10 Memorable Dragons From Movies

As I was researching this article, I came to the realization that there just aren’t many dragons that have appeared in movies.  They’re prevalent throughout literature and especially video games, but when it comes to movies, these mythical beasts are actually quite rare. 

Part of that reason, I suppose, could be that up until about 15 years or so ago, visual effects were pretty limited and it was almost impossible to show a decent-looking dragon on the big screen. 

Hopefully we’ll be seeing more dragons in movies in the future; I’m always a sucker for an effects-driven monster/beast movie.  If I was a girl, I’m pretty sure I’d be obsessed with unicorns.  At any rate, the dragons that do appear in movies come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and temperaments.  After the jump, take a look at 10 memorable dragons from movies.

1. Male Dragon – Reign of Fire

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In 2020, every dragon Van Zam and Quinn encounter turns out to be female, and it is believed that there is one male dragon even larger and more deadly than the rest. 

Naturally, this theory turns out to be true, and the male dragon makes his appearance in London, clutching a female out of the sky and devouring her in front of the horrified protagonists.  Quinn manages to defeat the male dragon, but not before it made a snack of Van Zam.

2. Elliot – Pete’s Dragon

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Elliot had the ability to turn invisible and could be seen only by Pete.  Unlike most dragons, Elliot was friendly, opting to play games with children instead of gobbling them up.  Nothing against Elliot, but he looks like he’s got some type of mental illness or genetic disorder.  And one tooth?  You’re a dragon, for chrissakes, pull yourself together.

3. Draco – Dragonheart

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Voiced by Sean Connery, Draco the dragon was a hustler.  He knew a good scheme better than anyone, and his partnership with the dragon-slayer Bowen proves to be mutually beneficial and quite lucrative.

4. Hungarian Horntail – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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Naturally, during the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Harry selects the most ornery and vicious of all the dragons against which the contestants must battle – the Hungarian Horntail. 

Given the task of retrieving a golden egg, Harry has to evade the Horntail or suffer the consequences of being set on fire or eaten.  I never really understoof how a school – even Hogwarts – could sanction events in which students risked life and limb.  These days, you’re not even allowed to play friggin’ freeze tag.

5. Various Dragons – D-War

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Alright, I never saw this South Korean movie, but that’s because I couldn’t find anyone to go with me.  I seem to have that problem quite often, actually. 

Anyway, there are tons of ridiculous-looking dragons that apparently bite and breathe fire at one another (and people, I’m guessing) in this movie, and the insane cobra-esque dragon (pictured above) warranted me throwing these dragons into this article.  Has anyone seen this flick? Is it as terrible as I’ve heard?

6. Falcor – The Neverending Story

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Sure, everyone loves the Luckdragon Falcor, but did you know that he is a horrible racist?  It’s true.  He also has boogers the size of footballs and a penis that looks like a pink canoe when unsheathed.  This was all supposed to be revealed in The Neverending Story: Director’s Cut.

7. Mushu – Mulan

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Mushu was voiced by Eddie Murphy and served as a guardian spirit to the Fa family.  He provides guidance to Mulan, although he’d probably be more effective if he was gigantic and not a little twerp.  I enjoyed seeing an Eastern dragon in this movie, as most of the dragons we are accustomed to are presented in the Western style, and I maintain that Mulan is a pretty underrated flick.

8. Saphira – Eragon

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Rachel Weisz provides the voice for Saphira, who joins with a boy named Eragon to continue the legacy of Dragon Riders.  What are the chances that a boy named Eragon would discover a dragon egg?  That’d be like a kid named Onicorn stumbling upon…well, you see what I’m getting at.

9. Vermithrax Pejorative – Dragonslayer

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With a name that sounds like an Herpes medication, Vermithrax terrorizes the kingdom of Urland.  It’s up to Galen Bradwarder to slay the giant wyrm and save the kingdom.  Galen has some help along the way and ultimately succeeds in destroying Vermithrax -not with a sword or spear, but with an amulet and an exploding wizard.

