How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World#Box office

A year after becoming chieftain,{{Efn|As depicted in How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)}} Hiccup, his Night Fury Toothless, and their fellow dragon-riders continue to rescue captured dragons to bring them to Berk, but the island becomes overpopulated with dragons and faces constant attacks by dragon hunters. In response, Hiccup desires to find the "Hidden World", a safe haven for dragons once spoken of by his late father, Stoick. Meanwhile, a white female Light Fury, held captive by warlords, is given to an infamous dragon hunter named Grimmel the Grisly as bait for him to capture Toothless for the warlords' use as an alpha.

Toothless finds the Light Fury in the woods, and they become enchanted until she flees, sensing Hiccup and Astrid nearby. Later, Hiccup and Tuffnut discover Grimmel's dragon traps. That night, Grimmel visits Hiccup, demanding Toothless while boasting of killing nearly every Night Fury to extinction. Hiccup, having prepared an ambush, faces Grimmel, who escapes as his Deathgripper dragons destroy Hiccup's house and Berk. Hiccup then leads the citizens and dragons to seek the Hidden World for safety from hunters.

Mid-journey, the Berkians discover an island on which they initially plan to rest, but soon begin to settle there, dubbing it "New Berk". Seeing Toothless' inability to fly solo hindering his growing relationship with the Light Fury, Hiccup rebuilds an automatic tailfin for him.{{Efn|Hiccup had previously built an automatic tailfin for Toothless but Toothless later discarded it, as depicted in the short film Gift of the Night Fury (2011)}} Upon receiving it, Toothless flies off, meeting up with the Light Fury and flying with her to an unknown land. On a scouting patrol, Valka notices Grimmel's approaching army and reports back to Hiccup. Hiccup and the dragon riders head to capture Grimmel, but fall into his trap and barely escape, except Ruffnut, who irritates Grimmel until he lets her go.

Hiccup, Astrid, and Stormfly search for Toothless and find the Hidden World, where Toothless has become the alpha of the dragons there with the Light Fury as his mate. When the resident dragons spot Hiccup and Astrid, they attack the duo, but Toothless saves them and returns to New Berk. Hiccup realizes that humans would be intruders and are unsafe in the Hidden World. Ruffnut returns but unknowingly leads Grimmel right to them. He captures Toothless and the Light Fury, who had followed Toothless back to the island. Grimmel uses Toothless's alpha status to capture Berk's dragons by threatening to kill the Light Fury if he does not comply.

With Astrid's support, Hiccup joins the dragon riders to thwart Grimmel and his army. They surprise Grimmel's forces while gliding on wingsuits, sparking a battle to rescue the dragons. Hiccup, aided by Stormfly, frees Toothless as Grimmel drugs the Light Fury and flies off with her. Hiccup and Toothless chase Grimmel, defeating his Deathgrippers with lightning, but Grimmel tranquilizes Toothless midair, making him fall. Realizing he needs help, Hiccup frees the Light Fury and urges her to save Toothless before falling with Grimmel towards the ocean. The Light Fury saves Toothless and returns to rescue Hiccup, who removes his prosthetic leg that Grimmel was holding onto before being carried away, leaving him to die from the impact. Back on the island, Toothless and Hiccup acknowledge that dragons are not safe in the human world and that humans are forbidden in the Hidden World. Hiccup says goodbye to Toothless as the Berkians release their dragons to the Hidden World. Three months later, Hiccup and Astrid marry and become New Berk's chieftains.

Nine years later, Toothless and the Light Fury have mated and hatched three hybrid dragon fledglings called Night Lights. Hiccup, Astrid, and their two children{{Efn|Later revealed to have been named Zephyr and Nuffink in the short film How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019)}} sail across the sea to visit them at the edge of the Hidden World. After introducing his son and daughter to his old friend, Hiccup and Astrid take their children flying on Toothless and Stormfly, accompanied by the Light Fury and their offspring. Hiccup vows that, until humans and dragons are ready to co-exist peacefully, the dragons will stay hidden while the Berkians guard their secret.

