:How to Train Your Dragon 2

Five years after the Viking villagers of Berk and the dragons have made peace,{{Efn|As depicted in How to Train Your Dragon (2010)}} Hiccup and his Night Fury, Toothless, map out unexplored lands. Hiccup's father, Stoick the Vast, pressures him to succeed as chieftain, although Hiccup is uncertain whether he is ready.

While investigating a burnt forest, Hiccup and Astrid are ambushed by dragon trappers led by Eret, who works for Drago Bludvist, a warlord who plots to enslave all dragons into becoming soldiers. Hiccup and Astrid escape to Berk and warn Stoick about Drago. As Stoick fortifies Berk to prepare for battle, he explains that he once met Drago at a chieftain gathering, where Drago offered them protection from dragons if they pledged to serve him; upon denying him, he had his dragons attack them, leaving Stoick as the sole survivor.

Hiccup, however, refuses to accept that war is inevitable and flies off with Toothless in search of Drago to change his mind. Instead, they encounter a mysterious dragon rider, who is revealed to be Hiccup's long-lost mother, Valka. She was presumed dead after being taken away by a dragon during a raid. Valka explains that, like her son, she could not bring herself to slay dragons; instead, she rescues them from Drago and brings them to an island nest formed out of ice by a massive, ice-breathing alpha dragon called a Bewilderbeast, which can control smaller dragons by emitting hypnotic sound waves. Stoick and his companion Gobber track Hiccup to the nest, where Stoick discovers that his wife is alive, and they finally reunite. Meanwhile, Astrid and the other riders force Eret to lead them to Drago, who captures them. Upon learning of Berk's dragons, Drago directs his armada to attack the dragon nest. He also tries to execute Eret, but Astrid's dragon, Stormfly, saves him, prompting Eret to help the others escape.

A battle rages at the nest between dragon riders, Valka's dragons, and Drago's armada. Drago unveils his Bewilderbeast to confront the alpha, killing it and becoming the new alpha, thus controlling all dragons. Hiccup urges Drago to cease violence, but Drago refuses, citing his family's death from dragon attacks in his childhood. His Bewilderbeast hypnotizes Toothless and forces him to attack Hiccup, but Stoick jumps in front of the blast and is killed. Grieving, Hiccup drives Toothless away after the Bewilderbeast releases him. The group is stranded as Drago takes control of their dragons and rides Toothless to conquer Berk. The group holds a Viking funeral for Stoick. Hiccup, now without his father or dragon, feels lost, but Valka reminds him his father believed he could unite humans and dragons. Inspired, Hiccup and his allies return to Berk on baby dragons, immune to the Bewilderbeast's influence.

Back at Berk, they find that Drago has attacked the village and taken control of the dragons. Hiccup frees Toothless from the Bewilderbeast's control and confronts Drago, before the Bewilderbeast encases them in ice that Toothless shields Hiccup from. However, Toothless blasts away the ice and enters a glowing, super-powered state, making him immune to the Bewilderbeast's control. Toothless challenges the Bewilderbeast while repeatedly shooting at it, breaking its control over the other dragons to side with him. The freed dragons fire at the Bewilderbeast until Toothless fires a massive blast, breaking its left tusk. Defeated, the Bewilderbeast retreats to the sea with Drago.

The Vikings and dragons celebrate their victory as Hiccup is officially made chieftain of Berk, Valka decides to stay with her son, and the dragons accept Toothless as the new alpha. Berk undergoes repairs, with Hiccup feeling confident that they will defend their way of life with the dragons.

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• Jay Baruchel – Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the son of the Viking chief Stoick the Vast and Valka, and Astrid's fianće.
• Cate Blanchett – Valka Haddock, Stoick's wife, Hiccup's long-lost mother and a dragon rescuer.{{cite news|last=Truitt|first=Brian|title=Blanchett lends 'fiery strength' to Dragons sequel|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/12/15/cate-blanchett-how-to-train-your-dragon-2/3911613|access-date=December 15, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=December 15, 2013|archive-date=December 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216051251/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/12/15/cate-blanchett-how-to-train-your-dragon-2/3911613/|url-status=live}}
• Gerard Butler – Stoick the Vast, chieftain of the Viking tribe of Berk, Hiccup's father and Valka's husband.
• Craig Ferguson – Gobber the Belch, Stoick's closest friend and a seasoned warrior.{{cite web|last=Clow|first=Mitchel|title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' director reveals how cat videos on YouTube inspire his dragons|url=http://www.hypable.com/2014/04/22/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-jay-baruchel-dean-deblois-interview/2/|publisher=Hypable|access-date=April 29, 2014|date=April 22, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140429183226/http://www.hypable.com/2014/04/22/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-jay-baruchel-dean-deblois-interview/2/|archive-date=April 29, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
• America Ferrera – Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup's fiancée.
• Jonah Hill – Snotlout Jorgenson.
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Fishlegs Ingerman.
• T.J. Miller and Kristen Wiig – Tuffnut and Ruffnut Thorston, the fraternal twins.
• Kit Harington – Eret, son of Eret, a dragon trapper who sells captured dragons to Drago.{{cite news|last=Connelly|first=Brendon|title=Cate Blanchett Joining How To Train Your Dragon 2 As Valka The Vigilante, Kit Harrington And Djimon Honsou In Too|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/18/cate-blanchett-joining-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-as-valka-the-vigilante-kit-harrington-and-djimon-honsou-in-too|access-date=July 18, 2013|newspaper=BleedingCool.com|date=July 18, 2013|archive-date=July 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721094046/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/18/cate-blanchett-joining-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-as-valka-the-vigilante-kit-harrington-and-djimon-honsou-in-too/|url-status=live}}
• Randy Thom – vocal effects for Toothless.
• Djimon Hounsou – Drago Bludvist, a ruthless warlord and dragon hunter who seeks to take over the world with a dragon army.{{cite news|last=Rawden|first=Mack|title=Dreamworks Animation 2013 Comic Con Panel Live Blog|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Dreamworks-Animation-2013-Comic-Con-Panel-Live-Blog-38565.html|access-date=July 18, 2013|newspaper=CinemaBlend.com|date=July 18, 2013|archive-date=July 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721201641/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Dreamworks-Animation-2013-Comic-Con-Panel-Live-Blog-38565.html|url-status=live}}

