A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people in this hilarious and action-packed adventure. A film by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Regé-Jean Page, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head, and Hugh Grant.

Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a once-respected member of the Harpers, a clandestine order of peacekeepers, turned to a life of crime following the brutal murder of his beloved wife Zia (Georgia Landers) by disciple of the Red Wizard. His infant daughter survived, and he has raised her alone ever since.

The Harpers, or Those Who Harp, is a secret organization dedicated to preserving historical lore, maintaining the balance between nature and civilization, and defending the innocent from the forces of evil across the Realms.

Edgin befriends Holga Kilgore, a barbarian warrior banished from her tribe for falling in love with an outsider. Holga moves in with Edgin and helps him raise his daughter. Kira (Chloe Coleman) has grown up to become the third member of Edgin’s band of thieves. Later, amateur sorcerer Simon Aumar (Justice Smith) and con artist Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant) also join the team. Even though they are thieves, they only steal from the rich and never harm anyone.

One evening at a bar, the wizard Sofina (Daisy Head) approaches Edgin and his band of thieves and asks them to assist her in breaking into Korinn’s Keep, a Harper stronghold located on an island. Edgin is initially hesitant, as he does not trust her. However, Forge convinces him that Korinn’s Keep houses the Tablet of Reawakening, a powerful artifact with the ability to resurrect the dead, even those slain by the Red Wizards’ cursed blades. Edgin is tempted by the possibility of using the tablet to bring his beloved wife back to life, and he agrees to help Sofina. Edgin deems the mission too dangerous for his daughter, so he decides to leave her at home.

While Edgin attempts to steal the Tablet of Reawakening, he triggers the alarm, and they are suddenly surrounded by Harpers. Sofina casts a spell to stop time, but Holga and Edgin are caught in it. Edgin throws the Tablet to Forge and asks him to take care of his daughter. Sofina, Forge, and Simon escape Korinn’s Keep.

Edgin and Holga languish in the arctic prison of Revel’s End for two years before daring to escape, oblivious to their pardon. Upon reaching Neverwinter, they learn that Forge, once their trusted companion, now reigns as Lord. When they confront him in his castle, they discover that he has lied to Kira, telling her that Edgin abandoned her for treasure.

Edgin and Holga are caught in Sofina’s magical trap. Forge resolves to return them to Revel’s End, but Sofina secretly orders their execution. Edgin and Holga escape and decide to steal the Tablet of Reawakening from Forge’s vault. They track down Simon and recruit him back to the team. Edgin needs a wild shape to sneak in and determine the type of magic Forge uses to protect the vault. Simon leads them to Doric (Sophia Lillis), a druid, who agrees to help them take down Forge Fitzwilliam.

Upon learning that Forge’s vault is protected by the Arcane Seal of Mordenkainen, a powerful magic that makes the vault impenetrable to any weapon or spell, Edgin and his team must embark on a journey to the Underdark with the help of Xenk Yandar (Regé-Jean Page), a paladin who fled his country, in search of the Helm of Disjunction, a legendary magical item that can break any enchantment within its vicinity.

A fantasy heist comedy film directed by John Francis Daley, best known for playing FBI criminal profiler Dr. Lance Sweets on the crime drama series Bones, and Jonathan Goldstein, who has worked collaboratively with John Francis Daley as co-screenwriters, most notably on SPIDER-MAN: Homecoming.

The film features a stellar cast who deliver impressive performances with infectious chemistry and perfectly timed punchlines, particularly Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez. I did not expect the film to be as grandiose as The Lord of the Rings, but it is incredibly entertaining nonetheless. One minor nitpick is that the CGI of the labyrinth in the final moments looks unrealistic, but I can easily overlook this as it is not essential to the plot.

Monsters and support characters are also well-designed. My most favorite CGI character is the gigantic chubby dragon, which looks both cute and funny. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the usual ferocious dragons seen in fantasy films. I also love the personality of Kriv Norixius, a moody dragon who is a member of the Absolution Council at Revel’s End prison.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Honor Among Thieves is an absolute delight to watch, even for those who have never played D&D. The film’s story is universal, and D&D is arguably one of the most influential fantasy tabletop games, inspiring role-playing video games to this day.

The film is based on the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Dungeons & Dragons departs from traditional wargaming by allowing each player to create and control their own character in a fantasy setting. A Dungeon Master (DM) acts as referee and storyteller, maintaining the game world and playing the roles of non-player characters (NPCs). Together, the players solve problems, engage in battles, explore, and gather treasure and knowledge.

Dungeons & Dragons, first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc., is widely regarded as the progenitor of modern role-playing games and the role-playing game industry. It has also had a profound influence on video games, particularly the role-playing video game genre.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Honor Among Thieves premiered at South by Southwest on 10 March 2023. it was theatrically released in the United States on 31 March, by Paramount Pictures. The film grossed over $208 million worldwide against a production budget of $150 million.