• Jay Baruchel – Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the son of Stoick the Vast and Valka, the newly crowned Viking chief of Berk, the one who initially trained the dragons, and Astrid's husband
• A.J. Kane – younger Hiccup
• America Ferrera – Astrid Hofferson, an excellent fighter and Hiccup's wife
• F. Murray Abraham – Grimmel the Grisly, an infamous dragon hunter who is responsible for the near-extinction of the Night Furies
• Cate Blanchett – Valka Haddock, a dragon rescuer and Hiccup's mother, now living on Berk after twenty years of isolation
• Gerard Butler – Stoick the Vast, the late father of Hiccup and Berk's previous chieftain, as seen in flashbacks{{cite web | title=How to Train Your Dragon 3 Is the Best One Yet, Says Gerard Butler | url=https://screenrant.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-gerard-butler/ | website=Screen Rant | date=18 January 2018 | access-date=June 6, 2018 | archive-date=8 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608214722/https://screenrant.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-gerard-butler/ | url-status=live }}
• Craig Ferguson – Gobber the Belch, a seasoned warrior, blacksmith, and dragon dentist{{cite web| title=How to Train Your Dragon 3 (2019) News & Info| url=https://screenrant.com/tag/how-to-train-your-dragon-3/| website=Screen Rant| access-date=December 28, 2017| archive-date=December 28, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228232515/https://screenrant.com/tag/how-to-train-your-dragon-3/| url-status=live}}
• Jonah Hill – Snotlout Jorgenson, a brash, overconfident, and fairly unintelligent but reliable friend of Hiccup
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Fishlegs Ingerman, an enthusiastic friend of Hiccup knowledgeable in dragon lore, which he often relates in a role-playing game style
• Kristen Wiig – Ruffnut Thorston, Tuffnut's fraternal twin who is friends with Hiccup{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-review-1203097629/|title=Film Review: 'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World'|first1=Peter|last1=Debruge|work=Variety|date=January 2, 2019|access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102234727/https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-review-1203097629/|url-status=live}}
• Justin Rupple – Tuffnut Thorston, Ruffnut's fraternal twin who is friends with Hiccup. He was originally voiced by T.J. Miller in the first two films and the television series. Miller was originally set to reprise his role for the third film, but DreamWorks chose to recast Miller after the actor was accused of sexual assault and arrested for calling in a fake bomb threat.{{cite web |last1=Renfro |first1=Kim |title='How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' director says T.J. Miller's removal from the movie wasn't his decision: 'I didn't have a lot of say in the matter' |url=https://www.thisisinsider.com/tj-miller-how-to-train-your-dragon-role-tuffnut-recast-2019-2 |website=Insider.com |access-date=25 February 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103220/https://www.thisisinsider.com/tj-miller-how-to-train-your-dragon-role-tuffnut-recast-2019-2 |url-status=live }} Rupple was brought on to dub over Miller's lines.
• Kit Harington – Eret, Son of Eret, a former dragon hunter who used to work for Drago Bludvist, who has joined the dragon riders after the events of the second film
• Julia Emelin – Griselda the Grievous, an aggressive warlord who works with Grimmel
• Ólafur Darri Ólafsson – Ragnar the Rock, an incompetent warlord who works with Grimmel
• James Sie – Chaghatai Khan, a less aggressive and stubborn warlord who works with Grimmel
• David Tennant – Ivar the Witless, a dragon trapper who works for the Warlords
• Tennant also voices Spitelout Jorgenson, the father of Snotlout
• Robin Atkin Downes – Ack, a blond-bearded Viking
• Kieron Elliot – Hoark, a Viking with a knotted beard
• Ashley Jensen – Phlegma the Fierce, a female Viking who works as a botanist at the School of Dragons
• Gideon Emery – a trapper
• Randy Thom – vocal effects for Toothless and the Light Fury

