From 2000 Flop to 2023 Epic: Dungeons & Dragons Movie Drinking Game

Dungeons and Dragons movie drinking gameDungeons and Dragons movie drinking game

If you’re a fan of Dungeons & Dragons (the game) and love a good movie night, then combining two Dungeons & Dragons movies into an epic drinking game is a must. Whether you’re down to laugh at the cringe-worthy 2000 disaster or enjoy the charm of the 2023 revival, this drinking game will have you raising your glass every time a spell is cast or a dragon makes an appearance.

Why Make a Dungeons & Dragons Movie Drinking Game?

Whether you’re a longtime D&D player or just love a good fantasy flick, these two movies make perfect candidates for a drinking game for several reasons:

  1. The 2000 Movie is Hilariously Bad: Let’s be honest, the 2000 Dungeons & Dragons movie is a cheesy, overacted, CGI nightmare. Watching it sober can be painful, but adding a drink or two (or five) makes it a hilarious group experience. It’s one of those “so bad it’s good” films, especially if you love fantasy but don’t take it too seriously.
  2. The 2023 Movie is Actually Good!: With Honor Among Thieves, we finally get a movie that captures the true spirit of a D&D campaign—full of chaos, charm, and unlikely heroes. It’s a fun ride that’s lighthearted but epic, making it perfect for a more relaxed, enjoyable drinking game.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons (2000): The Original Disaster

The 2000 Dungeons & Dragons movie has become legendary, but not exactly in the way it intended. It’s known more for its cheesy effects, over-the-top acting, and laughably bad storyline. Directed by Courtney Solomon, this first attempt at bringing the iconic tabletop RPG to the big screen fell flat—critically and commercially.

Storyline and Characters

  • Plot: The story follows two thieves, Ridley (Justin Whalin) and Snails (Marlon Wayans), as they are roped into a quest to find a magical artifact called the Rod of Savrille. They must defeat the evil mage Profion (played by Jeremy Irons in perhaps his hammiest role ever).
  • The Tone: This movie has everything—bad CGI dragons, medieval mischief, and dialogue that makes you cringe. If you want something to laugh at, this movie is perfect for a drinking game.

Drinking Game Rules for the 2000 Movie

  • Take a Sip When:
    • Someone says “magic” or “wizard.”
    • You see a dragon with terrible CGI.
    • A character makes a terrible joke (which is, honestly, most of them).
    • Profion (Jeremy Irons) gives a ridiculously overacted line.
  • Take Two Sips When:
    • A character screams in an overly dramatic way.
    • Ridley or Snails manages to escape from a dangerous situation.
    • The dungeon trap is ridiculously easy to avoid.
  • Finish Your Drink If:
    • Someone in the group says, “What the hell is going on?”
    • A character suddenly has a skill they’ve never shown before.
    • There’s an awkward romantic moment (yes, this happens).
Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves
Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023): The Revival

After two decades of waiting, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves finally gave the beloved RPG franchise the movie it deserved. Released in 2023, this film is action-packed, funny, and, most importantly, faithful to the heart of what makes D&D great: teamwork, improvisation, and a lot of chaotic fun.

Storyline and Characters

  • Plot: This one follows Edgin the Bard (Chris Pine) and his ragtag team of misfit adventurers, including Holga the Barbarian (Michelle Rodriguez), Simon the Sorcerer (Justice Smith), and Doric the Druid (Sophia Lillis). They embark on a quest to steal a powerful artifact and face off against Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), a smooth-talking villain.
  • The Tone: The film is light-hearted, with plenty of comedic moments, epic action scenes, and heartfelt moments. The character chemistry is great, and the story feels like a real D&D campaign come to life.

Drinking Game Rules for the 2023 Movie

  • Take a Sip When:
    • Edgin cracks a joke that doesn’t quite land (but he’s charming, so it’s okay).
    • Holga beats up a bad guy effortlessly.
    • Someone casts a spell (and it works).
    • You see a mystical or mythical creature (you can thank D&D for that).
  • Take Two Sips When:
    • Simon messes up a spell (which happens a lot).
    • Doric transforms into an animal.
    • Forge makes a slick but shady deal.
  • Finish Your Drink If:
    • A dragon enters the battle (it’s worth celebrating). 
    • There’s a major betrayal or plot twist.
    • Holga single-handedly wrecks a group of enemies in one sweep: When she’s in full barbarian mode, just down the drink. 

Custom Variations for Both D&D Movies

Let’s dive into the rules for both movies and sprinkle in a few D&D-inspired mechanics drinking game rules to add more hilarity to the mix.

