movie reviews dungeons and dragons

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves.

Now streaming on:

The introductions to “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” at the SXSW Film Festival emphasized that they “made this movie for everyone .” There’s clearly a concern that the film may not reach outside the demographic of people who once played or still play the wildly influential role-playing game. And there should be because branding can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it targets a massive fan base already familiar with an IP. On the other hand, a film has to be good enough to break out of that familiarity to reach a wider audience—think of how well “The Last of Us” is playing to viewers who never played the game. So how will fans of Dungeons & Dragons respond to this expensive foray into their favorite fantasy experience? Paramount is rolling a 20-sided die and hoping to get the right number, but the fickle Dungeon Master of Hollywood may have a fatal surprise around the next corner.

The truth is that the game Dungeons & Dragons is often at its best when it’s at its most ridiculously unpredictable and downright silly. Co-writer/directors Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley and co-writer Michael Gilio attempt to recreate that “we need a plan” structure of the game in a script that feels like it's often making itself up as it goes along. Or pretending to do so. While that’s an ambitious way to approach a fantasy film, it can make for oddly unsatisfying stretches of the final product by eliminating stakes and forcing lightheartedness. Manufactured spontaneity is almost impossible, and too much of “Honor Among Thieves” feels like it’s unfolding with a wink and a nod instead of being legitimately rough around the edges, in-the-moment, and fresh. There are stretches of “Honor Among Thieves” that have the whimsical chaos of Sam Raimi ’s “Army of Darkness”—including a great sequence involving the talking dead—and the film often recalls the “ragtag team of saviors” tone of “ Guardians of the Galaxy .” Still, the film often plays out like it’s faking what the creators love about the game instead of trying to translate it from one medium to another.

The typically charming Chris Pine plays Edgin Darvis, a former member of a group called the Harpers. After his wife is killed by an evil group known as the Red Wizards, Edgin tries to execute a heist to retrieve an item that can bring her back to life, but he’s betrayed, imprisoned with his BFF Holga Kilgore ( Michelle Rodriguez ), a stoic barbarian. In a clever sequence, the pair escapes and discover that Edgin’s daughter Kira ( Chloe Coleman ) has been taken in and lied to by their team’s former ally Forge Fitzwilliam ( Hugh Grant ). The rogue betrayed Edgin and the team in several ways, including partnering with a vicious Red Wizard named Sofina ( Daisy Head ).

Edgin and Holga have several missions in this D&D campaign: Save Kira, get revenge on Forge, stop the Red Wizards, and maybe find some loot along the way. The mission will reunite them with an unconfident wizard named Simon ( Justice Smith ), a shapeshifting druid named Doric ( Sophia Lillis ), and a charming paladin named Xenk ( Regé-Jean Page ). Like any “team of heroes” movie, these characters each bring different skill sets that the group will need to accomplish their goals, and the writers pepper the film with odd hurdles for the group to overcome, including a clever sequence involving some undead enemies and a chubby dragon in a dungeon.

If it all sounds like it’s more for fantasy gamers than “everyone,” well, it undeniably is. The film is filled with references to D&D—name drops like “Baldur’s Gate” and “Neverwinter” created audible responses during the premiere—but I wouldn’t go as far as to say the film won’t work at all for people who have never made a character for a campaign. Most of the references here will sound like depth for non-gamers who may see more parallels to products like “ The Lord of the Rings ” or “The Witcher” than their actual source. It’s a film that’s rich in fantasy terminology in a way that seems like its creators affectionately remember creating characters in their mom's basement when they were young. That genuine interest in the lore of D&D may be enough for some people. But what about everyone else?

Affection for a source doesn’t always translate to execution in terms of craft, and the filmmaking here is shoddy. In terms of the flashes and bangs, "Honor Among Thieves" works much better when it focuses on practical effects (or at least ones that look practical—everything is CGI nowadays) and can find a tactile quality that the CGI-heavy sequences lack. When Edgin and his team are waking up corpses to get information, or Sofina is merely scowling in her malevolent makeup, the film is more grounded than when it’s drifting off in magic-driven sequences of people casting spells both willy and nilly. There’s also a lack of world-building in a movie that should be dense with it when it comes to design. Forge’s city looks like a generic fantasy video game setting, and the opportunity to craft interesting backdrops for these varied characters is rarely taken. It looks like a film that's going to age poorly visually.

The cast is reasonably strong, with Pine leaning into the rough charisma I’ve always thought would have made him a massive star in the ‘60s. All of the cast was clearly chosen to play to their strengths, with Grant amplifying his smarm and Rodriguez kicking ass when needed. Relative newcomers Smith and Lillis are effective, too, with the former finding some vulnerability and the latter being consistently engaging as she uncertainly becomes a hero.

What’s most shocking about “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is how little meat there is on these reanimated bones, even with a bloated 139-minute runtime. When a cast of characters runs from plan A to plan B and back to plan A, the constant motion doesn’t allow for much else. Most of this film is “What we do now?” Again, that's fun with friends, less so when you have no control over the answer.

This review was filed from the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" opens on March 31.

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Now playing

The First Omen

Tomris laffly.

Sweet Dreams

Matt zoller seitz.

Sleeping Dogs

Sasquatch Sunset

Monica castillo.

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed

Film credits.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

Rated NR for fantasy action/violence and some language.

134 minutes

Chris Pine as Edgin Darvis

Michelle Rodriguez as Holga Kilgore

Regé-Jean Page as Xenk Yendar

Justice Smith as Simon Aumar

Sophia Lillis as Doric

Hugh Grant as Forge Fitzwilliam

Jason Wong as Dralas

Chloe Coleman

Daisy Head as Sofina the Red Wizard

• John Francis Daley
• Jonathan M. Goldstein

Writer (story by)

• Chris McKay
• Michael Gilio
• Jonathan Goldstein

Cinematographer

• Barry Peterson
• Dan Lebental
• Lorne Balfe

Latest blog posts

Speed Kills: On the 25th Anniversary of Go

Joanna Arnow Made Her BDSM Comedy for You

The Movies That Underwent Major Changes After Their Festival Premiere

Netflix's Dead Boy Detectives Is A Spinoff Stuck In Limbo

Advertisement

Supported by

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Review: They’re on a Roll

An ensemble cast aims to bring comedy and adventure to this film made in the image of the popular role-playing game.

• Share full article

By Amy Nicholson

In the earliest decades of Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy-loving role players often hid their passion for the game. To the dominant culture, they were dweebs, then Satanists, then back to dweebs. Things changed after Jon Favreau kick-started the modern Marvel franchise in the summer of 2008 and, during the “Iron Man” promotional tour, publicly credited his years spinning tales about goblins and lizardfolk for teaching him to create “this modular, mythic environment where people can play in it.” Since then, D&D fans like James Gunn, Joss Whedon and the Russo Brothers have transformed the multiplex into their rec room where magical supersquads embark on perpetual campaigns. They are the dominant culture — and filmgoers who have never clutched a 20-sided icosahedron are subject to their throw of the dice.

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” an amiable romp by the directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Gilio, comes clattering along just as the public has grown weary of caring about gewgaws with names like the monocle of Bagthalos. It’s late to its own party with good reason. The game hinges on cooperation and imagination — on the joy of friends inventing a creative way to trap an orc — and how in Hextor does that translate to sitting passively before a screen?

After a decade in development , the project that made it to the screen is a noisy, pixelated smash-and-zap that does manage to capture the spirit of play. The story starts with a silver-tongued bard named Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a divorced barbarian named Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez) and a simple challenge. Edgin and Holga must escape a fortified tower — a donjon in Old French, before the English redefined dungeon as someplace underground — to reunite with Edgin’s daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman). When they learn that Kira is under the thrall of a con man (Hugh Grant) who is himself under the thrall of a wizard (Daisy Head), our heroes’ gang expands to include an anti-establishment druid (Sophia Lillis) and a defeatist sorcerer (Justice Smith). Like the game, the team’s initial mission rapidly spirals into detours; the goal is less interesting than the brainstorming sessions that get them to the finish.

Having sat in on my share of D&D campaigns, my personal idea of purgatory is five people debating whether to open a door. Luckily, the film moves faster. Castles, volcanoes and yurts — oh my — whiz past at a clip that would make a dice-roller drool. Plans are quickly made and just as quickly fail. “This is what we do!” Edgin yelps. “We pivot!”

Can a C.G.I.-laden juggernaut evoke the freedom of improv? Not really — though there is a nifty one-shot chase sequence where Lillis’ druid hastily shape-shifts among a housefly, a mouse, a cat and a deer. Daley, a former child actor, once played the nerd on the TV show “Freaks and Geeks” who convinced James Franco’s character that D&D is cool because you can crack jokes and fight dragons. That remains the height of his ambition. There’s no momentum behind the father-daughter story line, so the closer the plot lurches toward all those hugs and tears, the more excuses the cinematographer Barry Peterson seizes to send the camera on a loop-de-loop. I’d rather cheer for a kooky blockbuster that’s all fiascos, like the midpoint Monty Python-esque sequence where the crew botches the resurrection and interrogation of craggy old corpses. Compared to that, the emotional climax is a bowl of cold groats.

The film, produced in part by Hasbro, makes no direct reference to the actual game outside the frame. Yet its mechanics are felt in ways both affectionate and sarcastic. During one brawl, the editor Dan Lebental cuts again and again to Edgin stuck on the sidelines struggling to abrade his rope cuffs. You can sense the character’s frustration to be rolling ones and twos. Later, when Regé-Jean Page strides into the action as a humorless, hyper-competent paladin, Goldstein and Daley permit our eyes to glaze over as he drones on about arcana that’s impossible to absorb. Instead, we snicker as Page solemnly cautions us against “ill-gotten booty.”

For a film about collaboration, the actors aren’t in tonal agreement about the movie they’re in. Grant’s commitment to his dastardly rogue barely goes beyond his cravat — he’d rather guffaw than feign gravitas. By the time a multiple Oscar nominee cameos in a scene played like a Noah Baumbach marital drama, you might wonder if these personality swings are the point? Now that fantasy adventures aren’t dweebs-only, there’s room at the table for all types.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Rated PG-13 for cartoonish violence and mild profanity. Running time: 2 hours 14 minutes. In theaters.

Explore More in TV and Movies

Not sure what to watch next we can help..

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell speak about how “Anyone but You” beat the rom-com odds. Here are their takeaways after the film , debuting on Netflix, went from box office miss to runaway hit.

The vampire ballerina in the new movie “Abigail” has a long pop culture lineage . She and her sisters are obsessed, tormented and likely to cause harm.

In a joint interview, the actors Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough discuss “Under the Bridge,” their new true-crime series  based on a teenager’s brutal killing in British Columbia.

The movie “Civil War” has tapped into a dark set of national angst . In polls and in interviews, a segment of voters say they fear the country’s divides may lead to actual, not just rhetorical, battles.

If you are overwhelmed by the endless options, don’t despair — we put together the best offerings   on Netflix , Max , Disney+ , Amazon Prime  and Hulu  to make choosing your next binge a little easier.

Sign up for our Watching newsletter  to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Pop Culture Happy Hour

• Performing Arts
• Pop Culture

Rollicking 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' scores a critical hit

Glen Weldon

L to R: Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), Simon (Justice Smith) and Edgin (Chris Pine) are hot to trot. Paramount Pictures and eOne hide caption

L to R: Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), Simon (Justice Smith) and Edgin (Chris Pine) are hot to trot.

Even if you don't know a halberd from a hezrou , you'll probably go into Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves thinking you know what to expect.

Because even if you've never experienced the beloved tabletop role-playing game on which the film is based yourself, you do know what a putative blockbuster franchise film looks and feels like in 2023.

You know, in particular, that it can be counted upon to adopt a specific, unvarying and very familiar tone, which by now we can all agree to call Marvel Funny.

Marvel Funny occurs along a spectrum adjacent to, but meaningfully separate from, Actually Funny because it's colder and more calculated. It is calibrated to wink at the audience conspicuously and unceasingly, to encase the spectacular and fantastic action of a given film — super powers, or space battles, or in the present example, spells and monsters — in a protective coating of ironic detachment.

This allows filmmakers to lean into the bombastic, over-the-top spectacle they spend so much money to deliver while ensuring audiences know that everyone involved with the film is in on the joke, that very soon some character or other will come along with a quip — an arch, sardonic, too-writerly quip — to prove that nobody's taking any of this stuff too seriously. It's a formula, a ritual, an attempt to dispel the grim specter of Cringe.

Rolling the dice on race in Dungeons & Dragons

(It's only reasonable to acknowledge that this cinematic formula is wearing thin. And that it's not entirely fair to call it Marvel Funny, as this approach has been coded into the genetic material of the blockbuster itself from the beginning; you can detect trace elements of it in Jaws , Superman: The Movie and Star Wars .)

So, you're in the theater. The lights go down, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves begins (if you're me, you at this point maybe think to yourself, "We come to this place ... for Magic Missile"), and sure enough, there it is, manifesting right there in the opening seconds of the very first scene: that same, predictable, inescapable approach. Marvel Funny. You were right.

But then, a few seconds later, you start to notice that the film's copious jokes — the quips, yes, but also the visual gags and the dialogue itself — are better, stronger, and funnier than they strictly need to be.

And then, should you allow yourself a moment of reflection, it likely occurs to you how weirdly right it seems, how well that familiar approach seems uniquely attuned to the film's subject. After all, any Dungeons & Dragons session unfolds on two levels simultaneously. There is the world of the game, in which your characters experience epic struggles and extreme violence and suffering unto (and sometimes beyond) death, while above it, there is the world of the table, around which you and your friends sit scarfing hard sourdough pretzels and joking about how badly you're all about to get boned.

So here, Marvel Funny works . It makes a kind of ironclad, ruthlessly meta sense. It helps tremendously that the cast is so deft at tossing off the film's many jokes so they seem like the legitimate product of their given situation instead of some mid-afternoon punch-up session in a dingy Burbank writers' room.

