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Action thriller

Tomb Raider (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Tomb Raider (2018) movie poster

Tomb Raider is a 2018 action thriller directed by Roar Uthaug, starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, Dominic West and Kristin Scott Thomas. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $275 million worldwide on a $94 million budget. Critics gave it 52% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
52%
worldwide gross
$275M
Echo Score
64
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Tomb Raider (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Director
Roar Uthaug
Genres
Action , Adventure , Drama , Mystery
Original language
English
Budget
$94M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Tomb Raider About?

The premise of Tomb Raider without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A rebellious 21-year-old Lara Croft disobeys her father's wishes and ignores warnings as she begins a dangerous quest to find him. He disappeared while searching for a mythical tomb. Lara's search leads her to a perilous island off the coast of Japan, where she must face numerous obstacles and uncover the truth behind his disappearance and the secrets hidden within the ancient tomb.

Tomb Raider Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • jungle
  • based on video game
  • female protagonist
  • action heroine
  • chase
  • heroine
  • tomb raider
  • cave
  • tough woman
  • one woman army
  • pistol
  • machine gun
+38 more
  • coming of age
  • survival
  • strong female character
  • island
  • strong female lead
  • two word title
  • woman fights a man
  • female fighter
  • lara croft character
  • tomb
  • storm
  • stylized violence
  • woman punches a man
  • gunfight
  • cockney accent
  • shot in the chest
  • shot to death
  • hostage
  • held at gunpoint
  • rescue
  • murder
  • brutality
  • blood splatter
  • slave labor
  • gunshot
  • parkour chase
  • stitching a wound
  • origin of heroine
  • female warrior
  • tough girl
  • bow and arrow
  • one against many
  • forced to kill
  • booby trap
  • human shield
  • pointing a gun at someone's head
  • handgun
  • mixed martial arts
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Cast & crew

Tomb Raider Cast & Characters

Alicia Vikander leads the cast as Lara Croft, with Dominic West as Richard Croft and Kristin Scott Thomas as Ana Miller. Directed by Roar Uthaug; 23 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Roar Uthaug

More films directed by Roar Uthaug, best-rated first: The Wave, Troll, Troll 2 and Magic Silver.

Full filmography
Ratings

Tomb Raider Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Tomb Raider 52% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 64/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

64 /100

Tomb Raider Echo Score Breakdown

Tomb Raider delivers a moderately engaging adventure anchored by a compelling lead performance but hampered by predictable plotting and uneven pacing. Viewers repeatedly point to Alicia Vikander’s portrayal as a highlight, providing emotional resonance and a grounded presence. The narrative flow often defaults to familiar structures, and while action set pieces maintain energy, they lack originality. The visual and auditory elements contribute consistently to the mood, though they rarely astonish. Overall, Tomb Raider offers a watchable experience that stops short of lasting impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of art and craft, the film presents competent but unremarkable visual design and editing. Critics noted seamless transitions and a coherent production design, though direction was occasionally described as sloppy and lacking distinct flair. The cinematography captures adventure settings effectively but does not introduce novel stylistic choices. Scenes of action maintain clarity, yet the overall visual palette remains restrained. As a result, the art and craft support the narrative adequately without elevating it beyond a functional level.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film benefits strongly from Alicia Vikander’s nuanced portrayal. Observers highlight her ability to balance fierceness with empathy, lending depth to Lara Croft and keeping audiences invested. Conversely, some viewers felt the adaptation diverged from the source persona and that supporting roles received limited development. Overall, the character dynamics are anchored by a singularly effective lead performance that compensates for occasional emotional underinvestment elsewhere.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, Tomb Raider often adheres to predictable adventure tropes. Multiple reviews describe the plot as linear and reliant on familiar hinges, with only occasional surprises in the form of minor twists. Dialogue is frequently called out as lackluster and expository, and pacing varies between brisk escapes and slower, less engaging segments. Although the script demonstrates moments of clever subversion, the narrative ultimately remains straightforward and lacks sustained originality.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    When considering the sensory experience, the film delivers a steady visual and musical backdrop. Reviewers commend the solid visual effects and coherent sound design, noting that the score effectively underscores action sequences. Some sequences suffer from inconsistent CGI quality, and no standout audio moments emerge to distinguish the soundtrack. Overall, the sensory elements form a cohesive package that maintains immersion without ever reaching truly striking or memorable levels.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Regarding rewatch factor, Tomb Raider presents a mixed proposition. The vigorous lead performance and well-choreographed action scenes provide reasons to return, yet the narrative’s predictability and minimal character development limit repeat appeal. While casual viewers may revisit for the thrills and adventure tone, the film’s lack of standout moments reduces lasting engagement. In sum, the movie offers moderate replay value but falls short of becoming a memorable series staple.

