If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into the boots of a daring adventurer, the Tomb Raider movies are where the action’s at! Inspired by the iconic video game series, these films have been thrilling audiences for decades—starting with the unforgettable Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001). But Lara’s legacy doesn’t stop there. From movies to comics, TV shows, and beyond, this franchise has truly become a cultural phenomenon, keeping fans hooked and always wanting more.
Whether you’re a longtime Lara Croft fan or just diving into her world, this guide will show you the best way to watch the Tomb Raider movies in order. So, grab your gear and get ready to explore the thrilling adventures that have made Lara Croft a legend. Adventure awaits!
From Best to Worst: Ranking All Tomb Raider Movies!
See the list below for an idea of how Tomb Raider movies are ranked. However, if you’re wondering how many Tomb Raider movies are there? So, there are three movies!
Advertisement 1. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
- Director: Simon West
- Cast: Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Noah Taylor, Daniel Craig, Richard Johnson
- Runtime: 100 Minutes
- Release Date: June 15, 2001
- IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie 2001, starring Angelina Jolie, is the first one of the popular Tomb Raider franchise. Official film synopsis reads:
This live-action feature is inspired by the most successful interactive video-game character in history — Lara Croft. Beautiful and brainy, Lara (Angelina Jolie) is the heroine of Eidos Interactive’s phenomenally successful “Tomb Raider” game series. It is one woman’s fearless quest crisscrossing the globe, in an amazing attempt to save the world.
The film deserves applause for its action. Angelina Jolie brought Lara Croft character to life. She perfectly did justice to the role by capturing her bravery, and physical strength. She made Lara a good female lead, inspiring both longtime fans of the games and new fans.
So, which Tomb Raider film is better? Many fans like this iconic Angelina Jolie version, while others like the new series, which just released in 2024. While it made a lot of money at the box office earning $274.7 million worldwide against its $115 million budget, sadly, it didn’t win over critics or many fans. It has a low score of 20% from critics and 47% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
2. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003)
- Director: Jan de bont
- Cast: Angelina Jolie, Gerard Butler, Ciarán Hinds, Chris Barrie, Noah Taylor, Djimon Hounsou
- Runtime: 117 minutes
- Release Date: July 21, 2003
- IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life is the sequel to 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and it again features Angelina Jolie as a brave woman.
The official synopsis reads: Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) is tasked by MI6 to find Pandora’s Box, an object from ancient legends which supposedly contains one of the deadliest plagues on Earth before evil Nobel Prize-winning scientist turned bio-terrorist Jonathan Reiss (Ciarán Hinds) can get his hands on it.
This second movie got better reviews than the first. This is because of its more in-depth scenes, even though the story didn’t make much sense.
Is Tomb Raider 1 and 2 connected?
Yes, the two movies are connected. The second film started from where the first one left. Fans often debate which one is the best!
Even though it was better to watch it than the first movie, it didn’t do as well at the box office, earning $160 million on a $95 million budget. This was the reason the director was not satisfied and was not in favor of making the third movie.
Fun fact to know!
It is worth knowing that Jon Vough, Angelina Jolie’s real father, plays Lara Croft’s father in the movie series.
3. Tomb Raider (2018)
- Director: Roar Uthaug
- Cast: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Kristin Scott Thomas, Derek Jacobi
- Runtime: 118 minutes
- Release Date: March 16, 2018
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
The 2018 Tomb Raider movie, directed by Roar Uthaug, again brought the franchise and was praised for staying true to the video games.
Just like the previous Angelina Jolie films, this version showed Lara Croft as a real, brave, relatable person with emotions and struggles. Alicia Vikander, who is an Oscar-winning actress, played Lara, balancing her characters with all the emotions. The official synopsis reads:
Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she discovers the island where her father, Lord Richard Croft disappeared.
This film got mixed reviews, with some people loving the fresh take on Lara’s story and others praising Angelina Jolie’s performance and saying that she was perfect was the role!
4. Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024)
- Director: –
- Cast: Hayley Atwell, Allen Maldonado, Earl Baylon, Richard Armitage, Zoe Boyle, Roxana Ortega, Maggie Lowe
- Runtime: –
- Release Date: October 10, 2024
- IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
Tomb Raider movie series: The Legend of Lara Croft is an eight-episode Netflix series that made a come back and gave Lara’s look to fans. The show jumps between Lara’s past and present, helping fans better understand her motivations and struggles.
Unlike other adaptations, it also focuses on side characters like Kip, Camilla, and Jonah. The story is taken from video games and previous movies, it adds more emotional depth to Lara Croft’s backstory.
Who was Lara Croft’s Character based on?
Lara Croft was inspired by strong, adventurous women like Indiana Jones but designed to be a unique and powerful female lead. Her sense of humor made her the best one in the series!
FAQs
Three movies are released: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, and Tomb Raider. So, if mean, how many Tomb Raiders did they make? There are 3 and one series.
Angelina Jolie was featured in 3 movies. Tomb Raider (2001), Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), and Tomb Raider (2018).
The “Tomb Raider 2″ movie, in which Alicia Vikander was starring, got cancelled because MGM, who was holding the rights to the movie, failed to make the film within the period, causing them to lose the rights to the franchise!
Angelina Jolie was only 24 years old when she played a role in the first Tomb Raider movie.
Conclusion
The Tomb Raider franchise has given fans exciting adventures in the shape of games, shows, and movies. Each movie/series brings something special, from Angelina Jolie’s fearless portrayal to Alicia Vikander’s emotional side of Lara Croft. The Tomb Raider movie cast has always been in the headlines, delivering memorable performances.
Watching the Tomb Raider films in order lets you see how Lara’s journey is changing with time. Although fans hoped for a Tomb Raider movie sequel after the 2018 version it hasn’t happened yet.
Still, the franchise is going good leaving fans curious for the next chapter in the Tomb Raider movies order.
Moreover, with a similar genre, you can watch Jumanji, Jason Momoa, and Thriller movies.