L to R: Doric (Sophia Lillis), Simon (Justice Smith), Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) roll for initiative. Paramount Pictures and eOne hide caption

L to R: Doric (Sophia Lillis), Simon (Justice Smith), Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) roll for initiative.

A game cast fit for a role-playing game movie

The adventuring party at the center of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is led by Chris Pine as Edgin, a bard far too convinced of his talents. It's the kind of role Pine was engineered in some secret subterranean Hollywood breeding facility to play: a character who not only rides the razor's edge between charm and smarm but who sets up housekeeping there.

And speaking of smarm: Hugh Grant, as a rakish rogue, is once again serving us the kind of full-bore, insufferably plummy poshness he gifted the world within Paddington 2 . He's reached the stage of his career where he can spread the ol' smarmalade thick and more power to him. He sure looks like he's having a ball.

As the sullen barbarian Holga, Michelle Rodriguez doesn't get the chance to do a lot that you haven't seen Michelle Rodriguez do before, but she remains great at it, and this time out, she does it in braids. So. There's that.

It's Been a Minute

The game has changed for d&d and 'a league of their own'.

But it's Regé-Jean Page who makes the most of his (too-limited) screen time here. As the noble paladin Xenk, he radiates an amusingly galling breed of virtuousness. (Paladins, for those unfamiliar, are the smug, preening, condescending white knights of the D&D world — a bunch of Frasier Cranes in plate mail.) Page nails the necessary hauteur and supreme confidence while layering them with a guileless sincerity that turns his character into a weapon aimed at Pine's character's every insecurity.

But what will the Normals think?

If the film does well, a large percentage of its audience, perhaps a majority of it, will have come to it unfamiliar with the densely interconnected network of rules, stats and bylaws that make the game what it is. So an important question becomes — what will those uninitiated into the nerdy number-crunching of D&D possibly make of this thing?

The filmmakers — Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who together directed the excellent 2018 film Game Night and co-wrote this script with Michael Gilio — smartly use the game's deep lore to buoy the script, not weigh it down.

'Game Night' Is Winning

If you go into the film knowing the internecine mechanics of D&D gameplay, you will certainly recognize them playing out onscreen — but you miss nothing if you don't.

Worried you'll be bombarded with obscure references to places and characters from the game? You will. But just because the film's so stuffed with Easter eggs you could mash it up with mayo, mustard, onions and celery and serve it on wheat toast, your enjoyment of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves doesn't depend on recognizing them.

Sure, the characters can and do toss out references to, say, a Baldur's Gate here or a Mordenkainen there, but they're only in the script so the nerds in the audience can turn to one another and share knowing looks. If, in their adventures our doughty heroes run into a displacer beast or two, or if a rust monster scuttles over their heads in a dark alley, those Easter eggs for eager D&D fans will serve only as background detail, mere ambience, for everyone else.

With 'The Legend of Vox Machina,' a Dungeons & Dragons web series rolls the dice

The fetch-quests and the furious.

The film's plot is purely, ruthlessly episodic – it comes down to a series of fetch quests: They must go to [place] to talk to [person], who sends them to [other place] to secure the [magical item] that will allow them to access to [still another place], etc. But to complain about the number of fetch quests in a D&D film would be like complaining that a movie about Scrabble features too much spelling.

Given how gleefully Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieve s embraces and exults in its genre elements, it's interesting to note that it's all the stuff geared to making the film accessible to the mainstream that is the most dully generic thing about it.

A plotline involving Edgin's daughter (Chloe Coleman) and his dead wife exists to up the stakes and motivate his actions in the thuddingly predictable manner of Hollywood action movies. There's also so much wet-eyed, lip-quivering dialogue about "family" you can't help but suspect that Michelle Rodriguez brought it with her when she crossed over from the Fast and Furious franchise. Who knows; maybe she didn't quarantine correctly.

But the movie even manages to shake off that mild complaint, given its nature. After all, the game of Dungeons & Dragons is what happens when wildly disparate people come together — both in the fantastical realm of Faerun and around a rickety folding table in your friend Dana's sunken living room.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves doesn't just know that; it finds room to honor it and fully, freely embody it.

Correction March 31, 2023

An earlier version of this review misspelled Faerun as Fearun.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves’ review: chris pine anchors a buoyant and accessible adaptation.

The actor stars alongside Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Regé-Jean Page and Sophia Lillis in Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley's highly anticipated adaptation of the popular game.

By Lovia Gyarkye

Lovia Gyarkye

Arts & Culture Critic

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Email
• Show additional share options
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Pinit
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Print
• Share this article on Comment

Related Stories

Events of the week: 'poolman,' 'a man in full' and more, hugh grant made an audition tape for tony the tiger role in 'unfrosted' that left jerry seinfeld "stunned", dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves.

The lore surrounding Dungeons & Dragons film adaptations is outmatched only by the lore surrounding the game itself. Developed in the early 1970s by Gary Gyax and Dave Arneson, Dungeons & Dragons’ commercial success inaugurated modern role-playing games. It also influenced a generation of creators. Jon Favreau told the Los Angeles Times in 2008 that it strengthened his imagination and storytelling abilities. Ta-Nehisi Coates has written about how D&D taught him about language. And various figures in Hollywood, including a showrunner for HBO’s Game of Thrones , have cited the importance of the game to their creative lives.

Early attempts to translate the magic of the tabletop game to the screen flopped (see Courtney Solomon’s 2000 Dungeons & Dragons ), but Goldstein and Daley were bold enough to try again. Their efforts will surely meet a better fate than their predecessors’. This version of Dungeons & Dragons not only checks the boxes of a satisfying studio blockbuster; it arrives at a cultural moment that embraces — even fiends for — the epic fantasy adventure.

We meet the hopeful bard Edgin ( Chris Pine ) and his best friend Holga ( Michelle Rodriguez ), a reserved barbarian, near the end of their second year in prison. They are up for pardon, which means they must argue their case against a council. Edgin’s appeal lays the ground for the necessary backstory; through his florid tale (he’s a bard after all), we learn about his daughter Kira (played by Chloe Coleman), his dead wife, how he and Holga met and teamed up to commit petty theft, and how their last heist went awry.

They manage to get out of prison — though not in the way you might expect — and are soon off to reunite with Kira and their friends in Neverwinter. The city they come upon is markedly different from the one they left two years ago. Their friend Forge ( Hugh Grant ), whom Edgin tasked with caring for Kira in his absence, now rules the land. And Kira doesn’t trust her father, who she thinks abandoned her for untold riches. Edgin can’t believe his fate, and suspects that more sinister forces are afoot in this new world order.

The actors who embody these wacky heroes and villains are the heart of Dungeons & Dragons : Their performances are lively, robust and well-judged. Pine and Rodriguez make for a particularly enjoyable duo as they volley light jabs and break the tensest moments with their teasing asides. Even as they repeat blunders and missteps, these adventurers are worth rooting for.

The drawback of a film having as good a time with itself as Dungeons & Dragons is in the narrative, which becomes too baggy and drags in the middle. As the journey grows more treacherous, the group’s adventures resemble a blur of swords piercing flesh and dragons hunting for their next meal. Edgin’s quippy revelations don’t land as sharply. The confrontations exhaust. Holga’s comments begin to sound one-note, and patience wears thin with Simon’s diffidence and Doric’s indifference. Those more tapped into the world of the game might not share the same feelings, but the film could lose some neophytes at this point.

Thankfully, the threat of the closing credits enlivens Dungeons & Dragons ’ third act. It’s an energetic, if predictable, conclusion that restores our faith and confidence in Goldstein and Daly’s vision.

Full credits

Thr newsletters.

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Lily gladstone, omar sy, eva green on cannes competition jury, ‘deadpool & wolverine’ director shawn levy says film requires no “prior research” of marvel cinematic universe, nicole kidman says despite producing success, she doesn’t want to direct: “i would be a terrible director”, meryl streep says she was “traumatized” watching nicole kidman in ‘big little lies’ at afi life achievement gala, ray chan, art director and production designer for marvel films, dies at 56, box office: zendaya’s ‘challengers’ hits target with $15m opening for no. 1 finish.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Challengers Link to Challengers
• I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
• Música Link to Música

New TV Tonight

• The Veil: Season 1
• Hacks: Season 3
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz: Season 1
• A Man in Full: Season 1
• Acapulco: Season 3
• Welcome to Wrexham: Season 3
• John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA: Season 1
• Star Wars: Tales of the Empire: Season 1
• My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 4.2
• Shardlake: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• Velma: Season 2
• Them: Season 2
• Ripley: Season 1
• Under the Bridge: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1 Link to Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All Zendaya Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Video Game TV Shows Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

Poll: Most Anticipated Movies of May 2024

• Trending on RT
• Most Anticipated TV of May
• Seen on Screen
• Zendaya Movies
• Play Movie Trivia

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Reviews

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves isn’t just one of the best films of 2023, it’s one of the best fantasy films in decades.

Full Review | Original Score: 10/10 | Nov 25, 2023

It has dungeons, dragons, magnificent castles, evil wizards, close-call adventures and more; it takes you right where you want to go, but with a teeny bit extra... like the extra toffee you get from your grandma.

Full Review | Nov 16, 2023

D&D is a delight that even those unfamiliar with the game will enjoy immensely. It's packed with enough action, laughs, and heart to entertain any family whose parents aren't still mired in a Satanic panic mindset.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Sep 8, 2023

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is an unexpectedly delightful, lighthearted, enchanting adventure. At its heart, the film encourages reluctant heroes to fight for fairness, equality, and justice.

Full Review | Aug 23, 2023

A pleasant surprise. A great mixture of world building , humor, & action to make this one of the most entertain movies of the year.

Full Review | Aug 16, 2023

Writer and director duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”) and cowriter Michael Gilio execute well-worn tropes and platitudes in a lighthearted, heartwarming, satisfying way.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 16, 2023

I went in with low-expectations, but was thoroughly charmed, partly because of the performances of Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Hugh Grant.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Aug 10, 2023

Directors Jonathan M. Goldstein and John Francis Daley have used a balance of big action sequences with a continuous barrage of one-liners and sight gags to come up with a fun film.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Aug 9, 2023

Buckets of fun, with great performances and genuine laugh-out loud moments...there may be audiences rooting around for substance but similar a D&D game, they should just roll with it and enjoy themselves.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 28, 2023

Chris Pine is the MVP of an incredibly charming cast with such natural chemistry that the comedic moments become truly hilarious - the graveyard scene will be replayed over and over again.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jul 25, 2023

A feast for the eyes, “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” excels in not taking itself too seriously but allowing viewers to enjoy a fun experience.

Full Review | Jul 25, 2023

Brought back memories of my childhood when I would run around the playground and pretend I was a knight will all of my friends. A laugh out loud love letter to all geeks and nerds out there. The entire cast is great but Rodriguez steals the entire show!

Full Review | Jul 24, 2023

It marks the return of the kind of blockbuster that rarely graces the silver screen today, one that grounds its awe-inspiring spectacle in sincerity and character.

In essence, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a crowdpleaser in the best of ways, resuscitating overplayed tropes with the right amount of thrills, humor, and heart.

The comedic route may not sit well with those expecting anything D&D related to be consistently serious. Yet, anyone who’s ever played a game, imaginary or video based, will know humor is as crucial to the whole experience as sheer skill.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 23, 2023

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a perfectly imperfect movie made for the fans. It is an undeniable hoot and a half that, apart from the odd Owl Bear, will please most tabletop role-players.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 23, 2023

With just the right mix of action, fantasy and humor delivered by characters that are impossible not to fall in love with it is easy to see why many cinema lovers will be calling for a sequel to be made as soon as possible.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 22, 2023

The usual problem with adapting games into film is that there’s not enough plot to hang a story on (I’m looking at you, Angry Birds.) D&D is nothing but stories. Honor Among Thieves feels like something a dungeon master would cook up for a campaign.

Full Review | Jul 12, 2023

"We're gonna make this fun." "Oh, but what's the added depth?" "No, no, no, shut up. Fun!" I feel like we don't get that all that much anymore.

Full Review | Jun 28, 2023

A generic adventure film that tries to wink so hard with its goofy, and mostly unfunny, quipping and then still tries to sell us on its more sincere moments when it is not namedropping objects as cameos.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 27, 2023

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves review – passable, playful adventure

There’s just about enough goofy charm, if not enough humour, in this serviceable attempt to create a new big-screen franchise from the fantasy game

E ven with a surprise resurgence in the popularity of the immersive, exhausting role-playing fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons (2017 saw more players of the game than any other year in its entire existence), betting a reported $150m on a new franchise-starting film is a risky, borderline reckless, move, like betting on a regular goblin against a hobgoblin in a magic sorcery battle (note: I have never played Dungeons & Dragons before). As acceptably engaging as Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves might be, it’s hard to fully understand the thinking behind such a wild gambit, especially given that a splashy Paramount+ TV series is also in the works, the success of one film immediately dictating the existence of an entire extended universe.

While other more mainstreamed franchises have touched upon loosely similar fantasy territory, from Game of Thrones to Lord of the Rings, there’s more of a niche, loaded quality to D&D that could prevent a similar trajectory, an association with hardcore geek culture that might be hard to shake for the average multiplex-frequenter. It’s not as if those behind the film aren’t also acutely aware of this as well, hiring the duo behind Game Night, Horrible Bosses and Spider-man: Homecoming to bring some pop and levity, aiming to give the film a Guardians of the Galaxy-esque irreverence, something the cool kids could enjoy just as much. It’s a passable attempt at such and one which is made all the more passable by context, comparing it with recent Marvel and DC films making it seem that much better but is that enough to warrant such lofty universe-starting investment?

