The best dragons from movies, TV, and anime

This weekend sees the premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones The spinoff series House of the Dragon. What better time to celebrate one of fiction’s great mythical beasts?

We have gathered our thoughts and waded together as a team to share our top picks for dragons in movies and television beyond Westeros. You will find scary dragons as well as silly dragons.

Which dragon are you most fondly associated with fiction? We limited our selections to movies and TV, but that doesn’t mean you have to! Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Maleficent

From: Beauty Sleep

Image: Disney

Fun fact about me: Long before her appearance in the Kingdom Hearts video game series or Angelina Jolie’s portrayal in Robert Stromberg’s 2014 dark fantasy movie, Maleficent was my favorite Disney villain as a kid. I mostly attribute this to lead animator Marc Davis’ impeccable concept design and Eleanor Audley’s grandiose vocal performance, which combined elevated an otherwise one-note antagonist into a scene-stealing villainess for the ages. Needless to say, I can’t tell you how many times I rewound my VHS copy of Beauty Sleep during Prince Phillip’s climactic battle against Maleficent, now transformed into a terrifying fire-breathing dragon. Does it seem a bit weird that part of me wanted her to win? Perhaps, I don’t regret it. —Toussaint Elgan

Toothless

From: How to Train Your Dragon

Image by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Toothless is the king of dragons because he is actually just the perfect combination of cat and dog — from his antsy and chaotic energy to his playfulness and diehard loyalty. He’s goofy and loves good head scratchies, but he also jumps into battle to defend Hiccup, his human friend who built a mobility device to help him fly after a disabling injury. And that’s just in the first movie! The entire trilogy is incredible, and Toothless is an absolute champion — friend to human and dragon alike. For that boy, I’d die. I’m not crying, you’re crying. —Nicole Clark

Haku

From: Take a Spirited Trip

Image: Studio Ghibli

At first, Haku from Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 masterpiece is just a boy, sober and competent, with an absolutely fierce pageboy haircut. Then, he’s a dragon, both serpentine and wolflike, both gorgeous and frighteningly wild. He corkscrews through the sky, not as if he were flying but as if he was the wind itself — one of the most thrilling expressions of flight from a director who had a career-long obsession with depicting it. But even this isn’t Haku’s full, elemental self. Haku is in fact a river, an actual force of nature, and it’s his soul — and more to the point, his polluted body — that our young heroine Sen must save.

Miyazaki is very clear about his environment point. Take a Spirited TripIt is not about one view or one perspective. Haku is the best character to demonstrate that this magical film exists in the interconnected worlds. —Oli Welsh

Falkor

From: Neverending Story

Warner Bros.

Even though you may only vaguely recall this 1984 fantasy movie, there are two key things that will stick in your mind: Giorgio Moroder’s theme song and Limahl’s image of the boy riding through the clouds on a huge, fluffy, white-looking dragon-dog-thing.

That’s Falkor the luckdragon, who kindly assists both Atreyu, hero of Fantasia, and Bastian, the boy reading a book about Atreyu’s adventures. His bizarre, shaggy, dopey look was conceived by director Wolfgang Petersen; special effects director Brian Johnson wasn’t too happy about it. But Petersen’s vision has been borne out. This film is beautiful and disturbing. Falkor’s iconic photograph is beloved by many kids. —OW

Shrek’s beautiful dragon

From: Shrek

Universal Pictures

Dragon is the most sexy of all dragons ShrekThe pop culture icon is “Shrek”. Shrek is a cultural phenomenon and a source of endless memes. The big twist to the story was that Shrek started out as a lonely hot-lady dragon looking for some love. But it was revolutionary when it happened — and also revolutionary that Dragon and Donkey had a bunch of mutant children.

Dragon is a certified baddie and the only bad thing about her is that she definitely should’ve been featured in more movies. Dragon was my Halloween tribute last year.