10. Dragon – Shrekbestdragons_dragon_03_10.jpg

 

Dragons need love, too, and the dragon in Shrek – named simply “Dragon” – ends up falling for a donkey named (simply) “Donkey.”  The two animals end up having a litter of hybrid children together, and the big, mean

Dragon turns out to be a total sweetheart.  Which leads me to my question: would you rather make it with a dragon or a donkey?  I’d pick the dragon – better offspring, less stench, and mad street cred.  Word.

Are there any dragons in movies that didn’t make it into this article?  Let me know in the comments section!

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34 Comments

  1. Ok, I guess this is because I’m a girl, but…..the dragon-version of Malificent in “Sleeping Beauty” (the Disney movie) is pretty cool. Also, as kids, my brother and I loved the 1970s animated version of “The Hobbit,” featuring Smaug the dragon, who I always thought looked like a weird cat.

  2. @ Dorkus

    That’s right, there was a dragon in Sleeping Beauty. For some reason I thought there may have been one in Cinderella, but yes, it was Sleeping Beauty I was thinking of.

    @ Xaos Bob

    You have got to be kidding me, right? Wow.

  3. Although the movie “Dungeons & Dragons” was pretty bad the dragons in the movie were pretty cool and seemed pretty important hence the name of the movie.

  4. Ok, it’s a TV movie, direct to VHS, but the Rankin/Bass “The Flight of Dragons” owns, and it one of my favorite movies ever. Three memorable dragons: Gorbash, Smrgol, and Bryagh, with two honorable mentions to Lunarian and Shen Tsu.

  5. When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out, Harry, Ron and Hermione escape from Gringotts on a dragon with Voldemort’s last Horcrux that is not a living thing (Tom Riddle himself, H

  6. When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out, Harry, Ron and Hermione escape from Gringotts on a dragon with Voldemort’s last Horcrux that is not a living thing (Tom Riddle himself, Harry Potter & Tom’s snake, Nagini)

  7. That’s a good collection you’ve got there, but you have left out Toothless from “How To Train Your Dragon”. He is so cute and definitely memorable!

  8. I’m a girl, and I will take an action movie withdragons in it to a unicorn, any day. And yes, his name if Eragon. Little fact, the writer was only 15 when he wrote it, and it’s my absolute favorite book.

  9. I don’t get why the dragon ‘always has to be evil’.90% of dragons are there to be slaughtered,for no obvious reason to the dragons themsevles.Give them a chance.

  10. My favorite is Vermithrax from “Dragon Slayer” (a Walt Disney movie, if you can believe that!). His actual name was Vermithrax Vermillion and he, in my opinion, is the most realistic dragon I’ve ever seen (movie or otherwise).

  11. Dragon Wars was a visually awesome movie with a B rated plot. In my opinion only, I recommend it. Eye candy effects and a pretty cool story to go along with it. Must see for fantasy lovers, forget what other ratings say, watch it for yourself.
    -Carl

  12. By the way D war is worst than you think it is, I was forced to watch it and the movie had a semi decent plot that was ruined with terrible acting and the worst CGI ever. If you want your eyeballs to stay in your head, DO NOT WATCH.

  13. As much as I love the Inheritence Cycle of books, Saphira’s movie incarnation did NOT deserve to be on this list, while Toothless from How to train your Dragon DEFINITELY does. They totally messed up Saphira in the movie, not just in her personality, (She once caught an eagle while hunting, and then let it go, saying, “No predator of the skies should end his days as prey”, showing a sense of honor she was notably lacking in the movie) but also in appearance. She was supposed to have the normal, classic, membraneous wings that most Western Dragons have, not wings covered in feather-like scales. Also, her fire was SUPPOSED to have a blue tinge to it, and she was supposed to breathe it for the first time after breaking through the Star Rose atop Tronjheim.

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