As well as nabbing writer-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who helped reinvent Spider-man, they’ve also cast in the lead Chris Pine, who helped steer the Star Trek reboot to widespread prosperity. He transplants some of that same cocky charm to his role here, playing a thief who turned his back on a more respectable life once his wife was murdered. Together with partner-in-crime Holga (Michelle Rodriguez doing exactly what you expect Michelle Rodriguez to do in a franchise movie such as this, which isn’t a bad thing), they are forced into an elaborate plan to recover his child after a heist goes wrong. It’s then superhero assemblage formula with them travelling to pick up Justice Smith’s wannabe sorcerer and Sophia Lillis’s druid while getting extra assistance from Regé-Jean Page’s paladin. Together they must defeat Hugh Grant’s power-hungry con artist and Daisy Head’s red wizard.

If the film hewing so closely to Marvel beats is frustrating it’s also entirely inevitable, the superhero factory having an indelible impact on how the industry treats the majority of colon-heavy tentpole properties. But the upside is that by aping a genre that has been going through a significant downturn in quality, doing the bare minimum is then somehow doing quite a lot. A coherent plot, well-choreographed action, real locations, some practical effects and a self-contained story not set in a multiverse make it easy-to-digest, the level for entry not requiring quite as much knowledge of post-credit scenes and a myriad of Disney+ TV shows. The script does a solid job of making it an accessible world to those not already steeped in it although Goldstein and Daley, writing alongside Michael Gilio, are less effective with the film’s many attempts at comedy.

It’s a shame as the cast are game and Pine and Rodriguez have a fizzy platonic chemistry but it’s just never as funny as it should be despite ample set-ups, like a striker missing multiple hard-to-miss opportunities to score, leading to similar head-in-hands moments. There are momentary flashes of something sharper, as if a storied sitcom writer was allowed a day’s worth of touch-ups, such as a charmingly silly sequence involving reanimated corpses, but the film needed more genuine laughs to work as the high-spirited romp it so clearly wants to be. Brazenly stealing Dave Bautista’s inability to understand humour from Guardians and lazily giving it to Page, an action scene involving a fat dragon and a bizarre cameo from an A-lister that’s just one dumb overextended sight gag distract from what’s otherwise mostly well-paced and energetic.

It’s the missing bit of magic in a serviceable franchise-starter that benefits from the very low bar we currently have. Whether that enjoyed-on-a-plane level of disposability is quite enough to warrant the beginning of a new multi-platform universe is to be confirmed very soon (the film is tracking to open low this weekend) but if future instalments are to happen, we could do with a little more funny to go with that fun.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is out in cinemas on 31 March

• Action and adventure films
• Science fiction and fantasy films

Most viewed

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Movie Reviews

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves review: This fun fantasy romp is not just for nerds

Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant star in this organic adaptation of the popular role-playing game.

Christian Holub is a writer covering comics and other geeky pop culture. He's still mad about 'Firefly' getting canceled.

Ever since Game of Thrones took over the world, fantasy storytelling has proliferated on screen. Last year alone saw the release of two mega-budget sword-and-magic TV shows striving to fill Game of Thrones ' shoes, and the release of a new movie based on the world of Dungeons & Dragons certainly fits the same cultural pattern as Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon . But the difference between adapting a game like D&D rather than a series of novels by J.R.R. Tolkien or George R.R. Martin is that the goal is to capture an experience rather than a specific story — and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves delightfully nails the fun of role-playing as fantasy characters with your friends. It doesn't require any prior playing experience, either.

Originally invented by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in the '70s, Dungeons & Dragons has found renewed popularity in recent years — part of that is the influence of Game of Thrones , whose showrunners openly talked about the inspiration they drew from the game , but there's also something to be said for the increasing attractiveness of social activities defined by imagination and teamwork rather than phone screens and computer graphics. Players create and control their own characters but work together as a unit to overcome obstacles introduced by the one player who takes on the omniscient role of "Dungeon Master." It's endlessly malleable to different people's preferences and personalities — even a DM's best-laid plans can get knocked off the rails by players' decisions — which makes it fun to play over and over again.

You don't need to know any of that to enjoy the movie, though. After all, Honor Among Thieves is stacked with familiar faces: Chris Pine , Michelle Rodriguez , Justice Smith , Sophia Lillis , and Regé-Jean Page play the main group of adventurers, with Hugh Grant taking on the villainous role of their ally-turned-adversary. Pine plays a bard, Rodriguez a barbarian, Smith a sorcerer, Lillis a druid, and Page a paladin — all of those are familiar character "classes" to D&D players, and their various abilities are depicted accurately. But in a relief for viewers who have no idea what the previous sentence means, the screenplay does not just dump exposition about what each character can and can't do.

Instead, their capabilities are vividly illustrated through entertaining setpieces. Even someone who's never played a role-playing game in their life can pick up that a druid's main power is shapeshifting into animals thanks to the early scene where Doric (Lillis) spies on the bad guys and then evades capture by changing into a bug, then a mouse, then a hawk, a cat, and a deer. You could say that each character represents a common D&D playstyle (with Pine's Edgin as the planner and Rodriguez's Holga as the hit-first-ask-questions-later muscle, to name two) but to the uninitiated, it's also just like a heist movie, where each team member brings a different specialty to the table.

The actors seem to be having fun, which makes a big difference in a film so reliant on special effects. Pine is one of the most charming modern American movie stars, and seeing him light up the screen here serves as a reminder that amidst recent dour performances in Don't Worry Darling and All the Old Knives , it's been six years since we last saw him just being fun and romantic in Wonder Woman . It's easy to forget that the success of the 2009 Star Trek was powered as much by his personal charisma as sci-fi nostalgia or J.J. Abrams lens flares! Grant, meanwhile, gets to tap once more into the hammy villainy that made Paddington 2 the internet's favorite movie . A hot air balloon emblazoned with his face spitting out gold all over a medieval city late in Honor Among Thieves is one of the best sight gags of the year so far.

What's especially welcome about the humor in Honor Among Thieves is that it doesn't wink or mock its material; the characters just say funny things and bounce off each other as organically as a real-life friend group. The fantasy elements are played straight, and the central story is a relatable romp about how people who fail as individuals can still succeed together. A little cheesy, maybe, but why not roll the dice? Grade: B+

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

Related content:

• Monsters, mayhem, and K-Y Jelly: The Dungeons & Dragons cast on making magic
• Dungeons & Dragons concept art showcases an Owlbear and Icewind Dale
• Regé-Jean Page says he 'had the best ass of my life' making Dungeons & Dragons

Related Articles

• Movie Review

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is great — you just have to roll with it

Engaging, comical, and unapologetically dorky, honor among thieves occasionally stumbles under its own ambition but ultimately proves that high fantasy doesn’t always have to be highbrow..

By Jess Weatherbed , a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.

Share this story

Paramount’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves makes two things clear within its first five minutes: it understands its audience and D&D experience isn’t necessary. You’d be forgiven for assuming this was going to be another lore-bloated fantasy epic, something that either fails to appease fans of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game or leans too far into it and confuses the “normies” — or is just plain awful like previous cinematic attempts. But while it’s not perfect, directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have managed to serve up a balanced adaptation that’s both effortless to watch while remaining faithful to its grandiloquent source material.

Honor Among Thieves takes place in the Forgotten Realms, a diverse fantasy world that also serves as the campaign setting for official D&D modules — which means a lot of locations throughout the movie will be familiar to those who’ve played the game. In the cell of a frost-entombed prison, we’re introduced to the charming and overconfident bard, Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), and Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), a brutish yet motherly barbarian and Edgin’s best friend. The pair sets out to rescue Edgin’s daughter, Kira, from Forge Fitzwilliam, a former accomplice-turned-conman who has instilled himself as the villainous Lord of Neverwinter. Forge is played by Hugh Grant, who leans into his usual “bumbling Englishman” persona for the role, while Daisy Head provides some more serious villainy as the Red Wizard Sofina.

Edgin and Holga are later joined by a timorous half-elf sorcerer played by Justice Smith, a seriously jaded tiefling druid played by Sophia Lillis, and Regé-Jean Page, who leans all the way into our Bridgerton -fueled expectations as a beautiful, swaggering paladin. But where his Bridgerton character epitomized every romantic leading man, this guy is a walking parody of every epic fantasy hero to have graced the genre. Honor Among Thieves makes it very clear that it isn’t trying to be some byzantine fantasy epic. Beneath the layers of its magical, medieval-inspired setting, it’s just a relatively straightforward heist movie — assemble a lovable group of skilled individuals, break into a few vaults, and defeat the bad guys.

Thankfully, Honor Among Thieves also manages to be specifically D&D -flavored without being too dorky or cringey. It exhibits incredible self-awareness, navigating through recognizable tropes from the titular tabletop roleplaying game without being obtusely meta about the whole thing. In a real game, players are at the mercy of their dice: randomized numbers dictate if your action succeeds (casting spells, flirting with guards, etc.) or fails (falling into traps, offending guards with your terrible flirting). The film alludes to this through manufactured spontaneity — almost every interaction feels ad-libbed, as though spoken off the cuff following a dice roll. The performances of Pine and Grant are especially notable for injecting quick-witted humor into otherwise stale tropes. It feels refreshingly subversive.

Appeasing nerds shouldn’t be a box-ticking exercise, but Honor Among Thieves should at least be commended for the sheer number of D&D Easter eggs crammed into its 134-minute runtime. There are multiple dungeons, multiple dragons, multiple treasure hoards, and multiple buff women accompanied by a generous smattering of references to what feels like at least half of the game’s entire spell list and bestiary. Fans of the franchise won’t be left wanting, and most inclusions are incredibly faithful to the D&D sourcebooks (not counting the whole “druids can’t wild shape into an owlbear” debacle).

The CGI used to depict canonical D&D regions like Icewind Dale and the Underdark is decent enough, as is its application throughout the film’s various displays of magic and spellwork. But practical effects are where Honor Among Thieves will win over the really hardcore fantasy nerds. The more bestial races from the D&D universe are portrayed using actual monster suits or puppets, as if plucked right out of something like The Dark Crystal . It all feels like an homage to sword and sorcery movies of the 1980s, and you feel it in all the ornately detailed costumes, prosthetic makeup, and actual animatronics. And unlike too many Marvel films, it still feels grounded in reality, so the CGI enhances more than it detracts.

Honor Among Thieves has to appeal to both audiences: those who are familiar with D&D and those who aren’t. It clearly excels in the former, but while it does ultimately achieve the latter, it doesn’t completely avoid the pitfalls experienced by similarly ambitious lore-heavy IPs that attempted to break into cinema. (I’m looking at you, Warcraft .)

Honor Among Thieves ’ storyline progresses at breakneck speed, refusing to waste precious minutes of pacing to provide background on the various locations, items, or characters in order to accommodate the endless deluge of D&D references. Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy managed to patiently walk its viewers through J.R.R. Tolkien’s expansive lore — Honor Among Thieves offers no such courtesy. Stereotypically fantasy-sounding phrases like “Faerun,” “Gracklstugh,” and “Emerald Enclave” often whiff by during on-screen conversations, rarely repeated or providing insight into their significance.

You don’t actually need background on any of the references peppered throughout Honor Among Thieves to enjoy the movie. It’s still very clear what’s unfolding on-screen regardless of the jargon. But its dedication to appeasing the game’s nerdy fan base doesn’t excuse the other cinema sins that tarnish it. The storyline is incredibly predictable for a franchise that prides itself on creativity, and most of the characters feel underdeveloped because the film attempts to cover too much with the time it has.

This is especially true concerning its villains. Grant’s portrayal of Forge as “lord bad guy” is a lot of fun, but there are a lot of other villains in this — to the point that his character sometimes gets lost as increasingly sinister characters keep popping up to take up the mantle of the “real” Big Bad. There are simply too many malevolent cooks tampering with this fantasy-flavored soup.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is certainly let down by the scale of its own ambition in places, but I still had fun — more fun than I’ve had watching a fantasy movie in years, actually. It’s incredibly funny and overdelivers on the necessary ingredients to appease anyone who’s ever rolled a 20-sided die. You can even forgive the slightly chaotic pacing for accurately capturing how it feels to play through a real D&D campaign.

For those who don’t partake in the game, Honor Among Thieves is still perfectly enjoyable because it doesn’t take itself seriously. Yes, it’s flippantly humorous and self-aware, but it isn’t pretentious about it. If anything, Honor Among Thieves is unashamedly camp, vibing closer to the likes of Shrek and The Princess Bride than your typically hardcore action-adventure movie. It’s a reminder that the fantasy genre is still allowed to be goofy. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying stoic highbrow fantasy, of course, but watching Daley and Goldstein’s “Bardians of the Galaxy” ensemble bumble around with well-mannered zombies and obscenely pudgy dragons is a breath of fresh air.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves hits theaters on March 31st.

The walls of Apple’s garden are tumbling down

In the first autonomous racing league race, the struggle was real, the apple vision pro’s ebay prices are making me sad, they turned cattle ranches into tropical forest — then climate change hit, the oled ipad pro could launch with an m4 chip.

More from Entertainment

The Nintendo Switch 2 will now reportedly arrive in 2025 instead of 2024

The best Presidents Day deals you can already get

Vudu’s name is changing to ‘Fandango at Home’

Tommy Tallarico’s never-actually-featured-on-MTV-Cribs house is for sale

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Review: The Role-Playing Fantasy Game Becomes an Irresistible Mash-Up of Everything It Inspired

Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Regé-Jean Page rule in an adventure that turns pop-fantasy derivativeness into its own form of fun.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

• ‘Humane’ Review: Caitlin Cronenberg’s First Feature Is a Searing Domestic Thriller About Crimes of the Not-So-Distant Future 1 day ago
• ‘Boy Kills World’ Review: Bill Skarsgård Is a Deaf-Mute Avenger in an Action Film So Ultraviolent It’s Like ‘John Wick’ Gone ‘Clockwork Orange’ 3 days ago
• ‘Uncropped’ Review: An Enticing Portrait of James Hamilton Makes You Wonder: Is He the Greatest New York Photographer Ever? 5 days ago

Introducing “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” the lavish hyperkinetic popcorn fairy tale that kicked off SXSW this evening, the film’s co-directors, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, told the audience that they had designed the movie to appeal to hardcore D&D players — and also to those who know absolutely nothing about the game. This came as a relief to me, since what I know about Dungeons & Dragons you could put on the head of a…well, I know so little that I can’t even come up with a proper D&D reference with which to spin that cliché.

