Coolest Dragons in Entertainment History

Dragons have been found in different cultures for thousands of years now. While dragons are technically not historical creatures, as there is no scientific evidence to support that dragons exist, they appear in so many movies and TV shows for a reason. Real or not, thousands of years of “history” circulate around the mythical creatures. The word dragon actually originates from the Greek word “drakōn,” which means “huge serpent” or just “serpent.”

This is fascinating when you consider why so many cultures have some description of ancient dragon mythology. In the present day, we now believe that ancient civilizations misidentified Dinosaur Fossils or prehistoric reptile bones and filled in the gaps. This makes a ton of sense when you consider the dragon's origin to be a giant serpent. When you look at descriptions and beliefs about dragons, you discover how cultures have very different depictions.

Dragons are not so easily defined as a single species. They are diverse creatures with different powers and forms throughout human cultures. Some are portrayed as evil, and some are good. The spread of Christianity affected the evolution and portrayal of dragons. The symbolism of “good and evil” was directly influenced by Christianity. As it spread throughout Europe, so did the association of evil and satan with dragons.

Chinese dragons are quite different from their European counterparts. In fact, traditionally, Chinese dragons are more serpent-like than any other depiction. The dragon in China was a symbol of luck and Imperial Power. They are also often connected to the weather and water. 

 The Indian depiction of dragons is a direct manifestation of a demon who is the adversary of the god Indra. This being is known as Vritra in Hindu mythology. He brought drought and famine and is often associated with chaos and evil. Vritra is also known as “Ahi,” which interestingly enough translates to “snake” in Sanskrit.

The European depictions of Dragons are perhaps what most people picture when saying the word. They are large, winged serpents that bring darkness and evil. There are many tales of a brave knight slaying a dragon to be labeled the ultimate hero.

The main villain and evil force in J.R.R. Tolkien's novel "The Hobbit." True fans will tell you that the books were far better than the films. Those fans might even be right. I'm not here to tell you the movies are better. I will tell you that Smaug made for an excellent villain with a badass design. He embodies the robust serpent build of dragon lore and has fantastical power to go with it.

"Drogon" from the widely popular Game of Thrones series is incredibly well designed. I think he may have the coolest design of any movie or TV show dragon. His red and black design, fearsome personality, and strength make him a fan favorite.

One of the largest and oldest dragons ever exists in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Vhagar is immense in size and battle-hardened. I think the House of the Dragon series does a fantastic job of depth and scaling to portray how truly gigantic Vhagar is.

I really enjoy the design of the 1996 film and its dragon counterpart, Draco. What makes him even more memorable is his personality and not-so-subtle sarcasm.

Say what you will, but Vermithrax from Dragonslayer is one of the cooler movie dragons ever. I think it's the eerie design that ties the look together. Not to mention the name "Vermithrax" is pretty damn cool. This design looks exceptional, considering this film is over 40 years old! George R. R. Martin supposedly loved the design and name so much that he incorporated it into his world of Game of Thrones.

Saphira from the 2006 film Eragon is a masterful dragon design, fairly in line with the novel's depiction. Saphira's grey and blue design and human-like facial features make for a killer overall design that I admire greatly.

Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon has a sleek black design that I think was very well done. In its animated form, Toothless is not meant to be terrifying, but he is majestic-looking. He is the last of the "Night Fury" species and has an incredible bond with his rider, Hiccup. If you haven't seen How to Train Your Dragon, it's a generationally good film.