Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
★★★ — Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is the first major studio attempt to rehabilitate a franchise that was genuinely poisoned by the notorious 2000 adaptation (a film so poorly received it became something of a byword for bad fantasy filmmaking). Paramount and Entertainment One handed the project to John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the writing-directing duo best known for Game Night (2018) and for co-writing the script for Spider-Man: Homecoming. The $151 million budget reflected real institutional confidence in the IP, even if the box office return of around $208 million was modest against that spend. Filming took place largely in the United Kingdom and Iceland, lending the production a convincingly weathered, practical feel. The film arrived during a period of renewed mainstream interest in tabletop gaming, partly accelerated by the cultural footprint of actual-play shows like Critical Role.
As a former DM, I think my love of DnD actually harms my love of this movie a bit. For a film based on a tabletop game full of chaos, dice rolls, and endless lore, this actually strikes a nice balance between goofy adventure and accessible storytelling. Chris Pine leads with charisma, and the cast overall has great chemistry. It’s lighthearted, quippy, and doesn’t take itself too seriously (which is exactly what a D&D film should be). There are some great set pieces, a few clever nods to the game for fans, and the whole thing feels like watching someone's campaign unfold in real time, complete with unexpected plans and dumb luck. That said, it’s not exactly groundbreaking. The plot’s predictable, and while the humour mostly works, it leans a bit too much on Marvel-style wisecracks at times. Still, for what it is (a fantasy romp with a lot of charm) it definitely rolls high on charisma, even if the story and stakes don’t always land a natural 20.
Rating: ★★★ | Year: 2023 | Watched: 2025-04-07
Where to watch (UK)
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK
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