1. 2000 Movie’s “Critical Miss” Variation

Brace for the cringe, my friends!

The 2000 movie is filled with so many “so-bad-it’s-good” moments, it’s almost like rolling a natural 1 in a D&D campaign every few minutes. With this variation, every time you witness an epic failure on screen, you get to roll a die to decide your fate!

How it works: When the dialogue or CGI is so cringe-worthy that you and your friends need to pause the movie to recover, it’s time for everyone to roll a 20-sided die (or pull out a D&D app if you’re lacking dice).

  • Roll a 1 – Critical Miss! You must chug your drink as a penalty for suffering through the scene.
  • Roll a 2-10 – Partial Fail: Take a big gulp to power through the moment.
  • Roll an 11-19 – You pass the check! Take a small sip.
  • Roll a 20 – Critical Success! You’re immune to drinking for the next cringe-worthy scene—you earned it!

Bonus Twist: If Jeremy Irons delivers a line that’s so over-the-top it leaves everyone in stunned silence, the last person to make a noise has to take a double drink.

2. 2023 Movie’s “Hero’s Feat” Variation

Channel your inner adventurer!

With a film as good as Honor Among Thieves, the characters are always doing something heroic or hilariously foolish—sometimes both at once. This variation gets everyone involved in the action by having you “follow” a specific character throughout the movie.

How it works: Before the movie starts, each player picks a character from the cast—whether it’s Edgin the Bard, Holga the Barbarian, Simon the Sorcerer, or anyone else.

  • Every time your character does something heroic (or monumentally stupid), take a sip.
  • If they cast a spell or pull off an impressive feat, take two sips.
  • If your character fumbles spectacularly—like Simon messing up a spell—get ready to chug half your drink.
  • Bonus round: If your character gets knocked out, you’re knocked out too—finish your drink!

Bonus Twist: If anyone picks Forge, the trickster villain, every time he deceives someone, the other players must take a drink to acknowledge his scheming ways.

3. Combo Variation: “Epic Campaign” Edition

Only for the bravest adventurers (and drinkers)!

If you and your group are feeling particularly adventurous, it’s time to tackle the ultimate Dungeons & Dragons challenge: a movie marathon where you watch both the 2000 disaster and the 2023 epic back-to-back.

How it works: Throughout the marathon, every time the 2023 movie outshines the 2000 one (which, let’s be honest, will happen a lot), take a celebratory drink.

  • Bad CGI dragon from 2000 versus epic dragon fight in 2023? Drink.
  • Overacted line from the 2000 movie contrasted with the witty banter of the 2023 cast? Drink again.
  • Anytime you hear someone in your group say, “This is so much better than the first one,” everyone has to finish their drink.

Bonus Twist: If anyone passes out before the end of the marathon, the survivors must roll a die to decide who has to drink in their honor. Rolling a 1 means you chug their remaining drink—may the dice gods be ever in your favor.

4. DM’s Choice Variation: The Dungeon Master Takes Control

Add a twist of chaos!

Bring in an extra level of unpredictability by designating a Dungeon Master (DM) for the night, just like in a real D&D game. The DM has special powers to create on-the-fly rules and can impose extra challenges or rewards based on what’s happening in the movie.

How it works: The DM can pause the movie at any time to issue a “random event.”

  • Example Events:
    • If a character makes a clever or heroic move, the DM can reward the group by allowing them to skip a drink.
    • If a character does something that would surely be a critical failure in a D&D game, the DM can enforce an immediate drink penalty.
    • The DM can also add fun penalties like “everyone talks like a fantasy character for the next 5 minutes, or drink!” or “if someone says ‘dragon’ out loud, take a shot!”
  • Every 30 minutes, the DM gets to create a special event—anything from forcing players to switch characters to making everyone toast every time a dragon appears on-screen.

Bonus Twist: If the DM references any D&D rules or lore accurately during their events, the players have to take a drink in tribute to their geeky wisdom!

Cheers to Dungeons and Dragons Game Night

The Dungeons & Dragons movies—whether you’re watching the laughably bad 2000 version or the much-improved 2023 reboot—are perfect for a movie drinking game. With spells, swords, and plenty of chaotic moments, this game keeps the action going and your drinks flowing. So grab your friends, roll for initiative, and get ready for an epic night of fantasy fun!

By Viola

My friends say I can turn any gathering into a legendary party with best drinking game ideas, whether it's a chill Friday night or a big holiday bash!