r/movies • u/whomp1970 • 18h ago
Review No, really. You don't have to know a single thing about Dungeons and Dragons to thoroughly enjoy "Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" (2023)
I never gave this movie any of my attention for two solid years. I don't know a druid from a bard, I have no idea what charisma points are, and I wouldn't know the word "Demogorgon" if it wasn't for Stranger Things.
So naturally I thought there's no way I could follow along in "Honor Among Thieves" because I know diddly squat about the franchise.
But you guys ... you wouldn't let it be. So many posts, so many comments, saying how wonderful this movie was. I gave in and watched it last night.
It's really good. Yes, just like you have all been screaming at me. Good action, good comedy, good SFX, all around a great movie.
I really loved Hugh Grant's performance. He pulls off smarmy and slimy quite well.
And I was leaping out of my seat when I saw live-action versions of these guys. Yay fanservice!
I know I was a dummy. Forgive me.
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u/burritoman88 18h ago
I think we should wait for Jarnathan
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u/Theonewho_hasspoken 17h ago
My favorite part of the opening was him just giving his character backstory in exposition.
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u/maezrrackham 16h ago
A masterclass in dumping everything the viewer needs to know while making it funny and suspenseful, all before the opening credits
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u/Theonewho_hasspoken 16h ago
It is also on point for beginner Dungeons & Dragons players to just meet up and lore dump their backstories they spent all this time to create.
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u/TheOuts1der 14h ago
The tiefling druid lore dumping while gazing pensively out the window, that fucking sent me lolollllli
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u/i-Ake 17h ago
JaAaAaArnathan!
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u/CipherNine9 17h ago
But we already approved your pardon!
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u/Andrew1990M 17h ago
The line that made me switch gears on this movie.
“Oooh, no this is going to be good good.”
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u/CipherNine9 16h ago
And it's 100% something a DM would say to their group after they overly complicated something that ends up kinda working, but was gunna work perfectly wwith a low DC (difficulty class)persuasion roll.
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u/Skellos 15h ago
Yeah so many parts of that movie I say there thinking... I've been there.
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u/PureLock33 6h ago
just cross the bridge, not so complicated. rolls 1. bridge collapses. DM has a conniption, calls for a 5 min break to gather their thoughts.
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u/dagreenman18 Space Jam 2 hurt me so much 16h ago
The perfect capper to that scene that told me immediately I’m going to love this movie.
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u/Conscious-Health-438 16h ago
I'm going to have to rewatch this movie with this thread open on a computer. Me and my 8-year-old have watched this a few times over the years and we love the movie. But I had no idea there was any injokes inside of it. Pretty awesome
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u/litritium 17h ago
"Did that count as a question?"
"Yes"
"Dammit. Only answer when I talk to you, ok?"
"Yes"
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u/Radiant_Picture9292 16h ago
“Why did you say ok at the end of the sentence?”
“I didn’t” immediately re-dies
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u/kranitoko 16h ago
It's just... So fucking genius...
I hate the world for letting this movie fail.
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u/whomp1970 15h ago
Don't lose hope. Tons of movies (Lebowski?) developed a cult following long after they were written off as box-office failures.
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u/magnusarin 8h ago
The big difference now is that VHS and DVD sales used to be a great source of secondary revenue. With streaming, it's way less common to have the big secondary market. That said, if streaming numbers are really solid it could still happen, especially if it does well on Netflix.
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u/Froegerer 15h ago
Hardest I've laughed in years at a scene.
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u/Radiant_Picture9292 15h ago
Same, I wasn’t expecting it either so I had to go back and rewatch and just couldn’t stop laughing.
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u/trro16p 14h ago edited 11h ago
Reminded me of a DM that has had it with a player being annoying/dumb.
Like the famous Eric and the Gazeebo situation
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u/DEFINITELY_NOT_PETE 17h ago
This movie is pretty perfect to be honest.
Great pacing, characters. World feels deep but accessible.
All the solutions feel earned and all the set ups paid off.
Can’t think of anything I would change.
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u/ColdIceZero 12h ago
Can’t think of anything I would change.
I can. How about a goddamn sequel
Bonus points if all the same actors came back but they played different characters.
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u/Nausicaalotus 16h ago
Agreed. It is perfect. I knew Jack all about dnd when I first watched it and I loved it. Then I got into dnd and watched it again and got all the little details. Also, big chungus dragon.
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u/Koreus_C 15h ago
But portals can't be placed on moving objects within the same reference frame.
