'How to Train Your Dragon 3' Ending Spoilers: Does It Set Up a Sequel?

When the filmmakers of the How to Train Your Dragon series said it was a trilogy, they weren’t kidding. In a refreshing approach to cinematic storytelling in the era of cinematic franchises, the newest movie How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World does not leave threads dangling. The movie’s ending really does wrap up the story of Hiccup and his faithful dragon Toothless.

But does the ending still leave more stories to be told in its continuity? The answer is still probably no. Here’s what you need to know about the ending of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

Spoilers for How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ahead.

In The Hidden World, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) succeeds in finding the birthplace of dragons and hidden utopia for the mythical creatures. Toothless, being a Night Fury, is destined to rule his fellow dragons in the Hidden World, and he just might now that he’s met a female Light Fury.

But standing in their way is Grimmel the Grisly (F. Murray Abraham), a dragon hunter who has a history of killing rare Night Furies. Grimmel chases the dragons and Vikings away from their homestead, which has become overcrowded and vulnerable. Thus, seeking the Hidden World, which many doubt exists, is the only way for the dragons to survive.

Naturally, like any fantasy movie, Grimmel is defeated (one of the weakest defeats I’ve ever seen, too), and the Vikings of Burke opt to free the dragons to live peacefully in the Hidden World. Until the day humans can live in co-existence with dragons and not hunt them like assholes, the dragons live secluded from human civilization. Over time, they will become myth.

But in an epilogue that goes overdrive into cute territory, the movie finds Hiccup and Astrid (America Ferrera) — now married with kids — on a journey to find the dragons again. Eventually, Hiccup finds Toothless, now with kids of his own, and the families all ride high in the sky.

No ambiguity. No post-credits scene. No teasing shot of Grimmel swimming to safety. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World behaves like a finale should. And while a fourth movie could easily follow the older, bearded, “Hot Dad” Hiccup in a new adventure, Hiccup’s coming of age story is done.

Although the stakes of The Hidden World doesn’t quite feel as dire as other third movies in a trilogy — see Return of the Jedi, Toy Story 3, Return of the King, etc. — the movie is utterly welcoming in its lack of teases for the future. Granted, DreamWorks and Universal aren’t going to let this franchise sleep for good. There are spin-off shows and tie-in books to make money off of. But for those seeking a complete story experience, The Hidden World delivers.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is in theaters on February 22.