s one that might divide opinion. Loosely based on the young adult novels of the same name, Eragon is a fantasy adventure about dragons. The movie is based primarily on the first novel and finds farmboy Eragon (Ed Speleers) discovering a dragon egg which he keeps, hatching the dragon Saphira (Rachel Weisz). The two then team up to fight the evil king Galbatorix and reclaim the country of Alagaësia, or something like that.
Eragon wasn’t well received when released in 2006, with a lot of critics not impressed with the story, acting, or directing, although the special effects did get the tick of approval. The dragons that feature in the movie are amazing and the main reason why lovers of dragons should watch this movie.
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7. Pete’s Dragon (2016)
A live-action remake of the 1977 Disney movie, Pete’s Dragon tells the story of an orphaned boy who becomes friends with a dragon. After his parents are killed in a car crash in the middle of nowhere, Pete Healy is left to fend for himself and is saved by a dragon he names Elliot. Living in complete harmony away from the rest of the world, the duo’s cover is blown and they must deal with the consequences of the real world.
It might sound a little heavy for a movie aimed at kids, but Pete’s Dragon has a great message with crisp visuals that make the movie pop. The cast is pretty good too, with Bryce Dallas Howard, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, and Robert Redford all featuring.
Watch on Disney+8. Dragon Rider (2020)
The most recent entry into the dragon movie Hall of Fame is Dreamworks’s Dragon Rider. Based on Cornelia Funke’s 1997 novel of the same name, this 3D computer-animated movie follows the young dragon Firedrake who wants to stop hiding from humans and explore the world.
Hellbent on finding the “Rim of Heaven,” a fabled dragon haven, he sets off on the adventure of his life with the forest brownie Sorrel. He picks up human orphan Ben along the way as the trio finds themselves getting mixed up in all sorts of shenanigans.
While it does rip off How To Train Your Dragon both plot-wise and visually, Dragon Rider is fun for the whole family, especially those with kids who like dragons and want something different to watch.
Watch on Prime9. Dragonslayer (1981)
This fantasy movie follows a young sorcerer’s apprentice who is tasked with killing a dragon that is terrorizing his kingdom. It’s pretty straightforward in terms of plot, with the movie’s special effects elevating Dragonslayer from a good film to a great film. While younger viewers might not think much of them, the special effects were groundbreaking for their time and still hold up today.
Although a Disney movie and rated PG, there is a smattering of violence and nudity in Dragonslayer, so don’t go showing it to your five-year-old nieces and nephews. This one has a bit of a cult following and features Peter MacNicol in his debut role, who is best known for playing John Cage in Ally McBeal.
Watch on Prime10. Dragonheart (1996)
Sean Connery voicing a dragon should be all you need to know to get excited for this one. Connery is the voice of Draco, the last remaining dragon in the world who shares a heart (not literally) with the evil King Einon (David Thewlis). Draco is forced to team up with the dragon slayer Sir Bowen (Dennis Quaid) as they attempt to save the kingdom from King Einon.
Dragonheart is a little cheesy at times but the chemistry between Connery and Quaid is great, especially considering the Scotsman delivered his lines in the booth while Quaid acted alongside a green screen. This is another 90s dragon flick with decent special effects and a dragon that is quite likable.
11. Maleficent (2014)
Angelina Jolie took on the role of one of Disney’s most evil characters in the movie Maleficent. If she isn’t terrifying enough in her all-black get-up, then her dragon will certainly send shivers down your spine. Although not a dragon movie per se, the dragon does feature throughout and is involved in an awesome battle scene.
The rest of the movie is also quite good, with Maleficent telling the tale of Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the antagonist, the wicked Maleficent. While Jolie is the star she is ably supported by an ensemble cast that includes Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville.
There’s also a sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which will appeal to anyone who loves Jolie and Fanning. The only downside is the absence of dragons.
Watch on Prime12. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Dragons pop up in several movies in the Harry Potter franchise, with the most memorable occurring in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The Triwizard Tournament consists of a dragon battle that fans get to see play out on the big screen in this movie.
Although not as in-depth as the battle described in the book, which goes into more detail about the different dragons involved, it still makes for a fantastic scene that shows the power of dragons in the Harry Potter world.
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