What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTomb Raider
Film · 2018
If you loved Tomb Raider, start with Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Simon West, 2001) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 1 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Tomb Raider across media.
What hooked you in Tomb Raider is the way a dangerous, isolated environment forces a protagonist to confront their own capabilities.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Simon West · Film · 2001
Adaptation
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life
Jan de Bont · Film · 2003
Books on the same thread
Educated: A Memoir
Tara Westover · Book · 2018
Explores: Family dysfunction, Self-discovery, Overcoming adversity.
Just as Lara Croft must push past her limits to survive, Tara Westover’s memoir captures the visceral, grit-filled journey of overcoming adversity to forge one’s own independent future.
The Tombs of Atuan
Ursula K. Le Guin · Book · 2012
Explores: loss of innocence, self-discovery, power and corruption.
If you appreciated the self-discovery found in Tomb Raider, you will find resonance in this coming-of-age story that mirrors Lara’s internal evolution through a journey of profound change.
The Tomb
F. Paul Wilson · Book · 1998
Explores: Good vs Evil, Ancient Evil, Occultism.
This thriller echoes the high-stakes peril of Tomb Raider, replacing the island setting with occult investigation while maintaining the intense, relentless pressure of facing an ancient, hidden evil.
Ready Player One: A Novel
Ernest Cline · Book · 2017
Explores: Nostalgia, Virtual Reality, Escapism.
Lara Croft’s drive to navigate complex, hostile spaces is mirrored here, as the protagonist competes within a challenging environment that demands both ingenuity and a mastery of survival skills.
Series on the same thread
Lost in Space
Irwin Allen · Series · 2018
Explores: Family Survival, Interplanetary Colonization, Human vs. Environment.
Much like the Robinson family, Lara Croft in Tomb Raider must rely on her wits and resilience to navigate a lethal, unfamiliar environment after a sudden, catastrophic crash.
Podcasts on the same thread
Raiders Of The Lost Podcast
Podcast
Explores: film criticism, television criticism, blockbuster movies.
If you enjoyed dissecting the cinematic action of Tomb Raider, this podcast provides the deep-dive analysis of blockbuster storytelling that will satisfy your curiosity about the craft behind films.
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The high adventure and sense of exploration that defined Tomb Raider are front and center here, translated into an improvised, collaborative experience that captures the thrill of discovery.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Tomb Raider movies in?
You can watch them in order of release. Start with the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, followed by the 2003 sequel Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life. The 2018 Tomb Raider movie serves as a standalone reboot of the franchise.
Is the 2018 Tomb Raider movie a direct sequel to the 2001 film?
No, the 2018 Tomb Raider movie is not a sequel to Lara Croft: Tomb Raider or The Cradle of Life. It is a separate adaptation that focuses on Lara Croft as the daughter of a missing adventurer searching for her father on a remote island.
Does the 2018 Tomb Raider movie follow the same plot as the earlier films?
No, the 2018 Tomb Raider film features a different narrative than the 2001 and 2003 movies. It centers on Lara Croft pushing herself beyond her limits to discover the truth behind her father's disappearance on the island where he was last seen.
Are there multiple live-action movies titled Tomb Raider?
Yes, there are three main films in the series. These include the 2001 movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, the 2003 follow-up Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life, and the 2018 reboot titled Tomb Raider.