After the success of How to Train Your Dragon (2010), the sequel was announced on April 27, 2010.{{cite news |last=Bond |first=Paul |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/train-your-dragon-sequel-works-23042 |title=Train Your Dragon{{'}} sequel in the works |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 27, 2010 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326023339/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/train-your-dragon-sequel-works-23042 | archive-date=March 26, 2011}}{{cite web|title=DreamWorks Animation Reports First Quarter 2010 Financial Results|url=http://ir.dreamworksanimation.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=540662|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130901215450/http://ir.dreamworksanimation.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=540662|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2013|publisher=DreamWorks Animation|access-date=September 1, 2013|date=April 27, 2010}} "How to Train Your Dragon … has become DreamWorks Animation's next franchise. We plan to release the sequel theatrically in 2013", said Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks Animation's CEO. It was later revealed that DeBlois had started drafting the outline for a sequel in February 2010 at Skywalker Ranch, during the final sound mix of the first film.{{cite book|last=Sunshine|first=Linda|title=The Art of How to Train Your Dragon 2|date=2014|publisher=HarperCollins|location=New York|isbn=9780062323354}}{{rp|10}} The film was originally scheduled for release on June 20, 2014, but in August 2013 the release date was moved forward one week to June 13, 2014.{{cite web|last=Trumbore|first=Dave|title=Disney Updates Upcoming Movie Release Schedule; DreamWorks Animation's HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 Now Opens One Week Earlier [Updated]|date=August 16, 2013 |url=https://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-release-date|publisher=Collider.com|access-date=August 17, 2013|archive-date=August 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820000744/http://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-release-date/|url-status=live}}

File:Dean DeBlois, 2014 WonderCon-1.jpg.]]

The film was written, directed, and executive produced by Dean DeBlois, the co-writer/co-director of the first film.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} Bonnie Arnold, the producer of the first film, also returned, while Chris Sanders, who co-directed and co-wrote the first film, acted only as an additional executive producer this time due to his involvement with The Croods (2013).{{cite news|last=Giardina|first=Carolyn|title=Details of How to Train Your Dragon Sequel Revealed|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/details-dragon-sequal-revealed-97216|access-date=September 8, 2011|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208204358/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/details-dragon-sequal-revealed-97216|archive-date=February 8, 2011}} When offered the sequel, DeBlois accepted it on condition he could turn it into a trilogy. For the sequel, he intended to revisit the films of his youth, with The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and My Neighbor Totoro (1988){{cite news|last=Hopewell|first=John|title=DeBlois, Arnold Talk Up DWA's How to Train Your Dragon 2|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/deblois-arnold-talk-up-dwas-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1200495206|access-date=January 13, 2014|newspaper=Variety|date=June 11, 2013|archive-date=November 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124030035/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/deblois-arnold-talk-up-dwas-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1200495206/|url-status=live}} having the pivotal inspirations for the film.{{cite news|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|title=Immersed in Movies: How to Train Your Dragon 2 Wows Comic-Con|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-wows-comic-con|access-date=September 1, 2013|newspaper=Animation Scoop|date=July 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910121306/http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-wows-comic-con|archive-date=September 10, 2013|url-status=dead}} "What I loved especially about Empire is that it expanded Star Wars (1977) in every direction: emotionally, its scope, characters, fun. It felt like an embellishment and that's the goal."{{cite news|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|title=Immersed in Movies: DeBlois & Struzan Talk Postering How to Train Your Dragon 2|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/deblois-struzan-talk-how-to-train-your-dragon-2|access-date=September 2, 2013|newspaper=Animation Scoop|date=July 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822055819/http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/deblois-struzan-talk-how-to-train-your-dragon-2|archive-date=August 22, 2013|url-status=dead}}

The entire original voice cast—Baruchel, Butler, Ferguson, Ferrera, Hill, Mintz-Plasse, Miller and Wiig—returned for the sequel.{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=70596 |title=More How to Train Your Dragon Sequel Details |work=ComingSoon.net |date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-date=October 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014014553/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=70596 |url-status=live }} On June 19, 2012, it was announced that Kit Harington, of Game of Thrones fame, was cast as one of the film's antagonists.{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=Harington joining How to Train Your Dragon 2|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/harington-joining-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1118055744/|access-date=June 20, 2012|newspaper=Variety|date=June 19, 2012|archive-date=June 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623043424/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118055744|url-status=live}} At the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Cate Blanchett and Djimon Hounsou had joined the cast; they lent their voices to Valka and Drago Bludvist, respectively.

While the first film was set in a generic North Sea environment, the creative team decided to focus on Norway this time around. Early in the sequel's development, about a dozen of them traveled there for a week-long research trip, where they toured Oslo, Bergen and the fjords.{{rp|12–13}} DeBlois, together with Gregg Taylor (DreamWorks' head of feature development) and Roger Deakins (a cinematographer who served as visual consultant), then broke off from the group to visit Svalbard and see polar bears in the wild with the assistance of armed guides.{{rp|12–16}}

DeBlois explained that he had learned from directing Lilo & Stitch (2002) that "if you set an animated film in a place you want to visit, there's a chance you might get to go there."{{rp|14}} He had wanted to visit Svalbard for some time, after learning of its stark beauty from a couple of backpackers he met during earlier visits to Iceland to work with post-rock band Sigur Rós on the documentary film Heima (2007).{{rp|14}}