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u/Nmilne23 17h ago
I know basically nothing of DND, I mean like the jokes in relation to the game DND didn’t totally fly over my head, there’s plenty of things I picked up on that we’re funny that I didn’t have to have played dnd before to know and there was no way I was missing the movie in theaters. The trailers made it look fun and exciting and it was just an absolute blast. I had so much fun!!
I wish more saw it I would have loved a sequel so much 😭
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u/Bartlaus 17h ago
I died laughing at the obese dragon.
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u/DraniKitty 15h ago
The moment Themberchaud came out of that cave I couldn't stop laughing, like the situation was serious because a dragon IS a real danger... But he was SO FAT and ROLLING down the hill!
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u/Sorkijan 14h ago
"He must've found a new den!"
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u/Karmaled_Fapples 13h ago
"What, did he eat the old one!?"
Died laughing at this part. What a fantastic movie!
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u/griffinman01 9h ago
I've seen the movie half a dozen times and having Themberchonk sliding and rolling around eating people always makes me laugh. Plus the build-up to it where you know it's a dragon and it's a big deal, but you see the face and think 'Wow, that neck's got some rolls to it'. Then he gets stuck and it just keeps rolling (pun intended).
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u/MidwestPanic69 17h ago
It was great, lots of fun and really enjoyed the humor, the characters, and the plot.
Also, Michelle Rodriguez has still got it - she nailed the Barbarian class.
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u/Tolerable_Username 15h ago
I've always loved her, and she's not known for the depth and breadth of her acting ability, but I think it's her best role. Plays it perfectly and just the right amount of heart to it.
Also how many actresses have ever grown out their armpit hair for a role? She absolutely owned it and looked more badass than ever.
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u/MidwestPanic69 15h ago
Yeah, gotta agree, absolute bad ass.
Also, we got a great Short King Muscle Mommy Bradley Cooper cameo out of it too!
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u/size_matters_not 14h ago
But that scene could have been totally played for laughs - instead it’s a really bittersweet cameo of two people letting go - one reluctantly, though they know it’s time.
Just another little gem in a film filled with treasure.
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u/TheOuts1der 14h ago
I do love that they didnt have the two women being bitchy or sullen at each other. Just....polite, if a little awkward, like it would be real life.
I also love that the bard plays music for her when she leaves. And instead of being like, Yo wtf?, she lets herself be cheered up by it. It felt very true to the world.
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u/Duel_Option 15h ago edited 6h ago
I’m with you
I was expecting her to mean mug and be a brooding type enforcer…instead it was a bad ass warrior with a heart who can take on 5 guys at once with ease.
She fit the role perfectly
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u/Pompoulus 17h ago
I really love how well this movie threads the needle. It takes place firmly in Forgotten Realms, the most recognizable D&D world, but it's not bogged down by exposition. References to places, groups etc occur naturally.
It's about a group of characters in that world, and it's a fun movie to engage on that level, but it's also written a lot like a pen and paper campaign that little guys are playing and you can engage with it on that level too.
Also it's really funny.
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u/UnpluggedUnfettered 12h ago edited 10h ago
I accidentally happened into an early showing; walked into a local theater and I was like, "well that's weird. Didn't even know this existed."
Wife likes Chris Pines, so what the Hell, bought tickets and . . . walked into a completely empty theater aside from the three of us and one other small group.
Ended up being the best movie we'd seen in years, still no idea why it flopped. Crazy to me it didn't become an instant classic.
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u/NeverLessThan 10h ago
The generations with the money still think nerd stuff is weird. Give in another decade or so.
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u/PandaCat22 6h ago
I think it had more to do with the fact that it was released around the same time as the Mario movie. Also, there was the whole Wizards of the Coast fiasco with trying to take away the SRD—which led some fans to boycott the movie.
Mainly I think it was competing with Mario (and very little marketing) but there were external factors—not so much bias against liking DnD
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u/stonhinge 3h ago
There was probably a not-insignificant number of people who saw "Dungeons and Dragons" in the title and decided to pass.
It honestly could have just been called "Honor Among Thieves" and done better.
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u/The_Void_Reaver 5h ago
D&D's parent company did some really stupid bullshit right before the movie released that had the D&D community almost begging for it to fail. A few of my friends who watch and play D&D regularly still haven't seen it.