Popular on Variety

Kira, however, has come under the spell of Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant, chewing voraciously on every line), a scoundrel who rules over a walled city, and has convinced Kira that he can be a better dad to her than her own duplicitous father. Edgin wants to put his family back together, and if he can lay his hands on the Tablet of Reawakening, he’ll have the ability to bring his wife back to life and restore all that was lost. But the Tablet is locked up in a vault in the city, and he needs to find the Helmet of Disjunction — which can stop time — to do it. Are you with me?

“Honor Among Thieves” keeps introducing rules and gambits that interlock with pleasing logic but, as often as not, turn out to be MacGuffins. Yet they do their job — they seduce us, for a few scenes, into seeming as if they matter, at which point the film is only too happy to move on. Daley and Goldstein work with a precision that satisfies our inner megaplex classicist, yet it’s part of the film’s design that it never stops throwing things at us.

As Edgin forms a fellowship with such winningly offbeat characters as the insecure sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith) and the shape-shifting druid Doric (Sophia Lillis), “Honor Among Thieves” becomes a gallivanting magic-trick action movie with a dragon so pudgy the characters make a joke of it, an undead cult of Red Wizards who rule their minions with billows of crimson smoke like something out of “The Wizard of Oz,” and a scene of crowd-pleasing macabre cheekiness in which old grey skeletal corpses are raised from the dead so they can be asked five questions, at which point they collapse back into oblivion. The dialogue in a scene like this one has a precocious snap. The script is by Daley, Goldstein, and Michael Gilio, who invest each encounter — even if it’s with a corpse — with a charge of ego.

That said, there’s enough snark and visual zap on display that we may feel like we’re gorging on candy corn, and that we’re hungry for something a little more soulful. It arrives, in the person of Regé-Jean Page , who shows up as Xenk, who is noble in such an old-fashioned stoic corn-dog way (he can’t process irony, let alone a phrase like “son-of-a-bitch”) that he lends the movie the note of romantic valor we want. Page acts with a dark-liquid-eyed savoir faire that’s delectable, and for a while he and Pine become an ace comedy team: Xenk the man too suavely heroic to crack a joke, Edgin the one who makes a joke out of everything, including Xenk’s nobility.

There’s an intricacy to the staging of “Honor Among Thieves” that helps balance out the roller-coaster derivativeness of the plot. We go with it, even as we know we’re gorging on a succulent overdose of fantasy dessert. The gladiatorial battle inside a maze at the climax is sensationally well done, from the panther with Venus-flytrap tentacles to the treasure boxes along the way to the giant cubes of Jell-O that help save the day. The monster at the end? To me that was one demon too many. But no matter. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” should be a major hit, because it knows how to tap into our nostalgia — not just for a game, but for the entire fantasy culture it helped to spawn. It’s the movie itself that’s role-playing.

Reviewed at SXSW (World Premiere), March 10, 2023. MPA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 134 MIN.

• Production: A Paramount Pictures release, in association with Entertainment One, of an Allspark Pictures, Hasbro Studios production. Producers: Jeremy Latcham, Brian Goldner, Nick Meyer. Executive producers: Denis L. Stewart, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Chris Pine, Zev Foreman, Greg Mooradian.
• Crew: Directors: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley. Screenplay: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Michael Gillio. Camera: Barry Peterson. Editor: Dan Lebental. Music: Lorne Balfe.
• With: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head, Jason Wong.

More From Our Brands

Taylor swift makes chart history with ‘the tortured poets department’, aston martin’s fastest-ever vantage makes formula 1® debut, mlbpa rips nike amid changes to controversial uniforms, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, the conners is losing its wednesdays-at-8 time slot on abc — find out why, verify it's you, please log in.

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves, common sense media reviewers.

Cast elevates funny game-based adventure; action violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Movie, like game that inspired it, values teamwork

The team might be thieves, but they're brave and l

The ensemble of characters is racially diverse, wi

Lots of fantasy action violence, with many perilou

In flashbacks, a married couple court, embrace, an

Occasional but not frequent use of words including

Inspired by a game/product line. Also lots of offl

A few scenes of the team in taverns where adults d

Parents need to know that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an action-packed comedy/fantasy adventure based on the classic role-playing game. The story follows a team of misfit bandits led by Edgin the Bard (Chris Pine) and his warrior best friend, Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), who must work together…

Positive Messages

Movie, like game that inspired it, values teamwork, perseverance, courage. The plot demonstrates that even thieves can act according to a code of honor and be loyal, as well as act toward a greater good. One character's story arc conveys that it's important to have confidence in yourself in order to achieve desired results. One subtle message, thanks to Edgin and Holga, is that men and women can be close platonic friends.

Positive Role Models

The team might be thieves, but they're brave and loyal. They're flawed, but each has reasons to work together. Edgin and Holga both love Kira and want to keep her safe. Doric wants to protect the tribe that took her in. Simon wants to prove he's capable of something greater than he imagines.

Diverse Representations

The ensemble of characters is racially diverse, with people from different backgrounds, species, and/or communities. The actors who play them are similarly diverse: Chris Pine and Sophia Lillis are White, Michelle Rodriguez is Dominican, Justice Smith is multiracial, and Regé-Jean Page is half-Zimbabwean, half-White. The women on the team are confident and physically powerful, and discuss more than romance with each other. The villain is a woman.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Lots of fantasy action violence, with many perilous life-or-death moments that lead to destruction and death (including one major character). Several brawls, battles, and one-on-one fights using knives, swords, fists, crossbows, and magic. A woman is such a strong warrior that she routinely takes on multiple people at a time. A red wizard uses magic to cause lots of damage to people and places; she kills people with a magical spell that ends them nearly instantly. Poisoning. A character has flashbacks to how his wife was poisoned by a wizard's blade. A beloved character is seriously injured.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

In flashbacks, a married couple court, embrace, and kiss. In two scenes, they're shown in bed together, talking and cuddling. The youngest team members flirt with each other and by the end are clearly interested.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Occasional but not frequent use of words including "s--t," "stupid," "bastards," "son of a bitch."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Inspired by a game/product line. Also lots of offline merchandise and tie-ins.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

A few scenes of the team in taverns where adults drink. One character makes references to another character's drinking.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an action-packed comedy/fantasy adventure based on the classic role-playing game. The story follows a team of misfit bandits led by Edgin the Bard ( Chris Pine ) and his warrior best friend, Holga ( Michelle Rodriguez ), who must work together to stop an evil wizard. Expect lots of fantasy action violence, including sword, crossbow, and fistfighting; poisoning; and magical battles that instantly injure or even kill. Lots of life-or-death moments lead to death and destruction, as well as one major character death. Occasional strong language includes "s--t," "bastard," and "son of a bitch." Romance is limited to flirting and flashbacks that show a married couple affectionate, kissing briefly, and lying in bed cuddling. The story features a diverse cast and powerful women characters. Although they're thieves, (most of) the characters are loyal to one another and help more than just themselves. Hugh Grant , Justice Smith , and Regé-Jean Page co-star. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (23)
• Kids say (28)

Based on 23 parent reviews

What's the Story?

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES introduces viewers to imprisoned best friends Edgin ( Chris Pine ), a disgraced harper, and Holga ( Michelle Rodriguez ), a disgraced barbarian, who are pleading their case for early release to a judicial board. Edgin explains that they were caught after being double-crossed by a villainous wizard, Sofina ( Daisy Head ), during a heist that they only agreed to do in order to raise Edgin's late wife from the dead. After escaping from prison, the friends try to reunite with Edgin's tween daughter, Kira ( Chloe Coleman ). But they discover that their former partner-in-crime, Forge ( Hugh Grant ), now lord of Neverwinter, has been acting as Kira's adoptive father and has kept all of the old gang's stolen riches, including the much-needed resurrection amulet. After surviving an assassination attempt, Edgin and Holga put together a team of misfits -- including their old half-elf friend Simon ( Justice Smith ), shapeshifter druid Doric ( Sophia Lillis ), and ageless paladin Xenk ( Regé-Jean Page ) -- to steal back the relic and stop Forge and Sofina.

Is It Any Good?

This entertaining, star-studded comic adventure takes full advantage of its "ragtag misfits on a mission" theme. Writer-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley far exceed expectations -- which, admittedly, are pretty low for game-based genre movies. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves ' story manages to be engaging, funny, and occasionally moving, but also lighthearted and not overly violent. And it's significant that the main male and female characters are platonic best friends who aren't romantically interested in each other. The writers give Edgin and Holga a sibling-like bond: They tease and taunt each other but also unconditionally support and love each other, leaving the (refreshingly light!) romantic tension to their younger pals Simon and Doric. Pine is a pitch-perfect lead, and Rodriguez has played so many versions of a woman warrior that you just expect her to fell lots of foes. The supporting characters are equally well cast. Grant is hilarious as the greedy Forge; Page (of Bridgerton fame) is clearly adept at playing humorless, seemingly perfect characters; and Head does a fine job pivoting from her beautiful Shadow and Bone character to play a villainous wizard who's trying to take over the world.

Goldstein and Daley's script is full of zingers and ongoing jokes, but it's also earnest and sweet, reminding viewers that these are indeed deep-feeling characters with kind hearts. In one scene, Holga visits her ex-husband, whom she still loves. He's played by an A-list actor in a small but impactful cameo (no spoilers here!), and their conversation is surprisingly substantive for a relationship talk in an action movie. Speaking of which, the action sequences are slick without being overwhelming, with brawls making up most of the fights until the third act. There's a funny moment when Holga faces off with six or seven opponents on her own, and Edgin is so confident in her chances that he's on a completely different mission. The scenes between Edgin, Holga, and young Kira also pack a punch, as the thieves must reconcile their motives with what the girl actually needs from them. And the world-building, while not as thorough as Lord of the Rings , is enough to make audiences eager for a sequel to this fun, funny family movie pick.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Is it realistic, or stylized? How does the type of violence affect its impact?

Do you consider any of the characters role models ? Are some of them worthier of respect and admiration than others? Why, or why not?

How does the storyline demonstrate themes of courage , perseverance , and teamwork ?

If you're a fan of the D&D games, how does this movie live up to your imagination of what it might be like to see D&D characters come to life?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 31, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : May 2, 2023
• Cast : Chris Pine , Michelle Rodriguez , Regé-Jean Page , Hugh Grant
• Directors : John Francis Daley , Jonathan Goldstein
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Latino actors, Black actors
• Studio : Paramount
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures
• Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 134 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : fantasy action/violence and some language
• Award : Common Sense Selection
• Last updated : September 2, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Guardians of the Galaxy

LEGO Batman: The Movie -- DC Superheroes Unite

Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Club: Roll Call: Dungeon Club, Book 1

Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed!

Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance

Best fantasy movies, excellent adventure movies for family fun, related topics.

• Perseverance
• Magic and Fantasy

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

'Dungeons & Dragons' review: You don't need to be a fantasy gamer to revel in 'Honor Among Thieves'

The “Lord of the Rings” movies, “Game of Thrones” and other fantasy fare have plenty of expansive world-building and eye-popping visual effects. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is where you turn to have some of that and  laugh your lute off too.

Based on the popular role-playing game and far better than that forgettable 2000 “D&D” big-screen outing, “Thieves” (★★★ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters Friday)  is a clever and often hilarious action adventure that overcomes pacing issues with well-crafted characters and a host of wondrous creatures both stunning and icky. It’s also a good fantasy film for people who don’t really care for fantasy, led by a winningly goofy turn from Chris Pine .

'Dungeons & Dragons' embraces the game's group dynamic

Doing time in an icy prison for thieving and skullduggery, Edgin the Bard (Pine) and his barbarian partner Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) pull off a daring escape with the best of intentions: Edgin wants to reunite with his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) and also find a resurrection tablet that will bring his wife back to life after she died courtesy of a cursed blade. Now on the run, Edgin and Holga find that their old partner, the rogue Forge (Hugh Grant) – who’s been looking after Kira as her guardian – is now the greedy lord of a kingdom working with a shady red wizard named Sofina (Daisy Head).

A betrayal leads to Edgin and Holga plotting both a rescue and a heist, and for that, they need a motley crew with specific skills. They track down an old insecure sorcerer friend of theirs, Simon (Justice Smith), and then recruit Doric (Sophia Lillis), a shapeshifting druid who’s distrustful of humans. When they figure out they need a magical helmet, the gang finds help in the form of paladin Xenk (Regé-Jean Page), a bit of a charming know-it-all.

Chris Pine moves up in the all-important Hollywood Chris rankings

Writing/directing duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (“Game Night”) put together an inspired cast for “Thieves.” Pine, a highlight of 2022's rather woeful “ Don’t Worry Darling ,” is a silly, lute-strumming gem as Edgin but also gives the thief enough heroic pep to make you care about him. Grant finds a nice balance between smarmy and treacherous, Head is deliciously over-the-top evil, Rodriguez enjoyably crushes so many dudes, and Lillis’ character is the real scene-stealer, spending time as everything from a deer to a fearsome (and seriously cool) owlbear.

The fantasy visuals are pretty slick, especially when it comes to the magical creatures that populate the world. There are assorted dragons (obviously, they’re right there in the title) but also our heroes meet a panther-type thing with tentacles, a monstrous chest with some nasty teeth and an impressive tongue, and a gelatinous cube that traps people and slowly eats them alive.