An early draft for the film had Gobber the Belch being the one killed by the brainwashed Toothless under Drago Bludvist's orders instead of Stoick the Vast. However, when DeBlois shared his plot outline as originally envisioned to his colleague Guillermo del Toro, who had enjoyed the first film, del Toro suggested instead to have Stoick killed over Gobber, as Stoick had "exhausted" his narrative contribution and would represent a "crutch" for Hiccup if he were to become chief. DeBlois ultimately felt this was a right decision for the story and del Toro was given a "Thank you" credit.{{cite news|last=Labrecque|first=Jeff|title='Dragon 2': How Guillermo del Toro earned his post-credits 'Thank you'|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/06/16/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-guillermo-del-toro/|access-date=June 30, 2023|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 16, 2014|archive-date=August 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808040619/https://ew.com/article/2014/06/16/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-guillermo-del-toro/|url-status=live}}

File:Barack Obama, How to Train Your Dragon 2, DreamWorks Animation, 2013.jpg tried a motion capture camera of the kind used to capture live-action reference performance for the film.{{cite news|last=Amidi|first=Amid|title=Watch Dean DeBlois Explain Motion Capture to President Obama|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-culture/watch-dean-deblois-explain-motion-capture-to-president-obama-91551.html|access-date=January 13, 2014|newspaper=Cartoon Brew|date=November 27, 2013|archive-date=December 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221062228/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-culture/watch-dean-deblois-explain-motion-capture-to-president-obama-91551.html|url-status=live}}]]

Over the five years before the film's release,{{cite web|last1=Minow|first1=Nell|title=Interview: Dean DeBlois of "How to Train Your Dragon 2"|url=http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/moviemom/2014/06/interview-dean-deblois-of-how-to-train-your-dragon-2.html|publisher=Beliefnet|access-date=October 4, 2014|date=June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104144/http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/moviemom/2014/06/interview-dean-deblois-of-how-to-train-your-dragon-2.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}} DreamWorks Animation had substantially overhauled its production workflow and animation software. How to Train Your Dragon 2 was the first DreamWorks Animation film that used "scalable multicore processing", developed together with Hewlett-Packard. Called by Katzenberg as "the next revolution in filmmaking", it enabled artists for the first time to work on rich, complex images in real time, instead of waiting eight hours to see the results the next day.{{cite news|last=Paredes|first=Divina|title=Dreamworks' revolutionary road|url=http://www.cio.co.nz/article/466619/dreamworks_revolutionary_road|access-date=October 31, 2013|newspaper=CIO New Zealand|date=June 25, 2013|archive-date=December 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224121912/http://www.cio.co.nz/article/466619/dreamworks_revolutionary_road/|url-status=live}} The film was also the studio's first film to use its new animation and lighting software through the entire production. Programs named Premo{{cite web|last=Watt|first=Martin|title=Parallel evaluation of character rigs using TBB|url=http://www.multithreadingandvfx.org/course_notes/ParallelevaluationofcharacterrigsusingTBB.pdf|publisher=Multithreading and VFX|access-date=August 13, 2013|page=2|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021040830/http://www.multithreadingandvfx.org/course_notes/ParallelevaluationofcharacterrigsusingTBB.pdf|url-status=live}} and Torch allowed much more subtlety, improving facial animation and enabling "the sense of fat, jiggle, loose skin, the sensation of skin moving over muscle instead of masses moving together."{{cite news|last=Hopewell|first=John|title=DeBlois, Arnold Talk Up DWA's How to Train Your Dragon 2|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/deblois-arnold-talk-up-dwas-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1200495206|access-date=June 15, 2013|newspaper=Variety|date=June 12, 2013|archive-date=June 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615032953/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/deblois-arnold-talk-up-dwas-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1200495206/|url-status=live}}

By the time production was complete, over 500 people had worked on the film at DreamWorks Animation's headquarters in Glendale, as well as its branch offices at PDI/DreamWorks in Redwood City and DreamWorks India in Bangalore.{{rp|158–159}}

File:Dean DeBlois, Jay Baruchel and America Ferrara, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst 2014.jpg.{{cite web|last1=Saldukas|first1=Scott|title=JB MDL community sees stars|url=https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/|publisher=Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst|access-date=October 7, 2014|date=June 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014041139/http://www.jointbasemdl.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123413450|archive-date=October 14, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}]]

The film was screened out of competition on May 16, 2014, at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Justin|last2=Keslassy|first2=Elsa|title=Cannes Unveils 2014 Official Selection Lineup|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/cannes-unveils-2014-official-selection-lineup-1201158710|access-date=April 17, 2014|newspaper=Variety|date=April 17, 2014|archive-date=April 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418083246/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/cannes-unveils-2014-official-selection-lineup-1201158710/|url-status=live}} In the United States, the film premiered on June 8, 2014, at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles, and was theatrically released on June 13, 2014.{{cite news|last1=Giardina|first1=Arlene|last2=Washington|first2=Arlene|title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' L.A. Premiere 'Incredible' for Director Dean DeBlois|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/how-train-your-dragon-2-710238|access-date=October 4, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 8, 2014|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012164614/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/how-train-your-dragon-2-710238|url-status=live}} The film was also digitally remastered into IMAX 3D and released to international theaters on June 13, 2014.{{cite news|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|title=Imax to Breathe Fire With How to Train Your Dragon 2 3D Release|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imax-breathe-fire-how-train-698117|access-date=April 23, 2014|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 22, 2014|archive-date=April 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425124441/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imax-breathe-fire-how-train-698117|url-status=live}}

How to Train Your Dragon 2 was released digitally on October 21, 2014, and was subsequently released on DVD and Blu-ray (both 2D and 3D) on November 11.{{cite web|title=How to Train Your Dragon 2 Available Digitally on October 21|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=122423|publisher=ComingSoon.net|access-date=August 29, 2014|date=August 29, 2014|archive-date=September 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901193418/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=122423|url-status=live}} The Blu-ray and digital releases are accompanied by a new animated short film entitled Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014), in which Hiccup and friends compete to become the first Dragon Racing Champion of Berk.

