We originally watched this movie in July – but because I had honored the SAG-AFTRA strike, I’d put this in drafts and absolutely forgot about publishing it.
This had been a movie on my to see list, and we’d planned on seeing it in theaters, but life got in the way. I am Dungeons & Dragons adjacent. I’m someone who plays a multitude of tabletop games, but not D&D regularly. Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, and written by them as well as Michael Gilio, Honor Amongst Thieves follows a rag tag group, looking for redemption.
Honor Amongst Thieves: The plot
Chris Pine plays Edgin, a former Harper turned thief, who serves as the leader of our band of misfits (if this were a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, he’d be a bard). His wife was murdered by a Red Wizard in revenge for his job as a Harper (a lawman), leaving him to alone to raise their daughter Kira. He meets Barbarian Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), who helps him raise Kira, and they become thieves. Their party eventually grows to include Simon (Justice Smith), a low level sorcerer, and Forge (Hugh Grant) – a rogue.
Forge proposes they break into a Harper vault. The main draw for him is a Tablet of Reawakening, which can be used to bring one person back to life. Wishing nothing more for his wife to return, Edgin leads them into this. Forge brings along another Sorceress, Sofina, with their party. During the heist, they are caught, and Sofina’s time spell catches Holgin and Edgin. Edgin and Holga go to prison for two years, and break out during a parole hearing.
Ed’s only goal is to find Forge. Forge has become the new Lord of Neverwinter, one of the wealthiest regions in the land. They arrive in Neverwinter reunite with Kira. But immediately learn that Forge has been poisoning her against Ed. He told her that her father left her for riches. Forge orders them killed, and they escape. This sets them on a path that reunites them with Simon. Who introduces them to the teifling druid Doric (Sophia Lillis). And the movie’s Macguffin leads them to the paladin Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page).
Honor Amongst Thieves: My thoughts
Honor Among Thieves balances the fun of a tabletop campaign and tells a story that would appeal to anyone who never played. It’s an accomplishment that other Dungeons & Dragons adaptations couldn’t manage.
There’s a feel that reminds you of a tabletop games. People talking through their actions, trying to justify why their actions work. That feeling of a thrown curveball, either by a DM or by the players themselves.
But the plot itself is something that draws you in. Smaller (but incredibly important) personal stakes for each member of the party, which naturally leads into a save the world moment.
It’s well-acted, well-paced, the best kind of movie romp. I enjoyed this one so much I ordered the Blu-ray the moment it was finished.
Honor Amongst Thieves: Where to find it
Where to find it? You can purchase this on Blu-Ray, rent/purchase the movie digitally, and as of [date] it’s streaming on Paramount+.