You don't need to be a 'D&D' expert to dig these 'Thieves'

While it won’t test your patience, “Thieves” does feel bloated at nearly two and a half hours. It’s still shorter than your average round of the game, though you don’t really have to have knowledge of “D&D” going in – or any fantasy fandom, for that matter – to enjoy the movie’s best moments, including a priceless bit where our heroes have to dig up and interrogate dead soldiers for important information. 

Yet the movie never makes fun of its world. Instead, “Thieves” finds its humorous magic by placing relatable characters in fantastical circumstances, sprinkled with heart, whimsy and friendship.

For more on 'Dungeons' and its stars:

• 'Dungeons & Dragons': Chris Pine reveals what game gave him 'trauma'
• Comic-Con: 'Dungeons & Dragons' stars Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page reveal film's first trailer
• 'Don't Worry Darling': Chris Pine (finally) sets record straight on co-star Harry Styles spit rumors
• 'SNL': Female cast thirsts over host Regé-Jean Pag e

Review: ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ boasts charisma and dexterity but lacks true magic

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

For at least 20 years, it’s been obvious that the geeks shall inherit the earth, pop culturally speaking. Comic books have crawled out of the cons to dominate mainstream movie culture, “Star Wars” is ubiquitous and now “Dungeons & Dragons” has its moment in the sun. First published in 1974, the popular fantasy role-playing game has mostly been relegated to a punchline (or punching bag) in media (see: Patton Oswalt’s Dungeon Master character in comedy series “Reno 911!”).

But now the medieval-inspired game gets a splashy, big-budget blockbuster adaptation, replete with swaggering charm and sex appeal. In a perfectly full-circle media moment, “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is co-directed and co-written by John Francis Daley, who played one of the primary geeks on Judd Apatow’s short-lived but much loved comedy series “Freaks and Geeks,” which had an episode dedicated to a D&D campaign (he knows his barbarians from his clerics).

Daley and co-director Jonathan Goldstein (they also directed the raunchy 2015 remake “Vacation” and the surprisingly fun action comedy “Game Night” ) co-wrote the script with Michael Gilio, and they take a genius approach to bringing D&D to the masses, smuggling the heavy-duty lore of the game into a garden-variety bank heist plot. It’s essentially “Ocean’s 11” in a fantasy setting, with massive movie stars riffing on their well-known personae offering a crucial assist.

Daley and Goldstein don’t ask their team of actors to stretch much beyond what we already know and love about them. Chris Pine is on the charm offensive, Michelle Rodriguez plays a tough warrior and Hugh Grant grins and fumbles and fops endearingly, as he has for decades. With this trio in place tackling a familiar plot, Daley and Goldstein thread D&D mythos throughout in a way that’s not too challenging for a newbie but will serve as a treat for the experienced player.

Aside from its clunky title, “Dungeon & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” has a relaxed, loose energy that puts the viewer at ease, especially combined with the throwback appeal of a style that harks to ’80s fantasy classics like “Willow,” “Labyrinth” and “Legend.” Yet the tone is decidedly modern, thanks in large part to Pine’s laissez-faire, ironic energy as the lute-playing Edgin, the bard of this tale.

Edgin’s vibe, however, is a bit at odds with his goal of reuniting his family by bringing his wife back from the dead and reclaiming daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) from his former compatriot Forge (Grant). He intends to do this by stealing a reanimation tablet from a magically fortified vault with the team he assembles: his ride-or-die warrior Holga (Rodriguez), insecure sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith) and disaffected druid Doric ( Sophia Lillis ). They receive help from stone-faced paladin Xenk (Regé-Jean Page), whose straight-arrow nature bounces off Ed’s inability to take anything seriously. This odd couple is one of the most amusing interactions of the film, but it’s unfortunately brief.

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” boasts some eye-popping set pieces, including Rodriguez’s fight scenes and a truly remarkable “one-shot” sequence that showcases Doric’s shape-shifting abilities. The film’s affable nature and the sheer charisma oozing off Pine and Grant is intoxicating, but overall, there’s a sense that it doesn’t quite gel, the engine revving but never hitting the speed of which it seems capable.

Daley and Goldstein make for fine dungeon masters; the film is an unapologetically big, fun, swashbuckling slice of hardcore fantasy and leans into that without any self-deprecation, which is the core lesson for our merry band of misfits. And yet there is some ineffable quality lacking — perhaps an emulsifying ingredient — that prevents all these elements (the stars, the lore, the creatures) from coming together into something truly magical. Maybe on the next roll of the 20-sided die.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’

Rated: PG-13, for fantasy action/violence and some language Running time: 2 hours, 14 minutes Playing: Starts March 31 in general release

More to Read

Review: ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ is too timid to land any satirical blows

March 15, 2024

Theo James and Kaya Scodelario discuss ‘The Gentlemen’ and keeping up with Guy Ritchie

March 7, 2024

Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman on the ‘crapshoot’ of making a hit movie

Dec. 29, 2023

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

How the Cat King in ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ captures a familiar queer dynamic

April 27, 2024

‘Dead Boy Detectives’ cleverly brings Neil Gaiman’s comic book sleuths to life

April 24, 2024

Travel & Experiences

The unmissable addition to Disneyland’s Star Tours ride? Space whales

April 9, 2024

A stairwell at Cartoon Network Studios captured 20 years of history. Now you can see it, too

April 8, 2024

Den of Geek

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Review – The Movie This Game Deserves

The magic of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves turns out to be the charm offensive we met along the way.

• Share on Facebook (opens in a new tab)
• Share on Twitter (opens in a new tab)
• Share on Linkedin (opens in a new tab)
• Share on email (opens in a new tab)

The world isn’t ending. Probably. Yet somehow in the realm of blockbuster cinema and high fantasy, it’s always seven seconds to midnight. Maybe that’s why the prospect of Armageddon has become so tedious at the multiplex? It may also be a factor in why Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves , John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldestein’s mirthful and easygoing adaptation of the famed roleplaying game, is so charming. At last, here is a crowdpleaser that actually pleases, and not least of all because the stakes are as small as an evening with some mates going on “a quest” by way of a 20-sided die. Imagine that.

As the second big screen adaptation of the tabletop game, Honor Among Thieves feels about a million miles away from the sinister image D&D conjured in 1980s newspapers and at church luncheons. Really, this is a movie that’s as heavy metal as Air Supply. But that also makes for a breath of fresh air in its own right during a moment where most blockbusters are mired by globs of CGI sludge, and many high fantasy stories, on film and television, bear the weight of war and fratricide.

The Dungeons & Dragons movie, by design, eschews those flavors of bombast for something a little shaggier and a lot more winsome. By echoing the type of anachronistic medieval fantasy movies actually made in the ‘80s—your Princess Bride s and your Willow s instead of J.R.R. Tolkien or George R.R. Martin—the real magic at work here is a nonstop charm offensive.

Take Edgin, Chris Pine ’s quick-witted yet perpetually sweaty bard-turned-thief. When the film begins, we discover Edgin is not a particularly good minstrel or criminal, considering we pick up with him and sidekick Holga ( Michelle Rodriguez ) as they’re imprisoned in a snowy fortress on (just) charges of thievery. If this was a D&D character sheet, there wouldn’t necessarily be a lot to like about Edgin, but as played with a twinkle in his eye by Pine that never quite breaks the fourth wall, nor ever goes for the gravitas of the Royal Shakespeare Company, there is something effortlessly disarming about this Bard who can’t seem to get anything right.

Ad – content continues below

That same effect applies to the overall film. As with most modern blockbusters, the picture lives in a world populated by digital vistas and creatures like a fire-breathing dragon, yet there’s always a skewed twist. For instance, that fire-breathing dragon has a bit of a weight problem. It would love to devour our hapless heroes… alas it struggles getting even through the ancient mining doorway.

Edgin’s eventual crew of crooks is likewise struggling with their fair share of hangups: Justice Smith is Simon, a Sorcerer who lacks self-confidence; Sophia Lillis is Doric, a tiefling Druid who’s lost her tribe; and the aforementioned Holga… well, she’s a lonely Barbarian warrior who mostly resents being roped into Edgin’s harebrained schemes because it’s caused them to be separated from Edgin’s daughter (Chloe Coleman), whom Holga raised as her own.

It’s that last uncomfortable twist that facilitates the quest, with Edgin and Holga building a team to obtain a magical gizmo here, and a doohickey there, that will reunite them with the child. But often it’s an excuse for the group to get waylaid into crackerjack comedy bits, such as a scene where Simon briefly resurrects from a graveyard the corpses of an ancient battle—only these walking (or at least reclining) dead will stay alive long enough to answer just five questions. It sounds macabre but in effect it comes off a lot closer to Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First” routine, where it turns out the dead of a losing side of a battle have very limited perspectives as to what killed them.

Obviously the emphasis on comedy and a breezy, devil-may-care attitude positions Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves to be viewed as a piece with the Marvel Studios formula, which has come to dominate big budget spectacle movies for the last 10-15 years. And while that was clearly a guiding star when this project was developed, as actually realized by Daley and Goldstein, who previously directed Game Night (and had a hand in the script for Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming ), D&D plays more as an outright comedy instead of as a middle-of-the-road jack of all trades entertainment. In other words, you actually laugh here instead of smile as the next battle scene glazes over.

It’s to the film’s credit that Honor Among Thieves is unashamedly trying to keep the chuckles going throughout with its chubby dragons and bumbling cadavers. It’s also more visually pleasing than at least the last five years of MCU flicks because the directors and their cinematographer Barry Peterson take the time to make the thing look polished. Filmed on locations in Northern Ireland and Iceland, D&D doesn’t quite look like a Peter Jackson movie, but it does look like an actual film. The emphasis on practical effects in some of the creature designs also enhances the movie’s appeal and occasional belly laughs.

Two of the secret weapons of landing the loudest guffaws are Hugh Grant and Regé-Jean Page. Grant in particular steals the movie as Forge, a con man and scoundrel that reconfirms that the greatest rom-com star of the ‘90s and 2000s really wanted to play sniveling cads all along. While not the film’s ultimate antagonist, Forge is an overbearingly smarmy presence with a cheshire grin and constant self-promotional conviviality. It should be infuriating, and yet it is ingratiating as Grant walks away with the most giggles.

Bridgerton ’s Page also does well as Xenk, a Paladin who I am assured by actual D&D players is the most noble and holy class of knight in the roleplaying game. As someone who’s never actually played it though, I’m assuming this would make him your Aragorn or Eddard Stark. It would seem the Honor Among Thieves writers/directors agree, since Page’s Xenk essentially acts as a parody of those types: a knight so good and devout that he comes off as downright insufferable to Edgin. The scenes between Pine and Page hint at a buddy comedy that might’ve been in a different script, but even in the limited ensemble setting it’s still a highlight.

Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!

Alas, not all of the party benefits so well. As aforementioned, Honor Among Thieves is more of an outright comedy, and when the movie is focused squarely on the laughs it casts a beguiling spell. However, in its effort to tick every box, some of the dramatic beats fall flat, particularly near the end where plot twists will give most viewers the gift of prophecy, as you’ll know where things are headed 30-45 minutes before the characters do. Also not all members of the questing party are equally served, with the conflicts endured by Lillis and Smith’s characters feeling largely tacked on. Smith’s doubting Thomas arc is particularly unenviable when juxtaposed with a comedy-adventure setting where everyone else is allowed to just go with it.

However, these are smaller inconveniences in a journey that is wholly enjoyable and which seemed to leave everyone in the SXSW audience eager to go on it again with their own guilds at home. In a dark age of franchise beige, this movie’s splash of off-color magic really does make for a good game.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves premiered at SXSW on March 10 and opens wide on March 31.

3.5 out of 5

David Crow | @DCrowsNest

David Crow is the movies editor at Den of Geek. He has long been proud of his geek credentials. Raised on cinema classics that ranged from…

Things you buy through our links may earn  Vox Media  a commission.

The Key to Taking Dungeons & Dragons Seriously Is Not to Take It Seriously at All

I never played Dungeons & Dragons as a kid. Wait — scratch that. When I was around 11 years old, I was invited to a friend’s house to play D&D with him and his buddies, but I was so confused I barely made it through an hour. That’s right: I was too stupid to play Dungeons & Dragons .

Some of those old feelings of inadequacy returned as I watched Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves , the second attempt in the past 23 years to turn the popular fantasy role-playing game into a feature-film franchise. But this time, directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein seem willing to meet those of us who couldn’t care less about D&D (or who were traumatized by it as kids) halfway. They somehow manage to play to the base — their film is filled with medieval derring-do, unpronounceable fantasy-speak, and what I can only assume is a cornucopia of nerdtastic Easter eggs — while acknowledging the inherent ridiculousness and impenetrability of the concept.

Casting Chris Pine was certainly inspired, as he’s one of those leading men forever willing to poke fun at his very leading manness. (This is, after all, the actor who somehow ably replaced William Shatner in his most iconic role.) Maybe it’s just his destiny with that designed-in-a-lab face and politician-perfect hair of his. Here, he plays Edgin Darvis, a former member of the Harpers faction who used to defend all that was good and right but turned to thievery after losing his beloved wife. He and his barbarian partner, Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), have just escaped from prison, where they were serving a sentence for “grand larceny and skulduggery,” on the back of an enormous bird-human-hybrid member of their parole board. Other members of their team, which they assemble over the course of the movie, include a hapless, self-flagellating sorcerer, Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), and a very capable, confident tiefling druid (I am pretending to know what that means) named Doric (Sophia Lillis), who has had enough of humans and has joined the Emerald Enclave resistance movement.

Their quest involves tracking down Edgin’s former partner turned nemesis, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), a con man who has managed to finagle his way to power with the help of Sofina (Daisy Head), a powerful Red Wizard who is hiding as … a Blue Wizard? Anyway, not only has Forge taken Edgin’s daughter, but he also took from him something called the Tablet of Reawakening, which has the power to bring back one person from the dead. Edgin naturally wants to use it to resurrect his dear, departed wife.

