Tomb Raider has had several TV and movie adaptations in the past — while some are faithful adaptations that demand attention, others are not worthy additions to the overarching franchise. The Tomb Raider franchise has been around for over two decades, and, even though it is best known for action-adventure video games, it has successfully expanded into other storytelling mediums. From film adaptations to comic books, from animated TV shows to novels, the Tomb Raider lore is spread across many different platforms.
Even though not all extensions of the franchise have performed equally well, they have together contributed to evolving the rich tapestry of Lara Croft’s universe. Even to this day, the Tomb Raider franchise continues to grow in myriad mediums, paving the way for other Tomb Raider movies, television shows, and even games to emerge in the near future. However, before new TV and movie Tomb Raider adaptations can hit the big and small screens, audiences already have several existing ones to choose from.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
2001
Starring Angelina Jolie as the titular character, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider primarily received negative reviews from viewers and critics. The movie still holds an underwhelming Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 20% and an audience rating of 47%. However, despite being panned by critics, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider performed fairly well at the box office. Against a budget of $115 million, it grossed $274.7 million worldwide, ranking it among the highest grossing video game adaptations of all time.
…despite its commercial success, it is hard not to see
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
as one of the most disappointing adaptations of the games because it offers nothing more than a few memorable action sequences and set pieces.
Owing to its box office success, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider deserves some credit for introducing a compelling female lead to the action-adventure genre. Angelina Jolie, too, did an incredible job of capturing the badass character’s charisma and physicality, allowing both new audiences and the ones familiar with the games to embrace the franchise. However, despite its commercial success, it is hard not to see Lara Croft: Tomb Raider as one of the most disappointing adaptations of the games because it offers nothing more than a few memorable action sequences and set pieces.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life
2003
Serving as a direct sequel to 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life marked Angelina Jolie’s return as the badass character. Surprisingly, the film had a far better critical reception than its predecessor because even though it failed to have a coherent narrative, it upped the ante with its action sequences. In the sequel, Angelina Jolie’s performance, too, convinces the viewer that she embodies the character from the games with the required intensity and depth.
Jon Vough, who is Angelina Jolie’s real father, plays Lara Croft’s father in the movie series.
Unfortunately, despite being more entertaining than its predecessor, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life failed to become anything more than a typical popcorn action flick. This might explain why even its box office numbers were way lower than expected, grossing close to $160 million against a budget of $95 million. Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life‘s disappointing box office numbers ultimately ended the movie series for good, encouraging Jolie to abandon a planned sequel.
Tomb Raider
2018
Directed by Roar Uthaug, 2018’s Tomb Raider live-action reboot proved to be better than the original Angelina Jolie movies because of its ability to stay incredibly loyal to the games. Unlike its predecessors, the reboot was also a breath of fresh air because it focused less on objectifying Lara Croft and portrayed her as a multidimensional character with relatable motivations and vulnerabilities. Academy Award-winning actress, Alicia Vikander, also perfectly embodied Lara Croft by striking the perfect balance between sensitivity and strength.
However, despite marking the inception of a promising reboot series, 2018’s Tomb Raider received mixed reviews. While its mixed reception was far better than its predecessors’ largely negative critiques, many complained that it fell short of reaching its true potential. Even at the box office, Tomb Raider grossed $274 million worldwide, preventing it from missing its break even by a narrow margin. The movie’s sequel was initially rumored to be in the works but never saw the light of day.
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
2024
Although Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft only scratches the surface of Lara’s extensive lore despite having an eight-episode runtime, it sets a strong foundation for the series’ future seasons. By going back and forth between Lara Croft’s past and present, the show effectively develops the character and allows viewers to get a good understanding of her motivations and struggles. At the same, unlike most screen adaptations of the games, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft also gives enough screen time to side characters like Kip, Camilla, and Jonah.
Related
Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft Voice Cast & Character Guide
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft has more than a few iconic and beloved characters, and the animated show has cast them perfectly.
When it comes to storytelling, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is not groundbreaking in any way as it borrows many familiar narrative elements from the games and previous screen adaptations. However, what allows it to etch its own identity in the overarching franchise is its emphasis on bringing new emotional depth to Lara Croft’s backstory. Not to mention, it also seems more imaginative and expansive with its exploration of mythological fantasy.
This animated series follows the iconic tomb-raider Lara Croft as she embarks on thrilling adventures, exploring ancient civilizations and uncovering hidden secrets. Balancing intellect and physical prowess, Lara navigates treacherous environments and encounters formidable adversaries, all while striving to protect the world’s archaeological treasures.
- Cast
- Hayley Atwell , Allen Maldonado , Earl Baylon , Richard Armitage , Zoe Boyle , Roxana Ortega , Maggie Lowe
- Character(s)
- Lara Croft , Zip , Jonah Maiava , Charles Devereaux , Camilla Roth , Abby Ortiz , Peruvian Fighter , Young Lara
- Release Date
- October 10, 2024
- Seasons
- 1