Dungeons and Dragons Movie Finally Gets the Recognition It Deserves

Dungeons and Dragons Movie Finally Gets the Recognition It Deserves

Key Takeaways

  • Dungeons & Dragon: Honor Among Thieves struggled at the box office but has gained success on Netflix.
  • The film received critical acclaim on release and amassed huge viewing hours on Netflix.
  • Sequel prospects were hindered by budget and box office results, but hopes are rekindled with streaming success

In the realm of underestimated film adaptations, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves , which debuted in 2023, initially failed to leave a mark on the box office, putting any sequel plans on hold. However, more than a year after its release, it appears that this movie is finally receiving the recognition it truly deserved.

The movie titled “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is inspired by the widely acclaimed fantasy role-playing game, “Dungeons & Dragons” (DnD). With its popularity spanning various formats like the “Baldur’s Gate” video game series and the animated series based on Critical Role’s Vox Machina campaign, it was only a matter of time before DnD made its mark in movies too. After a decade stuck in production limbo, a Dungeons & Dragons film found its footing at Paramount Pictures, with directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley on board. However, despite positive reviews from critics and fans, the box office response to “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” fell short.

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Gains Success on Netflix

Dungeons and Dragons Movie Finally Gets the Recognition It Deserves
DirectorsJonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
CastChris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Regé-Jean Page
Runtime134 minutes
Release dateMarch 31, 2023
Where to WatchNetflix

As a die-hard fan, I must admit that my enthusiasm for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves waned slightly after its premiere in March 2023. However, the conversation has been rekindled ever since it found its home on Netflix! The latest installment of Dungeons & Dragons has made a splash in Netflix’s Global Top 10 list, holding strong at number nine for two weeks straight. With an impressive 8.5 million hours viewed, this film has even outranked Netflix’s original production, Rebel Ridge! The magic of the game is definitely alive and well on the small screen.

It might be seen as just a coincidence, but with the movie “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” consistently ranking high on Netflix for several weeks now, it appears the buzz around this film is resurfacing once more. Originally only playing in theaters for a brief spell in March 2024 and lasting less than a month before moving to home streaming platforms, its release on Netflix offers another opportunity for those who missed it at cinemas to enjoy the action.

Dungeons and Dragons Movie Finally Gets the Recognition It Deserves

Despite boasting a star-studded cast featuring Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page (from Bridgerton), Justice Smith (Detective Pikachu), Sophia Lillis (IT), and garnering positive feedback from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has underperformed at the box office. The movie’s failure to meet expectations is rather puzzling given its strong points.

One possible explanation for why the Dungeons & Dragons movie didn’t succeed could be due to intense competition at cinemas and a stir in its fanbase during its premiere. The movie was launched concurrently with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which ended up being one of the top-earning films of the year and captured the public’s attention. Additionally, Wizards of the Coast, the company behind D&D, encountered controversy early in 2023 when leaked information suggested they intended to modify their open game license, affecting all licensed publishers. This sparked outrage among fans, causing some to boycott the company (and the D&D movie) temporarily, which could have negatively impacted its box office performance at the time of release.

Is There Hope for Dungeons and Dragons 2?

Despite high expectations that the movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves would initiate a series in the DnD universe, no follow-ups have materialized since its premiere. In an interview with Variety in 2023, co-CEO of Paramount Pictures Brian Robbins disclosed that they needed to discover an approach to produce it at a lower cost. This indicates that the movie’s substantial $150 million budget and moderate box office earnings ($208 million) likely prevented the production of sequels.

After experiencing a resurgence in popularity on Netflix, there might be room once more for discussions about the sequel of the movie at Paramount. Earlier, it seemed like the film series could transition into a television format, as Paramount+ had ordered eight episodes for a TV show set in the same universe as “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” Rawson Marshall Thurber was slated to write and direct the pilot, but unfortunately, the streaming service decided to cancel the Dungeons & Dragons show. The reasons behind this cancellation remain unknown. Since television production is typically less costly than filmmaking, a spin-off TV series could have been an affordable solution for Paramount.

There’s a chance that a “Dungeons & Dragons” TV show might still be up for grabs, since the rights have returned to Hasbro Entertainment. With all the chatter about “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” once more, it might pique the interest of executives and eventually lead to the production of a long-awaited sequel film for fans.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is available to stream on Netflix.

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2024-10-17 19:03