Ordinarily, my eyes start to glaze over when modern movies become all about the retrieving of magical objects , but that’s largely because they seem to take these quests so damn seriously. (Not everyone can be Peter Jackson. Sometimes, not even Peter Jackson can be Peter Jackson .) Honor Among Thieves , by contrast, playfully piles on the items, which makes sense because, as I recall, Dungeons & Dragons the game is all about finding magical objects. So to retrieve the Tablet of Reawakening, our heroes have to defeat the Arcane Seal of Mordenkainen, and to do that they must obtain something called the Helmet of Disjunction, and along the way there are Hither Thither Staffs, invisibility pendants, anti-magic bracelets, and assorted spells and challenges. You can choose to reason out exactly how this stuff works, or you can just enjoy the pleasant delirium of fantasy-jargon overload and not worry too much that you have no idea who Szass Tam is.

That’s because Daley and Goldstein are comedians at heart and genuinely funny ones. Their delightful previous film, Game Night , was among the rare comedy hits of the past five years. Before that, they made the much-maligned Vacation reboot, an orgy of nonsensical, giggle-like-an-idiot belly laughs that may just be the most underrated American studio comedy since Freddy Got Fingered . With Honor Among Thieves , they’re working with a much bigger budget — an actual property with an existing fan base and a bevy of corporate expectations — and they know they will presumably get beheaded in public if it fails. Bravely and wisely, they still err on the side of humor at just about every turn. The film’s set pieces are built around comedy, with bits of (cleverly choreographed and directed) action and suspense to add some urgency, not the other way around. There’s more Monty Python in the DNA of Honor Among Thieves than one might expect, probably because there’s more overlap between Monty Python and Dungeons & Dragons fandoms than one might expect.

At the same time, Daley and Goldstein make sure never to undercut the actual story or the characters. If anything, the humor helps to up the suspense. When our heroes realize that to discover the location of the Helmet of Disjunction they have to use a spell that lets them ask five questions to a corpse, they dig up a grave and raise the dead soldier within. But they screw up the questioning, so they then have to dig up another corpse. That one turns out to have died before he could see what happened to the helmet, so they have to dig up another guy. That dude turns out to be the brother of the corpse they really wanted, and on and on it goes. By the end of it, we really want them to retrieve that damn helmet and to be able to use it. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is the work of filmmakers who understand that the best way to take stuff like this seriously is not to take it seriously at all, and to have fun with it. Other movies could learn from the example.

More Movie Reviews

• Anyone But You Has More Sex on Its Mind Than Your Average Rom-Com
• An Exploited Neighborhood, Seen Through Children’s Eyes
• Challengers Is Almost a Sexy Movie
• vulture homepage lede
• movie review
• dungeons & dragons: honor among thieves
• jonathan goldstein and john francis daley
• michelle rodriguez
• sophia lillis
• rege-jean page

Most Viewed Stories

• A Tennis Dummy’s Guide to the Ending of Challengers
• The 10 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend
• Is Zendaya the Leading Lady We’ve Been Looking for?
• Richie Sambora Apologizes to Everyone
• Cinematrix No. 45: April 26, 2024
• Colin Jost’s Best Jokes at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Editor’s Picks

Most Popular

What is your email.

This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us.

Sign In To Continue Reading

Create your free account.

Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:

• Lower case letters (a-z)
• Upper case letters (A-Z)
• Numbers (0-9)
• Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)

As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York , which you can opt out of anytime.

clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

The new ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ film mostly captures the game’s magic

'honor among thieves’ comes with a lot of d&d baggage, but the fantasy adventure is fun enough for even non-players to enjoy.

With the popular resurgence of the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, it was only a matter of time before a movie studio got hold of it. I mean another movie studio. Yes, there was a trilogy in the 2000s, with Part 2 made for TV and Part 3 going straight to video. But no, they have nothing to do with the new “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” which features a new all-star cast and better succeeds in selling the D&D experience to a wider audience than die-hard players.

How Dungeons & Dragons somehow became more popular than ever

Here’s the backstory, which unspools during a parole board hearing that opens the film: Chris Pine plays Edgin Darvis — or Ed, as he is known — a virtuosic thief who, with friends Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), Simon (Justice Smith) and Forge (Hugh Grant), had teamed up with the wizard Sofina (Daisy Head) to rob a vault full of riches, including a magical tablet that would allow Ed to resurrect his dead wife. Are you with me so far?

Unfortunately, Ed and Holga have been captured by government goons, with Ed forced to leave his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) in the custody of Forge, whose partnership with Sofina has endowed him with a dangerous amount of power and wealth. (Yes, Forge is now a bad guy.)

Long story short: Ed and Holga escape and, realizing the danger Kira is in, get together with Simon and two new comrades (Sophia Lillis and Regé-Jean Page) to save Kira from Forge’s clutches — and save the realm in which they reside from Sofina’s growing malevolent influence.

It’s a lot. If you thought “ Dune ” came with tons of baggage, you ain’t seen nothing. Think of it this way: as the story of a father working to save his daughter and become worthy of her love through heists and trickery.

Based on the gaming storyline known as the Forgotten Realms campaign, “Honor Among Thieves” is packed with D&D lore: Thayans, Red Wizards, Harpers, the Underdark and a host of other locations, creatures and backstories, all of which bog down the film. The extra flavor, which does feel very Dungeons & Dragons-y, doesn’t add much to the charm of the story.

Once you wade through the setup, the film actually has a low barrier of entry. Everything you need to know about the world you’re about to enter is laid out in exposition, though you may want to take notes.

The film captures the magic of playing Dungeons & Dragons without all the pesky reading that comes with it. The same unpredictability that allows the tabletop game to feel exciting and real occurs throughout the film, making it stand out from its action-comedy counterparts. Spells fail, characters make stupid mistakes and terrifying creatures appear out of thin air.

Take Ed and Holga’s daring escape in the film’s first act, in which they take flight from a prison tower on the back of an unwitting parole board judge. As they fling themselves from the window, the announcement comes that they’ve been granted probation. Oh, well. Their pointless escape will come back to bite them later.

As you might expect, monsters are a crucial element of D&D, but the CGI renders them with varying degrees of verisimilitude. Some of the creatures look real enough to jump off the screen. Others evoke the green-screen capabilities of a Zoom background.

Co-directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (so good as Sweets in the now-canceled Fox series “Bones”), both of whom co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Gilio, the film bears the stamp of its creators, who, in various combinations, have collaborated on such comedies as “ Game Night ” and “ Vacation ” and the Marvel film “ Spider-Man: Homecoming .” Their talents are strewn throughout the film, with dialogue packed with jokes that often find their mark. This might also be attributed to Pine, who is simply too charming for words.

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” bottles the spirit of the game in the flask of a fantasy adventure even if it fails to reinvent the wheel. Will it become a blockbuster? Put it this way: All of my long-standing D&D gaming pals have already bought tickets.

PG-13. At area theaters. Contains fantasy action and violence and some strong language. 134 minutes.

• Stranger Things Season 5
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• The Batman 2
• Spider-Man 4
• Yellowstone Season 6
• Fallout Season 2
• Entertainment

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves review: a breath of fresh air

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves isn't quite as polished as one would like, but it still emerges as a fun and immensely entertaining fantasy blockbuster.”

• A likable cast of heroes
• A clever and entertaining screenplay
• Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley's lively, visually inventive direction
• Rough visual effects throughout
• Some comedic and emotional moments don't land as well as others

The opening moments of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves  feel intentionally designed to call to mind the infamously brutal cold open of Game of Thrones . As an imposing orc is escorted through a cold blizzard in the film’s prologue, it’s easy to imagine a reality where Honor Among Thieves was just yet another somber fantasy adventure in the same vein as Thrones or even, to a lesser extent, Lord of the Rings . Thankfully, the film pivots as far away as it can from the somber brutalism of those two properties.

It isn’t long after the aforementioned orc prisoner is introduced for the first time that he is summarily beaten up in truly screwball fashion by the film’s actual leads, the endlessly optimistic Edgin (Chris Pine) and the tough but kind-hearted Holga (Michelle Rodriguez). Moments later, Pine’s Edgin launches into a voice-over narration that winkingly and efficiently explains exactly how he and Rodriguez’s Holga ended up in their frostbitten prison in the first place. For their next trick, Honor Among Thieves directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley wrap up Edgin’s knowingly exposition-heavy monologue with a twist that pays off the scene’s central running joke in unexpected fashion.

• 3 action movies on Prime Video you need to watch in September
• New Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves preview enters a dangerous maze
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves trailer debuts at SDCC 2022

As far as openings go, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves ’ effectively establishes the tongue-in-cheek, lighthearted tone that separates it from so many of the other, suffocatingly serious Hollywood blockbusters moviegoers see nowadays. However, while Goldstein and Daley’s ability to seamlessly blend their outrageous sense of humor with the film’s fantasy setting would be reason enough to recommend Honor Among Thieves , what’s even more impressive is how the duo does so while also imbuing their latest directorial effort with more genuine heart and sincerity than most viewers will likely see coming.

Coming off their underrated 2018 studio outing, Game Night , Daley and Goldstein have returned with another star-studded studio comedy that’s light, punchy, and — above all else — immensely fun. Much like Game Night , Daley and Goldstein’s latest film revolves around a cast of conflicting and complimentary personalities. At the center of the film are Edgin and Holga, two misfits who bonded together years before to help raise Edgin’s young daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman). When Honor Among Thieves first catches up with them, the pair is carrying out a multi-year prison sentence for their participation in a heist that they attempted to carry out with their former band of thieves.

After Holga and Edgin break free from their shared imprisonment, they immediately seek out Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), a con man who made it out of their failed heist and swore to take care of Kira. When they find him, Edgin and Holga discover that Forge has not only risen up in society’s ranks and become a lord but he’s also been steadily turning Kira against her former guardians. With the help of a nefarious wizard named Sofina (Daisy Head), Forge sends Edgin and Holga away. In doing so, he ignites a desire within Edgin and Holga to both win Kira back and steal all of Forge’s riches.

To pull off their task, Edgin and Holga reunite with another member of their former band of thieves, an insecure and bumbling sorcerer named Simon (Justice Smith), who helps them recruit Doric (Sophia Lillis), a powerful shapeshifter. Along the way, the group of misfit heroes also crosses paths with Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page), a charming and immortal paladin, who helps them retrieve a powerful magical artifact from a hellish underground world known as “The Underdark.” Together, the heroes form a group that, like most D&D adventuring parties, feels both familiar and specific.

As convoluted and relentlessly knotty as its plot is, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves speeds through its adventure at a fast pace that doesn’t ever let the film become too bogged down in the weeds of its own world-building or lore. Despite featuring more than its fair share of Easter eggs, Honor Among Thieves never feels weighed down by the legacy of its name brand, or by the fact that it is just Hollywood’s latest attempt to capitalize on the success of Dungeons & Dragons . The film doesn’t, by any means, hide its potential franchise ambitions, but it also doesn’t let the weight of its IP origins distract it from the most important aspects of its story.

While Honor Among Thieves never quite captures the true absurdity or chaos that can occur during a D&D game, either, the film does an effective job at forcing its characters — particularly Pine’s Edgin — to constantly rethink their plans and improvise. The film’s third act is a series of improvisations and backup plans concocted by its heroes every time one of their efforts to best Grant’s Forge go awry. The film’s clunky batch of fantasy character names, meanwhile, only makes its D&D roots feel that much more palpable (“Edgin” feels precisely like the type of name that would come from the fantasy word generators D&D players frequently use).

More than anything, Daley and Goldstein’s hyper, character-driven approach to Honor Among Thieves ’ story ensures that the film never feels too weighty or massive for its own good. Like all Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, the film’s ultimate purpose is to entertain. It’s to Daley and Goldstein’s credit that the film pulls that off as well as it does, especially in spite of the bad visual effects that inevitably drag down some of Honor Among Thieves ’ biggest and boldest set pieces. Fortunately, there are a handful of sequences throughout the film that are as visually polished as they are well-constructed — namely, the Xenk-led excursion into the Underdark that helps cap off its second act.

On-screen, Honor Among Thieves ’ crew of main and supporting players all fill their roles well. Pine and Grant are their usual, reliably charismatic selves, and prove to be capable of both having fun with Honor Among Thieves ’ fantasy genre roots and treating their characters’ emotional journeys with enough sincerity to ensure that they land. Rodriguez, meanwhile, shines in a role that lets her be as ferocious and formidable as audiences expect, but also softer and more emotionally vulnerable than she’s typically allowed to be. Her work here serves as yet another reminder of how good Rodriguez can be when she’s not stuck working within the formulaic franchise machinery of the Fast and Furious series.

Elsewhere, neither Smith nor Lillis shines quite as brightly as their co-stars, though, that’s largely due to the constraints of Michael Gilio, Goldstein, and Daley’s screenplay. Simon’s journey toward self-confidence, consequently, doesn’t feel as fleshed out as some of Honor Among Thieves ’ other, more emotionally resonant arcs, including Edgin’s gradual, bittersweet realization of his failures as a father. Page, for his part, fulfills the requirements of his role as the charming, aloof Xenk with an ease that makes it easy to remember why the actor caused such a stir just a few years ago.

Whether the film’s characters will ever get the chance to return for a sequel or not, Daley and Goldstein’s latest directorial effort stands on its own. Honor Among Thieves is the kind of increasingly rare Hollywood contemporary blockbuster that prioritizes its characters over everything else — sometimes to its own, visual detriment. At its best, the film manages to capture the same sense of fun and infectious camaraderie that was once a core component of the fantasy genre. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves doesn’t just bring friendship back to the genre, though. It also reminds viewers why it became such an essential part of fantasy stories in the first place.