Also — did you know that the dragon in ShrekElizabeth is the correct name? I sure didn’t. Technically, this could just be a bit, but at one point, Donkey shouts, “I’m coming, Elizabeth!” while fainting. —Petrana Radulovic

Smaug

From: The originalThe Hobbit

Warner Home Video

Forget Peter Jackson’s CGI Smaug in the ridiculously overstretched live-action version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The HobbitThe real ones will tell you that the 1977 Rankin-Bass film’s OG version of the movie Dragon is among the most iconic movies ever made. Have Gun – Will TravelStar Richard Boone gave Smaug a rich, gravelly and aristocratic voice. But animators created a visceral creature. This isn’t some upsized version of a familiar reptilian creature, or a sleek fantasy wish-fulfillment pet; Smaug is illustrated with intimidatingly fine details, with irregular teeth, coarse hair sprouting from his face and back, and a bulk that suggests a predator big enough to eat whenever and wherever he wants. The Rankin-Bass version picks up what Tolkien was laying down in drawing his dragon from classic heroic epics: This is a beast of an older, more primal age, something fearsome in size and power that’s also fearsome in its craft and cunning, even if he’s ultimately vain enough to be tricked into courting his own death. —Tasha Robinson

Puff the Magic Dragon

From: Special animated film from the 1970s

Image: Paramount Home Entertainment

The friendly dragon of Peter, Paul and Mary’s classic song got a trio of gently absurdist animated TV outings in the 1970s and ’80s, courtesy of CBS. Burgess Meredith created the role of the dragon. This was a type of absurd adult that can offer wisdom as well as seeing the world in the same way the kids who help him. Romeo Muller also wrote and directed the 1970s adaptation. The Hobbit and wrote many of Rankin-Bass’ stop-motion holiday specials, Puff the Magic DragonIts follow-up specials presented the genial dragon in a new role as both a fantasy BFF, and an insightful child psychologist. Puff leads his children through bizarre fantasy lands which help them to process their childhood traumas. Where the original song has him sadly retiring into oblivion when his original child companion grows up and forgets about him, these specials suggested that Puff is a kind of eternal way station for troubled kids — and that imaginary friends are a helpful tool on the path to growing up. —TR

Sisu

From: Raya, the Last Dragon

Image: Disney

We’re so used to TV and movie dragons representing some form of power, danger, or strength that it’s fun to see the habit upended in Disney’s Raya, the Last Dragon, a fable built around a dragon who’s initially a lot less than she seems to be. Voiced by Awkwafina, the dragon Sisu — the last dragon in the fantasy land of Kumandra — is a typical Awkwafina character, chatty and energetic but not particularly masterful or confident. The hero of the story, Raya, has to take Sisu on a journey to reclaim her dragon family’s power, which initially puts them on a footing where the human warrior is the confident, capable, experienced one, and the dragon companion is the hapless, goofy tagalong — a dynamic that slowly reverses as Sisu rediscovers her heritage and history. It’s a sort of mismatched-buddy dynamic complemented by Sisu’s ebullient cheer and joie de vivre, also unusual characteristics for a screen dragon. —TR

Sol Regem

From: The Dragon Prince

Image by Netflix

There are a number of prominent dragons in Netflix’s terrific fantasy series The Dragon Prince, and the clear intended fan favorite is the baby dragon Zym, who’s gone from early McGuffin to slowly developing character over the course of the show’s existing seasons. Zym may be adorable and can help with a lot plot but Sol Regem the Sun Dragon is far more prominent despite only being part of the series. An ancient dragon blinded by a scheming human mage, Sol Regem becomes a significant antagonist in the show’s third season, and an important representative of the old-guard thinking that keeps the young protagonists from realizing their idealistic notions of peace between nations and species. He’s a formidable force, the equivalent of a natural disaster with a grudge and an agenda, and the episode where the heroes face off against him makes for a particularly spectacular visual and verbal battle. —TR

