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D&D Movie Tracking for an Anemic $25 Million Opening (Patreon)

Published:
2023-03-24 13:20:45
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Someone should probably do a video on this. Stay tuned for an emergency Sunday upload. 

Comments

Bagel-Man

I’m excited, I like your movie discussions.

Matthew Crismali

Will the video be "spoiler free"? I'm not planning on watching the movie until it hits a streaming service.

Gregory Helding

I saw it and thought it was great. It’s not a modern classic. But it’s a good solid film.

Masterhit

I had the chance to go for a sneak preview but couldn't work it into my schedule. A guy in my game group went and he wouldn't say what he thought because he didn't want to spoil anything should we decide to go.... but I could tell he had fun with it. As much as I dislike WotC/Hasboro's behaviors I am conflicted about the movie. If the movie is entertaining and fun I think it 'helps' D&D and TTRPGs as a whole. I also think if the movie epically fails it will simply mean another decade of no Sword and Sorcery movies (even if they are corporate, pop-culture messes). In the end, what I want is 80's fantasy movies redone with better production value, effects, and acting. We're unlikely to get that, but I think if the D&D movie flops that is just another nail in that coffin. In my older age, I am pretty relaxed about movies anyway. I don't watch much/many and if they entertain me then it's good enough. My biggest complaint is the storytelling is so loose and often slow that the movies are an hour (or more) too long. Thoughts?

Gregory Helding

I’m at Gary Con right now. I went to a preview last night with 75 others including some TSR folks from way back when. Four out of four gaming nerds gave it a thumbs up! Your mileage may vary if course. The trailers did not give away all the good parts, btw - or even the story line.

MagicMurlo

Well as usual weekend box office counts will not involve my dollars. (Mostly cause I'm broke as a joke! And I ain't laughing!)

William Watkins

All reviews for the film have been top notch and consistent, even Forbes likes it. I can’t see it being “anemic” in the least. I can’t help but feel the overall sentiment in the creative community is wishing for its failure. Why? And what happens if it’s a hit?? Then what are they going to wring their hands over? I can’t wait, taking the kids, the wife, and both of my gaming groups are going. I’ve got a hunch it’s going to go over well.

MrGunn

Mr. Tenkar liked it. So who knows, maybe I will get out of the house and actually go to the theater for the first time in three years.

James C
>>104790039

I also would like to see a more serious take on D&D fantasy similar to LotR but I know I’m in the minority. The trailers reminded me of Guardians of the Galaxy in Faerun. It will have all the silly modern humor and over dramatic action sequences. It will work for current audiences but I don’t think it will stand the test of time. The main problem is, D&D is still a niche product. I’d dare to say LotR was somewhat a niche product but it became a major IP because Peter Jackson took it seriously. I mean seriously, besides geeks and nerds, who really cared for Middle Earth before the movies? Not as much as we like to think. Until Hasbro takes D&D seriously I don’t know if it will ever cater to those outside the hobby. Just my take.

Masterhit
>>104790039

I agree completely. Sadly I think you're dead-on with the niche-ness of D&D. I can't necessarily see a grittier or darker fantasy movie working commercially. I think the good news (?) is that we aren't all that many years away from being able to tell an AI exactly what movie we'd like to see and make movies ourselves. That may sound crazy, but I have been pretty impressed by how quickly this tech is advancing. As much as I love 80's movies like Dragonslayer, Conan, Krull, and Beastmaster, getting movies like those, more serious or not, seems highly unlikely. These movies are super-campy by today's standards. That's a different side to the 'lens flare' or 'Avengers/Guardians' coin. I can enjoy them all. What I'd love is something grimdark... and that just seems impossibly unlikely without it being a fan-made thing.

Masterhit

I mentioned that one of my game group buddies went and I am pretty sure he loved it secretly... and we were all hating on WotC/Hasbro corporate for the OGL debacle. We had discussed boycotting it to stick it to them in the purse, but we sort of feel like if people don't see the movie we may get nothing else made for another 10 years. There is an argument to be made that having a slew of MCU-style D&D movies may be worse or bad in and of itself, but I'd rather they exist and I can be selective about them than they never get made.

The Tabletop Engineer

I think part of the issue is that movies just don't seem to draw as much of an audience these days. I could be wrong. My 15 year old never goes to the movie theater... nor do his friends. They wait for streaming. When I was 15, we were at the movies every week, sometimes more often.