The film proves that even the most seemingly mercenary of brand cash-ins can emerge as worthwhile and memorable stories — so long as they’re told with equal amounts of heart and charm.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves hits theaters on March 31. For a detailed explanation about the film’s ending, please read Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ ending, explained .

Editors' Recommendations

• 3 underrated 2023 movies on Paramount+ you need to watch in 2024
• Baldur’s Gate 3 fans should watch Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Here’s why
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves cast on turning a bunch of misfits into heroes
• Product Reviews

As you've probably noticed, this is the last weekend of April. That means Hulu is about to lose some of its best movies before the new titles arrive May 1. And while we've already shared five great movies leaving Hulu at the end of April, those aren't the only terrific titles going out the door.

That's why this week's picks for the three Hulu movies that you need to stream this weekend are off the beaten path from the films we've previously chosen for April. We've picked out a historical drama, a romantic dramedy, and a remix of a classic Charles Dickens story. But since these movies are only around until April 30, you should catch these flicks before they go off to some other streamer. The Last Duel (2021)

• Audio / Video

So you're a fan of excellent Apple TV+ shows such as Severance, Ted Lasso, Palm Royale, and Silo, but on the hardware side of things, you're more of a Chromecast or Google TV kinda guy, and that's fine.

Whether you have a Chromecast dongle device, such as a Chromecast or Chromecast Ultra, or even the newer Chromecast with Google TV, or perhaps you have a smart TV or projector with Google TV or Chromecast built-in, rest assured you can watch all your Apple TV+ movies and shows without having to get an Apple TV set-top box. Here’s what you need and what to do!

Fallout has proven to be one of the bigger hits in Amazon Prime Video's existence, and it's also one of the most anticipated shows the streaming service has to offer this year. The series, which is loosely adapted from the popular video game franchise, stars Ella Purnell as a newly invented character who has to set off on a quest that will take her to the surface of a postapocalyptic version of Earth.

If you watched Fallout and found yourself intrigued by Purnell, in particular, then you're in luck. She's still a relatively new face in Hollywood, but she's starred in a number of projects in recent years, many of which have required her to hide her British accent. These are three you should definitely check out if you're a big Purnell fan. Yellowjackets (2021-) Yellowjackets (2021) Official Trailer #2 | SHOWTIME

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves Review

31 Mar 2023

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

The last attempt at a Dungeons & Dragons adaptation was a disaster to make you wish they’d lock the dragons in the dungeon and throw away the key. But this new effort comes courtesy of Game Night ’s John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein , and establishes them as the go-to team for any attempt to make a board-game related movie. If this is not quite as consistently hilarious as their last effort, it’s still just as much fun as a weekend D&D session and doesn’t require any complicated dice. Minute one establishes that we’re in a fantasy land, as a heavily armoured cart delivers a monstrous prisoner to an Orthanc-looking tower. Any sense of foreboding, however, doesn’t last long. This is a fantasy made by people who have seen Shrek , so that each time you’re presented with a looming fortress, hand-drawn map or tragic backstory, someone will undermine the moment with a quip, or Lorne Balfe’s score will deliver a witty Lord Of The Rings parody to poke fun at whatever is happening.

That knowingness is necessary because, almost by definition, a Dungeons & Dragons film must look like a pretty generic fantasy world. Call it John Carter syndrome, but when you’ve influenced almost everything that follows, it’s difficult to stand out. There have to be taverns, caverns, robed baddies and leather-clad heroes: all the tropes. Daley and Goldstein still pepper in visual innovation, filling the world with bird people, halflings that manage not to look like hobbits and the odd person who happens to have a cat head. Even their dragons — and the film does technically deliver multiple dragons and dungeons — are a wry take on the familiar terrors. But it was never going to be the visuals that distinguished this one: its success all comes down to the plot, the characters and the gags.

It turns out that there is a serious core to this story after all, one that serves as a really lovely tribute to the game.

That’s because, beneath the fantasy trappings, this is a heist movie, a group quest in the best traditions of the game. Ex-cons Edgin ( Chris Pine ) and Holga ( Michelle Rodriguez ), a bard and a barbarian respectively, set out to steal a treasure for commendably sympathetic reasons. They must find a way past smarmy con man Forge ( Hugh Grant , living his Phoenix Buchanan best life) and evil sorceress Sophina (Daisy Head, genuinely unnerving).

Against these formidable foes, Edgin and Holga recruit Justice Smith ’s insecure sorceror Simon, who’s charmingly hapless, and Sophia Lillis ’ idealistic shapeshifter Doric. The pair are a pleasant contrast to the breezily confident Edgin, Pine dialling the charisma to maximum and the effort to near-zero. Pine in blockbuster mode might be the most consistently fun of the Chrises — here mixing Captain Kirk’s insouciance with Steve Trevor’s mission focus. He’s paired beautifully with his glowering, platonic life-partner Holga, Rodriguez playing much the same character she does in the Fast films: all stoicism and physical strength, but really shining here as a comedy foil as well as a bone-crunching physical force.

This Ocean’s quartet becomes a quasi-family, and the film gives them room for eccentric and bickering growth. On the plot-front, however, it does get occasionally bogged down in side quests while our heroes seek the Noun Of Whatsit to break into the Fortified Location Of Wherever. But just as it all threatens to get lost in the fantasy weeds, Regé-Jean Page turns up with a scene-stealing turn as an outrageously perfect paladin. His tragic hero has no sense of humour whatsoever, and, like a more chiselled Drax, that utter lack of irony serves to make everyone else seem ten times funnier. He also gets some cool bits with a sword, before his shining morality prods Edgin to (reluctantly) become a very fractionally better man.

From there, everything proceeds exactly as it should. There are no big surprises in the last act, but there’s some of the film’s best comedy, and a bit where Chris Pine goes a-wassailing with a lute. The action climax packs in references to favourite bits of game play and even some visual nods to its players. And then they hit you with an emotional whammy. It turns out that there is a serious core to this story after all, one that serves as a really lovely tribute to the game. Our heroes — all outsiders, rejects and self-perceived failures — ultimately gain strength, acceptance and friendship in the found family that they build together. As the adaptation of a game that helped generations of socially awkward teens to find their tribes and their confidence, that’s a beautiful note to hit.

Related Articles

Movies | 12 07 2023

Movies | 10 05 2023

Movies | 31 03 2023

Movies | 15 02 2023

Movies | 13 02 2023

Movies | 23 01 2023

• Discount Codes

Aunty Donna to voice corpses in new ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ movie: “How did we land this role? I know Chris Pine”

Watch a new trailer for ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ and read on for Aunty Donna’s dubious stories about their celebrity connections and controversial opinions on The Strokes

Aunty Donna have delved into many mediums – stage shows, albums, children’s books – and now they’ve added dubbing to that list. The absurdist Melbourne sketch trio have today been announced as the voices of three corpses in the Australian release of the new fantasy film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves .

• READ MORE: Aunty Donna: “We got started because we all realised that acting is not a real job”

The film has a star-studded cast, including Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith and Hugh Grant. Directed by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley (the latter of Freaks n’ Geeks fame), it’s set to bring the world of the roleplaying game of the same name to life with a lighthearted touch. A brand new trailer is out today ahead of its exclusive cinema release on March 30 – watch it above.

Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane of Aunty Donna play Corpse #1, Toke Horgath and Sven Salafin respectively. The heroes of the film chance upon them while looking for an ancient relic. The corpses harbour relevant information about the whereabouts of the relic, having been present at an ancient battle where it was lost.

The protagonists are able to revive them to ask them five questions before they die again. Although they bear no physical resemblance, you can faintly hear the twang of the wacky Melburnians under the cobwebs. None of the corpses prove particularly helpful, though, as their perspective on the ancient battle is unfortunately limited by their lack of involvement and untimely deaths.

NME spoke to the Aunty Donna boys in the whirlwind of a Hollywood press junket, an unfamiliarly distinguished setting for them. But it didn’t mean that they took the interview any more seriously.

“How did we land this role? I know Chris Pine,” Ruane says. “I knew he was shooting the film and I said, ‘Chris, would you up be for getting us a part?’…And you know, Chris always comes through.”

“And I know Michelle Rodriguez through…” Kelly adds.

“Through Chris!” Ruane interjects.

“Yes, through Chris, who I don’t know,” Kelly says.

“Because Chris and Michelle were doing this, I introduced Michelle to Broden,” Ruane says.

“I call Michelle Mrs Fast Cars because of her other film work ,” Kelly says. “I said ‘Mrs. Fast Cars, can we be in the movie?’ And she said, ‘I think Zach’s talking to Chris’.”

Bonnano, the last to speak, adds: “And I know Broden. And I met Broden through Justice Smith, I believe.”

The trio are actually trained actors, meeting at the University of Ballarat. But the group chose comedy after finding independent theatre a futile pursuit. In 2020, the trio hit the big time with Netflix series Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun , and this year will launch an ABC series about running a cafe in a Melbourne laneway.

Before that, though: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves . Ruane claims they practised dying in the style of the 1990 American psychological horror film Flatliners .“We said to the Paramount publicity team, can you organise it? They wanted to record the dub one week, and we asked to push it back so we could flatline. They said, ‘that’s not really necessary’, but we said we’d just like to Flatliners .”

Although Aunty Donna are in just one scene, the recording was more gruelling than expected. The local voiceover director had an issue with Ruane’s particular attempt at a British accent.

“He had a problem with how I said no, because Australians…we say naoooohh,” he says. “He kept being like, you’re saying it too Australian and I didn’t know how to not. And it was just take after take of me going like n-, n-. N-, n-ooooooo.”

“Thank god I only had to say yes. Otherwise we would have been there for a year,” Bonnano says. “I had a mild psychotic episode, listening to you, because I was like he’s doing it, he’s doing it!”

Much of the interview is derailed by the trio’s attempt to tailor their answers to what they believe the NME audience exclusively wants to read about – music.

“This is a music magazine, right? Do you not want to talk about the lute?” Bonnano asks.

“Chris Pine’s character is a bard, and he plays on the lute,” Ruane explains.

“It might not be a lute,” Bonnano says.

“It’s a stringed instrument, at least,” Kelly says.

“I just want to say if you like music, you’re gonna love this film,” Ruane says. “Because a lot of people reading NME probably think ‘I’m just a guitar man, I’m just a guitar gal. I’m not going to be interested in this film, I’ve never played Dungeons and Dragons ’. But here’s the great thing about this film: it’s an adventure, it’s a romp, and it really is for everyone.”

Kelly interjects: “To quote Biggie Smalls , ‘ Gimme the loot, gimme the loot .””

“Is he talking about a L-U-T-E? It’s unknown. Some things are better left unknown, but not the plot of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves , which you should find out by seeing it at the movies,” Bonnano says.

“March 30,” Ruane adds.

Asked what they’d like to dub next, Ruane tries again to play to type.

“I would love to dub all of Julian Casablancas’ vocal tracks on ‘ Is This It ’,” he says.

“For me, ‘ The New Abnormal ’, I think, is their magnum opus,” Bonnano adds.

Kelly says he would like to redub all of his lines in their upcoming ABC TV show, Coffee Cafe – something he claims will cost the broadcaster $90,000, plugging the program in the only way he knows how. “They don’t have a choice.”

As NME’s time with Aunty Donna ends, the trio think they’re off the line and immediately start workshopping their material to refine it for the next interviewer.

“The answer to every question should be about the lute,” Bonnano grumbles.

• Related Topics
• Aunty Donna

You May Also Like

Good neighbours live in london: tiktok stars spin obvious influences into heartfelt anthems, pet shop boys – ‘nonetheless’ review: still setting pop’s benchmark, steven knight on ‘this town’ and his big-budget ‘peaky blinders’ movie, the party never sleeps: fat dog unleashed in america, ‘sand land’ review: a charming adaptation of akira toriyama’s legendary manga.

• Action/Adventure
• Children's/Family
• Documentary/Reality
• Amazon Prime Video

More From Decider

Sydney Sweeney Sings “Unwritten” Into Glen Powell’s Butt in Iconic...

Holly Madison Calls Bob Guccione A "Horrible Person" For Publishing...

'9-1-1's Oliver Stark Says Season 7 Fan Response Is "A Beautiful Reminder"...

'Deal Or No Deal Island' Star Rob Mariano Says There's "No Masterminds" In...

Jennifer Lopez Sets The Record Straight On 'The View' After Alyssa Farah...

Bill Maher Compares Nickelodeon To Neverland Ranch After Watching 'Quiet...

Woody Allen in Exile: 'Coup De Chance' Finally Arrives On Streaming, Where...

Donald Trump Once Invited 'The View's Joy Behar To Be On 'The Apprentice'...

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to copy URL

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ on Prime Video, Where You Don’t Need to be a Dweeb to Enjoy This Relentlessly Funny Fantasy Lark

Where to stream:, dungeons & dragons.

• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Damsel’ on Netflix, a Neo-Femme Fantasy Pitting Millie Bobby Brown Against a Dragon

Paramount+ black friday deal 2023: sign up now for under $2 per month, best prime day board game deals to shop before amazon’s october sale ends, new shows & movies to watch this weekend: netflix’s ‘you are so not invited to my bat mitzvah’ + more.

From the Somewhat Gently Taking the Piss Dept. comes Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (streaming for Prime Video subscribers starting on Friday, August 24, 2023), a goofball fantasy lark based on the wildly popular 1980s role-playing game that helped fuel a goodly portion of the Satanic Panic. Those of us who found the frenzy laughable back then have something new to laugh at, since this film DARES to take the poker-faced swords-and-sorcery genre and sully it with comedy and a less stifling tone and narrative approach. That, courtesy of a star-studded cast led by Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez, and directors/co-writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, whose 2018 outing Game Night made us not only laugh our fool heads off, but raise an eyebrow at their considerable visual versatility. The filmmakers applied their spirited dynamic to D&D: HAT , turning out one of the more surprisingly enjoyable genre outings in recent memory – so enjoyable, you may yearn for a movie-watching future with less Incredible Hulk and more umber hulks. 

