Now that 2023’s cult fantasy classicDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieveshas made the jump to Netflix – alongside the news that Netflix will produce the nextD&DTV show – a whole new audience has the chance to enjoy the antics of some of Faerûn’s most incompetent adventurers. But after the credits roll on the Forgotten Realms, there are plenty morefantasy adventure filmsthat scratch theD&Ditch.
WhileHonor Among Thievesis relatively unique among fantasy films for its blend of high-magic setting and heist-movie tropes, there are still plenty of other movies that capture the feeling of a well-executed – or in some cases, atrociously-executed –D&Dcampaign. Whether you like your heroes to be stoic or silly, or yourfantasy worlds to be sword and sorcery, post-apocalyptic, or somewhere in between, there’ssomething about all of these films that will appeal to the reluctant Harper in all of us.
Tolkien’s manuscript forThe Lord of the Ringspredates the existence ofDungeons & Dragonsby several decades, which meant that it was an integral part of the game’s blueprint from its inception. While modernD&Dis no longer as redolent with Sufficiently Legally Distinct Hobbits, many of the archetypes and tropes from Tolkien’s writingstill make up the fundamental DNA of modern fantasy stories. Despite those groundbreaking elements, the works of Tolkien (and adaptations like Peter Jackson’sLord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring) remain engrossing and entertaining watches.
10 Ways The Lord Of The Rings Changed The Fantasy Genre
The world of fantasy as we know it today owes a lot to The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien’s magnum opus that continues to influence people today.
Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy combines Tolkien’s original story with many subtle creative changes. At times, the films even feel like they’re building on the legacy of fantasy worlds that came after its initial success. As a result, the films are full of the kind of epic, high-stakes action that is so common inD&D, and are right at home alongside the recentDungeons & Dragonsfilm. Although Jackson’s movies might bea little less silly thanHonor Among Thieves, they have the sameadventuresome cinematic spirit.
While someD&Ddie-hards may balk at the suggestion that there’s any kind of link between that franchise and theShrekfilms,there’s a clear point of connection betweenShrek’s world of fairy tales and bureaucracyand much of the strangeness found inD&D’s various incarnations.Honor Among Thievesis no exception – particularly the scene where Edgin’s illusion goes wrong, or his self-aware banter with Holga as they watch Xenk stride purposefully across the rock-strewn beach. They’re both worlds that play with the conventions of the fantasy realm for comedy.
Shrek 2, with its “Happily Ever After” potion storyline, also makes foran excellent mirror ofHonor Among Thieves' numerous heists. While it’s no slickOcean’s-style heistpacked with Soderbergh-esque cinematography,Shrek 2’s twists and turns are just one tiefling away from belonging in Neverwinter. It’s a clever film that also has a great deal of heart and humor, and at times feels like a surprisingly wild campaign for Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots.
1999’sThe Mummyis generally considered to bethe epitome of 90s action-comedy films, and for good reason. It has everything from creepy bugs to cute librarians to a biplane trying to fight a dust storm shaped like a face. While the setting of early 20th-century Egypt isn’t the most fantastical by itself, the mystique of Egyptian legends coming alive provides more than enough fantasyto make this adventure film feel larger than life.
While the dynamic between Evy and Rick is much more romantic than that between Edgin and Holga,the bickering will feel familiar enough, as will how often Rick’s plans completely fall flat. In fact, filing the real-world serial numbers off ofThe Mummywould result in a film that could easily slot in to anyD&Dsetting, which is something Netflix and its creative team forThe Forgotten Realmscould stand to keep in mind.
While its 2010 remake was an eminently forgettable movie, the originalClash of the Titanswas a landmark fantasy adventure film, if for no other reason than it served as a final showcase forlegendary stop-motion effects wizard Ray Harryhausen, whose 32 years of work in Hollywood constantly pushed the envelope and redefined the very idea of what audiences could hope to see on the silver screen. Harryhausen’s work inClash of the Titansis still gorgeous to this day,full of an artistry and soulfulness that CGI could never hope to replicate.
Clash of the Titans, with its loose adaptation of Greek mythology, echoes a lot of the feelings ofD&Dstories. There are monsters and vengeful gods, magical items and helpful creatures, all perfectly lined up for the hero to either slay or utilize on his quest to save the world and get the girl. While that storyline feels a little threadbare at this point —dated special effects are more forgivable than dated gender roles— it still provides the kind of excitement that fits in well alongsideHonor Among Thieves' more family-oriented approach to a damsel in distress.
WhileDragonslayerwas a box-office flop,it was also an iconic film that pushed the boundaries of fantasy cinema. As the first non-Lucasfilm production that had special effects from Industrial Light and Magic, it still remains noteworthy for its most iconic character – the dread dragon Vermithrax Pejorative, whose name would fit right in among the other dragons inD&D’sDragonlancesetting.
