# Will you watch the new D&D film?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** movies\
**Created:** [March 19, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373 "2023-03-19T19:46:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [March 19, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/21 "2023-03-19T23:37:34Z")

</div>

> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> Mindful of our fine mod’s advice I’ll not say more on that.

To be clear, we’ve had [a thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dnd-ogl-is-anyone-following-this-thoughts/977886) about the whole situation, and if you want to speak your piece there, you’re welcome to. It’s just off-topic for this thread.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/22 "2023-03-19T23:40:38Z")

</div>

All good here. Thanks for the clarification. Not a topic on which I have any specific knowledge or informed opinion.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/23 "2023-03-20T02:15:50Z")

</div>

Since I had no clue what the acronyms in the OP meant at all (thank you @kenobi_65 for actually explaining) they have no relevance to me seeing the film. The trailers make it look like some silly fun and since I have A-List and see an average of 8 films per month, yeah I’ll see this one.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/24 "2023-03-20T02:33:44Z")

</div>

The trailer makes it look like hot steaming garbage. Like a video game cut scene or something.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/25 "2023-03-20T03:14:09Z")

</div>

My kids (boys 8 and 11) are pretty hyped up about seeing it after watching the commercials, so I imagine I’ll see it at some point in the theater. Maybe even the matinee on its opening weekend, if things fall into place.

I figure it can’t be _that_ bad, considering the cast, and the number of Monster Manual call-outs I’ve spotted thus far.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [March 20, 2023, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/26 "2023-03-20T04:22:28Z")

</div>

Conversely to some opinions, I thought the trailers looked like fun and the movie strikes a fun tone between respecting the source material and making an adventure comedy.

As a bonus, my wife is actually interested (mainly because she liked Pine in Star Trek) so I’d be a fool to turn down the chance to see it in theaters with an enthusiastic date partner.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/27 "2023-03-20T04:42:51Z")

</div>

I haven’t been back to theaters since covid, and this doesn’t look like the one to change that, but I’m very much looking forward to seeing it when it hits streaming. The trailers look like a lot of fun, and it’ll be cool to see (what appear to be) faithful renditions of classic D&D monsters.

I’m already intrigued, for example, by the way they show the displacer beast projecting its false image with its tentacles. I don’t know if that’s original to this movie, or if it’s a part of D&D lore than I was unaware of, but I really dig that way of imagining the creature.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/28 "2023-03-20T08:22:13Z")

</div>

The [Empire review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/dungeons-dragons-honour-among-thieves/) gave it four stars, which to be honest is three stars more than I was expecting.

I might not get around to seeing it on the big screen, but I’m sure I’ll catch it on streaming when it comes out.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/29 "2023-03-20T10:28:33Z")

</div>

The OGL kerfuffle has no bearing on whether I will see the movie. It looks fun but I’m not sue I will go to the theatre to see it. If it arrives on a streaming service I subscribe to I will almost certainly watch it.

Brian

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/30 "2023-03-20T12:24:41Z")

</div>

I’ll see it in a theater. I’m hoping that I can get a crew from my games to go. Despite my new aquisition of a giant TV, I still like going to the movies. I do not care about the OGL fiasco and don’t fully understand it, despite Kenobi’s helpful explanation.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/31 "2023-03-20T15:06:32Z")

</div>

My son is big into D&D so we will most likely see it in the theaters. I think seeing an owlbear on the big screen is worth it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/32 "2023-03-20T15:13:17Z")

</div>

> [@BigT](#):
>
> The big fear I’ve heard is about how it’s coming out so close to the Mario movie, and how that might reduce its box office.

I think that fear should be going entirely the other way.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/33 "2023-03-20T16:19:57Z")

</div>

Since you asked -

I am not aware of the issues. Until this thread I’ve never heard of them.

But, this movie doesn’t appeal to me at all. Never played D&D. I’m not the target audience.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/34 "2023-03-20T16:50:35Z")

</div>

> [@Miller](#):
>
> I’m already intrigued, for example, by the way they show the displacer beast projecting its false image with its tentacles. I don’t know if that’s original to this movie, or if it’s a part of D&D lore than I was unaware of, but I really dig that way of imagining the creature.

Yeah, I definitely agree. In my 40 years of playing D&D I’ve never seen a displacer beast described that way. In the clip, the beast appears in **two** locations–its actual location and an illusory location–but in every source I remember seeing (including in the current monster manual) the text says something like,

> [@](#):
>
> This monstrous predator takes its name from its ability to displace light so that it appears to be several feet away from its actual location.

in other words, it only appears once.

But the new way of imagining it is wonderful, and that’s the kind of thing I really love seeing in an adaptation: figure out how to take the source material and twist it in a delightful manner.

I’m not expecting this to be the next _Everything Everywhere All at Once_. It ain’t gonna redefine excellence in cinema for me. It’s not going to give me a rich metaphor for growing old or for having children or for life itself. But I fully expect it to be a bunch of big dumb fun. And my wife, a hardened non-gamer, is excited to go see it with me and the kids.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/35 "2023-03-20T19:56:34Z")

</div>

> [@DigitalC](#):
>
> > [@BigT](#):
> >
> > The big fear I’ve heard is about how it’s coming out so close to the Mario movie, and how that might reduce its box office. ⁢
> 
> I think that fear should be going entirely the other way. ⁢

I specifically mean Mario will reduce the D&D film’s box office. The way I wrote it, it could look like I meant the other way.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/36 "2023-03-20T20:06:08Z")

</div>

> [@BigT](#):
>
> I specifically mean Mario will reduce the D&D film’s box office. The way I wrote it, it could look like I meant the other way.

Yeah, I got you. I meant Mario should be the one worried, I am seeing a lot of buzz for this movie and mostly complaints about Mario.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/37 "2023-03-20T21:57:24Z")

</div>

> [@BigT](#):
>
> I specifically mean Mario will reduce the D&D film’s box office.

“Darn, I’m a gamer and I can only go to one movie this spring…”

Can you imagine other flavors of fans (super-hero, for instance) saying that?

IF Mario and D&D were both great, I’m sure people’d go to both. If one of them was sub-par (lookin’ at you, Plumber Boy…), they might be light on an audience no matter what else is playing.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/38 "2023-03-20T22:11:09Z")

</div>

Some people just go to the theater once in a while and choose between what is available at the time. I think being released sandwhiched between Deadpool 2 and Infinity War massively hurt Star Wars: Solo box office. Mario ain’t either of those though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/39 "2023-03-20T22:23:09Z")

</div>

> [@DigitalC](#):
>
> I meant Mario should be the one worried

…Mario is gonna be BIG. Real big. There were mostly complaints about the Avatar sequel yet it made just under 3 billion at the box office. There is a disconnect between the “discourse” surrounding any given film and the reality on the ground. Mario is gonna be just fine.

And the new D&D film looks really good.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373/40 "2023-03-21T00:18:18Z")

</div>

Thanks everyone!

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373.md?page=1)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-new-d-d-film/981373.md?page=3)