In December 2010, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that there would also be a third film in the series: "How To Train Your Dragon is at least three: maybe more, but we know there are at least three chapters to that story."{{cite news |last=O'Hara |first=Helen |title=Katzenberg Talks DreamWorks Sequels |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29638 |access-date=September 7, 2011 |newspaper=Empire |date=December 3, 2010 |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531191349/https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29638 |url-status=live }} Dean DeBlois, the writer and director of the second and the third film, stated that How to Train Your Dragon 2 was being intentionally designed as the second act of the trilogy: "There are certain characters and situations that come into play in the second film that will become much more crucial to the story by the third."{{cite news |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |title=Storyboarding Has Begun on How to Train Your Dragon Sequel |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/storyboarding-has-begun-how-train-194419 |access-date=September 12, 2011 |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 2, 2011 |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051626/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/storyboarding-has-begun-how-train-194419 |url-status=live }} DeBlois said in an interview that the third part would be released in 2016.{{cite news |last=Rao |first=Priya |title=THIS WEEK IN TORONTO — PART 3 |url=http://firstweekendclub.ca/site12/read/fwc-blog/item/this-week-in-toronto-part-3 |access-date=October 21, 2013 |newspaper=First Weekend Club |date=April 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021125138/http://firstweekendclub.ca/site12/read/fwc-blog/item/this-week-in-toronto-part-3 |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Although the series has taken a different path of telling a story of Hiccup and Vikings, author Cressida Cowell revealed that the trilogy and the book series will have similar endings (with "an explanation as to why dragons are no more").{{cite news |last=Neish |first=Steven |title=Author Cressida Cowell Talks How To Train Your Dragon Sequels |url=http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2012/08/14/author-cressida-cowell-talks-how-to-train-your-dragon-sequels/ |access-date=August 27, 2012 |newspaper=Hey U Guys |date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818033238/http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2012/08/14/author-cressida-cowell-talks-how-to-train-your-dragon-sequels/ |url-status=live }}

The film was produced by Bonnie Arnold and Brad Lewis. DeBlois and Chris Sanders were the executive producers; Sanders was an executive producer of the second film and co-director of the first. Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Kristen Wiig returned in the third film,{{cite web |publisher=DreamWorks Animation |title=New Distributor Twentieth Century Fox Unveils DreamWorks Animation's Release Slate Through 2016 |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-distributor-twentieth-century-fox-unveils-dreamworks-animations-release-slate-through-2016-169123176.html |via=PR Newswire |access-date=October 5, 2014 |date=September 9, 2012 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094204/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-distributor-twentieth-century-fox-unveils-dreamworks-animations-release-slate-through-2016-169123176.html |url-status=live }} with Justin Rupple replacing T.J. Miller as Tuffnut.{{cite web |last1=Abele |first1=Robert |title='How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Film Review: Third Time's a Fire-Breathing Charm |url=https://www.thewrap.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-3-film-review-dean-deblois-cate-blanchett/ |work=The Wrap |access-date=2 January 2019 |archive-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103000417/https://www.thewrap.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-3-film-review-dean-deblois-cate-blanchett/ |url-status=live }} DeBlois revealed that Miller did originally return to voice Tuffnut, but DreamWorks recast him after the actor's sexual assault allegations and arrest for calling in a fake bomb threat.{{cite web |last1=Renfro |first1=Kim |title='How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' director says T.J. Miller's removal from the movie wasn't his decision: 'I didn't have a lot of say in the matter' |url=https://www.thisisinsider.com/tj-miller-how-to-train-your-dragon-role-tuffnut-recast-2019-2 |website=Insider.com |access-date=25 February 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103220/https://www.thisisinsider.com/tj-miller-how-to-train-your-dragon-role-tuffnut-recast-2019-2 |url-status=live }} Cate Blanchett also reprised her role as Valka from the second film. On November 14, 2017, it was announced that Kit Harington would reprise his role as Eret and F. Murray Abraham had joined the cast.{{cite magazine|title=F. Murray Abraham To Get Evil for DreamWorks Animation's How to Train Your Dragon 3|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-f-murray-abraham-1202208367/|magazine=Deadline Hollywood|date=November 2017|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-date=2017-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804145336/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2386490/|url-status=live}} During the earlier stages of production, DeBlois stated that Djimon Hounsou would also return as Drago Bludvist.{{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=February 5, 2015|newspaper=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}} It was even planned to have Drago redeemed by the film's end, but halfway through development, DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg convinced DeBlois that the story of Drago's redemption required more screen time that they could not provide, causing his inclusion to be scrapped.DeBlois in {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myjCeN-RCKk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/myjCeN-RCKk| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Dragons 3 Le Monde Caché : Rencontre avec Dean DeBlois et Brad Lewis / Dragons 3 The Hidden World: Meeting with Dean DeBlois and Brad Lewis|publisher=Cloneweb| medium=YouTube|time=00:53|quote="In early drafts of 'Dragon 3', we did focus on the return of Drago. I'd always intended to give more dimension to the character by showing a redeemed version of him by the development of 'Dragon 3.' Midway through the development of 'Dragon 3' I was asked to come up with a fresher take that wasn't dependent on 'Dragon 2.' ... So very wisely, Steven Spielberg had said to me, 'The redemption story of Drago requires so much screen time you don't have in order to really sell it properly, and you would do yourself a disservice to try to force it in.'}}{{cbignore}} On April 17, 2018, DreamWorks Animation announced that the sequel's title would be How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.{{cite magazine|title=How to Train Your Dragon 3: Title Announced|magazine=Variety|author=Lang, Brent|date=April 17, 2018|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-1202753864/|access-date=June 19, 2018|archive-date=June 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616001419/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-1202753864/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/train-dragon-hidden-world/train-dragon-3-hidden-world/|title=How to Train Your Dragon 3 Is The Hidden World|last=White|first=James|website=Empire|date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=2018-04-18|archive-date=2018-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417223518/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/train-dragon-hidden-world/train-dragon-3-hidden-world/|url-status=live}} The animation challenges of the production required DreamWorks Animation to update and invent new software to handle complex tasks, such as lighting the Light Fury dragon.{{cite web|title=Bringing Live-Action VFX to HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3|publisher=VFX Voice|author=Robertson, Barbara|date=March 20, 2019|url=http://vfxvoice.com/bringing-live-action-vfx-to-how-to-train-your-dragon-3/|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508184054/http://vfxvoice.com/bringing-live-action-vfx-to-how-to-train-your-dragon-3/|url-status=live}}

