The Dungeon Masters

2008

1h 33m

Documentary

Drama

List

67%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

28%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Two men and a woman devote their lives to Dungeons and Dragons as they struggle with a crumbling middle-class America.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Its ultimate message may be that, rather than gaming being a way for misfits to escape from reality, rolling the dice and spinning yarns may be what is finest and most creative about them.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 23, 2009

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Feels like it doesn't accomplish what it set out to do.

Rated: 2.0/4.0

Sep 7, 2020

Full Review

Dorothy Woodend

The Tyee (British Columbia)

The silent language of resentment, yearning, frustration and love captured by famed cinematographer Lee Daniel (Slacker) is often so thick you can taste it, but is also terribly, ridiculously, and wonderfully human.

Aug 22, 2017

Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The Dungeon Masters fails as a journalistic exploration of gaming. But as a glimpse into the lives of the people behind the dungeon master's screen, it rolls high.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 2, 2010

Full Review

Kevin A. Ranson

MovieCrypt.com

In the end, the qualities that make a Dungeon Master also make for an interesting individual.

Aug 4, 2010

Full Review

Christopher Long

Movie Metropolis

As portrayed in the film, gamers dont play because of passion, but because of pathology.

Rated: 5/10

Aug 1, 2010

Full Review

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Audience Member

Well put together documentary but I'm not so sure it ever arrived at a good point, other then showcasing how absurd we can become when we allow an obsession or hobby to alter our priorities....2.5 stars

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An amazing documentary about real people with imaginary lives, loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Dungeon Masters is fascinating at times and dull at others. The subjects chosen for the documentary were more annoying than endearing and in the end little is revealed about the subjects.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

For the record, I have played Dungeons & Dragons--exactly once. But of course escapism takes many forms. This is a case (or three cases) of the fantasy life (lives) of the petty bourgeoisie being dissolved into the proletariat and/or of unproductive laborers--the usual case.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I believe those that really enjoy this movie are those who have lived the life. While I wasn't as fully immersed as those in the movie, I can see how it overtakes their lives. I think it was a great glimpse into the lives of gamers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sort of like a trainwreck, you can't look away. It draws you in innocently enough, but then you just find yourself asking, why? Why?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

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Synopsis

Two men and a woman devote their lives to Dungeons and Dragons as they struggle with a crumbling middle-class America.

Director: Keven McAlester
Producer: Matt Manfredi, Phil Hay
Production Co: Saving Throw Productions, Antidote Films (I), Standard Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 17, 2011
Runtime: 1h 33m