Steven

I'm torn to see this movie. I'm from the older generation, I'm used to a more dark and grim type of movie where the heroes, male or female, are tough, rugged and look like they would kill you just as soon as look at you. From what I've seen, the heroes in the new movie seem a little to "soft". Kind of like a Boy Band trying to be Motley Crue.

Masterhit
>>104802126

Yeah - they don't appear even as tough as Menudo, much less New Kids on the Block... lol Bardz-2-Men?

Andrew
>>104802126

To me it looks like Guardians of D&D, and that's not the kind of film I'd be interested in. The thrust of the movie looks like an excuse to inject snappy dialogue between cast members at the expense of story. Most recently, I've just finished rewatching Rome, and have started watching Deadwood for the first time. I don't know why I didn't see this earlier. Deadwood is amazing! And Gunpowder---what a great show that was, too. So Guardians of D&D isn't really up my alley. Were I making decisions at this level, I'd probably start with something like Dragon Lance, and then have pushed into other IPs that can go darker, so you capture the whole gaming audience, showcasing the range of stories that can be told with D&D. The D&D movie franchise would be an umbrella for several different types of movie series that go from PG-R rated content.

Masterhit
>>104800831

I find my kids do what's 'easy/convenient' a lot. I mean, between COVID and the massive convenience of streaming ... I kind of get it... But seeing a movie with a few friends on a little (or even pretty large) TV screen is just nothing like seeing it with hundred(s) of people in a theater regardless of how epic your home setup is...

Andrew
>>104802126

I'm actually looking forward to seeing the Musketeers movies coming out of France--It's what I'd want my games to look like in so many ways. Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' (2023) Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby also looks spectacular!

Boones

Not going to watch it, just as I haven't watch a single movie released after 2018. I don't support the current Hollywood agenda, and not consuming their stuff is the only way to show that.

Masterhit
>>104802126

I've watched all of Deadwood (some episodes twice) and the movie. Great show! I never tried Rome or Gunpowder... I'll have to check those out.

Rolling Thunder

Between the Hollywood push of "the message", WotC's basically doing the same, the OGL BS, Kyle Brink saying "guys like me (i.e. white men) can't leave the hobby soon enough" and the movie's writers saying how "emasculating the leading men" was "funny", they would have to pay me to watch this dumpster fire of a movie. Sorry if that seems rough but I feel pretty strongly about all this.

Brent Tomlonovic

I thought it was a fun movie, not great cinema, but a fun movie that was a nice distraction. I was a little torn about seeing it because of all of Hasbro's OGL BS but I went. My wife and her game group went and she really wanted me to go so I did. Ultimately, I don't regret seeing it. Your mileage may vary depending on personal preference. If your the kind of person who gets butt-hurt about main characters who are not straight white men or who does not like seeing dark-skinned people as anything but antagonists, you probably won't like it.

Jay
>>104808796

No shock here. I can't wait for Critical Drinkers review. Should be a good laugh.

Jay
>>104800831

I think your on to something here. Everyone I know stopped going to theaters in recent years. I stopped because the everything became over priced and the quality of films were degrading. The classics were remade for modern audiences who mostly rejected them as evidenced by ticket sales and everyone is getting tired of the corporatized superheroes franchises. Disney has lost billions and Hollywood is no longer making the money it once was.

Glumer Games LLC
>>104791376

Reviews do not typically reflect actual general audience opinion. There’s a chasm of disconnect between viewers and reviewers.

Glumer Games LLC

I’ve seen the trailers. That’s enough for me (and I’m obviously not alone) to say I’ll pass. Tropes and general nostalgia aside, the story looks no better than the Jeremy Irons version, and with the added one liner-a-minute flavor, the demasculizing of every male character, and a set and costume design that look way too clean, it’s simply not worth my money.

William Watkins
>>104791376

I follow Rotten Tomatoes and legit publications that review on all kinds of movies, and they usually hit the mark with the pulse. Even Ant Man 3 is going to gross over $225 million and that’s not even a big draw for die hard Marvel fans. So to expect a different action movie from the Marvel type of movie that will draw a built in audience AND newbies from the current reviews to flop at $25m is kind of absurd. There’s nothing to compete with it, and the cast has enough recognition to draw outliers in. If there were zero feedback and no sneak previews going on, then I would say it’s doomed. But you’re not paying attention to the data.

James C
>>104790039

Those 80s fantasy movies were pretty neat but yeah they are a bit campy. But it maybe due to the lower budget and special effects technology at the time. That being said, I think the first Conan still feels good. It’s probably because it had a bigger budget and some serious actors. Grimdark can work but it can’t be too hopeless. People still like to see the hero win. But I also agree it will never achieve wide popularity like superhero or action movies.