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u/LittleNightwishMusic 17h ago
This film is the 2020 decade’s version of Pirates of the Caribbean for me. It’s just a fun puppy action adventure romp with great characters, an engaging story, believable stakes, and threatening villian, and fantastic jokes.
It’s become of my favourite films. Absolute blast
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u/cubitoaequet 15h ago
I know you meant pulpy, but now I am imagining which breed of dog each character would be in the puppy version.
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u/Shifter25 13h ago
Bard: Australian shepherd
Barbarian: Schnauzer
Druid: Borzoi
Sorcerer: Jack Russell
Paladin: Great Dane
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u/tanj_redshirt 17h ago
But if you DO know about Dungeons & Dragons, you'll recognize lots of unsaid stuff. Two examples:
Simon has a Bag of Holding. it's never shown explicitly, but Ed keeps handing him quest items and saying, "Hold this." (You can see the BoH on Simon's official character sheet, and action figure.)
Xenk Yengar is the DM's character (literally a DMPC) from another game that someone else is running, a gritter game with optimized characters and difficult combat. That's why his timeline is ~100 years off from the player characters.
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u/size_matters_not 14h ago
Hai! I noticed the timeline - but just thought he was immortal, or something. That’s funny.
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u/VonShnitzel 13h ago
It's both. He's a Paladin, and at one point starts to quote the Oath of the Ancients to Chris Pine. High level Paladins that swear the Oath of the Ancients are immortal so long as they do not break said oath.
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u/Sorkijan 14h ago
Thayans bearing the red wizard mark of Zazz Tamm are considered mostly immortal, though it's probably just their life spans are much longer like 300-500 years. It's completely reasonable in FR lore for his character to only look 30 years old by human standards but be over 100.
Case in point the other villain in the story (Not Hugh Grant) is a Thayan Red Wizard who is over 200 years old, while normal Thayans have a lifespan more similar to a humans.
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u/Izeinwinter 50m ago
He is. The fun bit here is that he has multiple sources of being immune to age. He was marked by the big rite, which extends your lifespan, and on top of that, he is an Oath of the Ancients Paladin.. which confers immunity to ageing.
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u/anthonyg1500 12h ago edited 12h ago
Use any chance I get to flex on one of the coolest things I’ve done in my career. I animated the Jarnathan shots! I’ve worked on a lot of bad or boring stuff and you never know how a project will turn out when you’re working on it so I just did my best and it’s so cool that the movie is good and also that sequence specifically really resonated with people. I remember hanging off the corner of my bed trying to figure out how I can get legs/feet in free fall right
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u/ProfessorSMASH88 7h ago
Hell yeah! The special fx in this film were great, that was a good scene. Congrats!
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u/arBettor 18h ago
Yeah, my dad enjoyed it and didn't know the first thing about DnD. It's a solid move all around; knowing the basics about DnD just makes it even better.
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u/MeAndBettyWhite 17h ago
I honestly couldnt be farther away from their target audience and i absolutely loved this movie. The whole Jarnathan thing captured me and the fun didnt let go for the entire movie.
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u/TheNerdChaplain 17h ago
D&D:HAT is like a fantasy version of Guardians of the Galaxy, in the best possible way. Glad you liked it!
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u/magus-21 18h ago
And I was leaping out of my seat when I saw live-action versions of these guys. Yay fanservice!
Sooo you DID know at least a single thing about Dungeons and Dragons before thoroughly enjoying the movie?
Liar! Cheat! You wrote your post title with a false premise!
/s /rules lawyer
Glad you finally came around and ended up enjoying it! IMO it kind of hearkens back to movies like the Mummy that are just dumb, adventurous fun.
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u/whomp1970 18h ago
Sooo you DID know at least a single thing about Dungeons and Dragons
I didn't know anything about D&D when that cartoon came out either. But the cartoon wasn't really meant for die-hard fans of D&D. It was for any kid, really.
But yes, I will plea bargain.
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u/magus-21 17h ago
For my part that cartoon was my introduction to DnD, too, and I was a little disappointed when I started playing that Venger wasn't actually a character in the popular DnD settings at the time (Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms)
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u/Mitrakov 18h ago
Very enjoyable movie, hoping for a sequel
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u/garbagegoat 17h ago
I want a sequel where it's all the same actors but they're playing entirely different roles. New quest new characters!
