At this point , we know that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was one of the biggest games in the new movie release schedule in 2023 . The trailers have so far teased the eloquent Chris Pine and cute characters, as well as huge monsters and fun gags . However, some longtime fans of the iconic board game might want to hear what the critics have to say before deciding whether or not to go see it in theaters. Well, the film was screened at SXSW, and film pundits have had their say on Pine's fantasy film.
Given how much love there is for D&D , Honor Among Thieves director and screenwriter Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daly had a high bar to reach. And according to many early reviews, the duo (who also made Game Night and Vacation ) nailed it. Lovia Giarquier, who reviewed the film for THR , praised the filmmakers for creating a film that builds on the franchise's roots and is very entertaining in the process. Although he did praise Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and the rest of the cast in particular:
Unrelated to the 2000 film in theaters or on television, this film focuses on a group of thieves who seek redemption after unknowingly helping the infamous Red Wizard amass an army of the undead. With so much pre-established mythology surrounding this universe, you'd think it would be easy for a stranger to get lost in the weeds. However, as Variety 's Owen Gleiberman points out, the film is very accessible to the general public, which is a very good thing for it:
Of course, very few movies on the big screen are perfect. David Crowe of Den of Geek , who gave a positive review, noted that some of the characters feel undervalued in the story and noted that "some of the dramatic moments don't ring true". However, Crowe liked the film's energy and was enthusiastic about the director's hands-on approach:
Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daly admitted that they drew inspiration from "Jurassic Park" when it came to combining visual and practical effects. This feature was also reflected in the way they shot stunts inspired by classic Jackie Chan films. Deadline 's Valerie Complex will always argue that this installment of Dungeons & Dragons still offers much of what other modern blockbusters have. However, in his positive review, he said that it was a vast improvement over the 2000 adaptation, especially in terms of how it handled the characters:
The duo behind the production talked about their approach to the characters, including how they like to "challenge the main characters." Apparently, this is not the only way they are trying to cool down. Kate Stables from our sister site Total Film explained why the game adaptation has no intention of broadcasting Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones :
This latest D&D big format release looks set to receive incredible critical acclaim, with a 100% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes (out of eight reviews) at the time of this writing. There's still plenty of time to turn things around, but it looks like Paramount Pictures has a winner. Of course, we'll have to wait and see if this accolade leads to box office success for Chris Pine and co.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves hits theaters March 31.