{{Main|How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (soundtrack)}}

Like the previous two films, the film's score was composed by John Powell.{{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|url=https://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-john-powell-interview/|website=Collider|date=12 June 2014|access-date=June 13, 2014|archive-date=15 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615050607/http://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-john-powell-interview|url-status=live}} In addition, Powell's collaborators Batu Sener, Anthony Willis, and Paul Mounsey are credited as additional composers. Also returning from the previous films, Jónsi wrote a new song for the film, titled "Together from Afar", which was released as a single on January 31, 2019.{{cite web|title=Together from Afar (How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World)| date=January 31, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtNn1OnmIRc|publisher=YouTube|access-date=3 February 2019|archive-date=29 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229041935/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtNn1OnmIRc|url-status=live}} Jónsi also provided vocals for a track titled "The Hidden World".{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/John-powell-and-jonsi-the-hidden-world-lyrics|title=John Powell & Jónsi – The Hidden World|publisher=Genius|access-date=March 1, 2019|archive-date=February 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223184809/https://genius.com/John-powell-and-jonsi-the-hidden-world-lyrics|url-status=live}}

In September 2012, 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks Animation's then-distributor partner, and the studio itself announced that the film was originally going to be released on June 17, 2016.{{cite news |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |title='Monsters,' 'Despicable Me 2,' 'Turbo': Summer's Brutal Animation War |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/monsters-despicable-me-2-turbo-565846 |access-date=August 20, 2013 |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 13, 2013 |archive-date=August 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820151701/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/monsters-despicable-me-2-turbo-565846 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Upcoming Releases |url=http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/company/news/releases |publisher=DreamWorks Animation |access-date=August 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220045813/http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/company/news/releases |archive-date=December 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }} In September 2014, the film's release date was pushed back a year from its original release date of June 17, 2016, to June 9, 2017.{{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 |date=September 2, 2014 |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 }} DeBlois explained the release date shifts as such: "It's just that these movies take three years. I think it was a little ambitious to say 2016... As is normally the case, they kind of throw darts out into the future and wherever they land they call that a release date until we start talking about it in practical terms, and then it's like, 'Uh yeah that's not enough time'. So knowing that they take three years from this moment, from outlining and writing the screenplay through to the final lighting of it, it's just a process of building models and doing tests and animating, storyboarding, the whole thing just adds up to about three years."{{cite web |last1=Chitwood |first1=Adam |title=Dean DeBlois Talks How to Train Your Dragon 3 and Potential Spinoffs; Says He's Talked Jeffrey Katzenberg Down from the Idea of Dragon 4 |url=https://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-story-spinoffs/ |publisher=Collider.com |access-date=October 23, 2014 |date=October 17, 2014 |archive-date=October 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023233900/http://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-story-spinoffs/ |url-status=live }}

