Even if 2012 weren't officially the Year of the Dragon (according to the Chinese zodiac), dragons would declare it their year anyway. Audiences are eating up 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,' fairy tale dragons rule on TV's 'Once Upon a Time' and 'A Game of Thrones' and we're all waiting for our first glimpse of Smaug in Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' this Christmas. Seems as good a time as any to revisit our favorite fire-breathers, from Elliott to Toothless to several unnamed but still magnificent (and maleficent) beasts.
Gallery | Our Favorite Movie Dragons
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Grendel's Mother ('Beowulf')
Grendel's disturbingly sexy mother (a CGI Angelina Jolie) gives "dragon lady" a whole new meaning. She's kind of devastating in human form, but transforms into a full-on fire-breathing dragon to really kick ass. Sans high heels.
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The Tattoo ('The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo')
Why did Lisbeth Salander get a tattoo of a dragon? Because it's awesome. And because 'The Girl With A Lot of Piercings' doesn't sound nearly as cool.
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Elliott ('Pete's Dragon')
Because what lonely orphan wouldn't want a dragon with pink hair as his buddy instead of an abusive foster family? Sure, the movie's a little dated now and the live-action and animation don't always gel but that's part of its charm.
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Dragon ('Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2')
We never learn the name of this fearsome guardian of Gringott's, but Harry Potter riding a dragon to safety is just too cool a cinematic moment not to include.
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Smaug ('The Hobbit')
As any Tolkien fans knows, Bilbo Baggins doesn't just meet up with a bunch of dwarves and Gollum in 'The Hobbit,' he also crosses paths with this villainous beast. We're dying to see Peter Jackson's version, which will probably look nothing like the '70s animated one.
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Draco ('Dragonheart')
Speaking of Harry Potter, turns out Tom Felton's not the first Draco Jason Isaacs has worked with. (And look, Isaacs plays ... Lord Felton! And his costar is David 'Remus' Thewlis! It's a small, small fantasy world.) This Draco's a dragon voiced by Sean Connery, who's the last of his kind. Sadly, his human protector isn't Hagid but Dennis Quaid.
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Saphira ('Eragon')
When you raise a dragon from the egg, you're bound to get pretty attached to the guy. The movie got so-so reviews, but the folks who brought Saphira to life (WETA) are the same ones who'll be creating Smaug, so consider this a 'Hobbit' preview.
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Uncle Deadly ('The Muppets')
Maniacal laugh! Uncle Deadly (first created for a sketch with Vincent Price) is every inch the villain, but when asked to shut down his felt brethren forever, Deadly realizes he's a Muppet first.
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Dragon ('Shrek')
Forget about the princess and the ogre: The real romance is between Donkey and his lovestruck Dragon. (Exhibit A: Fanvids on Youtube.) She's only too happy to aid in various escapes from castle towers, and gradually he warms up to her fire-breathing charms. Definitely the only dragon on this list who blows heart-shaped smoke rings.
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Mushu ('Mulan')
Before he was the sassy Donkey in 'Shrek,' Eddie Murphy was the sassy dragon Mushu in 'Mulan,' our heroine's pocket-sized protector, constant companion and dispenser of advice and jokes. Whatever you do, don't call him a lizard.
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Maleficent ('Sleeping Beauty')
While she's only in dragon form for a few minutes, no child will ever forget Maleficent's terrifying transformation as she vows, "Now shall you deal with me. And all the powers of HELL!" before attempting to slay poor Prince Philip. Admit it, you were always rooting for her to win.
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Toothless ('How to Train Your Dragon')
This mysterious Night Fury, most feared of all dragons, ends up being the best friend and fiercest defender a boy (Viking or otherwise) ever had. We mean no disrespect to the family cat or dog, but Toothless is pretty much the most kick-ass pet ever. Can Fido singlehandedly take down a dragon ten times his size and then frolic like a kitten? Probably not.
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Up Next: Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz at 'Dragon Tattoo' Premiere in Spain
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: British actor Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz attend "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Los Hombres Que No Amaban A Las Mujeres) premiere at Callao cinema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: British actor Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz attend "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Los Hombres Que No Amaban A Las Mujeres) premiere at Callao cinema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: British actor Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz attend "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Los Hombres Que No Amaban A Las Mujeres) premiere at Callao cinema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: British actor Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz attend "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Los Hombres Que No Amaban A Las Mujeres) premiere at Callao cinema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: British actor Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz attend "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Los Hombres Que No Amaban A Las Mujeres) premiere at Callao cinema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: British actor Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz attend "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Los Hombres Que No Amaban A Las Mujeres) premiere at Callao cinema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: British actor Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz attend "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Los Hombres Que No Amaban A Las Mujeres) premiere at Callao cinema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: Rachel Weisz (L) and Daniel Craig (R) attend the "Millennium: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" (Millennium: Los Hombres Que No Amaban A Las Mujeres) premiere at Callao Cinema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/FilmMagic)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: Rachel Weisz (L) and Daniel Craig attend the premiere of "Millenium: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" at Callao CInema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Fotonoticias/WireImage)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: Rachel Weisz (L) and Daniel Craig attend the premiere of "Millenium: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" at Callao CInema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Fotonoticias/WireImage)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: Rachel Weisz (L) and Daniel Craig attend the premiere of "Millenium: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" at Callao CInema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Fotonoticias/WireImage)
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MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04: Rachel Weisz (L) and Daniel Craig attend the premiere of "Millenium: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" at Callao CInema on January 4, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Fotonoticias/WireImage)
[Photo: HBO]
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