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Edgin (Pine) is a Harper, whatever that is. There’s a running joke in the movie about his only skill being “making plans,” but he also can play the lute, the former being more helpful for his adventures in thievery with his crew of warriors and sorcerers and shapeshifters, and the latter being good for the occasional joke. Anyway, I looked it up, and within D&D lore, Harpers are noble types, notable in the context of Edgin’s character because he no longer is particularly noble. Maybe you deduced that when I used the words “adventures in thievery” a couple sentences ago. He changed his ways after evil wizards killed his wife, leaving him to single-dad his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman); he eventually befriended the barbarian asskicker Holga (Rodriguez), and the two of them wholly platonically raise Kira while leading a small group of likeminded rogues on not-so-morally-upstanding endeavors. 

It was during one of those endeavors that Edgin obtained the Tablet of Reawakening, which he wanted to use to bring his wife and Kira’s mom back from the dead. But one adventure in thievery went to shit, landing Edgin and Holga in a miserable prison citadel in the middle of a wintry Siberia-esque hellscape. But they escape to Neverwinter, where they learn that former colleagues Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant) and creepy-ass wizard Sofina (Daisy Head) now rule the place, and are also evil, having taken Kira in and convinced her that her dad’s a crumb. Forge has Edgin and Holga tied up and just as they’re about to be beheaded Holga breaks her bonds and breaks some heads while Edgin takes forever just to figure out a way to escape his rope bondage. That’s the thing – he’s the brains, sort of, and she’s the brawn, although she also has some brains, and Edgin’s therefore frequently justifying his usefulness around here: “I make plans!” he frequently reminds everyone. 

Right, “everyone”: They include a couple of pals in Simon (Justice Smith), an elf-eared sorcerer whose insecurities render his powers less powerful, and Doric ( It breakout star Sophia Lillis), a goat-horned druid who can shapeshift into animals, e.g., a snake, a mouse, a deer, an owlbear. They’re committed to helping Edgin and Holga reclaim Kira and her loyalty, and acquire the Tablet of Reawakening, and maybe snatch all of the riches the weaselly Forge keeps beneath his castle. Easier said than done – it’s not like they can just bum-rush Forge, because he has many faceless knights at his disposal, and Sofia is very powerful and apparently has tapped into some freaky occult shit. And so our heroes-who-are-almost-antiheroes must journey to and fro across the land, meeting allies like Xenk ( Bridgerton ’s Rege-Jean Page) – notably a pompous guy who’s very serious like he’s been dropped in from a very serious fantasy movie, which makes him very funny within this not very serious fantasy movie – and chasing down this thing that will help them acquire another thing, and then using the power of the another thing to get yet another thing, and so on. You know how this type of stuff works. It’s always convoluted, these quests, so very convoluted.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: D&D: HAT exists in the space between the serious fantasy of Lord of the Rings and a spoofy misfire like Your Highness – think the tricky space in-between, where The Princess Bride and Galaxy Quest found a way to be simultaneously funny and fantastical. It also vastly improves upon previous D&D outings, of which there are three, beginning with the forgettable 2000 Dungeons & Dragons movie (starring Jeremy Irons, of all people), which inspired a trilogy rounded out with two direct-to-video junkheaps that I didn’t realize existed. 

Performance Worth Watching: The film’s effectiveness hinges on the chemistry of Pine (who’s witty without engaging in snark) and Rodriguez (whose furrowed-brow tone and expression are a shade away from winking camp). They have a strong script to work with, and come off effortlessly funny. 

Memorable Dialogue: The movie is full of snappy little exchanges like this, when Edgin and Holga arrive at a somber graveyard for warriors who died in battle, hoping to exhume and revive corpses to get information on one the whereabouts of one the film’s many MacGuffins:

Holga: I always imagined I’d be buried in sacred ground like this. Edgin: Anyone got a shovel?

Sex and Skin: None.

Our Take: As D&D: HAT indulges the use of a Pendant of Invisibility and other implements consisting of one word followed by an “of” followed by another word, I get out my Pen of Critical Inquiry to praise the movie’s abundant entertainment value. There are no delusions of grandeur here, no political allegories, no attempts to enlighten us to the frailties of the human condition. Nope, it’s popcorn japery in fine form: Swords against sorcery, sorcery against monsters, monsters against swords, and around and around, while the charismatic cast slam-bangs the consistently amusing setup/one-liner dialogue and the filmmakers employ clever visual techniques to keep the laughter on track while the characters are too busy fighting and scampering to be talking. Sure, some of the lengthy pseudo-tracking shots are the product of digital trickery, but somebody had to conceptualize and compose them, understanding that, if executed correctly, they’d capture and enhance the sense of rollicking fun that is the movie’s goal. ( Game Night benefitted from similarly creative flourishes.)

The aforementioned fodder is plenty to keep crossover audiences entertained. Plenty . To appreciate it, one needn’t have spent hours and hours in a dim-lit pit pouring Mountain Dew over your Smurfberry Crunch with a half-dozen fellow dweebs, tossing 20-sided dice during endless D&D campaigns – but it doesn’t hurt. The action and multi-tiered-quest structure mirror the game play nicely, or so I’ve read; I wouldn’t know for sure. And of course the film is full of inside jokes and sly references waiting to be gobbled up by experienced Dungeon Masters everywhere (it’s set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, if that means anything to you), but you’ll appreciate the inherent comedy of a hungry gelatinous cube regardless of whether you’ve “fought” one before as a paladin-on-paper bearing a bastard sword and a concerningly dwindling number of hit points. The source material is just an opportunity for more jokes, and more jokes is always OK. A movie like this can’t have enough jokes. Think of all the movies you’ve endured that didn’t have nearly enough jokes! They’re terrible, while this one is very clearly not. 

We could gripe about some aspects of the film – its tendency toward CGI overkill for sure, an overreliance on flashbacks, maybe, or not giving Hugh Grant quite enough opportunities to be a cheeky smarmy shithead, perhaps. But then I think of all the jokes, like the one in which the Xenk character is so heroic he’s a humorless buzzkill who wouldn’t recognize irony if it was a shambling mound wrapping a vine around his neck and squeezing. Or the one about the walking-brain creatures who only attack intelligent beings, and therefore don’t attack any of the principal characters. The film also doles out smidgens of earnest emotion like pudding cups at a slumber party, lest it cease to have any dramatic weight whatsoever. Not that we’d ever take any of this seriously; Lord of the Rings really shouldn’t be taken seriously, but at least D&D: HAT gives us plenty of excuses not to. Plenty.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is silly, but only as silly as it needs to be. 

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

• Prime Video
• Stream It Or Skip It

'9-1-1's Oliver Stark Says Season 7 Fan Response Is "A Beautiful Reminder" Of The Show's Cultural Impact

Is 'Grey's Anatomy' New Tonight? Here's When The Next Episode of 'Grey's Anatomy' Is On ABC And Hulu 

Is 'One Chicago' Back Tonight? When Will 'Chicago Med,' 'Chicago Fire,' And 'Chicago P.D.' Return To NBC With New Episodes?

'Deal Or No Deal Island' Star Rob Mariano Says There's "No Masterminds" In The Night Owls Alliance: "They're Just Birds"

Sydney Sweeney Sings “Unwritten” Into Glen Powell’s Butt in Iconic ‘Anyone But You’ Credits Scene

‘Anyone But You’s Big Sex Scene Finds Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell Steaming Up a Shower

What to Expect From One Dungeons and Dragon's 2024 Player Handbook

The next big update to D&D's rules will involve a revision of its three core books, with major changes coming to the Player's Handbook.

• D&D's 2024 update will include small rule changes like Exhaustion rework & new actions like Study and Magic.
• Efforts to bridge the Martial-Caster gap include weapon masteries for martials, buffs to rogue, & revised monk class.
• The revised PHB in 2024 will address sensitive issues by changing terminology from 'race' to 'species' and removing bioessentialist lore.

A major rules update is on the way for the fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons , one that looks to be codifying all the minor evolutions the system has seen over the decade. In addition, this update will come with some big changes to Dungeons and Dragons in response to fan critiques.

This update to D&D 's rules will come with a new release of the game's three core books. The most important of these, the Player's Handbook , will be released in late 2024. The rest of D&D 's new rulebooks will also arrive soon , with the remastered Dungeon Master's Guide coming in late 2024 and the revised Monster Manual reaching fans in early 2025. All three books will be taking on some key changes, which have been clarified across OneD&D playtests, interviews, statements, and declarations at Wizards of the Coast's 2023 Creator Summit. Fans can also look at the changes made in recent sourcebooks and adventure modules for clues to further changes.

Hasbro Has More Dungeons and Dragons Video Games Planned

What d&d fans can expect from 2024's updated player's handbook, a variety of small rule changes.

There are many things that could be tweaked about D&D 5e , and the upcoming PHB is looking to provide. The current playtests have confirmed multiple small-scale rule changes, such as the Exhaustion mechanic—which was reworked in the OneD&D playtest to be more consistent. Assuming the most recent playtest materials hold up, the 2024 PHB will also confirm that players can voluntarily fail saving throws, introduce new actions like Study, Search, Magic and Influence, bring about the Dazed condition, and much more.

Attempts To Bridge The Martial-Caster Divide

Fans who are into the weeds of 5e's design will have heard of the divide between D&D 's martials and casters . This describes the idea that martials (barbarians, fighters, monks, and rogues) are far less powerful than casters (bards, clerics, wizards, etc.), sporting far fewer options given their lack of spellcasting. There are multiple ways that the existing playtest material for the 2024 PHB has tried to bridge this gap, with the most notable being weapon masteries. Weapon masteries are traits that allow martial characters extra bonuses when they attack—such as AOE damage, moving enemies, or imposing disadvantage.

Of course, with reworks to all classes comes buffs to many martials. Players have voiced approval for the new rogue which, in addition to receiving weapon masteries, will be able to spend sneak attack damage dice on debuffs by level 5. The real star of the show, however, is D&D 2024's revised monk . One of 5e's weaker classes, the monk is finally getting the boost it deserves. From more efficient abilities that cost less to use, to the ability to regain resources when inititiative is rolled, to more utility from class abilities like Deflect Attack, the new monk will be a gamechanger if it sticks to what's been laid out in its UA.

No Artificer

Jeremy Crawford, the lead rules designer for WOTC, has confirmed that the artificer will not be one of the core classes coming with the revised PHB . This is something of a missed opportunity, especially considering how few new classes have come out for D&D in recent years, with the artificer being the only non- PHB class to officially release for 5e. Still, fans can find many third-party classes on sites like DMsguild and through independent publishers like Ghostfire Games and MCDM.

Sensitivity Changes

The 2024 PHB will be taking steps to address some problematic aspects of D&D , notably by switching the term 'race' to 'species' and separating ability score bonuses from species. The fantasy humanoids fans play as don't really fit the term 'race', and the use of coding in their cultures while designating some as wholly 'evil' is arguably colonialist. In addition to removing bioessentialist lore and mechanics, monks will see their Ki points renamed to 'discipline points' in an effort to prevent the exoticization of Asian cultures.

Dungeons and Dragons

Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.

Screen Rant

Realistic elden ring melina cosplay is just in time for the shadow of the erdtree dlc.

A beautiful Melina cosplay reminds Elden Ring players just how important she is to the story right before the release of the Shadow of Erdtree DLC.

• An Elden Ring fan's Melina cosplay impresses with attention to detail and scene-setting skills, capturing the character perfectly.
• Melina is a crucial part of the Elden Ring journey, with her influence pivotal in reaching game endings.
• Anticipation grows for the upcoming Elden Ring DLC, which may provide answers to lingering mysteries surrounding Melina.

An Elden Ring cosplayer perfectly captures a realistic version of the mysterious guide, Melina, and times it well with the release of the upcoming DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree . FromSoftware's latest Soulsborne RPG released in 2022 and continues to garner attention and intrigue new players, especially with a new DLC coming soon. Players are hoping Shadow of Erdtree can answer longstanding Elden Ring mysteries , with one of these mysteries revolving around the maiden guide, Melina.

Cosplayer LeAtlass shared their impressive Melina cosplay with the world via Reddit, showing off their attention to detail and scene-setting skills. The cloak, dress, and wig come together to make LeAtlass look identical to Melina from the game, making it feel as though she stepped straight out of a scene and into real life. LeAtlass also made sure to have Melina's scarred and tattooed eye.

Many comments joked about staying away from their trees because of the inclusion of a realistic fire being cast in the picture. Another look at LeAtlass ' cosplay shows off the entire outfit as she is walking through trees, which is a fitting scene for the character.

Elden Ring Review: Hands Across America

Melina is a major part of the elden ring journey, her influence on the story is undeniable.

Melina is a major part of the player's journey and without her influence, the ending of the game cannot be reached . Her mysterious backstory and insistence on burning the Erdtree made a lot of players want to know more about her. She is a character shrouded in mystery from the beginning encounter with her all the way to the very end of the game. Depending on the choices players make, Melina's fate might look different for each player, but her importance stays with them regardless.

The highly anticipated DLC, Elden Ring: Shadow of Erdtree is coming in June 2024 to all platforms and will take players to an entirely new area known as the Land of Shadow. There may be a strong connection to Melina through the rumors that Miquella will play a major part in the story, with the hopes that fans will finally discover whether Melina is Queen Marika's daughter, thus making her the sister of Miquella and Malenia.

With the excitement of the DLC growing, it is likely that impressive cosplays will continue to pop up and the DLC might inspire new characters for fans to embody. The possibility of a new Elden Ring game is also strong, but there is nothing confirmed about when or even if this is actually happening. Fans are happy to continue their playthroughs of the original game and the Elden Ring : Shadow of Erdtree DLC will bring new attention and love to the game.

Source: LeAtlass/Reddit ( 1 , 2 )

Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of "The Shattering." "The Shattering" occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.