This Box Office FLOP NEEDS A Sequel (But It Has 1 HUGE Problem)

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Many films don’t get the recognition they should when they first come out because there are just too many movies being released each year for fans to keep up with. With thousands upon thousands of films hitting cinemas, streaming platforms, and video-on-demand services every year, it’s a struggle for audiences to watch everything. This massive amount of content can lead to some films bombing at the box office. Movies like “John Carter”, “Joker: Folie à Deux”, and “Mortal Engines” from this century are examples of such flops, as their box office earnings mirrored their critical reception. One particularly unfair example of a movie that didn’t get its due in the 21st century was a film by a directorial duo with a solid reputation.

The fantasy action comedy written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, titled “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” initially struggled to attract moviegoers. However, despite its disappointing box office performance, it resonated deeply with most viewers who watched it, creating a devoted fan base eager for a sequel. Although the prospect of a sequel seems doubtful given the film’s initial reception, it’s intriguing to ponder possible plotlines. One aspect that a “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” sequel must address is overcoming a significant hurdle that may have impeded the original’s success. Without a doubt, if there is another installment, it will need to rectify one specific issue that potentially hindered the first film considerably.

What Is Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves?

In various worlds, from “The Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter,” to “Avatar” and “Wicked,” there is a shared appeal: an immersive, captivating two-hour journey into different realms. Given this widespread fondness, it seems almost intuitive to transform the most renowned role-playing game fantasy into a full movie, yet the process proves surprisingly complex.

In the year 2000, the initial effort to transform TSR’s (presumably referring to Dungeons & Dragons) into a movie began, and it was doomed for failure right from its inception in development. The project was eventually overseen by producer Courtney Solomon, yet throughout the more than seven years of development, several well-known figures such as James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, Stan Winston, and Renny Harlin were involved. However, Dungeons & Dragons faced numerous challenges including rights disputes, funding issues, multiple drafts, and casting problems. Despite these hurdles, it eventually made its way to theaters in December 2000. Regrettably for Solomon, all his efforts proved futile as the film received overwhelmingly negative reviews with a dismal 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and fared poorly everywhere else.

Despite encountering various obstacles along the way, the production of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, similar to Solomon’s 2000 project, mirrored a chaotic development process. The initial announcement for the film dates back to 2015, but it didn’t hit theaters until 2023. Those eight years were marked by creative disputes, personnel changes, and shifts in production companies, yet somehow the movie successfully navigated through these challenges.

The main storyline of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves principally revolves around a pair: a charismatic and resourceful ex-Harper, and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), a straightforward and merciless barbarian. Their paths cross after an attempt to resurrect Edgin’s wife ends in chaos, resulting in their capture.

The narrative opens with the duo managing to break out of prison, their goal being to reunite with Kira, Edgin’s daughter. Despite their successful escape, they soon find that Forge (previously an ally, now portrayed by Hugh Grant) has deceived them and seized custody of Kira together with the malevolent Red Wizard, Sofina. Now holding a political position as Lord of Neverwinter, Forge has been deceiving Kira about Holga and her father. To rescue Kira and prevent Sofina from using her dark magic to enslave the city, Edgin and Holga gather an assortment of extraordinary heroes with fantastical abilities, embarking on a daring adventure filled with heists as they delve into the heart of Neverwinter.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Was Buried at the Box Office

In contrast to its eye-grabbing storyline and tough fight for success, the movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves did not receive the expected financial rewards. Unlike the 2000 Dungeons & Dragons film, this Chris Pine-led production had no problems securing a substantial budget, but perhaps suffered due to being too accessible. Faced with an overly generous budget of around $150 million, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves could only bring in about $208.2 million at the box office. While it would be unfair to label the film a complete box-office failure, it’s important to acknowledge that expectations were slightly higher.

IMDB ScoreTomatometerPopcornmeterLetterboxd Score
7.2/1091%92%3.5/5

The movie debuted alongside two mostly overlooked films, “A Thousand and One” and “His Only Son”, but its main competition came from a movie released a week later. It had a strong opening at the box office during its first weekend, coinciding with the rise of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”. However, the timing turned sour when “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was released, which, coupled with the film’s questionable marketing approach, resulted in a disappointing box office performance that has negatively impacted its chances for a sequel.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Needs a Sequel (& It Needs to Fix This 1 Problem)

Despite the movie’s disappointing performance at the box office, some ardent fans and critics quickly dismissed the idea of a sequel. However, those who worked on the film surprisingly expressed contrary opinions. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have often been associated with sequel discussions, given their previous work like “Spider-Man: Homecoming” which was a massive box office hit. Yet, no follow-ups have emerged so far. This experience led them to keep their hopes in check and clarify that they never aimed to establish a franchise.

As I ponder over the idea of a potential sequel in an interview, I mused about how we might change direction and bring this project to life one day. One thing I’m certain of is that we’d keep our beloved cast of charming characters at the heart of it all.

As a fan, I’m already familiar with the characters portrayed by these beloved actors, which allows me to dive right into the story without much introduction. However, I’m excited to bring in some fresh faces to enrich our narrative and add an exciting twist to the plot. Of course, my affection for both the actors and their roles remains unchanged.

It’s been suggested by high-ranking officials at Paramount Pictures that a follow-up for “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” might be in the works. CEO Brian Robbins has even hinted at a sequel, but with the caveat that it would need to be made on a more modest budget. However, reducing costs isn’t the only adjustment needed; there’s also a significant problem that hindered Daley and Goldstein’s film significantly.

In the current cinematic scene, it’s all about intellectual property that rules Hollywood. Every studio is on a quest to stand out and define their unique fanbase. Regrettably, in the case of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, they didn’t quite manage to achieve this distinct identity or captivate a specific audience effectively.

The movie delivers a captivating, enchanting journey that appeals to viewers, yet there’s no hint that it was specifically crafted for aficionados of Dungeons & Dragons. Despite being set in the Forgotten Realms, a world originating from the Dungeons & Dragons campaign, the film appears to draw more inspiration from comedies like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Princess Bride rather than its source material.

A follow-up production ought to embody a genuine representation of the cherished tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), brimming with inside jokes, dice games, and perhaps even live players. The movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, while incorporating classic D&D elements such as owl bears, tieflings, and skeletons, seems to lack the dice-rolling experience. A sequel could draw inspiration from TV series for a blueprint, much like how Futurama successfully combined comedy, reality, and action, resulting in some of their most memorable episodes.

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2025-07-07 00:52