A double DVD pack with the film and Dawn of the Dragon Racers was released exclusively at Walmart stores.{{cite web |url=http://www.walmart.com/ip/How-To-Train-Your-Dragon-2-Dawn-Of-The-Dragon-Racers-Walmart-Exclusive-Widescreen/38575878 |title=How To Train Your Dragon 2 / Dawn Of The Dragon Racers (Walmart Exclusive) (Widescreen) |publisher=Walmart.com |date=February 12, 2014 |access-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414075230/http://www.walmart.com/ip/How-To-Train-Your-Dragon-2-Dawn-Of-The-Dragon-Racers-Walmart-Exclusive-Widescreen/38575878 |url-status=live }} {{as of|2015|February}}, 7.5 million home entertainment units have been sold worldwide.{{cite news|last1=Graser|first1=Marc|title=DreamWorks Animation Posts $247.7 Million Loss After 'Penguins' Flop, Company Restructuring|url=https://variety.com/2015/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-posts-247-7-million-loss-after-penguins-flop-company-restructuring-1201440532/|access-date=February 28, 2015|work=Variety|date=February 24, 2015|archive-date=February 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226150642/http://variety.com/2015/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-posts-247-7-million-loss-after-penguins-flop-company-restructuring-1201440532/|url-status=live}}

On January 22, 2019, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment{{efn|In 2018, Universal Pictures acquired the rights from 20th Century Fox, who released the film, following NBCUniversal's 2016 acquisition of DreamWorks Animation.}} released a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray version of How to Train Your Dragon 2 alongside its predecessor, making them the first catalog DreamWorks Animation films to be released on that format.{{Cite web|url=https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/65832/howtotrainyourdragon4kultrahdbluray.html|title=How to Train Your Dragon - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Ultra HD Review|website=High-Def Digest|language=en|access-date=2018-11-19|archive-date=March 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321143634/https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/65832/howtotrainyourdragon4kultrahdbluray.html|url-status=live}}

Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on reviews from {{RT data|count}} critics, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus states: "Exciting, emotionally resonant, and beautifully animated, How to Train Your Dragon 2 builds on its predecessor's successes just the way a sequel should."{{cite web |title= How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_to_train_your_dragon_2/ |publisher= Fandango Media |work= Rotten Tomatoes |access-date= {{RT data|access date}} |archive-date= June 5, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200605015036/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_to_train_your_dragon_2 |url-status= live }} Metacritic gives the film a score of 77 out of 100 based on reviews from 48 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web |url= https://metacritic.com/movie/how-to-train-your-dragon-2 |title= How to Train Your Dragon 2 Reviews |publisher= CBS Interactive |work= Metacritic |access-date= August 21, 2014 |archive-date= September 1, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140901104948/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/how-to-train-your-dragon-2 |url-status= live }} Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore during the opening weekend gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web | title = Box Office: Why Did '22 Jump Street' Win Against 'How to Train Your Dragon 2'? | date = June 16, 2014 | author = Gary Susman | url = http://news.moviefone.com/2014/06/16/box-office-22-jump-street/ | work = MovieFone.com | quote = A- for "Jump Street," A for "Dragon 2" | access-date = June 23, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140618061107/http://news.moviefone.com/2014/06/16/box-office-22-jump-street/ | archive-date = June 18, 2014 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }} Audiences were a mix of 47% female and 53% male. Children and Young Adults responded most strongly, with those aged under 25 giving a grade A+.{{cite web | title = FINAL BOX OFFICE: '22 Jump Street' Ends Weekend With $57M, 'How To Train Your Dragon 2' No. 2 With $49.4M | author = Anita busch | date = June 16, 2014 | access-date = July 18, 2015 | url = https://deadline.com/2014/06/box-office-22-jump-st-how-to-train-your-dragon-to-open-big-787609/ | work = Deadline Hollywood | quote = (kids loved this, scoring 92% in the top two boxes) | archive-date = June 30, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150630202927/http://deadline.com/2014/06/box-office-22-jump-st-how-to-train-your-dragon-to-open-big-787609/ | url-status = live }}{{cite news|last1=Lang|first1=Brent|title=Box Office: '22 Jump Street' Tops 'How to Train Your Dragon 2′ With $60 Mil|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/box-office-22-jump-street-tops-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-with-60-mil-1201220779/|work=Variety|access-date=July 18, 2015|date=June 15, 2014|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723055327/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/box-office-22-jump-street-tops-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-with-60-mil-1201220779/|url-status=live}}

