How to watch
Tomb Raider Movie Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch the Tomb Raider movies in order
Last updated: August 12 2026
Written by: ChronoBob
Lara Croft has leapt from video game consoles to the big screen twice, first with Angelina Jolie's early-2000s duology and later with a grittier reboot starring Alicia Vikander.
Based on the beloved video game series, the Tomb Raider films follow adventurer Lara Croft as she raids ancient tombs, though the two film eras don't share continuity with each other. Whichever era you choose, Lara Croft's blend of globe-trotting exploration, puzzle-solving, and action has made her one of gaming's most successful crossovers into film.
π Release Order
Release order highlights the franchise's two distinct film eras, separated by more than a decade.
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
- Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
- Tomb Raider (2018)
Since 2018's Tomb Raider is a standalone reboot, there isn't a single connected chronology β instead there are two separate stories to choose from.
π Story Chronology
The Angelina Jolie films form one continuous story, while the 2018 reboot restarts Lara's origin entirely, drawing more from the rebooted video games.
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) β original continuity, part one
- Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) β original continuity, part two
- Tomb Raider (2018) β separate reboot continuity, origin story
Which Order Should You Choose?
If you want classic 2000s action, start with the Angelina Jolie films. If you'd rather see Lara's more grounded, game-accurate origin story, go straight to the 2018 reboot β either era works fine without the other.
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