Honor Among Thieves is a highly anticipated film among Dungeons and Dragons fans that promises to bring an authentic game feel in film format. Trailers and photographs of the production so far have raised a healthy dose of hopeful optimism among fans that are certain will do better than the film industry's last attempt at a D&D movie.
While anxiously waiting for the movie to release in theaters, there are other fantasy movies that emulate the feeling of adventure, magic, and wonder that are the core elements D&D game fans can watch now.
8 Mythica
It's easy to write Mythica off as a low-budget film not worth anyone's time, with mediocre CGI and a list of unfamiliar actors. But those who give the film series a chance will get to enjoy the feel of an authentic D&D game told through movie format. Each movie features an expansive fantasy world and an ensemble class who all have very disparate personalities and skill sets that are definitely derivative of the classes straight from the tabletop RPG.
Although the franchise is run on a tight budget, the passion of the cast comes across in all their performances, and with Critical Role DM Matthew Mercer cameoing in several roles and portraying the antagonist of Mythica 3, it is clearly a project made by fans of the famed RPG.
7 Warcraft
Warcraft remains one of the few movies based on a game that pleasantly surprised fans by proving not all game-based movies are cursed. Following the stories of characters from both the Hoard and the Alliance, World of Warcraft fans would notice some fan-favorite characters from the MMO including Anduin, Medivh, and Gul'dan faithfully recreated in movie format.
Beautiful visuals, rich WoW lore, and a fantasy story full of magic, adventure, action, and even some sparks of romance are featured in this film. While it may not be Oscar-worthy, Warcraft is still a fun fantasy movie to whet appetites while waiting for Honor Among Thieves.
6 Dragonheart
An action-adventure movie packed with fantasy, Dragonheart is a fantastic and fun gem from the 90s. In this flick, a Prince has half of his heart replaced with a dragon's after it was wounded during a peasant revolt and quickly becomes an oppressive tyrant. His advisor, Sir Bowen, sets out to slay dragons, believing the dragon heart corrupted him. Once he happens upon the dragon Prince Einon, who he shares his heart with, the dragon reveals he is the last of the dragons. Bowen spares his life, and together they defraud villages by staging dragon slayings in exchange for gold.
The premise is hilarious, but the film also has its serious moments with some darker subplots, similar to how most good D&D stories are balanced with light and dark aspects. Not only that, it is an enjoyable film in its own right.
5 Conan The Barbarian
Though met with a lukewarm reception from critics, Conan the Barbarian remains an excellent standalone fantasy movie following the story of the titular character. As the last survivor of his barbarian tribe, Conan comes equipped with the generic backstory of everyone's first D&D character, which then sets him on the path of vengeance, and coincidentally saving the world.
With D&D staples such as swords, sorcery, and a BBEG hellbent on world domination, Conan the Barbarian has all the key ingredients needed for a fantasy movie to satisfy the needs of the RPG fanbase.
4 Solomon Kane
Though grounded more in reality rather than fiction, Solomon Kane still stands out as a fun film and definitely has some fantastical elements within its historic setting. The movie follows the story of the titular character Solomon Kane, a privateer during the 1600s who stumbles upon an army of demons in a war against the Ottoman Empire. Afterward, Kane renounces all violence and devotes himself to a monastery, perfectly fitting into the Apostate background outlined in the Players Handbook.
With demonic entities ravaging the world, a story of redemption, and a damsel in distress, Solomon Kane has many ingredients needed for a fantasy movie to satisfy RPG fans.
3 Dragonslayer
The clue is in the name of the film: Dragonslayer. Slaying dragons and D&D come hand-in-hand, dragons being one of the most iconic creatures to stumble upon across most of the settings. In this movie, a kingdom lives beneath the tyranny of Vermithrax Pejorative, a 400-year-old dragon to whom the city offers up virgin girls in order to appease it. But this is only a temporary solution, as an expedition sets out to find help to free them from its fiery tyranny.
With swords, sorcery, and a terrifying dragon to contend with, all Dragonslayer is missing is some elves, dwarves, and a good old dungeon to explore.
2 The Hobbit
Another famed trilogy based on Tolkien's beloved franchise, The Hobbit details the journey of the home-loving and polite Bilbo Baggins. In this trilogy, the dwarves have lost their homeland, The Lonely Mountains, which is now home to the fearsome dragon Smaug that has claimed the mountain and all the dwarven treasure for himself. Gandalf recommends Bilbo Baggins as the burglar for their operation, promising him a share of the gold.
The premise alone sounds like the plot hook for a D&D campaign, the promise of gold and glory usually luring players to follow the DM's plan. Most felt The Hobbit overstayed its welcome, with one book being stretched out into a trilogy, like "butter spread over too much bread" but the trilogy remains as a fantasy film with plenty of adventure to offer.
1 The Lord Of The Rings
Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novels of the same name, The Lord of the Rings is essential viewing for everyone, not just D&D fans. Following the events of Frodo, who has come into the ownership of a powerful artifact - the One Ring - he embarks on a quest to destroy it in the volcano Mount Doom, aided by fellow adventurers who join him on his quest.
Featuring an ensemble cast, elves, magic, halflings, wizards and a menagerie of beasts, The Lord of the Rings is as fantastical as fantasy comes. It has become a staple of the genre, and of movie history as a whole. Those eager for Honor Among Thieves should certainly revisit the trilogy.