# The New Dungeons and Dragons Movie Might Actually be Good? {NO SPOILERS until May 2023} **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [July 21, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344 "2022-07-21T21:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/1 "2022-07-21T21:04:20Z")
The trailer is promising. Basically a Fantasy Guardians of the Galaxy. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IiMinixSXII/maxresdefault.jpg "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves | Official Trailer (2023 Movie)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiMinixSXII) ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/2 "2022-07-21T21:23:07Z")
Hmm. Cautiously optimistic. But [very cautiously](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NeverTrustATrailer). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/3 "2022-07-21T21:34:41Z")
Effects look cool, but (from the trailer) the acting and writing seem pretty flat. If the former outweighs the latter, it’ll be a decent popcorn flick. I’m not holding out hope. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/4 "2022-07-21T21:37:46Z")
Looks like something I’d watch. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/5 "2022-07-21T21:39:53Z")
I had low expectations, but Chris Pine is pretty reliable, and the effects look great. They’re also clearly trying to show some D&D cred, through showing off a bunch of iconic D&D monsters in the trailer. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/6 "2022-07-21T21:56:36Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > They’re also clearly trying to show some D&D cred Pfft, that druid is wildshaping into an owlbear. Druids can only assume the forms of beasts, and owlbears are monstrosities! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/7 "2022-07-21T22:08:29Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Basically a Fantasy Guardians of the Galaxy. I was thinking it looks like a cut-rate _Thor: Ragnarok_ complete with a Led Zeppelin selection of which the lyrics doesn’t actually match any of the plot or action, and the Lesser Chris. There are a bunch of ‘Easter Eggs’ that are clearly intended to appeal to actual AD&D enthusiasts, so at least they made the effort to use more than just the name, but it looks like a pretty generic fantasy action film trying to ape the MCU-style quiptastic dialogue that Marvel has actually mostly given up on. Pass until it is free on Amazon Prime. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/8 "2022-07-21T23:24:49Z")
First I hear of this, looks cool. I was wondering why Hasbro suddenly had a gelatinous cube for sale on their online store. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/9 "2022-07-22T03:29:25Z")
Well, this looks way better than I expected, and they obviously decided to spend some money. Also, the black dragon spitting acid, the displacer beast, the gelatinous cube, an awesome owlbear…wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/10 "2022-07-22T03:35:26Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I was thinking it looks like a cut-rate _Thor: Ragnarok_ Then what does that make this? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Lv4ME566BKQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Thor: God of Thunder - Official Trailer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv4ME566BKQ) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/11 "2022-07-22T04:16:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > If the former outweighs the latter, it’ll be a decent popcorn flick. I’m not holding out hope. A decent popcorn flick is the best I think we can hope for which I think is perfectly fine. Seeing an owlbear in action is worth the price of admission! ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/12 "2022-07-22T04:17:26Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Pfft, that druid is wildshaping into an owlbear. Druids can only assume the forms of beasts, and owlbears are monstrosities! I’m sorry your DM is such a rules stickler that they won’t let your character turn into an owlbear! Dollars to doughnuts we’ll see a druid ability in the future allowing them to turn into owlbears. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/13 "2022-07-22T04:57:46Z")
Looks like a definite maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/14 "2022-07-22T10:45:52Z")
Points in its favor: it’s from the guys who made _Game Night,_ the best-written and best-directed American studio comedy of the last several years. That fact all by itself makes this worth paying attention to, at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/15 "2022-07-22T11:17:08Z")
Great to see the Owlbear, Mimic and Displacer Beast, but I have to agree, the acting/writing seemed flat. I’ll gladly watch it when it hits one of my streamers though. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/16 "2022-07-22T12:47:53Z")
I agree the rules say Druids can only shapechange into animals, but I’m willing to let the Owlbear go. Also it’s an unusual party that has a Paladin, a Druid and a Thief in it! I do hope it’s worth watching (I’ve been waiting about 40 years for a good D+D film…) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/17 "2022-07-22T12:51:03Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Also it’s an unusual party that has a Paladin, a Druid and a Thief in it! In 5e it is more common. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/18 "2022-07-22T13:57:53Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > In 5e it is more common. It’s 5e so it should be a bright pink Tiefling, a cat-girl, a bodybuilder kobold and a homebrewed weredragon. The movie looks like it might be fun. It’s self-aware which is a good thing for this. You can make grim fantasy but I think a movie trying to play to classic D&D tropes and references needs to lean into the silliness a bit. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/19 "2022-07-22T14:00:20Z")
Oh, you’ve met my kids. And there you go, the Druid is a home grown monstrous subclass. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/20 "2022-07-22T14:55:16Z")
Don’t forget about the 8’ tall, size small, dwarf. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344.md?page=2)