At the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Peter Debruge of Variety praised the film and its ambitions: "The pressures to make a giant four-quadrant monstrosity must be enormous, and yet, like his unflappable hero Hiccup, How to Train Your Dragon 2 writer-director Dean DeBlois has prevailed, serving up DreamWorks Animation's strongest sequel yet—one that breathes fresh fire into the franchise, instead of merely rehashing the original. Braver than Brave, more fun than Frozen, and more emotionally satisfying than so many of its live-action counterparts, Dragon delivers. And good thing, too, since DWA desperately needs another toon to cross the half-billion-dollar threshold."{{cite news |last= Debruge |first= Peter |title= Cannes Film Review: 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' |url= https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/cannes-film-review-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1201181707/ |work= Variety |access-date= May 16, 2014 |date= May 16, 2014 |archive-date= May 17, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140517114812/http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/cannes-film-review-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1201181707/ |url-status= live }} Elizabeth Weitzman of the New York Daily News gave the film three out of five stars, saying "It's the unflinching edge that gives the film its unexpected depth."{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/train-dragon-2-movie-review-article-1.1825764 |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2,' movie review |publisher=NY Daily News |date=June 12, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2014 |location=New York |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613021203/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/train-dragon-2-movie-review-article-1.1825764 |url-status=live }} Jocelyn Noveck of the Associated Press gave the film three out of four stars, saying "How to Train Your Dragon 2 doesn't play it safe, and that's why it's the rare sequel that doesn't feel somewhat stale."{{cite news | author = Jocelyn Noveck | agency = Associated Press | url = http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20140610_ap_e56d9fd1b22347ac9e4e00b7e04550ee.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20140613211643/http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20140610_ap_e56d9fd1b22347ac9e4e00b7e04550ee.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 13, 2014 | title = Review: Lovely visuals, smart writing in 'Dragon' | publisher = Philly.com | date = October 22, 2012 | access-date = June 13, 2014}} Joe McGovern of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B, saying "The flight path needs straightening, but this is still a franchise that knows how to fly."{{cite news |author=Joe McGovern |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/06/26/how-train-your-dragon-2-4/ |title=How To Train Your Dragon 2 Review |publisher=EW.com |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-date=June 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615213337/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20824997,00.html |url-status=live }} Jody Mitori of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch gave the film three out of four stars, saying "For audiences who want a sweet story, they can't beat the first film of a boy finding his best friend. For those who are ready for the next stage, try this one about a boy becoming a man."{{cite web |last=Mitori |first=Jody |url=https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/how-to-train-your-dragon-flies-into-darker-territory/article_af5dd439-f605-5dc7-b92b-c1d0acc7075f.html |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' flies into darker territory |date=June 12, 2014 |publisher=Stltoday.com |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-date=August 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820173838/http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/how-to-train-your-dragon-flies-into-darker-territory/article_af5dd439-f605-5dc7-b92b-c1d0acc7075f.html |url-status=live }}

Bill Goodykoontz of The Arizona Republic gave the film four out of five stars, saying "It seemed as if there was nowhere new to go after the first film, but this is a richer story that dares to go darker and is thus more rewarding."{{cite web |author=Bill Goodykoontz |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/2014/06/11/movie-review-how-to-train-your-dragon-stars/10330207/ |title=Review: 'How to Train Your Dragon 2,' 4 stars |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140613211615/http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/2014/06/11/movie-review-how-to-train-your-dragon-stars/10330207/ |url-status=live }} Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, saying "Dragon 2, like The Empire Strikes Back, takes sequels to a new level of imagination and innovation. It truly is a high-flying, depth-charging wonder to behold."{{cite magazine | author = Peter Travers | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-20140612 | title = 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' Movie Review | magazine = Rolling Stone | publisher = Wenner Media LLC | date = June 28, 2013 | access-date = June 20, 2014 | archive-date = January 22, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170122081602/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-20140612 | url-status = live }} Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle gave the film three out of four stars, saying "DeBlois, who also wrote the script, successfully juggles the multiple story lines, shifting allegiances and uncharted lands."{{cite news |author=Peter Hartlaub |url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/How-to-Train-Your-Dragon-2-review-It-s-Hiccup-5547829.php |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' review: It's Hiccup vs. tyrant |publisher=SFGate |date=June 12, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612193825/http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/How-to-Train-Your-Dragon-2-review-It-s-Hiccup-5547829.php |url-status=live }} Rafer Guzman of Newsday gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Gruesome? A little. Scary? You bet. But that's exactly what makes the Dragon films so different, and so much better, than the average children's fare."{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-review-fantasy-with-real-emotion-1.8417191 |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' review: Fantasy with real emotion |publisher=Newsday |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714234026/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-review-fantasy-with-real-emotion-1.8417191 |url-status=live }} Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, saying "For once, we have an animated sequel free of the committee-job vibe so common at every animation house, no matter the track record."{{cite news |author= Michael Phillips |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-review-20140612,0,2715478.column |title= How to Train Your Dragon 2 review |publisher= chicagotribune.com |date= June 12, 2014 |access-date= June 20, 2014 |archive-date= June 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140613081951/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-review-20140612,0,2715478.column |url-status= live }} Stephen Holden of The New York Times gave the film a negative review, saying "The story seems to be going somewhere until it comes to a halt with the inevitable showdown between the forces of darkness and the forces of light."{{cite news | author = Stephen Holden | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/13/movies/in-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-war-and-peace-and-beasties.html | title = In 'How to Train Your Dragon 2,' War and Peace and Beasties | work = The New York Times | date = June 13, 2014 | access-date = June 13, 2014 | archive-date = June 13, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140613050301/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/13/movies/in-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-war-and-peace-and-beasties.html | url-status = live }} Peter Howell of the Toronto Star gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Taking its cues as much from Star Wars and Game of Thrones as from its own storybook narrative, How to Train Your Dragon 2 breathes fire into a franchise sequel."{{cite news | author = Peter Howell | url = https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2014/06/12/how_to_train_your_dragon_sequel_breathes_fire_review.html | title = How to Train Your Dragon sequel breathes fire: review | work = Toronto Star | date = June 12, 2014 | access-date = June 20, 2014 | archive-date = June 17, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140617181917/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2014/06/12/how_to_train_your_dragon_sequel_breathes_fire_review.html | url-status = live }}

