How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Review - 5 Ups & 3 Downs

2. John Powell's Epic Musical Score

Series composer John Powell returns once more to close out the series, and though his third score does feel rather derivative of his previous two in some places, Powell nevertheless lends the movie the booming gravitas it so greatly deserves.

From bombastic orchestral swells during operatic flight scenes to more subtle work in the film's subdued dramatic exchanges, Powell has a sure handle on what the movie needs at any given moment and delivers accordingly.

His strong work is especially crucial in making the film's ending as emotionally resonant as it is, confirming himself to be a criminally underrated composer in the process (having just a single Oscar nomination to his name for composing the first film).