Lara Croft Movie 2001 Overview
The Lara Croft movie 2001 is the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, directed by Simon West and produced by Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin. The movie is based on the Tomb Raider video game series developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive, with the character originally created by Toby Gard and the studio Core Design. The film stars Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, with supporting roles by Jonny Lee Miller, Iain Glen, and Daniel Craig, and it was distributed by Paramount Pictures in the United States and by Warner Bros. Pictures in other territories. Production involved companies including Mutual Film Company, Lawrence Gordon Productions, and BBC Films, with filming locations spanning the United Kingdom, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
The Lara Croft movie 2001 premiered in the United States on June 15, 2001, and was released theatrically on June 15, 2001, in North America. The Motion Picture Association of America rated the film PG-13 for intense action and violence, brief sensuality, and language. The screenplay was written by Sara B. Cooper, with story contributions from Mike Werb and Michael Colleary, and the production design was led by Stuart Craig, while the costume design was handled by Lindy Hemming. The film runs approximately 100 minutes and was shot using anamorphic lenses on 35mm film, with a production budget reported at around $115 million.
Box Office and Financial Performance
The Lara Croft movie 2001 grossed approximately $274.7 million worldwide, with $131.1 million in the United States and Canada and the remainder from international markets, according to Box Office Mojo. The film opened at number one at the U.S. box office on its opening weekend, earning around $47.7 million, and held the top spot for two consecutive weeks. The production budget was estimated at $115 million, with marketing and distribution costs pushing the total investment higher, and the film was considered a commercial success for its time, ranking among the higher-grossing films of 2001 globally.
The Lara Croft movie 2001 generated revenue across theatrical, home video, and television licensing channels, with home entertainment sales contributing significantly to its lifetime gross. The film was released on DVD and VHS by Paramount Home Entertainment, and it later became available on digital platforms and streaming services, expanding its reach beyond the theatrical window. The financial performance of the movie helped justify sequels and related media projects, and it remains a reference point for film adaptations of video game franchises in terms of return on investment and global audience reach.
Cast, Characters, and Franchise Context
The Lara Croft movie 2001 stars Angelina Jolie in the title role, with Jonny Lee Miller as Bryce, Iain Glen as Manfred Powell, and Daniel Craig as Alex West. The film features supporting performances by Noah Taylor as Bryce, and the character of Lara Croft is portrayed as a British archaeologist and adventurer who seeks the mythical Scion of Atlantis, a plot device that connects the action sequences to the broader Tomb Raider lore. The casting process considered multiple actresses before Jolie was selected, and her performance became closely associated with the character for a generation of audiences.
The Lara Croft movie 2001 is part of the Tomb Raider franchise, which includes subsequent films such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003) and the reboot series starring Alicia Vikander starting with Tomb Raider (2018). The franchise is based on the video game series developed by Core Design and later Crystal Dynamics, with the games published by Eidos Interactive and, after its acquisition, by