Netflix’s 2-Part Action Series Brought Back One Of The Best Adventure Franchises Of All Time

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Netflix frequently adapts popular and well-known franchises, as seen with shows like One Piece, The Witcher, and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. The platform has become known for turning familiar stories into series. However, one adaptation, while excellent, didn’t receive as much attention. It notably succeeded in bringing a classic video game to life on screen – a first for the platform.

As a long-time fan of Tomb Raider, I have to say the franchise finally got the adaptation it deserved with the Netflix animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Hayley Atwell absolutely nails Lara, and the show really gets what makes the video games so special. Honestly, after being disappointed by both the Angelina Jolie films and the 2018 movie with Alicia Vikander, it’s amazing to finally have a version of Lara’s story that genuinely feels like the games I grew up with.

The animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, surprisingly became the strongest adaptation of the franchise outside of the video games. Continuing the story after Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the show confidently blends compelling storytelling with the exciting action fans expect. It’s the first time Lara Croft’s adventures have felt truly natural outside of a video game.

An Animated Show Did What The Tomb Raider Movies Couldn’t

The Tomb Raider series seemed perfect for a movie adaptation. The games already had a movie-like feel, almost like playing through an action film. However, despite this, the films starring Angelina Jolie, and later Alicia Vikander, all had trouble finding the right tone and capturing what made the games special.

The Tomb Raider movies from the 2000s focused too much on big action scenes and didn’t develop Lara Croft as a relatable character. While Angelina Jolie’s portrayal was memorable, it often made her seem untouchable, which didn’t capture the resourceful and down-to-earth spirit fans appreciated. The 2018 reboot tried to fix this by showing a more fragile Lara, but it ended up sacrificing the excitement and playful adventure that made the series popular.

The new series, The Legend of Lara Croft, works so well because it strikes a perfect balance. It captures the emotional depth of the recent Tomb Raider games while also bringing back the classic, action-packed treasure hunts of the older games. The show understands that Tomb Raider isn’t just about escaping dangerous places – it’s about the excitement of finding something new.

Animation was a great fit for a Tomb Raider TV series. Because it didn’t have the budget limitations of live-action shows, the series could fully capture the epic scope of the video games. When The Legend of Lara Croft premiered in 2024, it finally gave fans what they wanted: an adaptation that was both true to the original games and a compelling story in its own right.

Lara Croft’s TV Legacy Doesn’t End With The Netflix Series

I was sad when Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft finished its second season in 2025, but I’m so excited to hear Lara’s story isn’t over! There’s a new live-action Tomb Raider series coming to Amazon Prime Video, and it sounds amazing. Sophie Turner is going to play Lara, and from what I’ve heard, the show will take inspiration from both the original games and the newer ones, which is perfect!

The show’s blend of realistic character building and exciting adventures could be what makes it successful, similar to the approach taken in The Legend of Lara Croft. This combination gives the Amazon Prime Tomb Raider series a real chance to be the best live-action adaptation of Lara Croft yet. Amazon has already shown it can deliver compelling action thrillers, with hits like Jack Ryan and Reacher, which suggests they’re well-equipped to handle this series.

Fans have good reason to be excited about the new live-action Tomb Raider project. The timing seems perfect, as video game adaptations are currently very popular and successful. This new series has a real chance of succeeding, much like The Legend of Lara Croft did.

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2026-04-27 01:38