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u/Shifter25 13h ago
Except Rodriguez, who's playing a slightly different Barbarian with a slightly different name
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u/KookofaTook 12h ago
Playing a fighter who doesn't like metal armor and has a tendency to yell real loud at the start of fights. With a slightly new name of course
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u/TheOuts1der 13h ago
God I would love that. Would be great to have the paladin/DM come back as an MC and Chris Pine is now the DM, and there's a little bit about the former DM and the new DM wrestling for control of the story like irl.
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u/Really_McNamington 16h ago
The IP has moved on. Looks like there's a TV show in the pipeline but unrelated.
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u/Shiroiken 17h ago
Unfortunately the Powers That Be at Hasbro didn't feel it did well enough. Dumbasses.
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u/lsaz 17h ago
I read that they were ok with a sequel as long as it had a smaller budget, so maybe there's still hope?
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u/Sirwired 15h ago
That was the plan, but now Hasbro has pulled out of the movie business. They’ll license out their properties, but will not fund films.
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u/BleiddWhitefalcon 15h ago
It.. didn't. General rule of thumb is that a movie needs to make 2.5x its budget to be profitable. HAT didn't and a big part of why is the godawful release date - they released it next to Mario!
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u/Historicbanana95 17h ago
Loved this film. Reckon if it released after Baldurs Gate, would have done so much better!
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u/thegingerninja90 18h ago
I try to tell my non-dnd friends this. Like, it's just a fun buddy adventure comedy. If you're remotely familiar with fantasy, you'll have a good time.
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u/Varvara-Sidorovna 17h ago
I thought it was delightful too, Chris Pine was just perfect as the lead, and Hugh Grant in this villain-phase of his career is always worth the price of a ticket.
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u/gurrra 16h ago
Yeah I just mentioned Hugh Grant in another post, was saying that in both DnD and Wonka he played some really awesome rolls. Love him!
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u/Hazbin1Worker 18h ago
It might actually help to know less. The mimic for example was less of a surprise for me because I knew that was a D&D thing.
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u/i-am-the-walrus789 17h ago
Incredibly well made, fantastic script, and thoroughly entertaining. My wife knows nothing about DnD and makes fun of me for playing it. We watched the movie together, and she enjoyed it just as much as I did
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u/waynechriss 17h ago
My ex and I watched it a year ago, she being a DND fanatic and me nothing nothing about it and we both loved it for different reasons and since we saw it at home she got to point out a lot of the meta stuff that I would've otherwise missed.
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u/pastafallujah 16h ago
This movie is up there with Dredd for “Greatest Movies Ever that Somehow Bombed”. I blame you, OP. My ass was planted in a seat opening weekend, and I laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth to not bother the rest of the audience
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u/Magidex42 17h ago edited 17h ago
I watched this in the theater, and the Paladin giving the Sorc the what the fuck did you just do stare caused me to laugh for like a minute straight. Like ugly laughing, I could not even.
That and "hahahahhahaha he can't fly! He can't fucking fly because he's so fat, bwuahahaha!!"
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u/chimpyjnuts 18h ago
We ignored it for a while as well, was not expecting much, but it was very entertaining. The wife knows nothing of D&D and she liked it.
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u/ralanr 17h ago
I’m both sad and happy that this movie is still getting attention. Sad because it should have gotten the attention on release.
It’s so fun.
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u/No_Quote_6120 17h ago
I have never played D&D myself and I had a blast with the movie. I thought it was great and hope to see a sequel soon.
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u/samusfan21 17h ago
When it comes to movies, why is the automatic assumption that if a movie is an adaptation of an established IP that you’re not familiar with you won’t be able to follow it? That makes zero sense from a marketing and filmmaking standpoint. Movies are generally made for a broad audience. Look at the MCU. A vast majority of the audience when Iron Man came out more than likely never cracked open a comic book in their lives. The MCU has gone on to make billions. Same goes with the DnD movie. The filmmakers knew that not everyone watching the movie would necessarily have played the game so it would behoove them to make sure it’s fairly easy to follow for the uninitiated.
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u/joeO44 17h ago
I’ve never played D&D and don’t plan on it but this film is one of the best and most fun in the last 10 years.
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u/TheBlackCycloneOrder 17h ago
-BRATE -BRATE -BRATE -BRATE illusion starts hilariously deforming and melting
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u/InstancePast6549 18h ago
Very good movie! I enjoyed my time with it in the theater. You can still enjoy it without knowing anything, but it’s helpful to know the classes. Some jokes may not land or might be confusing otherwise
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u/Dirks_Knee 17h ago
Yep. It's a great, fun, action/adventure movie. Near perfect pacing of when they drop the big set pieces and perfectly develop just enough of each characters backstory to get an emotional investment. This movie sorely deserves a sequel.
