Then came Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves . Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, this fantasy heist film managed a rare feat: it captured the chaotic, hilarious, and deeply collaborative spirit of a real D&D session while delivering a polished, high-stakes Hollywood blockbuster. The Plot: A Classic Fantasy Heist
The directors' previous collaboration on Game Night (2018) demonstrated their ability to balance heist-movie mechanics with genuine character moments and sharp comedic timing. Their approach to Honor Among Thieves similarly blends genres, "summoning the spirit of classic Eighties films" while maintaining a modern sensibility.
Hugh Grant delights as Forge, a villain who is both cunning and cowardly, embodying the type of charismatic scoundrel who would sell his own mother for a seat at the lords' table.
A charming Bard and former member of the Harpers. Dungeons Dragons- Honor Among Thieves
At its core, Honor Among Thieves is the story of a charming bard on a quest for redemption. The film opens with Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a former Harper, and his barbarian companion Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez) imprisoned after a heist for a magical Tablet of Reawakening went wrong. After their escape, they return to the city of Neverwinter to find their old partner, the con man Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), has become its lord using their stolen loot. To make matters worse, he has turned Edgin’s daughter, Kira, against her father.
, the franchise extends far beyond the film with prequel novels, official game supplements, and extensive "Easter eggs" for long-time players.
Upon release, Honor Among Thieves earned a staggering (and 93% from audiences). Critics praised its balance of humor and heart. However, its box office was a complicated roll: it underperformed against massive blockbusters ( The Super Mario Bros. Movie ), but found a massive second life on streaming (Paramount+). Then came Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
: A fierce human warrior from the Elk tribe, built for high resilience and melee combat. Simon Aumar (Sorcerer)
The crew encounters a Displacer Beast, an Intellect Devourer, a Gelatinous Cube, and a hilariously overweight red dragon named Themberchaud.
The story follows (Chris Pine), a former member of the Harpers turned thief, and his stoic barbarian partner Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez). After escaping from the high-security prison of Revel’s End , they discover that their former partner, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), has betrayed them, taken Edgin's daughter Kira, and installed himself as the Lord of Neverwinter with the help of a powerful Red Wizard named Sofina . Their approach to Honor Among Thieves similarly blends
The film has many references for long-time fans while remaining accessible to newcomers.
Honor Among Thieves thus represented a rather than a continuation, distancing itself from the earlier trilogy. The eight-year development process—from the initial announcement in 2015 to the 2023 release—was marked by creative differences, staffing issues, and production company changes. It was only when Daley and Goldstein, fresh off their success with Game Night , entered negotiations to rewrite and direct in 2019 that the project found its footing.
The strength of any D&D campaign lies in its party dynamics. The film mirrors this by building a team of deeply flawed, highly relatable characters who represent classic game classes: