Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
Working with a major studio investment of $151.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $208.2M in global revenue (+38% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) exemplifies precise narrative architecture, characteristic of John Francis Daley's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 14 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Edgin and Holga sit before a parole tribunal in Revel's End prison, having spent years separated from Edgin's daughter Kira after a failed heist. Their broken partnership and Edgin's guilt establish the damaged state requiring repair.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when The parole board denies their release. Edgin and Holga execute a desperate prison escape using a magic item, crash-landing their transport and barely surviving. Their comfortable prison routine is shattered, forcing them into action.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Edgin commits to an elaborate heist plan: steal the Tablet of Reawakening from Forge's vault to resurrect his wife, who can tell Kira the truth about him. He chooses active fatherhood and heroism over running away. They begin recruiting a team., moving from reaction to action.
At 67 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The team successfully infiltrates Forge's vault using the helmet, but discover the Tablet is gone—Forge moved it. False victory becomes defeat. Simultaneously, Sofina reveals her true plan: she's a Red Wizard using Forge to gather an army for conquest. The stakes escalate from personal to world-threatening., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 98 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Holga dies in Edgin's arms after they crash-land. Edgin prepares to use the Tablet to resurrect his wife per the original selfish plan, but Kira—having witnessed everything—begs him to save Holga instead. His wife's spirit releases him from grief, confirming Holga is his true family now. Whiff of death: Holga literally dies, Edgin's old self dies., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 108 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Edgin synthesizes his conman skills with genuine heroism: they'll turn Sofina's own plan against her using the Hither-Thither staff to redirect her death spell back at her army. Simon overcomes self-doubt and believes in his power. The team unites as true heroes, not thieves. New information: they have a counter-plan., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves against these established plot points, we can identify how John Francis Daley utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves within the adventure genre.
John Francis Daley's Structural Approach
Among the 3 John Francis Daley films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.6, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Francis Daley filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more John Francis Daley analyses, see Game Night, Vacation.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Edgin and Holga sit before a parole tribunal in Revel's End prison, having spent years separated from Edgin's daughter Kira after a failed heist. Their broken partnership and Edgin's guilt establish the damaged state requiring repair.
Theme
During the parole hearing flashback, we learn Edgin's original motivation: he became a thief after his wife was killed, abandoning his role as a Harper (justice keeper). The theme of redemption and choosing to be a hero versus a selfish survivor is established.
Worldbuilding
Extended parole hearing framed as flashback storytelling establishes the crew (Edgin, Holga, Forge, Simon), the failed heist involving the Tablet of Reawakening, betrayal by Forge and Sofina, and two years of imprisonment. We learn about Edgin's dead wife, his daughter Kira now poisoned against him by Forge, and the D&D world's magic system.
Disruption
The parole board denies their release. Edgin and Holga execute a desperate prison escape using a magic item, crash-landing their transport and barely surviving. Their comfortable prison routine is shattered, forcing them into action.
Resistance
Edgin and Holga travel to Neverwinter to reclaim Kira. They infiltrate Forge's castle during a public celebration, briefly reunite with Kira, but discover she believes Forge is her true family and Edgin abandoned her. They're captured by Sofina, barely escape, and debate their next move. Edgin must decide whether to run or fight for his daughter.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Edgin commits to an elaborate heist plan: steal the Tablet of Reawakening from Forge's vault to resurrect his wife, who can tell Kira the truth about him. He chooses active fatherhood and heroism over running away. They begin recruiting a team.
Mirror World
The team recruits Simon, an insecure sorcerer with self-doubt, and Doric, a druid freedom fighter protecting her people. Both mirror Edgin's journey: Simon must believe in himself, Doric fights for family. Their relationships will carry the theme that heroism is about serving others, not self-interest.
Premise
The "heist movie" promise delivers: the crew assembles, plans the vault break-in, infiltrates a high-security arena to question Holga's ex-husband about the vault's location, battles a gelatinous cube, escapes with information, travels to recruit paladin Xenk, navigates a magical maze, retrieves the Helmet of Disjunction from Thayan undead, and bonds as found family. Peak fun and adventure.
Midpoint
The team successfully infiltrates Forge's vault using the helmet, but discover the Tablet is gone—Forge moved it. False victory becomes defeat. Simultaneously, Sofina reveals her true plan: she's a Red Wizard using Forge to gather an army for conquest. The stakes escalate from personal to world-threatening.
Opposition
Forge reveals he's moving Kira away and has the Tablet. The team races to intercept at Neverwinter Games, but Sofina ambushes them with magic. Holga is mortally wounded saving Kira. They barely escape with Holga dying. Edgin faces choice: use the single-use Tablet on his wife (original plan) or Holga (selfless choice). Sofina's forces close in.
Collapse
Holga dies in Edgin's arms after they crash-land. Edgin prepares to use the Tablet to resurrect his wife per the original selfish plan, but Kira—having witnessed everything—begs him to save Holga instead. His wife's spirit releases him from grief, confirming Holga is his true family now. Whiff of death: Holga literally dies, Edgin's old self dies.
Crisis
Edgin makes the selfless choice, using the Tablet to resurrect Holga instead of his wife. The team mourns briefly but realizes Sofina will destroy Neverwinter within hours. Edgin processes that being a hero means sacrifice and serving others—the lesson his wife wanted him to learn. They commit to stopping Sofina despite impossible odds.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Edgin synthesizes his conman skills with genuine heroism: they'll turn Sofina's own plan against her using the Hither-Thither staff to redirect her death spell back at her army. Simon overcomes self-doubt and believes in his power. The team unites as true heroes, not thieves. New information: they have a counter-plan.
Synthesis
The finale battle at Neverwinter arena: Doric infiltrates as various creatures, Edgin leads evacuations, Simon duels Sofina and channels the Hither-Thither staff despite her magic, Holga fights Forge's guards. They turn the death spell back on Sofina's army. Forge redeems himself slightly, then flees. Simon succeeds, Sofina is defeated, the city is saved. Edgin proves himself a hero to Kira.
Transformation
Edgin is officially pardoned and reinstated as a Harper (hero/protector). Kira embraces him as her true father. The crew—now a chosen family—prepares for their next adventure together. Mirror image to opening: where Edgin once sat imprisoned and broken, he now stands free, heroic, with family restored. Transformation complete.