In January 2015, the release date was pushed back a year again from June 9, 2017, to June 29, 2018, following DreamWorks Animation's corporate restructuring and lay-offs meant to maximize the company's "creative talent and resources, reduce costs, and drive profitability."{{cite magazine |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2015/01/22/dreamworks-animation-cuts-back-to-two-films-a-year-delays-how-to-train-your-dragon-3/ |title=DreamWorks Animation cuts back to two films a year, delays How to Train Your Dragon 3 |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |archive-date=January 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123055453/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2015/01/22/dreamworks-animation-cuts-back-to-two-films-a-year-delays-how-to-train-your-dragon-3/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |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 |magazine=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 }} On June 18, 2016, the release date was moved up from June 29, 2018, to May 18, 2018, taking the release date of the Warner Animation Group's The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.{{cite web |last1=Schaefer |first1=Sandy |title=How to Train Your Dragon 3 Takes LEGO Movie 2{{'}}s Old Release Date |url=https://screenrant.com/how-train-dragon-3-release-date-lego-movie-2/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=December 23, 2016 |date=June 19, 2016 |archive-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108162335/http://screenrant.com/how-train-dragon-3-release-date-lego-movie-2/ |url-status=live }} On December 5, 2016, the United States release date was pushed back from May 18, 2018, to March 1, 2019.{{cite magazine |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |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/ |magazine=Deadline |access-date=December 23, 2016 |date=December 5, 2016 |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222195735/http://deadline.com/2016/12/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-everest-dreamworks-animation-1201864844/ |url-status=live }} The release date was moved up for the final time from March 1, 2019, to February 22, 2019, taking the slot of The Turning, a live-action DreamWorks film which in turn was pushed back to January 24, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/988553-how-to-train-your-dragon-3-bumped-up-a-week|title=How To Train Your Dragon 3 bumped up a week|access-date=October 2, 2018|publisher=ComingSoon.net|date=September 27, 2018|last=Hermanns|first=Grant|archive-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001112319/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/988553-how-to-train-your-dragon-3-bumped-up-a-week|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/pete-davidson-judd-apatow-comedy-the-turning-universal-movie-opening-dates-1202547662/|title=Universal Dates Judd Apatow-Pete Davidson Comedy & DreamWorks' 'The Turning' For 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=February 1, 2019|access-date=February 1, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042425/https://deadline.com/2019/02/pete-davidson-judd-apatow-comedy-the-turning-universal-movie-opening-dates-1202547662/|url-status=live}}

The film was the first DreamWorks Animation film to be distributed by Universal Pictures, following the acquisition of DreamWorks Animation by both Comcast and NBCUniversal in 2016.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World for digital download on May 7, 2019, and on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and DVD on May 21. Physical copies contain two 2018 short films: Bilby and Bird Karma.{{cite news |last1=Milligan |first1=Mercedes |title=DreamWorks' 'Dragon: The Hidden World' Wings Home in May |url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/dreamworks-dragon-the-hidden-world-wings-home-in-may/ |access-date=March 26, 2019 |work=Animation Magazine |date=March 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327001734/http://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/dreamworks-dragon-the-hidden-world-wings-home-in-may/ |url-status=live }}

Unlike the first two films of the trilogy, The Hidden World does not have a tie-in game based on its plot. Instead, there are two games set before the events of the film, which are the top-down action adventure game DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders available on consoles and personal computers (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows){{cite web |last1=Stevens |first1=Barry |title=DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders lands on consoles |url=https://www.entertainment-focus.com/games-section/game-news/dreamworks-dragons-dawn-of-new-riders-lands-on-consoles/ |website=Entertainment Focus |access-date=9 March 2019 |date=1 February 2019 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303143907/https://entertainment-focus.com/2019/02/02/dreamworks-dragons-dawn-of-new-riders-lands-on-consoles/ |url-status=live }} and the match-3 game Dragons: Titan Uprising for mobile devices (iOS and Android).{{cite web |last1=Takashi |first1=Dean |title=NBCUniversal and Ludia launch DreamWorks Dragons: Titan Uprising on mobile |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/30/nbcuniversal-and-ludia-launch-dreamworks-dragons-titan-uprising-on-mobile/ |website=VentureBeat |access-date=9 March 2019 |date=30 January 2019 |archive-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709024948/https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/30/nbcuniversal-and-ludia-launch-dreamworks-dragons-titan-uprising-on-mobile/ |url-status=live }}