Claudia Puig of USA Today gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Nearly as exuberant as the original, How to Train Your Dragon 2 nimbly avoids sequel-itis."{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/06/11/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-review/9649005/ |title='Dragon' breathes fire into deeper, darker sequel |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613053026/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/06/11/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-review/9649005/ |url-status=live }} Colin Covert of the Star Tribune gave the film four out of four stars, saying: "The impressive part is the storytelling confidence of writer/director Dean DeBlois. He has created a thoughtful tale as meaningful for grown-ups as it is pleasurable for its young primary audience."{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/262915531.html |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' soars on dragons' wings |publisher=Star Tribune |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614235231/http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/262915531.html |url-status=live }} Stephanie Merry of The Washington Post gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, saying "This may be the first and last time anyone says this, but if How to Train Your Dragon 2 is this good, why stop at 3 and 4?"{{cite news | author = Stephanie Merry | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-movie-review/2014/06/11/9a77638c-efdd-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html | title = 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' movie review | publisher = Nash Holdings LLC | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = June 12, 2014 | access-date = June 13, 2014 | archive-date = June 13, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140613052858/http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-movie-review/2014/06/11/9a77638c-efdd-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html | url-status = live }} Moira MacDonald of The Seattle Times gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, saying: "Young and old fans of the first movie will be lining up for the wit, for the inventiveness of the characters, for the breathtaking visuals — and just the sheer fun of it all."{{cite web|last=Macdonald |first=Moira |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/movies/2023829555_howtotrainxml.html |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' soars with wit, thrilling visuals |publisher=The Seattle Times |access-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715012856/http://seattletimes.com/html/movies/2023829555_howtotrainxml.html |archive-date=July 15, 2014 }} Tirdad Derakhshani of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, saying: "One of this year's true surprises, the superior animated sequel not only is infused with the same independent spirit and off-kilter aesthetic that enriched the original, it also deepens the first film's major themes."{{cite web|author=Tirdad Derakhshani |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20140613__How_to_Train_Your_Dragon_2___Sequel_breathes_excellent_fire.html |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2': Sequel breathes excellent fire |publisher=Philly.com |date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613162821/http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20140613__How_to_Train_Your_Dragon_2___Sequel_breathes_excellent_fire.html |archive-date=June 13, 2014 }} Stephen Whitty of the Newark Star-Ledger gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, saying: "This was not a sequel that anybody needed, outside of the accountants. And there's another already planned."{{cite web |author= Stephen Whitty |work= The Star-Ledger |url= http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/06/how_to_train_your_dragon_2_review_the_sequel_that_fell_to_earth.html |title= 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' review: The sequel that fell to earth |date= June 13, 2014 |publisher= NJ.com |access-date= June 13, 2014 |archive-date= July 9, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140709135850/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/06/how_to_train_your_dragon_2_review_the_sequel_that_fell_to_earth.html |url-status= live }} John Semley of The Globe and Mail gave the film four out of four stars, saying: "More than just teaching kids what to think about the world they're coming into, it's a rare film that encourages them to think for themselves."{{cite news |author=John Semley |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/film-reviews/burn-baby-burn/article19146401/ |title=How to Train Your Dragon 2: A rare film that teaches kids to think for themselves |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=June 13, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2014 |location=Toronto |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708203307/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/film-reviews/burn-baby-burn/article19146401/ |url-status=live }}

Rene Rodriguez of the Miami Herald gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, saying: "How to Train Your Dragon 2 is its own standalone picture, with a surprising range of emotions that surpasses the original and a brisk pace and manner of storytelling that give it purpose and direction. The fact that it's also so much fun, no matter what your age, almost feels like a bonus."{{cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Rene |url=http://www.miami.com/039how-train-your-dragon-2039-pg-article |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' (PG) |publisher=miami.com |access-date=June 14, 2014 |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614043232/http://www.miami.com/039how-train-your-dragon-2039-pg-article |url-status=live }} Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film four out of four stars, saying: "Not only does this second movie match the charm, wit, animation skill and intelligent storytelling of the original, I think it even exceeds it."{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/movies/28000422-421/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-even-better-than-the-first.html |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2': Even better than the first |publisher=Suntimes.com |access-date=June 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617071343/http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/movies/28000422-421/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-even-better-than-the-first.html |archive-date=June 17, 2014 }} Lisa Kennedy of The Denver Post gave the film a positive review, saying: "How to Train Your Dragon 2 is soaring, emotionally swooping, utterly satisfying fun."{{cite news |author=Lisa Kennedy |url=http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_25944255/review-how-train-your-dragon-2-shows-how |title=Review: "How to Train Your Dragon 2" shows how to train a sequel |publisher=The Denver Post |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=June 14, 2014 |archive-date=July 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707231931/http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_25944255/review-how-train-your-dragon-2-shows-how |url-status=live }} Bob Mondello of NPR gave the film an 8.5 out of 10, saying: "It's clear that [director Dean DeBlois] took inspiration from the first Star Wars trilogy—not a bad model for breathing new life, and yes, a bit of fire, into one of Hollywood's more nuanced animated franchises."{{cite web | author = Bob Mondello | url = https://www.npr.org/2014/06/13/321663008/its-a-summer-sequel-spectacular-with-dragon-and-jump-street | title = It's A Summer Sequel Spectacular With 'Dragon' And 'Jump Street' | website = NPR.org | publisher = NPR | access-date = June 14, 2014 | archive-date = June 14, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140614005646/http://www.npr.org/2014/06/13/321663008/its-a-summer-sequel-spectacular-with-dragon-and-jump-street | url-status = live }} Inkoo Kang of The Wrap gave the film a mixed review, saying: "If there isn't enough to feel, at least there's a lot to look at. Thanks to the superb 3-D direction by DeBlois, we swoop through the air, whoosh down dragons' tails, and {{sic|juuust baaaarely}} squeeze into small crevices, but still, those experiences are only like being on a really great rollercoaster—they don't mean anything."{{cite web | author = Inkoo Kang | url = https://www.thewrap.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-review-cate-blanchett-jay-baruchel-america-ferrera/ | title = 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' Review: Something Gets Lost in the Leap from Romp to Epic | date = June 11, 2014 | publisher = TheWrap | access-date = June 14, 2014 | archive-date = June 15, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140615032156/http://www.thewrap.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-review-cate-blanchett-jay-baruchel-america-ferrera/ | url-status = live }} A. A. Dowd of The A.V. Club gave the film a B−, saying: "There aren't just more dragons, but more characters, more plot, more everything. The trade-off is that the charm of the original gets a little lost, a casualty of rapid-franchise expansion."{{cite web |author= A.A. Dowd |url= https://www.avclub.com/review/how-train-your-dragon-2-has-more-dragons-less-soul-205664 |title= How To Train Your Dragon 2 has more dragons, less soul than its predecessor |date= June 12, 2014 |publisher= Avclub.com |access-date= June 14, 2014 |archive-date= June 14, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140614024732/http://www.avclub.com/review/how-train-your-dragon-2-has-more-dragons-less-soul-205664 |url-status= live }}

