Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is the highly anticipated film based on the beloved tabletop game, and while it might not be exactly what audiences are expecting, that is actually a good thing. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has already shown that it will be fairly accurate to the games, featuring many of the RPG's most famous elements. However, some may be in for a rude awakening due to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' comedic tone.

Even before the 2023 movie, Dungeons & Dragons had a rich film history. A live-action Dungeons & Dragons movie trilogy was released from 2000 to 2012, although it was poorly-received in part due to its incredibly generic fantasy tone. Players of the game were more or less on board with the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves reboot at first, but the trailer's humor and unexpected tone have caused the movie to lose some of that goodwill. Strangely, the 2023 Dungeons & Dragons movie's tone actually makes it even more accurate to the original game.Related: 1 Detail Fixes Honor Among Thieves' Biggest D&D Complaint

Every Dungeons & Dragons Campaign Is Different

Chase in Dungeons and Dragons movie

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' unique tone perfectly mirrors the way that the original tabletop RPG's campaigns are structured. Each Dungeons & Dragons campaign is headed by a player who takes the role of Dungeon Master, with the DM choosing the rules, story, and results of each player's actions. Different Dungeons & Dragons classes mean that the story is always changing, with the Dungeon Masters putting their personal touches on each campaign. Because of the Dungeon Master, the tone of each campaign can be wildly different, mirroring the weird tone of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Giving the 2023 Dungeons & Dragons movie a generic, more serious tone would not make the film any more faithful to the game. On the other hand, plenty of campaigns have employed the comedic vibe of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. While the film may be too comedic for some, many players have been involved in campaigns just as quirky and funny as Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Unexpected Turns Might Make For Better D&D Spinoffs

Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves Poster

These unexpected tonal turns may actually pay off in the future, helping to set up Dungeons & Dragons sequels and spin-offs. Giving different tones to each Dungeons & Dragons movie means that the franchise can tell different stories with unique tones rather than adhering to generic fantasy tales. Different writers could put their own spins on Dungeons & Dragons, possibly setting up a cinematic universe where each film is wholly a product of its individual creator - much like how campaigns are the product of their Dungeon Masters.

Another benefit of changing tones is that future Dungeons & Dragons movies can fix problems with previous entries. If the tone and style of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves do not work, future movies can improve by taking a different approach entirely. Having unexpected elements allows Dungeons & Dragons to be a lot more flexible, which is one of the biggest benefits of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves not being what audiences expected.

More: Honor Among Thieves Trailer Confirms Two Major D&D Characters

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