Beloved filmmaker Guillermo del Toro named Verithrax Pejorative as one of his favorite monsters in all cinema…
Killing dragons and destroying magical amulets is part and parcel for anyD&Dstory. Even thoughHonor Among Thievesmanages to not kill offbeloved draconic chonk Themberchaud, it’s a longstanding element of the franchise. As such,Dragonslayer’s intricte design for Vermithrax fits the mold perfectly, although it’s a little light on the humor throughout. Beloved filmmaker Guillermo del Toro named Verithrax Pejorative asone of his favorite monsters in all cinema, calling it “one of the most perfect creature designs ever made” (viaComingSoon.net).
Before renowned Palestinian-American animator Ralph Bakshi made his landmark fantasy filmFire and Ice, or evenhis unfinishedThe Lord of the Ringsadaptation, he madeWizards,a brilliant and bizarre film that deserves far more attention. Set millions of years after a nuclear war, the fallout of which brought the fantasy races of yore back into the fold,Wizardsfollows the efforts of Avatar, a wizard trying to stop his evil brother Blackwolf from taking over the world.
Wizardsis also noteworthy for being the film debut of Mark Hamill, who recorded his dialogue as fairy guard captain Sean around the same time he was cast as Luke Skywalker in the firstStar Wars.
Avatar’s band of motley adventurers – Peace the robot, fairy princess Elinore, and warrior elf Weehawk – feel very much like the archetypalD&Dadventuring party. The dichotomy between Avatar’s peacemaking and his brother Blackwolf’s techno-magical totalitarianism also feels right at home inD&D– as does the particularly clever way thatAvatar finally brings his power-hungry brother to justiceat the film’s climax.
Ron Howard and George Lucas' dark fantasy adventure epicis still beloved to this day for its fantastic characters, clever writing, and landmark special effects. With its heartwarming story that reminds us of the power of found family – and the value of quick thinking and sleight-of-hand. The charming fantasy adventure is as much aDungeons & Dragonsstory as any movie can be without actually havingD&Din the title.
Willow’s eponymous sequel series, released on Disney+ in 2022, was an unfortunate victim of Disney CEO Bob Iger’sDisney and Hulu content purge in 2023. The original film is still available to watch on that platform, even if the follow-up is no longer available at the moment. Hopefully some point soon, Disney (or some other enterprising studio with money to burn) willset it free so that fans can enjoy Willow’s continued adventures.
If there was one movie in the 80s and 90s that was almost completely synonymous with being aDungeons & Dragonsfan, it wasMonty Python and the Holy Grail. The screwball adventures of King Arthur and his batty band of Britons haveinspired multiple generations ofD&Dfans to do things the silly way. This is something Edgin and his party, intentionally or not, take to heart from their initial escape from Revel’s End to the comedic timing of their collective beat-down of Sofina at the end of the movie.
Monty Python: 15 Funniest Quotes From The Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail’s silliness is enough to lift anyone’s spirits and these hilarious quotes have stood the test of time.
The comedy, which is quietly one of cinema’s more accurate portrayls of Arthurian legend, never stops treating its world with the upmost sincerity even when discussing flight speed of swallows. It’s a level of commitment thatDungeons & Dragonsfans will be familar with, and is familiar to the lived-in qualities that elevated the comedy ofHonor Among Thieves. For fantasy fans with a sense of humor,Monty Python and the Holy Grailis a great showcase and tonal ancestor to the most recentD&Dfilm
While it may seem odd to recommend watching what’s generally considered to beone of the worst fantasy films ever made, it’s important to remember that 2000’sDungeons & Dragons, for all of its flaws (and there are a lot of those), was the firstD&Dmovie ever made. The onlyD&Dadaptation before it was the early-80s Saturday morning cartoon, whichhas endured the years a little better as a cult classic.
Dungeons & Dragonsis very much a product of its time, both as a film and as a reflection ofD&D. This was as the game had just released its updated Third Edition rules and years before the game reemerged as a major part of the cultural zeitgeist. Although it’s aged like milk left out in the sun, there are some interesting diamonds in the rough inDungeons & Dragonsthat tie it toHonor Among Thieves, such asJeremy Irons' scenery-chewing as the evil wizard Profion, who in retrospect feels a lot like a very rough antecedent to the malevolent Szass Tam.
Die-hard and long-timeD&Dplayers and fans all know at least one peer who always wants to play one ofD&D’s many animal races, like tabaxi or gnolls.Puss in Boots: The Last Wishis very much an example of that kind of storytelling. It’s also surprisingly fun fora film that should, by all rights, fall flat on its face. It’s a sequel to a spin-off that was a prequel to provide the backstory from a side character introduced in a sequel to a movie that itself was a pastiche of the entire fairy-tale genre.
The Last Wishmay come with a surprising amount of story baggage, but the core story is fantastic.The Last Wishis a brilliant adventure story very much attuned to the same tone as the light-hearted spirit ofHonor Among Thieves. The titular Puss wouldfit right in among Edgin and the rest, swashbuckling and bantering away. The Wolf is a far more terrifying foe than either Sofina or Szass Tam could ever hope to be.The Last Wishproves that there are plenty of films that can achieve that fun sense of adventure baked intoDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
