‘Game of Thrones’ Fans Need to Watch This 44-Year-Old Dark Fantasy Movie

George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones has become a cultural phenomenon and the most beloved fantasy series of the modern era. The first book, having sold over 45 million copies in the US alone, led to the HBO series, which would draw an average of 9.3 million viewers per episode for its inaugural season. Yet, the foundational success of Game of Thrones can be owed to its forbearers, from the iconic work of J.R.R. Tolkien to the grimdark world of Conan as created by Robert E. Howard. On the screen, early works like 1963’s Jason and the Argonauts set the precedent for decades of films celebrating the fantasy genre.

Yet, the underrated gem Dragonslayer has flown mostly under the radar, an initial failure at the box office that saw some later resurgence in appreciation. Many have noted similarities in the discourse around Dragonslayer to Game of Thrones. What are those similarities, and do they make the TV series and movies great companion pieces?

Before ‘Game of Thrones’ There Was ‘Dragonslayer’

Located in the fictional kingdom of the medieval kingdom of Urland, a 400-year-old dragon named Vermithrax Pejorative rules over the politics of the land through his contract with the people who demand a virgin sacrifice twice a year. A group of villagers, led by a man disguised as a woman, Valerian (Caitlin Clarke), seeks out the wizard Ulrich to end the killings. Yet, when Ulrich is killed before he can help, the role falls on his apprentice, Galen Bradwarden (Peter MacNicol), who must now slay the dragon with magical items gifted to him to save Valerian and her people from the cycle of cruelty.

Dragonslayer now exists as a relic of the sword and sorcery genre, which, because of continued floundering success, would become an oddity in theaters only to find new life on TV with shows like Game of Thrones and Witcher. Dragonslayer would mark a box office disappointment, earning just over $14 million on an $18 million budget. While a flop and not necessarily the first thing the average fan thinks of when discussing the best fantasy movies, Dragonslayer would find cult success with its rich world-building and practical effects ahead of its time.

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Matthew Robbins struggled to make a name for himself as a director, with Dragonslayer being his first significant production, followed by a few underwhelming projects. However, his success would become integral in the fantasy world as a writer, with Guillermo Del Toro tapping his talents to work on Mimic, Crimson Peak, and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio​​​​​​. Dragonslayer was meant to be a career launching point for actor Peter MacNicol as his debut in a big-budget film, but he would find notable success later on TV shows like Ally McBeal as John Cage and playing Dr. Larry Fleinhardt in Numb3rs. Co-star Caitlin Clarke remains best known for her performance as Valerian in Dragonslayer.

Fans Noticed Similarities Between ‘Dragonslayer’ and ‘Game of Thrones’

Online fantasy fans would be quick to point out similarities between Dragonslayer and Game of Thrones, with one Reddit user commenting on a thread about how “The set of the kingdom looks SO MUCH like winter fell in the television series!” Another commented on how similar the dragons were in design to the show. Others noted some elements that could relate much closer to the book, including closeness in names like “Tyrian” and “Tyrion.” Both fantasy stories deal with political intrigue, themes of navigating perilous lands, and personal sacrifices. Many of these similarities can be applied to much of the fantasy genre. Still, George R.R. Martin’s praise of the film validates the similarities and reasons fans enjoy both.

One can conclude that any TV series George R.R. Martin wrote reflects his early passion for the genre from the movies and books he read, including Dragonslayer. In the same interview, Martin stated that Dragonslayer remains his favorite fantasy movie, with 2002’s Reign of Fire a close second. Martin specifically praised the design of the Vermithrax Pejorative, calling it one of the best committed to the screen. For fans of George R.R. Martin, putting Dragonslayer on the same level as the work he would accomplish is foolhardy, but its influence makes it an intriguing and insightful watch.

Should You Watch ‘Dragonslayer’?

If you want Dragonslayer in the context of the era, it is a pretty spectacular and misunderstood piece of cinema; the design of the fierce dragon Vermithrax Pejorative notably casts a daunting figure. However, as effects have improved and storytelling in the live-action fantasy TV format has given the sword and sorcery genre more depth than on the screen, the 1981 Matthew Robinson feature may not stand up under modern scrutiny.

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Dragonslayer remains impressive, and the similarities discovered by Game of Thrones fans have made it a curiosity worth checking out, as long as you can appreciate the movie within the timeframe it was released. You can stream Dragonslayer on Hoopla or Kanopy.