James C
>>104800831

Quality of movies and money obviously have an impact. But I want to add that the internet and online activity is a big if not biggest reason. Most kids don’t go out to meet with friends because they don’t have to since they can chat online. And chat in groups. It’s like teenagers back in the 80s being on the phone all day but now it’s with your entire group using discord. And kids don’t actually miss hanging out in real life because they don’t know how it feels. Some do and make the attempt but the convenience of online socializing is too tempting.

Steven Fader
>>104791376

It is actually competing with John Wick 4 (2nd weekend), which isn't a good matchup with John Wick being another action movie with a big following. You could be right, but I think there is a chance its going to crash and burn.

William Watkins
>>104791376

Wick is going to dip big second weekend regardless, it’s the 4th sequel and diminishing returns are inevitable. So I don’t consider it a competitive option, since D&D will be a wider appeal to under 17 also.

Graham Kane

I wasn't pushed either way on this movie. But my wife wants to see it so I think we'll be going. Probably won't be opening weekend though as I want to see John Wick first. Trailer just didn't excite me, the Marvel formula is getting very old at this stage.

Dread Maps

Is it marvel is the guise of dnd. I think it is. And I’ve been sick of marvel movies for a long time. Pass.

Randall Case
>>104808796

I am waiting for that too. He's a goof, but he calls movies pretty well. If he's into it then I *might* give it a look. Otherwise, "meh". I like my money more.

Andrew
>>104802126

Carnivale was just a work of art, and I agree, it ended one season too soon. But overall, I'm okay with an ambiguous ending for that one.

Rolling Thunder
>>104817259

No surprise there. The writers (Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley) said in an interview with CBR that they "love emasculating leading men" because its "funny and fresh".

samurguybri

How is this film ‘woke’?

Lenny Orth
>>104790831

I just watched it. I believe many women will appreciate that the women in this movie are more than just pretty things to look at. Based on the many video distributed games being played, I'd say women make up a large portion of today's player base. Three players at my game are women. Your table might reflect something else. I didn't see anything that would lead me to believe politics in general or maga ideology specifically was being portrayed, even obliquely. But then again I do have a hard time wrapping my head around any of that maga psychology.

Lenny Orth

Just finished watching it. The theater was packed, haven't seen that in a long time. The movie was very entertaining. It was fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to watching it on the big screen again. It wasn't perfect, but what is?

Euphemism
>>104886109

The creators spoke about intentionally emasculating the leading male characters.

Cee-Jay
>>104800831

The story I've heard is that the loss of DVDs has really put a strain on movies. In the past, a movie could be a bit of disappointment at the box office but still recover with DVD/Video sales. Modern movies don't have that 2nd chance, so the studios are being much "safer" in what they'll make. Also I'll add, that something has happened with the writers that we've got these days. My gosh, the writing is just so, so, so bad in a lot of the popular movies. A series of random events mashed together does not a good movie make (with rare exceptions). Basically, the big movies suffer from the same problems that 5e does!

jnlsn family
>>104805057

I'm with you man. I don't let my kids watch anything made after 2012. Right now we watching Gummy Bears and the O.G. Duck Tales

jnlsn family

Hard pass. I'm gonna re-watch Lady Hawk.

Henry Duterte

Was it "woke". Maybe a little. The female characters were OP but I like that everyone brought something to the table. Everyone had a backstory. Everyone grew at the end (a bit). I'd imagine it's similar to what a D&D game would be. Was it great? Nope. The trailers spoiled a lot of the fun parts in the movie and the "making of Dungeons and Dragons" clip before the movie started ruined even more surprises. It was ok. I don't mind spending my cash to escape and watch a fantasy movie. No ragrets.

Henry Duterte

Was it "woke". Maybe a little. The female characters were OP but I like that everyone brought something to the table. Everyone had a backstory. Everyone grew at the end (a bit). I'd imagine it's similar to what a D&D game would be. Was it great? Nope. The trailers spoiled a lot of the fun parts in the movie and the "making of Dungeons and Dragons" clip before the movie started ruined even more surprises. It was ok. I don't mind spending my cash to escape and watch a fantasy movie. No ragrets.

Todd Sharp

I plan to support it; two reasons. I want more options in fantasy genre. I want fantasy to get much larger budgets to be done ‘right’. Voting with dollars. You won’t get what you don’t pay for.