For decades, Hollywood has tried—and largely failed—to capture the magic of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . The 2000 film starring Jeremy Irons became a cult classic for all the wrong reasons (hammy acting, bizarre CGI, and a general misunderstanding of the source material). For years, fans of the Forgotten Realms whispered a quiet truth: This game is unadaptable.

Then came 2023, and rolled a natural 20.

Here is the deep dive into why Honor Among Thieves succeeded where others failed, and why it remains essential viewing for both dice-chucking veterans and total newbies. The film follows Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a former Harper turned thief, and his barbarian partner Holga (Michelle Rodriguez). After being wrongly imprisoned following a heist gone wrong, Edgin escapes to discover his daughter, Kira, has been taken in by his former ally, the treacherous Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant). To save her, Edgin must assemble a team of misfits, perform an impossible heist, and resurrect his dead wife using a magical tablet.

The film argues that the best fantasy story isn't about the fate of the world—it's about a father trying to be better for his daughter, and a group of broken people who learn to trust each other. That is pure D&D. Upon release, Honor Among Thieves earned a staggering 91% on Rotten Tomatoes (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+).