Elliot

From: Pete’s Dragon

Image: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

David Lowery’s 2016 remake of the 1977 hybrid live-action/animated musical asks an important question: What is a dragon, if not a dog with wings? —Pete Volk

Draco

From: Dragonheart

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Image

Look, Dragonheart is… I’m not proud of what DragonheartIt does for me. It’s a movie about a knight (Dennis Quaid) making friends with a dragon (Sean Connery) and years ago that dragon gave half his actual heart (DRAGONHEART, DO YOU GET IT?) to save a little boy and then that little boy grew up to be a tyrant who cannot be killed unless the dragon is also killed but now he is the knight’s big grumpy CGI friend and he’s also the last dragon ever because the knight killed all the rest of them.

At least that’s my recollection from seeing DragonheartIt was published only once in 1996. This is the story of Dragonheart isn’t important, though, nor is the 1996-era special effects that brought Connery’s Draco to life. What’s important is Randy Edelman’s orchestral score, which has made me fully tear up during the blocky CGI dragon’s death scene even when coming across it while channel surfing as a fully grown adult.

Like I said, I’m not proud. —Susana Polo

Fire is the new king’s dragons

From: Reign of Fire

Image: Touchstone Home Entertainment

Was ist das? Fire is the new kingIt lacks a singularly noteworthy dragon but it compensates with its completely b-a–n-a–n-a–s concept of a dragon-based postapocalypse.

See? Fire is the new kingModern human civilization was destroyed by dragons that appeared out of nowhere. This was part of an underlying cyclical pattern, and dragons were responsible for the deaths of dinosaurs. I’ll say that again: In Fire is the new kingDragons have killed dinosaurs.

Christian Bale and Gerard Butler are best friends and the leaders of a band of humans who’ve managed to survive in a rural English castle — i.e., a building made of fireproof stone. Life is hard — from the dragon attacks — but stable, until, what else: The Americans show up. Matthew McConaughey is the leader of the helicopter-attack squad that kills dragons. McConaughey persuades Bale that he will go on a crazy mission to change their lives. He plans to travel across England in search of the dragon-infested female dragon who’s been living in London for the past three years.

Fire is the new kingThis movie is not good. However, it is a good movie. IsAn experience I highly recommend. —SP

The dragons of Pokémon

From: Pokémon

Image: The Pokémon Company

Dragon is a type of Pokémon. Charizard is not one of them (note: Mega Charizard X is), but he’s clearly a dragon! These wings are amazing!

This one goes out to the actual Dragon-type Pokémon (shoutout to Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite), but also the ones that are clearly dragons but do not count as Dragon-type (Charizard and Gyarados, for instance). —PV

Dragonstorm

From: Transformers: The Last Knight

Image: Paramount Home Entertainment

Image credit: Paramount Home Entertainment

People were able to overlook the Transformers films prior to the fifth film, but they missed one of Hollywood’s strangest blockbusters. The Last Knight Opens with a face-melting medieval battle sequenceThis culminates with the appearance of Dragonstorm, an all-three-headed robot dragon. That’s correct. —PV

King Ghidorah

From: Godzilla Franchise

Image: The Criterion Collection

He is known as Ghidorah, and his title speaks for itself: Ghidorah Is King. He’s got three heads, can shoot lightning out of his mouth(s), and is one of the only monsters dangerous enough to really take it to Godzilla. He also made his debut movie.Ghidorah the Three-Headed MonsterAbsolutely rules, and it is my favorite of all the Showa-era Godzilla films. —PV

King Ghidorah (meme variant)

From: Internet

Image: MichaelJLarson/DeviantArt

This meme spawned after 2019’s Godzilla, King of Monsters (perhaps the only good thing to come from that movie), playing off director Michael Dougherty’s joke that one of Ghidorah’s three heads is a doofus named Kevin. Kevin is a great friend of mine. —PV

