With the recent trailer announcing the upcoming Honor Among Thieves, fans of Dungeons and Dragons are on the edge of their seats waiting to see the world of the game be brought to the big screen in a large and lavish production. However, since the film won't be released until March 3rd of 2023, many players and DMs might find themselves wanting something to scratch that movie itch.
There are plenty of fantasy films that have been inspired by the iconic RPG, and many films have undoubtedly inspired a plethora of campaigns, but sometimes players just want that traditional escape into the mystical realms of wizards and warriors. Fortunately, D&D fans don't have to look too far to find their next adventure.
Dungeons & Dragons (2000)
Honor Among Thieves isn't the first D&D movie, although it might be the most polished adaptation. The original Dungeons & Dragons movie might not have been the most critically successful attempt, but it did capture a certain light-hearted nature that comes with every session around the table.
This is a movie that should never be taken too seriously, like with most campaigns, and even novices to the game will find something to enjoy about it. It has its red dragons, beholders, elves, and an insanely goofy performance from Jeremy Irons as the dark wizard, Profion.
Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath Of The Dragon God (2003)
Wrath of the Dragon God is a very loose sequel to the previous film, and it's not exactly cut from the same cloth as the somewhat-silly swords and sorcery epic the 2000 production was. What it lacks in Profion's tongue-flicking, it more than makes up in fan service for long-time DMs and players alike.
The plot isn't anything groundbreaking, a party of adventurers is called together to steal a Dragon Orb from an evil lich, but there are several nods and references to elements seen in the game. It's a movie experienced fans will enjoy, so long as they aren't expecting anything particularly groundbreaking.
Dragonlance: Dragons Of The Autumn Twilight (2008)
Of all the words of tongue in pen, the saddest are it might have been. Based on the iconic Dragonlance series, this adaptation of Dragons of the Autumn Twilight had all the right elements for a quintessential Dungeons & Dragons movie. Yet its clunky animation, pacing, and ridiculous CGI monsters ultimately led to its downfall.
With a stellar voice cast that included legendary performers like Kiefer Southerland, Lucy Lawless, and Jason Marsden playing beloved characters of the books, a plot concerning gods, dragons, and evil warlords, and several elements seen across many D&D campaigns, it should have been handled with greater care. Even so, fans of the books and game will not want to turn it down.
Eye Of The Beholder: The Art Of Dungeons & Dragons (2019)
As strange as it might be to consider a documentary for a D&D viewing party, Eye of the Beholder does grant players and viewers a certain appreciation for the artwork that brought the creatures and characters from the guides and Monster Manuals to life. Exploring the history and conception of the game along with its artwork is an absolutely fascinating venture, especially for fans with plenty of love for the story portions of their games.
The documentary explores the early days of the game, the conception of creatures like Beholders and Dragonborn, and even the Dragonlance series. Simply put, it's an informative slice of D&D fan service that will satisfy a large audience of dedicated players.
The Black Cauldron (1985)
It might have been Disney trying to do what was popular in the '80s, it might have nearly cost them their entire animation studio, and it might be the black sheep of their lengthy filmography, but The Black Cauldron is a dark fantasy film that just needs to be seen to be believed. Inspired by the Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander, the film has all the elements of a traditional swords-and-sorcery tale any fantasy fan could expect.
The notoriety of the film is what will garner most viewer interest, but since it does feature literal dungeons, dragons, and a party of adventurers trying to stop a great evil, it should cover all the bases for fans of the traditional questing campaign. It's certainly a film that deserves more attention than it first received.
The Green Knight (2021)
Players wanting something less fanciful and more grounded and gritty wouldn't be remiss for wanting to watch The Green Knight. Like many fantasy films concerning quests and heroism, the arthouse film takes its influence from classic, romanticized epics from the days of Arthurian legends, and it delivers a truly stylish and mystifying tale.
Adapting a centuries-old story can't be easy, but the way the Green Knight dives headfirst into the weirder side of medieval fantasy is absolutely marvelous. Players who have spent campaigns in the Underdark or who enjoy the stranger and surreal side of the genre will eat this epic up with a spoon.
Warcraft (2016)
To say that other fantasy games haven't taken at least some inspiration from D&D and its settings, Warcraft included, would be untrue. However, the way 2016's film adaptation of the famous RPG comes with a grand epic that pits orcs against humans in a war for control of the realms and mystical forces.
While it will more than likely appeal to fans of the Warcraft series than fans of D&D, no fantasy fan worth their XP points can deny the grandiose scale and the stunning world of orcs, elves, magical beings, and huge battles. It's standard fantasy fare that goes above and beyond in the atmosphere department.
The Lord Of The Rings (1973)
Peter Jackson's version might be the gold standard when it comes to fantasy cinema, but for those D&D fans looking for that over-the-top, elaborate, and eccentric fantasy that was so popular in the '70s and '80s, Ralph Bakshi's adaptation of Tolkien's epic is more than qualified for the job. From the animation and character design to the dialogue and deliveries pulled straight from the text, it's practically a mandatory watch for anyone with an interest in the genre.
Bakshi has had his hand in the fantasy genre on multiple occasions, but he was the first to bring The Lord of the Rings to the big screen. Although fans were left wanting a conclusion to his adaptation, the film was an animated love letter to both the works of Tolkien and the classic elements of the fantasy genre as a whole.
Fire And Ice (1983)
As mentioned prior, Bakshi didn't stop with The Lord of the Rings but upped the ante by collaborating with the legendary fantasy artist, Frank Frazetta. Frazetta was known for his artwork in comics and literary works like Conan the Barbarian and Death Dealer, and his partnership with Ralph Bakshi came in the form of Fire and Ice.
The film is the animated definition of over-the-top fantasy, as viewers will be exposed to overly-muscular swordsmen, scantily clad princesses, and dark wizards with armies of demons, just to name a few. The movie is like a comic book brought to life, and the rotoscoped techniques lend it a more vibrant style as a war between two kingdoms is waged with a passion.
The Hobbit Trilogy (2012-2014)
Although it's not the most accurate adaptation, Jackson's prequel to The Lord of the Rings is spellbinding. Bringing together all the elements that made the series so beloved by millions for years back for one more adventure was beyond a brilliant move on Jackson's part.
The Lord of the Rings might be the most famous, but The Hobbit has much more of the atmosphere associated with a typical night of D&D. A group of adventurers is called together in the dark of the night, and a wizard bestows to them a quest for gold and glory, and battles with goblins, orcs, and dragons are all par for the course in this enchanting trilogy.