Lara Croft has been around for nearly three decades, and most of us have crossed paths with her at some point. Whether that was in the jagged, low-res era of the 90s or during her grittier reboot years, she has always stood out.
Lara’s evolution says a lot about how games, movies, and their audiences have changed. This piece looks at how she has been portrayed in games and films over the years, with a focus on tone, design, and how both media shaped her character.
The 90s Era: When Lara Became a Star
Back in 1996, Tomb Raider hit shelves and changed things fast. Core Design built a 3D platformer around a woman who didn’t need saving. Lara explored tombs, climbed ruins, dodged traps, and pulled off impossible jumps. She was smart, fast, and fully in charge. Early titles, like Tomb Raider II, gave players tough puzzles and wide-open levels to figure out. She barely said a word, but her presence was strong.
That said, the marketing got out of hand. Eidos leaned hard into posters and ads that focused more on her looks than her role. Developers were frustrated. By the time The Last Revelation rolled around in 1999, the team had had enough. They killed her off in the story just to take a break.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft
Release Date: February 14, 2024
Genres: Puzzle, Adventure, Shooter, Strategy
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Genres: Shooter, Puzzle, Adventure
Angelina Jolie Takes Over
In 2001, Lara moved to the big screen.
Angelina Jolie played her in a loud, flashy movie that felt right at home with early-2000s action trends. She had gadgets, slow-motion fights, and a smirk for every villain. Jolie nailed the tone. Her version of Lara was physical, playful, and always in control. The film didn’t go deep into character, but that wasn’t the goal. It showed off a confident hero who could outfight and outthink anyone in the room. The sequel stuck with the same style. People showed up, even if critics didn’t care for it. These movies cemented Lara’s image for a lot of casual fans. For many players, she remains the definitive Lara, the standard by which every other version is measured.
Resetting the Story in 2013
The reboot in 2013 was a hard shift.
Crystal Dynamics started fresh. This time, Lara wasn’t a legend. She was young, unsure, and thrown into a brutal situation. No mansion, no fame, just survival. The game gave players a mix of climbing, crafting, stealth, and combat. The bow replaced pistols. Scars replaced swagger. Players watched her get stronger, not just physically, but also mentally. Rise and Shadow of the Tomb Raider kept going in that direction. These games had longer stories and more character focus. Not everyone liked the change. Some missed the old energy, others appreciated seeing her struggle and grow. Either way, it was a clear break from the past.
Tomb Raider GOTY Edition
Release Date: March 04, 2013
Genres: Shooter, Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Years Celebration
Release Date: February 09, 2016
Genres: Adventure, Shooter, Role-playing (RPG)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Release Date: September 14, 2018
Genres: Shooter, Adventure, Puzzle
Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy
Release Date: March 18, 2021
Genres: Adventure
Alicia Vikander and a New Type of Hero
In 2018, the rebooted film came out. Alicia Vikander played a version of Lara based closely on the new games.
She was lean, serious, and grounded in reality. The movie followed her search for her missing father and showed her getting pushed to the edge. It avoided big stunts and leaned into grit. There was no mansion, no double pistols, and nothing exaggerated. Just a woman trying to survive. Some fans wanted more flair, others liked the change of pace. It didn’t make huge waves, but it matched the direction the games were taking.
Games Let You Act, Films Make You Watch
In games, you are Lara. You make the jumps, fire the shots, and solve the ever-present puzzles. The original games gave players tricky maps and few hints. It was about trial and error, and that made wins feel earned.
Films naturally can’t offer that, as they follow a script. You’re just along for the ride. The 2013 game added XP, gear upgrades, and more ways to approach combat. The 2018 movie tried to show some of that, but it’s not the same. Watching someone become a survivor doesn’t feel as deep as earning it yourself.
Changing Times, Changing Lara
The series has followed the trends. When games were big and loud, so was Lara. When players wanted emotion and backstory, the series adapted. After Core Design stepped back, Crystal Dynamics took the lead. Eidos and Square Enix helped reshape Lara to fit the times. Along the way, she stopped being a poster and became a person. Not everyone was on board with that shift. Some players missed the fun and flair. Others thought the change was overdue. Either way, the reboot era showed that the character could do more than jump and shoot.
Lara Croft Evolution: What’s Next
New games are coming. Tomb Raider Catalyst is in the works. There’s talk of a timeline merge, blending classic confidence with modern writing. A remake called Legacy of Atlantis is rumored too. On the film side, Amazon is planning a series. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is writing it, and Sophie Turner is reportedly playing Lara.
Early images show the tank top and holsters again. Looks like they want to bring some of the old attitude back.
Tomb Raider Games Vs. Movies
Lara Croft has lasted longer than most game characters. She’s been a puzzle solver, a movie star, a survivor, and more. Each version reflects where games and stories were at the time. And that’s what makes her interesting. She changes. And with new projects on the horizon, she’s not going anywhere.