Rathalos

From: Monster Hunter

Screen Gems Image

Paul W.S. Anderson’s adaptation of the video game franchise is a good old-fashioned big screen popcorn blockbuster, and one of the main attractions is the giant dragon Rathalos. He roars! —PV

Jake Long

From: American Dragon Long

Image: Disney

Jake Long was born to a Chinese family and had a white dad. This made Jake Long’s childhood very special. Jake transforms into a dragon and he’s in charge of helping save magical beings all around New York City (and occasionally saving regular people from magical beings). Season 1 and 2 saw Jake transform from a muscular dragon to a slimmer, more serpentine-slender version. But he has my full heart. This show has a lot of world building and there’s a whole group of dragon-shifting people, one for every country. There are a lot of cool dragons in this show, but Jake Long is the coolest — just listen to that theme song! Also, he’s voiced by Dante Basco aka Prince Zuko, so what’s not to love? —Petrana Radulovic

Ran and Shaw

From: Avatar for The Last Airbender

Image: Nickelodeon Animation Studios

This was a memorable display of these two dragons. Last Airbender episode — their one and only appearance on the show. I’ll avoid spoiling the reason why for any who still haven’t seen the show, but it’s a hypnotic and moving sequence. —PV

Mushu

From: Mulan

Image: Disney

No dragon list would be complete with Mushu, the scene-stealing comedic force in Disney’s best movie (do not try to fight me on this). Mushu is wonderful for so many reasons — he, like Mulan herself, is an underdog desperate to prove his worth. But it’s Eddie Murphy’s fantastic performance that pushes this lizard — I mean dragon — into greatness, with a combination of tender earnestness and hysterical delivery that makes him a stand out. And if you disagree with me — dishonor on your whole family, dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow. —NC

Shenron

From: Dragon Ball

Image: Fuji TV

It wouldn’t be a list of dragons without Shenron. Dragon Ball Fans, please consider your wishes granted and have fun! Fortnite). —PV

Momonosuke

From: One Piece

Crunchyroll

Momonosuke appeared in Punk Hazard. I was horrified. He was an uncowardly, little boy who cried a lot. He did go through some very difficult times, but it was fair to say that he was an incredibly brat and was always in desperate need of financial help. Yuck. However, after the Wano arc… sheeeesh. These are minor spoilers. However, his mastery over his Artificial Mythical fruits that allow him to transform into a dragon and his character development place him on the list of greatest dragons ever. Kaido does not appear on the list. Kaido is something that me and my family hate. —Julia Lee

Tohru

From: Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

Crunchyroll

Tohru, my dragon friend and ride-or die girlfriend, is everything I wish I could have. She is a strong dragon and should not be underestimated. Her loyalty to Kobayashi is unparalleled (though I understand that it can get obsessive). She’s also a housemaid, so, you know, she does all the cooking and cleaning, which is definitely something I can get on board with. —JL

Hugo and Penelope

From: Barbie as Rapunzel

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Image

Do you think this is a long cut? It all depends on your familiarity with the direct-to VHS masterpiece. Barbie as Rapunzel (2002). For those who didn’t grow up constantly rewinding this VHS, Barbie as Rapunzel This is the story of Rapunzel with some Barbie twists. One example is that this Rapunzel has a talent as an artist, and uses magic paintbrushes to make portals.

Do I need to say how wonderful it is that the Barbie fairy tale movies portray strong heroines with motivations other than finding a prince. Anyway, in this version of the fairy tale, Mother Gothel (played by none other than Anjelica Huston, y’all!) There are two dragons in the house: Hugo, the powerful and formidable Hugo (David Kaye), as well as Penelope, his plucky and independent daughter (the unrivalled Cree Summer). Hugo the large, imposing dragon henchman looks great. Penelope however prefers to have fun with Rapunzel and not guard any property. The two clash, especially since Penelope sucks at doing basic dragon things like flying, but eventually Hugo grows to admire his daughter’s loyalty to her friend and how she stands up for the right thing. I just think they’re neat, OK. —PR