Plot

Tomb Raider Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Tomb Raider from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Following the mysterious disappearance of her father, Richard Croft, Lara Croft, portrayed by Alicia Vikander, has been making ends meet as a bike courier in London. With the guidance of Terry (Duncan Airlie James), who operates her martial arts club, she navigates her chaotic life. Richard, an esteemed expert on the ancient figure Himiko, recorded tapes detailing his ambitious research. Himiko, revered as Japan’s first queen, wielded formidable dark magic that spread devastation across her empire. Her powerful generals ultimately captured and entombed her on a mystical island in the treacherous Devil’s Sea, where she remains.

Full summary

The whole story of Tomb Raider, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Tomb Raider Box Office & Budget

Tomb Raider grossed $275 million worldwide on a $94 million budget, 2.9 times what it cost. $58.3 million came from the US and Canada and $216.7 million (79%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$275M

2.9× its budget

US & Canada
$58.3M
International
$216.7M
Budget
$94M
US & Canada 21% Rest of the world 79%
Videos

Tomb Raider Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 clip and 1 featurette.

TOMB RAIDER - Official Trailer #1
  • Trailer TOMB RAIDER - Official Trailer #2
  • Clip TOMB RAIDER - "Adventure" :30 (Not Yet Rated)
  • Featurette TOMB RAIDER - Becoming Lara Croft
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Tomb Raider?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the character Lara Croft?

Cars

Cars in Tomb Raider

29 cars on screen, including the 2012 Ford Galaxy MkII and the 2011 Iveco Daily.

All 29 cars
  • 2012 Ford Galaxy MkII in Tomb Raider 2012 Ford Galaxy MkII Minor role
  • 2011 Iveco Daily in Tomb Raider 2011 Iveco Daily Minor role
  • 2010 Land-Rover Range Rover Series III in Tomb Raider 2010 Land-Rover Range Rover Series III Minor role
  • 1980 Toyota Crown in Tomb Raider 1980 Toyota Crown Minor role
Details

Tomb Raider Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “Tomb Raider 2: A Origem” and “Tomb Rider”.

Also known as
  • Tomb Raider 2: A Origem
  • Tomb Rider
  • 盜墓者羅拉(2018)
  • Tomb Raider: Лара Крофт /​ Tomb Raider
  • Tomb Raider: Începutul
  • 古墓丽影3:源起之战
  • توم ریدر
  • 툼 레이더
  • トゥームレイダー ファースト・ミッション:2018
  • 盜墓者羅拉2018
  • 툼레이더
  • Розкрадачка гробниць: Лара Крофт
+16 more
  • Tomb Raider: A Origem
  • Tomb Raider: Лара Крофт
  • טומב ריידר
  • Tomb Raider: Lara Croft
  • Томб Рейдър: Първа мисия
  • 古墓奇兵
  • Kapeņu izlaupītāja Lara Krofta
  • ทูม เรเดอร์
  • 古墓丽影:源起之战
  • トゥームレイダー ファースト・ミッション
  • Kapų plėšikė Lara Kroft
  • Пљачкашица Гробница
  • Tomb Raider: Las aventuras de Lara Croft
  • Tomb Raider: Huyền Thoại Bắt Đầu
  • 盜墓者羅拉 2018, სამარხების მძარცველი
  • مهاجم مقبره

Seen Tomb Raider?

FAQ

Tomb Raider FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Tomb Raider, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Tomb Raider?

Tomb Raider runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).

When was Tomb Raider released?

Tomb Raider was released on March 16, 2018.

Who directed Tomb Raider?

Tomb Raider was directed by Roar Uthaug.

More films by Roar Uthaug

Who is in the cast of Tomb Raider?

Tomb Raider stars Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, Dominic West as Richard Croft and Kristin Scott Thomas as Ana Miller, among 23 credited actors.

How much did Tomb Raider make at the box office?

Tomb Raider grossed $275 million worldwide ($58.3 million domestic, $216.7 million international) on a budget of $94 million.

How is Tomb Raider rated?

Tomb Raider has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.

Does Tomb Raider have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Tomb Raider has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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