Dungeons & Dragonshas been a global phenomenon for over 50 years. It is where players set their own quest and develop their own characters.D&Dis a simpletabletop role-playing gamethat can keep fans busy for days, and the epitome of the fantasy genre in pop culture.Dungeons & Dragonsshows up in media throughout the years like inStranger Things, where fans see the boys playing the game in the very first episode. Other shows likeCommunityandThe Big Bang Theoryalso make references towards this tabletop board game.
The board game has recently been adapted into a movie,Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The game follows a group of heroes that come together for a quest in order to stop evil or accomplish a shared goal. Sometimes, the group of players saves the world, while, other times, they are on a mission to steal some gold. Either way, there is no shortage of quest stories for the big and small screen that audiences will want to join. Here are 10 movies and TV shows inspired byDungeons & Dragonsto watch next.
10The Dragon Prince
Three kids go on a journey that could change the tide of the war between two kingdoms. ANetflix original series,The Dragon Princeis filled with lore and magic that enrich each episode along with the lovable and witty characters within the story. The plot of the show is extremely high-stakes for its main characters, but is able to sneak in moments of humor. All in all,The Dragon Princecaptures the vibe that players ofD&Dget when they sit around their table deciding on their next quest.
Related:The 10 Greatest Fantasy Movie Characters of All Time
Disney and Pixar come together to create the movieOnward, whichScreen Rantsays reflects someD&Dthemes. The movie was not very popular after its release and seemed to fly under the radar for most audiences. However, the film was clearly inspired byDungeons & Dragons,but set in urban fantasy with elves, centaurs, and every other magical creature that can be found in the board game.Onwardeven crept in a classicD&Dmonster: the Gelatinous Cube. The movie follows two brothers, Ian and Barley, as they look for the magical item which will allow them to talk to their dead father for just one day.
8Adventure Time
Fans ofAdventure Timecould argue that each episode could be a game ofDungeons & Dragons. The land of Ooo is broken up into multiple kingdoms dedicated to one aesthetic like candy, fire, and slime. The evil Ice King continuously causes trouble which forces the heroic human Finn, his shape-shifting dog, and adopted brother Jake to stop him. The show plays out variousD&Dtricks with the right amount of humor between the characters. Each adventure feels random while each episode explodes with lore that continues to grow.
7The Hobbit Trilogy
The Hobbitis anepisodic tale of Bilbo Bagginswho sets out on a grand adventure. He leaves behind his quiet life despite his better judgment and even ends up becoming the most important player on their mission. The trilogy is set before the events ofThe Lord of the Ringsseries. While joining a wizard and thirteen dwarves, Bilbo and friends must reclaim the dwarves' home and treasure from the dragon Smaug. It seems like Tolkien was taking a page right out of theDungeons & Dragonsplaybook while writingThe Hobbit.
The Arthurian legend was brought to the BBC with its showMerlin. The TV series was a re-imagining of Arthur’s story while set in a fantasy world. Every episode follows Merlin and Arthur on a different adventure where saving the world seems to be the ultimate goal. At one point, Merlin went on a quest to return magic to Camelot which feels like a plot right out of the Dungeons Master’s Guide.Merlinbrings in mythological and legendary figures to build a world that most people already know, but gives it a refreshing yet classical feel to a story as old as time.
5The Princess Bride
The Princess Brideblends together romance, adventure, and comedy into a cult classic fantasy film. Westley is on a mission to save his only love, Buttercup, while facing his enemies and making a few allies along the way. The characters in the movie are creative and at times a little crazy that could easily be played during aD&Dsession.The Princess Bridehas developed a huge following over the years and will remain a classic within the fantasy genre for its retelling of the ultimate hero’s journey — risking his life for love.
Related:15 Visually Stunning Fantasy Movies
4His Dark Materials
Human souls are able to walk beside their human counterpart in an animal form known as daemons inHis Dark Materials. Lyra lives in an alternate world where her best friend is kidnapped, which forces her on a quest to find him. She leaps between worlds and finds herself in a land of witches or armored polar bears and even a multiverse filled with a magical particle called Dust. The trilogy book series turned TV show has grand battles and poses philosophical questions thatColliderdescribes as the importance of freedom and companionship. These themes and mystical creatures would make the perfect edition to anyD&Dcampaign.
3Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxymay be a sci-fi film, but the films feel like anyDungeons & Dragonsquest. The team that makes up the Guardians come from all over the galaxy giving it the fun background that a lot of players give theirD&Dcounterparts. The team’s constant conflict with one another often gets in the way of their mission, but each of them slowly come together by the end of each film. The found family themes are often a storyline that are found in theDungeons & Dragonsgame.
2Avatar: The Last Airbender
Nickelodeon brought audiencesAvatar: The Last Airbender, which some fans ofD&Dwould argue is one massive campaign. Aang and Katara are the sorcerers, while Sokka is a fighter who goes on their biggest journey to restore peace to the four nations. The world has been under threat from the Fire Nation for more than 100 years, and the characters explore serious themes with the right amount of heart and humor. The show’s biggest bad comes off asthe worst kind of evilthat would make any Dungeon master jealous for not thinking it up.
1The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Setting out on a magical quest is often what makes up aD&Dcampaign and happens to be the plot ofThe Lord of the Rings. More specifically,The Fellowship of the Ring, which involves traversing through various and often dangerous lands. Frodo Baggins begins the heroes journey as he is called to make his way through Middle-Earth to take the One Ring to Mount Doom. The series has created one of the most fantastical worlds to every appear on screens while also telling one of the most compelling tales of trying to stay pure through trials that tests one’s grit.
