A live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon is currently in the works, and these 10 DreamWorks movies should be next in line to get live-action remakes. DreamWorks’ catalog of beloved animated classics spans decades now, with the studio making some of the most popular animated franchises of the modern era. How to Train Your Dragon is one of their most successful series, explaining why it is getting a live-action remake first. However, How to Train Your Dragon is far from the only DreamWorks movie deserving of a remake, with these 10 films being perfect candidates.
Live-action remakes have been a major trend in Hollywood recently, with Disney turning live-action remakes of their animated classics like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast into massive box office successes. DreamWorks now seems to be following in the footsteps of its competitor, with the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake being the studio’s first attempt at getting in on this trend. If How to Train Your Dragon is a success, then DreamWorks will undoubtedly continue cashing in on their massive number of IPs, with films like these possibly getting remakes in the near future.
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10 Shrek
Released in 2001
If DreamWorks were to continue making live-action remakes after How to Train Your Dragon, it would only make sense for them to adapt the franchise that cemented them as a staple of animation: Shrek. While Shrek does have all kinds of fantastical features, it could easily work in live-action with the help of prosthetics, makeup, and CGI. After all, Shrek: The Musical has already proven that Shrek can work in the real world. While it would most likely adapt the original film’s story, a live-action Shrek would poke fun at Disney’s live-action remakes, bringing the franchise back to its roots.
9 The Prince Of Egypt
Released in 1998
One of the most obvious live-action remakes for DreamWorks to do would be The Prince of Egypt, with it being a critically acclaimed film that is almost entirely centered on human characters. This would allow DreamWorks to bring back their beloved 2D animated film, and out of all of DreamWorks’ movies, this one has the best chance of working as a live-action remake. Plenty of live-action movie adaptations of the story of Moses have been made throughout cinematic history, and DreamWorks bringing their musical take on the tale back would be a fantastic idea.
8 Megamind
Released in 2010
Superhero movies are all the rage these days, so DreamWorks should hop on this trend by bringing the Megamind franchise to live action. Although it isn’t as popular as some of the studio’s other movies, Megamind has an incredibly devoted fanbase that would love to see the superhero story be brought to live-action. DreamWorks is clearly interested in doing more with the franchise, with an upcoming Megamind TV show currently in the works, and a live-action remake would be the perfect way to get attention back on the movie.
7 Rise Of The Guardians
Released in 2012
Rise of the Guardians is a surprisingly mature entry in DreamWorks filmography, and bringing the young adult holiday stories to live-action would be a great way to bring more attention to the franchise. Although Rise of the Guardians was a critical hit, it was a commercial failure, leading to no further sequels being made. However, the tone and characters of the movie are perfectly suited for live-action, meaning that it could have a better chance outside of the medium of animation.
6 Abominable
Released in 2019
2019’s Abominable is one of the more recent entries in DreamWorks’ filmography, but it has already proven that it would be a great pick for a live-action remake. The film follows a group of young friends who attempt to reunite a Yeti with its family, and a story like this would make a great family feature if brought to live-action.
5 The Road To El Dorado
Released in 2000
The Road to El Dorado is another one of DreamWorks’ earlier films, with it being made during the studio’s era of 2D animated movies. However, The Road to El Dorado is actually a homage to Bob Hope and Bing Crosby’s series of live-action comedies, the Road to films, which ran from the 1940s to the 1960s. Bringing back The Road to El Dorado in live-action would be an even better way to homage to these classic comedies, remaking them for a new generation.
4 Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron
Released in 2002
Inspired by a real horse, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is a 2002 animated movie by DreamWorks that follows the titular horse as he encounters humans for the very first time. Although Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is mostly focused on horses, DreamWorks could use a similar technique to 2019’s The Lion King remake when bringing the film to live-action, with the main horses being CGI. The recent TV show and spin-off film mean that the Spirit franchise is back in a big way, and a live-action remake could continue growing the series.
3 Monsters vs. Aliens
Released in 2009
Monsters vs. Aliens is an animated comedy that features a team of heroic B-movie-inspired monsters fighting off an alien invasion, and a story like this would be great for a big-budget live-action movie. CGI versions of characters like B.O.B. and The Missing Link could interact with the live-action human characters in a seamless way, with the sci-fi film being an ideal pick for a major live-action blockbuster.
2 The Croods
Released in 2013
The Croods is a story of early cavemen, and while there are some wacky creatures and locations seen throughout the franchise, its grounded human main characters make it a fantastic follow-up to How to Train Your Dragon. The Croods is a franchise that DreamWorks is clearly invested in continuing, with the film getting a TV show as well as a 2020 sequel, and a live-action remake would be one of the best ways to do this. The Croods actors like Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds could even reprise their roles in live-action, with the star-studded cast helping the film succeed.
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1 Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas
Released in 2003
One of the riskier but more interesting live-action remakes that DreamWorks could do is Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, with the mostly forgotten film having the potential to make an incredible live-action movie. While the film is one of DreamWorks’ most underrated movies, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas was a massive box office flop, almost single-handedly ending DreamWorks’ era of 2D animation. In the absence of franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean, a swashbuckling move like this could be a big hit for DreamWorks, continuing the success of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake.
How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
How to Train Your Dragon is a live-action adaptation of the 2010 film of the same name. Co-director of the first film, Dead DeBlois, is returning to direct the live-action treatment, with Nico Parker starring as Astrid and Mason Thames as Hiccup.
- Release Date
- June 13, 2025
- Director
- Dean DeBlois
- Cast
- Mason Thames , Nico Parker
- Writers
- Dean DeBlois
- Studio(s)
- DreamWorks Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Franchise(s)
- How to Train Your Dragon
