# Why has there never been a major dark "Dungeon Crawl" type movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 11, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106 "2017-09-11T23:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/21 "2017-09-12T09:02:53Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Why stick the whole movie underground? It’s cheap. If I was making an indie movie, my first instinct would be to set it in one or two locations. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/22 "2017-09-12T09:23:01Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Conan the Barbarian > Conan the Other Movie > Willow > The Hobbit Legend Dragonslayer The Dark Crystal Labyrinth ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/23 "2017-09-12T09:23:45Z")
I’ve never played Dungeons and Dragons, but I believe that–despite the name–they don’t have to spend all (or even any) of their time in a dungeon. (Having said that, we really need a movie that combines a dungeon adventure with [a cooking show](https://terrenceswiff.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/dungeon-meshi/).) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/24 "2017-09-12T09:24:22Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > It’s cheap. If I was making an indie movie, my first instinct would be to set it in one or two locations. I think all the Conan clones in the 1980s killed the low-budget high-fantasy market. Nobody wants another _Deathstalker_. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/25 "2017-09-12T10:15:34Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > Just take the rudimentary plot of a diverse group of warriors **[the Fellowship]** who, by chance or circumstance, who meet up and decide to go on a quest \*\*[destroy the One Ring], \*\*which involves either a literal dungeon or some subterranean area **[Mines of Moria]** like such, to fetch some object **[The Ring, although that wasn’t why they were in the mine]** (which could have world-changing qualities); have the villain basically be a Mage or some sort of powerful evil villain \*\*[Sauron]; \*\*in the meantime, have fight scenes with zombies, orcs, etc **[orcs, goblins, balrog].** > > Basically, why has no one ever really attempted to make a D&D adventure into a movie? Is that not literally the plot of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/26 "2017-09-12T10:47:11Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Is that not literally the plot of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring? Yes, I was going to say that LotR, especially the part through the Mines of Moria, is quite D&D-esque. There’s a perception/lore check to get into a large enclosed space, the group wonders which way it should go, they find an ancient tomb with plot-relevant knowledge, a failed dexterity alerts orcs, superspecialmagical armor saves the hero against a critical hit and the fight ends with the defeat of the cave troll boss. It would be difficult for the LotR movies not to be reminiscent of D&D because D&D is largely based on the LotR books. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/27 "2017-09-12T13:19:20Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > Basically, why has no one ever really attempted to make a D&D adventure into a movie? Because it would be boring? Or possibly the other way round; if it was any good it wouldn’t be possible to tell that it was based on a D&D adventure. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/28 "2017-09-12T14:28:36Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > Just take the rudimentary plot of a diverse group of warriors who, by chance or circumstance, who meet up and decide to go on a quest, which involves either a literal dungeon or some subterranean area like such, to fetch some object (which could have world-changing qualities); have the villain basically be a Mage or some sort of powerful evil villain; in the meantime, have fight scenes with zombies, orcs, etc. > > Basically, why has no one ever really attempted to make a D&D adventure into a movie? The Sindad movies or Clash of the Titans ( 1980s ) had some of this. You could also watch the excellent Lord of the Rings movies. In the 1990’s there was a game called Death Trap Dungeon. It could make for an awesome movie. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/29 "2017-09-12T15:46:18Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Possibly because the _Dungeons & Dragons_ movie (2000), was a critical and financial flop. > > Wikipedia article: [Dungeons & Dragons (2000 film) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons_%28film%29#Reception) But its SyFy Channel “sequel”, _[Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons:_Wrath_of_the_Dragon_God)_, is actually pretty entertaining if you are/were into playing D&D. Although low-budget, it does a better job at staying true to the game and almost feels like you are watching a movie version of a D&D session. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/30 "2017-09-12T16:10:53Z")
_The 13th Warrior_ had a dungeon - well, cave - crawl section. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/31 "2017-09-12T16:16:52Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > But its SyFy Channel “sequel”, _[Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons:_Wrath_of_the_Dragon_God)_, is actually pretty entertaining if you are/were into playing D&D. Although low-budget, it does a better job at staying true to the game and almost feels like you are watching a movie version of a D&D session. Thanks for the head’s up! I’ll keep an eye open for it. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/32 "2017-09-12T16:23:03Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Because it would be boring? Or possibly the other way round; if it was any good it wouldn’t be possible to tell that it was based on a D&D adventure. What if you had a movie where a half hour was Ebonysilver the Paladin and Ghandallf the Wizard debating whether or not a _Minor Illusion_ of a mirror casts a reflection? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/33 "2017-09-12T16:32:31Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > What if you had a movie where a half hour was Ebonysilver the Paladin and Ghandallf the Wizard debating whether or not a _Minor Illusion_ of a mirror casts a reflection? Followed by them refusing to speak with each other due to a heated disagreement on grappling rules! ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/34 "2017-09-12T16:33:56Z")
…As an aside, have we ever had that debate here? Because I’ve wondered about it many a time. Because the rules try to be clear about what certain kinds of illusions can and cannot do… but a mirror seems to be in the “can” category, and if that’s allowed, then you can use it to make illusions of things in the “cannot” category. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/35 "2017-09-12T16:46:32Z")
An illusiory image doen’t cast a reflection - it creates an illusion of a reflection. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/36 "2017-09-12T16:53:18Z")
The now banned OP didn’t ask the right question but I’m pretty sure I know exactly what he/she meant. A properly made D&D movie with [Drizzt Do’ Urden](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drizzt_Do'Urden) would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/37 "2017-09-12T18:59:58Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > An even better fit, although not a movie, would be [Record of Lodoss War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_of_Lodoss_War). Which was, in fact, _literally_ born as an adaptation of a transcript of an RPG campaign. Wow! I came here specifically to mention _Lodoss War_. Glad you beat me to it! ---
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/38 "2017-09-12T19:47:17Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > (Having said that, we really need a movie that combines a dungeon adventure with [a cooking show](https://terrenceswiff.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/dungeon-meshi/).) Rejoice, that manga is now available in English under the title [Delicious in Dungeon](https://www.amazon.com/Delicious-Dungeon-Vol-Ryoko-Kui/dp/0316471852/) (print or ebook), and it is very entertainingly weird. It plays the “cooking dungeon monsters” premise extremely seriously (have you ever wondered how to prepare a living armor? Wonder no more!). And it should totally get an anime. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/39 "2017-09-12T21:10:03Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > What if you had a movie where a half hour was Ebonysilver the Paladin and Ghandallf the Wizard debating whether or not a _Minor Illusion_ of a mirror casts a reflection? There are plenty of streamed or podcast RPG sessions with decent followings, but I think turning them into movies might be a foolish gamble nevertheless. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106/40 "2017-09-13T00:05:43Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > But its SyFy Channel “sequel”, _[Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons:_Wrath_of_the_Dragon_God)_, is actually pretty entertaining if you are/were into playing D&D. Although low-budget, it does a better job at staying true to the game and almost feels like you are watching a movie version of a D&D session. Ha! I was going to post that I was once channel surfing and I remember seeing on the Syfy channel a D&D movie that actually adhered to the rules of D&D pretty well but had no idea of the title or how long ago it was. This must have been it. There was also a direct to video animated adaptation of Dragonlance’s first novel that would fit the requirements of the OP. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-there-never-been-a-major-dark-dungeon-crawl-type-movie/796106.md?page=3)