Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) is a fantasy adventure film directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, based on the beloved tabletop role-playing game. Combining action, humor, and heart, it stands as one of the most entertaining fantasy movies of recent years. The film successfully blends epic storytelling with witty banter and emotional character arcs, appealing to both D&D veterans and newcomers.
Detailed Summary
The Opening: A Tale of Redemption
The movie opens with Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a charming bard and former Harper, imprisoned alongside his barbarian companion Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez). Through Edgin’s witty narration, we learn that his life spiraled into chaos after his wife was killed by a Red Wizard. To provide for his daughter Kira, Edgin turned to thievery with Holga. Unfortunately, one heist went wrong, leading to their imprisonment.
The tone here is playful, establishing Edgin’s cleverness and Holga’s brute strength. Their escape sequence—featuring a well-timed meeting with the Parole Council and a giant bird creature—is both hilarious and exhilarating.
Reuniting the Party
Once free, Edgin and Holga seek out their old crew: Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), a charming conman, and Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), an insecure sorcerer. They soon discover that Forge has betrayed them, taken Kira under his care, and become the ruler of the city of Neverwinter with the help of the mysterious sorceress Sofina (Daisy Head), who has sinister motives tied to necromancy.
Determined to rescue Kira and recover a magical relic known as the Tablet of Reawakening (capable of reviving the dead), Edgin and Holga set out to recruit a new team.
Building the Team
The duo recruits Simon, now slightly more competent, and Doric (Sophia Lillis), a shape-shifting druid who distrusts humans. Together, they plan a heist to break into Forge’s heavily guarded vault, where the tablet is stored. The group’s chemistry shines in this section, blending genuine friendship with chaotic energy.
The planning sequences feel like a real D&D campaign—creative, improvised, and full of unexpected detours.
The Underdark and Xenk the Paladin
To complete their plan, they need a powerful magical artifact: the Helm of Disjunction, buried in the Underdark. Enter Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page), a noble and infuriatingly perfect paladin. Xenk guides them through perilous traps, undead monsters, and bizarre encounters. His stoic heroism contrasts wonderfully with Edgin’s sarcasm, creating some of the film’s funniest moments.
After retrieving the helm, Xenk departs, leaving the rest of the group to carry out their dangerous heist.
The Heist at Neverwinter
In true D&D fashion, the heist doesn’t go according to plan. Using shape-shifting, invisibility, and portal tricks, the team sneaks into Forge’s vault, only to discover Sofina’s real plan: she intends to use a magical device to turn the entire city’s population into undead slaves for the Red Wizards.
A chaotic battle erupts. The team uses everything at their disposal—magic, strength, and sheer luck—to stop Sofina. Forge, ever the opportunist, tries to escape with Kira and the treasure but is thwarted by Holga’s brutal efficiency.
Movie Ending
The climax sees Sofina activating her deadly spell during the city’s grand games, where citizens are trapped in a gladiatorial maze filled with monsters and traps. In a thrilling sequence, Doric shape-shifts into multiple animals to rescue the crowd, while Simon finally overcomes his magical insecurities to counter Sofina’s spell.
In a desperate moment, Sofina nearly defeats the party, but Kira uses an invisibility talisman to distract her, giving Edgin the chance to strike the final blow using a magical pendant. Sofina turns to stone and shatters, ending her reign of terror.
In the aftermath, Holga is mortally wounded during the battle. Edgin, who originally sought the Tablet of Reawakening to bring back his wife, chooses instead to use it to revive Holga—his true family. It’s a powerful, emotional moment that solidifies the movie’s theme: found family over personal grief.
The group is celebrated as heroes, while Forge is captured and humorously fails his parole hearing. Edgin reunites with Kira, now truly seeing him as the father she deserves.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes—there is one post-credits scene, and it’s played for laughs. The reanimated corpse from an earlier sequence, who was awakened to answer five questions, remains stuck in his coffin, waiting for someone to ask him the fifth question so he can return to eternal rest. It’s a fun nod to one of the film’s funniest gags.
Type of Movie
A fantasy adventure comedy rooted in the lore of Dungeons & Dragons. It combines elements of heist movies, epic quests, and buddy comedies with a touch of heartfelt storytelling.
Cast
- 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
- Daisy Head as Sofina
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Lorne Balfe, known for his dynamic, adventurous soundtracks (Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Black Widow). The music combines sweeping orchestral themes with medieval and Celtic influences, perfectly matching the film’s high-fantasy tone.
Filming Locations
Principal photography took place in Northern Ireland, Iceland, and England (including Alnwick Castle and Wells Cathedral). These real-world medieval settings provided the film with an authentic fantasy look, balancing CGI-heavy moments with tangible, grounded environments that enhanced the immersion.
Awards and Nominations
- Saturn Awards (2023) – Nominated for Best Fantasy Film
- Critics Choice Super Awards – Nominated for Best Actor (Chris Pine) and Best Actress (Michelle Rodriguez)
- Praised by critics for its visual effects, humor, and ensemble performances.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Chris Pine described the film as “The Princess Bride meets Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
- The cast played a one-shot D&D session together before filming to build chemistry.
- Regé-Jean Page performed most of his own stunts, embodying his character’s heroic perfection.
- The directors encouraged improvisation, particularly from Hugh Grant and Chris Pine.
- The crew used practical creature effects whenever possible, blending puppetry with CGI.
Inspirations and References
- Inspired by Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition lore and settings, especially The Forgotten Realms.
- The story structure mimics a real D&D campaign—diverse party, botched plans, and creative problem-solving.
- Subtle nods to classic fantasy films like The Lord of the Rings, The Princess Bride, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
While the theatrical ending was final, early drafts reportedly had Forge escaping and teasing a sequel. Some deleted scenes involved longer comedic sequences during the heist and more backstory for Doric’s druid tribe. These were cut to maintain pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The movie is not a direct adaptation of a specific D&D novel but draws from the Forgotten Realms setting. Tie-in novels expand on the characters’ backstories and offer additional lore, but the film remains its own standalone adventure.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The hilarious “five questions for the corpses” sequence.
- Doric’s shape-shifting chase through the castle.
- The maze trial with mimics, displacer beasts, and gelatinous cubes.
- The emotional resurrection of Holga.
Iconic Quotes
- Edgin: “We’re thieves, but we’re not bad thieves.”
- Holga: “That’s a good plan. Except for the part where it’s bad.”
- Forge: “You may suffer under the illusion that you’re doing the right thing.”
- Xenk: “Justice comes for us all. It may come swiftly, or… at the speed of an unladen swallow.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The characters’ archetypes mirror real D&D classes: Bard (Edgin), Barbarian (Holga), Sorcerer (Simon), Druid (Doric), and Paladin (Xenk).
- The film references Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter, and Icewind Dale, all famous D&D settings.
- The adventurers from the 1980s D&D cartoon appear as contestants in the arena.
- The “gelatinous cube” scene is a direct nod to one of D&D’s most iconic monsters.
Trivia
- The directors are longtime D&D players and insisted the film capture the humor of an actual campaign.
- The film was shot entirely with anamorphic lenses to give it a cinematic, old-school fantasy look.
- The production used over 70 distinct creature designs.
- Chris Pine learned to play the lute for authenticity (and because he found it “relaxing”).
Why Watch?
Because it’s one of the rare fantasy movies that balances laugh-out-loud humor, touching character moments, and breathtaking adventure. Whether you know D&D or not, it’s a story about friendship, redemption, and teamwork—told with sincerity and style.
Directors’ Other Movies
- Game Night (2018)
- Vacation (2015)
- Horrible Bosses (2011) – writers