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u/s0ciety_a5under 16h ago
You don't need to know much about Dungeons & Dragons to play Dungeons & Dragons. It's a game you create yourself.
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u/grumblyoldman 15h ago
You also don't need to know a single thing about D&D to get a group of friends together and throw strange math rocks around for a couple hours a week. Honest, you can play it by ear until you figure it out and no one will care.
The thing I loved most about this movie is how perfectly it encapsulated the feeling of playing D&D. How you felt watching this movie? That's how it feels to play the game. You can continue the adventure yourself, if you want to.
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u/micmea1 17h ago
My dad tagged along with a friend of mine when we went to see it. He really enjoyed it but he mentioned that he was definitely aware that he was missing jokes and references because of the audience reactions. He's about as far removed from gaming culture as you can get taboetops or otherwise, though he did read the hobbit and lotr when he was younger.
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u/Curiouso_Giorgio 17h ago
My wife loved it and she has zero interest in D&D or fantasy in general. It was just good fun.
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u/space-cyborg 17h ago
I loved that movie! Not usually my thing, but it was way better than it had any right to be.
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u/maximum_recoil 16h ago
Fun movie!
But now I want a bleak Delta Green movie made by David Fincher.
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u/Doc_Dragoon 16h ago
Maybe I'm just a dickhead or something but that movie wasn't for me
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u/THEREALCABEZAGRANDE 17h ago
I don't know why some people shit on this movie. It's really solid in its own right. A coherent plot, likeable well established characters, good comedy, decent effects, good action with stakes. And it's even fairly cohesive with the source material on top. Just a really solid movie.
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u/Vanishingf0x 17h ago
It’s a great movie just easier to appreciate moments more if you do know some things. Still very fun if you don’t and easy enough to know what’s happening
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u/Kent_Knifen 17h ago
I understand the premise of DnD but never actually played it. I enjoyed when characters went way off course from the DMs story, and when they rolled low.
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u/HawkmoonsCustoms 17h ago
I slept on it at first and just watched it last week. It was very “Pythonian” and highly enjoyable.
I really loved the cameos from the animated series cast.
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u/Sparrowsabre7 13h ago
While I was surprised they didn't l, I'm actually quite glad they didn't do a meta thing and pull back to dice on a table or anything. Playing it sincere was the right call.
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u/magicscreenman 13h ago
You don't HAVE to, but when you understand that EVERYTHING they do in that movie could be done in a DnD campaign? It increases appreciation for both things.
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u/HankBuffalo 12h ago
I was on a work trip in Provincetown for a target styling gig and had to return the box truck near the patriots stadium so I watched DND at the patriots stadium and when I arrived a bus full of special ed kids showed up. They were the highlight, just hearing how much fun they had. I distinctly remember one yelling POTATO!!!!! And it lives rent free in my brain
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u/Terror-Of-Demons 12h ago
It’s just…a really good movie. Like I don’t think they could have done it any better.
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u/enigmanaught 12h ago
I think it struck the perfect balance of keeping non-players entertained while throwing players a bone. The Fallout TV series does a similarly good job. You don’t need to know anything about the universe to enjoy it, but there’s lots of bits a player would instantly get. Both of them do a good job of making a plot point out of game mechanics that is entertaining to non-players.
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u/Charirner 11h ago
Been playing D&D for 20 years and can say 100% you don't need to know anything to enjoy this movie.
It's great.
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u/Misternogo 10h ago
What's great is that OP is right, but if you DO know things about DnD, it's even better. It goes from a great action/comedy fantasy flick to a fantastic action/comedy fantasy flick.
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u/hevahavahan 17h ago
Watching this movie and playing BG3 back to back was a damn good treat. I really wished that this movie would perform better at the box office. Such a shame.
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u/M_e_n_n_o 17h ago
I’m not a D&D player (ever) and really enjoyed that movie. Too bad it wasn’t viewed more.
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u/TensorForce 16h ago
Honor Among Thieves is one of the best fantasy movies to have come out of Hollywood in years, tbh
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u/ClydeStyle 16h ago
It was a surprise hit. I’m hoping they deliver a sequel, it was a balanced film of comedy and action. Made me proud.
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u/jl_theprofessor 18h ago
Honestly, it's just a really fun movie.
Although DnD lovers will get a little more from the inside jokes and nods.