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Tomb Raider Movies in Order

By the Bingerun team · How we choose the order →

Tomb Raider universe

The three live-action Tomb Raider movies span two separate continuities: the connected Angelina Jolie duology (2001 and 2003) and the standalone Alicia Vikander reboot (2018). Release order is the simple way in.

≈ 5h 35m to watch all 3 films a single day

0 / 3 done
  1. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 2001

    Simon West directs Angelina Jolie's first outing as Lara; the start of the connected two-film Jolie continuity, racing the Illuminati for an artifact that controls time.

  2. Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life 2003

    Jan de Bont's direct sequel with Jolie returning; a hunt for Pandora's Box that assumes you already know this Lara, so watch it right after the 2001 film.

  3. Tomb Raider 2018

    Roar Uthaug's standalone reboot starring Alicia Vikander, adapting the 2013 video game's younger, grittier origin story with no ties to the Jolie films.

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Why this order?

There are only three live-action Tomb Raider films, and the single fact that decides your order is that they are not all one story. Two of them connect and one stands completely apart, so once you know which is which, the ordering question basically answers itself. Start with the Angelina Jolie pair: "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001, directed by Simon West) and its direct sequel "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" (2003, directed by Jan de Bont). Same Lara, same actress, same continuity, and the sequel assumes you already know this globe-trotting, gun-toting version of the character, so watch them back to back and in that order.

The third film, simply titled "Tomb Raider" (2018, directed by Roar Uthaug, starring Alicia Vikander), is a full reboot with no link to the Jolie movies at all. It rewinds Lara to a younger, grittier origin story and adapts Crystal Dynamics' 2013 video game reboot, borrowing beats from that game and a few elements from its follow-up Rise of the Tomb Raider. If you have played those games, the 2018 film will feel familiar: the shipwreck on Yamatai, the hunt for Himiko, the more grounded survivalist Lara. For that side of the rabbit hole, see our Tomb Raider games guide, which covers the reboot trilogy the movie draws from.

Because the two continuities do not cross over, you can honestly watch them in either grouping first. We default to release order (2001, then 2003, then 2018) because it is the cleanest single line and keeps the connected Jolie duology together up front. If you would rather start with the version tied to the modern games, watch the 2018 reboot on its own; nothing in it requires the earlier films.

As for what comes next: the planned Vikander sequel was cancelled in July 2022 after MGM lost the film rights, so there is no fourth movie. The franchise has instead moved to television. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is developing a live-action Tomb Raider series for Amazon Prime Video with Sophie Turner as Lara Croft; principal photography began in January 2026, but no release date has been announced, so we list it here only as context, not as a film you can watch yet.

Timeline 2001-2018

Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.

  1. 2001 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
  2. 2003 Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
  3. 15-year gap
  4. 2018 Tomb Raider

Where to play it today

Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for Tomb Raider.

Frequently asked questions

How many Tomb Raider movies are there?

Three live-action films: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) with Angelina Jolie, plus the standalone Tomb Raider (2018) reboot with Alicia Vikander.

What order should I watch the Tomb Raider movies in?

Watch in release order: the 2001 film, then its 2003 sequel, then the 2018 reboot. The two Jolie films are one connected story and belong together, while the Vikander film stands entirely on its own.

Are the Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander films connected?

No. The two Jolie movies share one continuity, but the 2018 Alicia Vikander film is a complete reboot with a different, younger origin story and no link to the earlier pair.

Is the 2018 Tomb Raider based on the video games?

Yes. The 2018 reboot adapts Crystal Dynamics' 2013 Tomb Raider game, including the Yamatai shipwreck and the search for Himiko, with a few elements pulled from Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Is there a Tomb Raider 2 with Alicia Vikander?

No. A planned Vikander sequel was cancelled in July 2022 after MGM lost the film rights, so the 2018 movie has no follow-up and remains a one-off.

Is there a new Tomb Raider on the way?

Yes, but on television. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is making a live-action Tomb Raider series for Amazon Prime Video starring Sophie Turner as Lara Croft. Filming began in January 2026, though no release date has been set.

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Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, comicbook.com

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