How to Train Your Dragon 2 grossed $177 million in North America, and $441.9 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $618.9 million. The film is the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2014, behind Big Hero 6, and the twelfth-highest-grossing film of the year in any genre.{{cite web|last1=Lowe|first1=Kinsey|title=Big Hero 6′: No. 1 Animated Movie Worldwide 2014|url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/big-hero-6-no-1-animated-movie-worldwide-2014-1201392779/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=March 15, 2015|date=March 14, 2015|archive-date=March 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315053351/http://deadline.com/2015/03/big-hero-6-no-1-animated-movie-worldwide-2014-1201392779/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=2014 Worldwide Grosses|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2014|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 5, 2014|archive-date=November 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125172304/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2014|url-status=live}} While How to Train Your Dragon 2 only earned $177 million at the US box office, compared to $217 million for its predecessor,{{cite web|title=How to Train Your Dragon|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=howtotrainyourdragon.htm|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 28, 2014|archive-date=July 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705085309/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=howtotrainyourdragon.htm|url-status=live}} it performed much better at the international box office, earning $438 million to How to Train Your Dragon's $277 million. Calculating in all expenses, Deadline Hollywood estimated that the film made a profit of $107.3 million.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-profit-box-office-2014-1201390472/|title=No. 13 'How To Train Your Dragon 2′ – 2014 Most Valuable Blockbuster Movie Tournament|author=Mike Fleming Jr|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 10, 2015|access-date=March 21, 2015|archive-date=March 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316124434/http://deadline.com/2015/03/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-profit-box-office-2014-1201390472/|url-status=live}}

In the United States and Canada, the film earned $18.5 million on its opening day,{{cite news |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/06/14/box-office-22-jump-street-nabs-25m-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-nabs-18-5m-on-friday/ |title= Friday Box Office: '22 Jump Street' - $25M, 'How To Train Your Dragon 2' - $18.5M |work= Forbes |date= May 28, 2014 |access-date= June 14, 2014 |first= Scott |last= Mendelson |archive-date= June 16, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140616005815/http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/06/14/box-office-22-jump-street-nabs-25m-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-nabs-18-5m-on-friday/ |url-status= live }} and opened at number two in its first weekend below 22 Jump Street, with $49,451,322.{{cite web |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2014&wknd=24&p=.htm |title= Weekend Box Office Results for June 13-15, 2014 |work= Box Office Mojo |publisher= Internet Movie Database |access-date= June 16, 2014 |archive-date= June 18, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140618083655/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2014&wknd=24&p=.htm |url-status= live }} In its second weekend, the film dropped to number three, grossing an additional $24,719,312.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2014&wknd=25&p=.htm |title=Weekend Box Office Results for June 20-22, 2014 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 24, 2014 |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625071654/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2014&wknd=25&p=.htm |url-status=live }} In its third weekend, the film stayed at number three, grossing $13,237,697.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2014&wknd=26&p=.htm |title=Weekend Box Office Results for June 27-29, 2014 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=March 7, 2014 |access-date=July 4, 2014 |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705025009/http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2014&wknd=26&p=.htm |url-status=live }} In its fourth weekend, the film dropped to number five, grossing $8,961,088.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2014&wknd=27&p=.htm |title=Weekend Box Office Results for July 4-6, 2014 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=July 13, 2014 |archive-date=July 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713052755/http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2014&wknd=27&p=.htm |url-status=live }}

Its $25.9 million opening weekend in China was the biggest-ever for an animated film in the country, surpassing the record previously held by Kung Fu Panda 2.{{cite news|last1=Hamedy|first1=Saba|title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' has record opening in China|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-china-box-office-opening-20140818-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 5, 2014|date=August 18, 2014|archive-date=September 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905084650/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-china-box-office-opening-20140818-story.html|url-status=live}}

{{Main|How to Train Your Dragon 2 (soundtrack)}}

Composer John Powell, who earned his first Academy Award nomination for his music in the original movie, returned to score the sequel. Powell described the project as "a maturation story" and stated that he too tried to achieve the same maturation in the structure of his music by developing further every aspect of his compositions from the original film.{{cite news|last=Freer|first=Ian|title=Empire Meets John Powell|url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/john-powell-career|access-date=May 18, 2014|newspaper=Empire Online|date=April 23, 2014|archive-date=April 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422005032/http://www.empireonline.com/features/john-powell-career|url-status=live}} Recording took place during April 2014 at Abbey Road Studios in London{{cite news|last=Goldwasser|first=Dan|title=John Powell scores How to Train Your Dragon 2|url=http://scoringsessions.com/news/275/|access-date=June 18, 2014|newspaper=ScoringSessions.com|date=June 12, 2014|archive-date=July 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729065825/http://scoringsessions.com/news/275/|url-status=live}} with a 120-piece orchestra, a 100-voice choir,{{cite news|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|title=Billion Dollar Composer: John Powell Ranges From Action to Animation|url=https://variety.com/2014/music/news/composer-john-powells-passion-ranges-from-animation-to-live-action-1201161511/|access-date=May 18, 2014|newspaper=Variety|date=April 23, 2014|archive-date=May 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527212740/http://variety.com/2014/music/news/composer-john-powells-passion-ranges-from-animation-to-live-action-1201161511/|url-status=live}} and a wide array of ethnic instruments, including Celtic harp, uilleann bagpipes, tin whistle, bodhrán, and Highland bagpipes; the latter of which were performed by pipers from the Scottish group Red Hot Chilli Pipers.{{cite news|last=Lincoln|first=Ross|title=Comic-Con: Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou And Game Of Thrones Kit Harington Join How To Train Your Dragon 2|url=https://deadline.com/2013/07/comic-con-how-to-train-your-dragon-blanchett-hounsou-harington-cast-544212/|access-date=September 1, 2013|newspaper=Deadline|date=July 18, 2013|archive-date=August 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822034405/http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/comic-con-how-to-train-your-dragon-blanchett-hounsou-harington-cast/|url-status=live}} The ensemble was conducted by the composer's usual collaborator Gavin Greenaway.

