R-Rated Blockbuster Stuns: How To Train Your Dragon Star’s New Film Scores Big on Rotten Tomatoes!

Mason Thames’ latest R-rated film has received positive initial reviews from critics.

Thames, who gained fame as Hiccup in the 2025 live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, has built a significant resume beyond his role in the Universal Pictures blockbuster. He played a key role in the TV series For All Mankind and appeared in films such as The Black Phone (2021) and its 2025 sequel. More recently, he featured in Regretting You (2025), based on Colleen Hoover’s book, and Idiots (2025). Now, Thames is set to appear in a new movie soon to be released.

With its premiere set for August 14, Nimrods has already made its mark on Rotten Tomatoes with a commendable initial score of 79% from 14 reviews. Although this number may shift as more critiques come in, the early consensus indicates a generally favorable reception. As of now, there is no Popcornmeter rating, but it should be available around the release date. Nimrods was first shown at TIFF last year and had early screenings starting August 11.

Directed by Lee Kirk, Nimrods tells the story of a band racing across the U.S. in a van to open for Green Day at their New Year’s Eve show in Los Angeles. Thames stars as Tommy, alongside Kylr Hoffman and Ryan Foust, who play his bandmates Fred and Chad, respectively. The film features a notable supporting cast including Mckenna Grace, Fred Armisen, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Sean Gunn, and Bobby Lee. Green Day not only produced the film but also contributed to the story, with members Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt sharing writing credits with Kirk. The band members, including drummer Tré Cool, also make appearances in the movie.

Reviews for Nimrods, initially titled New Years Rev, mostly commend the film as an enjoyable road trip comedy, although it incorporates many typical elements of “coming of age” films. Tara Brady from The Irish Times gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as “a broad, episodic comedy that offers few surprises.” Andrew Murray from The Upcoming rated it 3 stars, calling it “a homage to the punk scene, drawing inspiration from Green Day’s early touring days.” Serena Seghedoni from Loud and Clear Reviews gave it 4 stars, praising its “corny yet wonderful” approach and its “rawness that only the best coming-of-age stories capture.”

However, not all feedback has been positive. Joonatan Itkonen from Region Free gave it a lowly 1 star, criticizing it as “a poorly written disaster with terrible acting and outdated jokes.” Similarly, Dulcie Pearce from The Sun awarded it just 2 stars, finding it “overly complex” and expressing a preference for a documentary about Green Day instead.

While it’s still early to predict how Nimrods will resonate with the broader audience, Green Day’s enduring influence as a pivotal ’90s punk band persists. Despite mixed reviews, the film is poised to offer a nostalgic journey and confirms Thames’ rising status as a leading actor.