TL;DR: Mason Thames is the 18-year-old actor currently holding the keys to two very different kingdoms: the high-flying, family-friendly world of the How to Train Your Dragon live-action movie and the gritty, nightmare-inducing universe of The Black Phone. If your kid is asking about him, they’ve likely seen him as Hiccup, but they might be tempted to follow him into some R-rated territory that isn't quite ready for the middle school crowd.
Quick links to his most discussed projects:
- How to Train Your Dragon (Live Action) - Ages 8+
- Monster Summer - Ages 10+
- The Black Phone - Ages 15+
- The Black Phone 2 - Ages 15+
- Incoming (Netflix) - Ages 16+ (Very R-rated)
If you feel like you’re seeing this kid everywhere, it’s because you are. Mason Thames (pronounced Tims) is officially the "It Boy" of 2026. He started as a child actor with a recurring role in the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind, but he truly exploded onto the scene in 2022 with The Black Phone.
Since then, he’s managed to pull off a rare Hollywood feat: staying relevant to Gen Alpha through massive franchises while also building a "serious actor" resume in horror and indie films. He’s essentially the Timothée Chalamet for the kids who grew up on Roblox and MrBeast.
Mason has that "relatable best friend" energy. He doesn't come across as a polished, untouchable Hollywood elite; he looks and acts like the kid who would be sitting in the back of your son’s 10th-grade geometry class making slightly-too-loud jokes.
- The "Hiccup" Effect: Taking on the role of Hiccup in the How to Train Your Dragon live-action movie made him a hero to every kid who grew up with the original animated trilogy.
- Horror Cred: Gen Z and Gen Alpha love horror. His performance in The Black Phone gave him massive street cred in the "scary movie" community, which is a huge driver of social media trends.
- Social Media Presence: He's active on TikTok and Instagram in a way that feels authentic rather than managed by a PR team. Kids feel like they know him.
Ask our chatbot about other rising teen stars your kids might be following
Because Mason works across so many genres, his filmography is a bit of a minefield for parents. You can't just "greenlight Mason Thames" and call it a day. Here is the breakdown of what he’s in and whether it’s actually okay for your family.
The Vibe: Epic fantasy, heart-wrenching coming-of-age, and incredible CGI dragons. Parent Note: This is the safest bet. If your kids liked the How to Train Your Dragon books, they’ll love this. It stays very true to the spirit of the original. It’s a great "family movie night" pick that won't make you want to scroll on your phone the whole time. Age Recommendation: 8+
The Vibe: Stranger Things meets The Goonies. Parent Note: This is a "spooky" movie rather than a "horror" movie. It captures that 80s/90s nostalgia of kids on bikes solving a mystery. It has some jumpscares, but it’s mostly focused on friendship and adventure. Age Recommendation: 10+ (Great for middle schoolers)
The Vibe: Intense, supernatural thriller/horror involving child abduction. Parent Note: This is where things get tricky. These movies are excellent, but they are heavy. Mason plays Finney, a boy trapped in a basement by a masked kidnapper (played by Ethan Hawke). It deals with trauma, violence, and some pretty terrifying imagery. Age Recommendation: 15+ (This is not for the kids who just saw him riding a dragon)
The Vibe: A raunchy, "one crazy night" high school comedy. Parent Note: Think Superbad. It’s full of drinking, drugs, sexual humor, and constant profanity. If you’re strict about "brain rot" or crude content, this is a hard pass. It’s a Netflix original that popped off on TikTok, so your teens have definitely seen clips of it. Age Recommendation: 16+
Check out our guide on navigating R-rated content for teens
The biggest challenge with an actor like Mason Thames is the "Actor Follow-Through."
Your 11-year-old sees him in How to Train Your Dragon and thinks he’s awesome. Naturally, they go to Netflix or YouTube, search "Mason Thames," and the first thing that pops up is a trailer for The Black Phone 2 or a clip from Incoming.
Suddenly, your 5th grader is watching a scene about a serial killer or a crude joke about high school parties.
How to handle the transition:
- Ages 8-12: Stick to the dragons and the "Monster Summer" mystery. If they ask about the "scary mask movie," explain that it’s for older teenagers and is much more intense than the "scary" stuff they’re used to.
- Ages 13-15: This is the "maybe" zone. If your kid is a horror fan and has seen things like Five Nights at Freddy's or M3GAN, The Black Phone is a step up in intensity but might be okay depending on their maturity.
- Ages 16+: At this point, they’re likely seeing his more mature work regardless of what you say. It’s a good time to talk about the difference between "entertainment" and "reality," especially with the party culture shown in Incoming.
There is a weird trend right now where "kid-adjacent" actors are being cast in very dark roles. We saw it with the cast of Stranger Things and we’re seeing it now with Mason.
As parents, we often think, "Oh, I know that kid! He’s the one from the dragon movie. This new movie of his must be fine." Don't fall for it. Mason is intentionally choosing roles that distance him from being just a "child star." He wants to show range, and that range includes some very dark places.
If you want to keep things light, steer them toward his interviews. He’s actually a very well-spoken, grounded young man who talks a lot about his love for photography and his family. He’s a "good" celebrity role model in terms of his personal life, even if his characters are sometimes in R-rated situations.
Learn more about why kids are obsessed with horror movies
Mason Thames is a talented actor who is going to be a fixture in your kid’s digital life for the next decade. He’s not "dangerous," but his filmography is bipolar.
- Do: Watch How to Train Your Dragon with the whole family. It’s a genuinely great piece of cinema that respects the source material.
- Don't: Let your middle schooler blind-watch his other projects just because they like "Hiccup."
- Do: Use his career as a conversation starter about how actors play different "versions" of people, and why some stories are meant for adults while others are for everyone.
If you’re looking for other great actors or shows that fit that "adventure" vibe without the R-rated baggage, check out our guide on best live-action fantasy for families or look into the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series on Disney+.
- Check your Netflix/Hulu history. If your kid has been searching for Mason, see what they've actually clicked on.
- Set boundaries on "Actor Searches." Talk to your kids about how searching for an actor can lead to content that isn't age-appropriate.
- Watch a trailer together. If they’re begging to see The Black Phone, watch the trailer with them. Often, the trailer alone is enough for a kid to realize, "Actually, I'm not ready for this."
Ask Screenwise for a personalized movie recommendation based on your kid's age