Sigur Rós' lead vocalist, Jónsi, who wrote and performed the song "Sticks & Stones" for the first film, provided two new original songs for the sequel in collaboration with Powell: "For the Dancing and the Dreaming" (performed by Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson and Mary Jane Wells) and "Where No One Goes" (performed by Jónsi himself). Belarusian-Norwegian artist Alexander Rybak, who voices Hiccup in the Norwegian dub of the film, also wrote and performed the song "Into a Fantasy", which is only featured in the European versions of the film.{{cite web|last1=Sveinsson|first1=Kristján|title=Alexander Rybak in viking cartoon scoop|date=May 20, 2014 |url=http://www.eurovisionary.com/eurovision-news/alexander-rybak-viking-cartoon-scoop|publisher=EuroVisionary|access-date=June 13, 2014|archive-date=June 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620000416/http://www.eurovisionary.com/eurovision-news/alexander-rybak-viking-cartoon-scoop|url-status=live}}

The soundtrack album for the film was released on June 13, 2014, by Relativity Music Group.{{cite web |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2014/05/17/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-soundtrack-details/ |title='How to Train Your Dragon 2' Soundtrack Details |publisher=Film Music Reporter |date=May 17, 2014 |access-date=May 25, 2014 |archive-date=May 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521221531/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2014/05/17/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-soundtrack-details/ |url-status=live }} The album features over an hour of score by Powell; additional music by Anthony Willis and Paul Mounsey, as well as the two original songs written by Powell and Jónsi. Rybak's song "Into a Fantasy" was released separately as a single. A deluxe edition, consisting of previously unreleased music, was released by Varèse Sarabande in May 2022.{{Cite web |title=How To Train Your Dragon 2: The Deluxe Edition (2-CD) |url=https://www.varesesarabande.com/products/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-the-deluxe-edition-cd |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=Varèse Sarabande |language=en}}

{{Anchor|Sequel|Sequels}}

{{Main|How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World|l1 = How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World}}

The third installment in the trilogy, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, was released on February 22, 2019;{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |date=December 5, 2016 |title='How To Train Your Dragon 3' Flies To 2019; Uni's DWA To Scale 'Everest' |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-everest-dreamworks-animation-1201864844/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222195735/http://deadline.com/2016/12/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-everest-dreamworks-animation-1201864844/ |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |access-date=December 6, 2016 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} the release date had been changed multiple times due to various distributor changes.{{Efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{cite web|title=Upcoming Releases|url= http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/company/news/releases|publisher=DreamWorks Animation|access-date= August 21, 2013|archive-date=August 23, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130823193244/http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/company/news/releases|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title='How to Train Your Dragon 3' Pushed to 2017|url= https://variety.com/2014/film/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-2017-1201296293/|access-date=November 2, 2014|work=Variety|date=September 2, 2014|archive-date= September 21, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114945/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-2017-1201296293/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Lang|first=Brent|title='How to Train Your Dragon 3' Release Pushed Back a Year|date=December 5, 2016|url= https://variety.com/2016/film/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-release-date-1201934022/|work=Variety|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180919025121/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-release-date-1201934022/|url-status=live}}{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/cutbacks-at-dreamworks-animation-jeffrey-katzenberg-on-what-went-wrong-1201412230/ | title=Jeffrey Katzenberg on DWA's Cutbacks: '3 Films a Year Was Too Ambitious' | last=Graser | first=Marc | work=Variety | date=January 22, 2015 | access-date=January 22, 2015 | archive-date=December 31, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231230452/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/cutbacks-at-dreamworks-animation-jeffrey-katzenberg-on-what-went-wrong-1201412230/ | url-status=live }}}} DeBlois, Arnold, Powell and all of the main cast (with the exception of Miller, whose role was recast to Justin Rupple) returned for the third film,{{cite web|last1=Chitwood|first1=Adam|title=Composer John Powell Talks HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2, the State of Film Scoring Today, His Career, Taking a Break, Hans Zimmer, and More|date=June 12, 2014 |url=https://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-john-powell-interview/|publisher=Collider|access-date=June 13, 2014|archive-date=June 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615050607/http://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-john-powell-interview|url-status=live}} with Blanchett and Harington reprising their roles from the second.{{cite web|title=How to Train Your Dragon 3 Pushed Back to 2017|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=122543|publisher=ComingSoon.net|access-date=September 2, 2014|archive-date=September 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905213853/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=122543|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|title=Director Dean DeBlois Talks HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3 at VES Awards|url=https://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-plot-dean-deblois/|access-date=May 12, 2015|website=Collider|date=February 5, 2015|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108112701/http://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-plot-dean-deblois/|url-status=live}} F. Murray Abraham joined the cast as Grimmel.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-f-murray-abraham-1202208367/|title=F. Murray Abraham To Get Evil For DreamWorks Animation's 'How To Train Your Dragon 3'|website=Deadline Hollywood|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|date=November 14, 2017|access-date=November 14, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804145336/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2386490/|url-status=live}}

On April 2, 2025, Universal Pictures announced a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon 2 was in development, following the live-action remake of the first How to Train Your Dragon film. The film is scheduled for release on June 11, 2027.{{Cite web |last=Graves |first=Sabina |date=2025-04-02 |title=A How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Sequel Is Already on the Way |url=https://gizmodo.com/a-how-to-train-your-dragon-live-action-sequel-is-already-on-the-way-2000584479 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}

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