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World grossed $160.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $361 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $521.8 million, against a production budget of $129 million. Deadline Hollywood calculated the film's net profit as $130{{nbsp}}million, accounting for production budgets, marketing, talent participations, and other costs; box office grosses and home media revenues placed it 12th on their list of 2019's "Most Valuable Blockbusters".{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-movie-profit-2019-dreamworks-animation-1202912052/|title='How To Train Your Dragon 3' Is Universal's Most Profitable Movie Of 2019, Ranked No. 12 In Deadline's Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 19, 2020|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420050415/https://deadline.com/2020/04/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-movie-profit-2019-dreamworks-animation-1202912052/|url-status=live}}

In the United States and Canada, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World held early screenings at 1,000 theaters on February 2, 2019 and grossed $2.5 million, one of the highest advance showing totals ever.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-fandango-sneaks-box-office-1202548566/|title='How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Saturday Previews On Fire With $2.5M, Besting 'Jumanji 2' & 'Hotel Transylvania 3'|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 3, 2018|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|access-date=February 3, 2019|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203232442/https://deadline.com/2019/02/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-fandango-sneaks-box-office-1202548566/|url-status=live}} It was released alongside the wide expansion of Fighting with My Family, and was initially projected to gross $40–45 million from 4,259 theaters in its opening weekend.{{cite news |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title='How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Is Already Winning At The B.O. With $175M Abroad Prior To $40M+ U.S. Start |url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-is-already-winning-at-the-b-o-with-175m-abroad-prior-to-40m-u-s-start-1202560524/ |access-date=February 19, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=February 20, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220045049/https://deadline.com/2019/02/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-is-already-winning-at-the-b-o-with-175m-abroad-prior-to-40m-u-s-start-1202560524/ |url-status=live }} After making $17.5 million on its first day (including $3 million from Thursday night previews), weekend projections were increased to $60 million. It went

on to debut to $55 million finishing first at the box office.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/02/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-box-office-1202046369/|title='How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Soars Over Box Office Projections|last=Brueggemann|first=Tom|work=IndieWire|date=February 24, 2019|access-date=July 1, 2019|archive-date=July 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701190710/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/02/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-box-office-1202046369/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/weekend-box-office-how-to-train-your-dragon-dwayne-johnson-fighting-with-my-family-1202562635/|title='How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Heading Toward $60M Franchise Record Opening|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 23, 2018|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|access-date=February 23, 2019|archive-date=February 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222210732/https://deadline.com/2019/02/weekend-box-office-how-to-train-your-dragon-dwayne-johnson-fighting-with-my-family-1202562635/|url-status=live}} The film made $30 million in its second weekend, retaining the top spot, before being dethroned by newcomer Captain Marvel in its third.{{cite news |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title='Dragon 3' Keeps The Fire Burning At No. 1 With $30M Second Weekend; 'Madea' Mints $27M |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/madea-famliy-funeral-how-to-train-your-dragon-weekend-box-office-1202567796/ |access-date=March 3, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 3, 2019 |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806153835/https://deadline.com/2019/03/madea-famliy-funeral-how-to-train-your-dragon-weekend-box-office-1202567796/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/captain-marvel-opening-weekend-box-office-breaks-records-1202571905/|title='Captain Marvel' Tramples Internet Trolls & Skyrockets To $160M Opening|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 11, 2019|access-date=March 11, 2019|archive-date=March 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310171046/https://deadline.com/2019/03/captain-marvel-opening-weekend-box-office-breaks-records-1202571905/|url-status=live}}

The film grossed $1.5 million on its opening day in Australia, setting a record for a DreamWorks Animation film in that country (surpassing Shrek 2). In New Zealand, the film grossed $173,000 on its opening day, ranking as DreamWorks Animation's second biggest opening day in the country, behind Shrek 2.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-dreamworks-animation-box-office-record-1202528883/|title='How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Takes Flight Abroad; Sets DWA Opening Day Record In Australia|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 3, 2019|access-date=March 1, 2019|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203013003/https://deadline.com/2019/01/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-dreamworks-animation-box-office-record-1202528883/|url-status=live}} By its third weekend of international release the film has grossed a total of $41 million.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-to-hatch-40m-45m-opening-1202546330/|title='How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' To Hatch $40M-$45M Opening|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=January 31, 2018|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131223320/https://deadline.com/2019/01/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-to-hatch-40m-45m-opening-1202546330/|url-status=live}} As of March 24, 2019, the film's largest markets in other territories were China ($53.7 million), Russia ($26.8 million), France ($25.0 million), United Kingdom ($24.8 million) and Mexico ($21.0 million).

