Movie · 2018 · Action, Adventure, Fantasy · 1h 58m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 1.3/10 (478.5K ratings)
Her legend begins.
Overview
Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she finds herself on the island where her father disappeared.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.3/10
IMDb: 6.3/10
Letterboxd: 2.75/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 52%
Metacritic: 48
TMDB: 6.4/10
Director
Roar Uthaug
Production
Square Enix, GK Films, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros. Pictures
Cast
Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Kristin Scott Thomas, Derek Jacobi, Alexandre Willaume, Tamer Burjaq, Adrian Collins, Keenan Arrison, Andrian Mazive, Milton Schorr, Hannah John-Kamen, Peter Waison, Samuel Mak, Sky Yang, Civic Chung, Josef Altin, Billy Postlethwaite, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva
Where to watch
Max
Curator Review
Verdict
A competent, fast-moving adventure reboot with strong physical presence from Alicia Vikander and enough climbing, traps, and survival action to satisfy genre fans. It’s held back by thin supporting characters, obvious franchise-beginning setup, and a story that often feels more functional than exciting.
Best for
viewers who want a straightforward action-adventure with a capable lead
fans of survival puzzles, ruins, and island exploration
audiences who liked the 2013 game’s grittier take on Lara Croft
people in the mood for a serviceable, undemanding blockbuster
Skip if
you want a witty, character-rich adventure film
you dislike origin-story setup and sequel bait
you need memorable villains or emotional depth
you’re hoping for the campy charm of older game-to-film adaptations
Overview
Tomb Raider is the kind of reboot that mostly understands the assignment: move quickly, keep the heroine in motion, and let the physical action do some of the talking. Alicia Vikander brings real athletic credibility and a convincing sense of grit, which helps the movie feel sturdier than its script often does.
Worth noting
The problem is that the film is so committed to being a “beginning” that it spends too much time explaining itself. The supporting cast is underwritten, the emotional beats are familiar, and the movie occasionally pauses just when it should be escalating. Still, the action is cleanly staged and the island setting gives it a decent sense of peril.
Bottom line
If you want a polished but fairly generic adventure movie, this works. If you want the breezy fun or personality of the best treasure-hunt films, it lands more as a respectable pass than a must-see.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Lucy (3.5★) · 1962 likes
alicia vikander’s arm and back muscles... i’m free on thursdays but i will honestly clear my entire schedule at this point just please call me
sree (3.5★) · 1304 likes
lmao when she yelled "THE FLOOR" and her dad yelled "LARA" i thought he said lava and i couldn't stop laughing
davidehrlich (2.5★) · 850 likes
*incredible* graphics, but way too many cut-scenes. at least they finally got Lara Croft right.
Fanya (3★) · 813 likes
corpse: *lies beneath lara croft*
me: god i wish that were me
alicja (3.5★) · 582 likes
me, seeing alicia vikander shoot arrows at men and beating them up: god i wish that were me
2022 · Action, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 52m · PG-13 · Curator 1.5/10 (530.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Netflix Standard with Ads
A contemporary adventure with ruins, pursuit, and a more overtly comic tone.