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, and an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads, "The rare trilogy capper that really works, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World brings its saga to a visually dazzling and emotionally affecting conclusion."{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}}|type=m|title=How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 71 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite Metacritic|id=how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world|type=movie|title=How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World|access-date=February 14, 2021}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale (the same score earned by the first two films), while those at PostTrak gave it a 90% positive score and a 77% "definite recommend".

Jennifer Bisset of CNET praised the voice performances of the main characters, while also citing the visuals and action sequences, and singled out the development of the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless, saying, "Continuing a series-long focus on family and love, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World narrows on what those values mean for Toothless. He experiences romance. He grows up. And with heavy, satisfied hearts, we let him, and Hiccup, go."{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-review-its-pretty-much-perfect/|title=How to Train Your Dragon 3 review: Very nearly perfect|access-date=2019-03-20|archive-date=2019-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323001251/https://www.cnet.com/news/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-review-its-pretty-much-perfect/|url-status=live}}

Michael Nordine of IndieWire gave the film a B, saying, "Directed once again by Dean DeBlois, The Hidden World strikes a bittersweet chord in reminding its young audience that all good things — including the age of dragons — must come to an end." He later went on to applaud the CGI, lauding the "arresting visuals", and stating that "The animation itself is striking — an early sequence in which the sky is filled with dragons is an early sign of the visual treats to come — and ends up being the film's highlight."{{Cite web|url = https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-review-cate-blanchett-1202029937/|title = 'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Review: A Visually Arresting Conclusion|date = 2 January 2019|access-date = 20 March 2019|archive-date = 25 January 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190125200355/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-review-cate-blanchett-1202029937/|url-status = live}} Ben Kenigsberg of The New York Times gave a positive review of the characters and emotional messages of the film, writing "More bittersweet and less triumphal than its predecessors, and directed by a returning Dean DeBlois, The Hidden World concerns the exigencies that Hiccup faces as a leader, both politically and personally. If you truly love that dragon you trained, its message says, let him go."{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-hidden-world-review.html?referrer=google_kp|title = 'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Review: A Series Scales up|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 21 February 2019|last1 = Kenigsberg|first1 = Ben|access-date = 20 March 2019|archive-date = 11 March 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190311180705/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-hidden-world-review.html?referrer=google_kp|url-status = live}}

Conversely, some critics felt the film had the presence of too many juggled sub-plots and an obligatory ending, with Movie Crypt concluding that "Fans will enjoy seeing their characters grown and progressing as story arcs are closed, but the final resolution rings hollow. Ultimately, none of it appeared necessary other than a need to say goodbye; the dragons and their champions certainly earned a better conclusion than that."{{cite web |last1=Ranson |first1=Kevin |title=How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' (the big goodbye) |url=https://moviecrypt.com/2019/04/02/review-how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-the-big-goodbye/ |website=Movie Crypt |date=2 April 2019 |access-date=25 April 2019 |archive-date=25 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425075316/https://moviecrypt.com/2019/04/02/review-how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-the-big-goodbye/ |url-status=live }} Kerry Lengel of The Arizona Republic says that "The plot is thin and holey and the characters are mostly just a single gag set on repeat" and calls it "a lazy effort".{{cite news |last1=Lengel |first1=Kerry |title=How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (United States, 2019) |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/02/21/how-train-your-dragon-hidden-world-needs-girl-power/2927364002/ |newspaper=Arizona Republic |access-date=25 April 2019 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303143841/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/02/21/how-train-your-dragon-hidden-world-needs-girl-power/2927364002/ |url-status=live }}

A short film titled How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming was released on December 3, 2019. Set before the epilogue of The Hidden World, it depicts Hiccup and Astrid teaching their children about the friendship between humans and dragons in order to protect their legacy.

An animated television series, titled Dreamworks Dragons: The Nine Realms, premiered in October 2021, and ran for eight seasons, concluding in December 2023. Set 1,300 years after The Hidden World, Hiccup and Astrid's descendant Tom Kullerson explores the realms with his friends and his dragon named Thunder, who is a descendant of Toothless and the Light Fury.

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• {{Official website|https://www.dragonshiddenworld.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|2386490|How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{How to Train Your Dragon}}

{{Dean DeBlois}}

{{DreamWorks Animation}}

{{Universal theatrical animated features}}

{{National Board of Review Award for Best Animated Film}}

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