Live-action video game adaptations are having a moment, and HBO Max is stacking its library with the biggest names in gaming. From The Last of Us to Mortal Kombat and A Minecraft Movie, the streamer has become a go-to destination for gamers and movie fans alike. Now, another iconic franchise is set to join the lineup: Tomb Raider.
The 2018 reboot starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft will begin streaming on HBO Max on April 1, 2026. This gritty, survival-focused take on the beloved action-adventure series swaps the glamorous globe-trotting of Angelina Jolie's early-2000s films for a raw, origin-story approach. Vikander's Lara is less a seasoned treasure hunter and more a determined young woman fighting to survive on a mysterious island.
While the film grossed a respectable $275 million worldwide, it earned mixed reviews—landing a 52% critic score and 55% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, its arrival on HBO Max gives new audiences a chance to rediscover the reboot before Prime Video's upcoming series hits screens.
Prime Video's Tomb Raider Series Already Under Fire
Prime Video is developing a new Tomb Raider series with Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner stepping into Lara Croft's boots. But the project has already stirred controversy. A first-look image released in January sparked immediate backlash, with fans arguing Turner doesn't fit the iconic role. Even the official GameStop X account weighed in, reposting the image with the caption, "This is not Lara Croft," fueling the fire.
This kind of casting outrage is nothing new for live-action adaptations of beloved IP. Just weeks earlier, the first look at God of War faced similar criticism. And The Last of Us's Bella Ramsey still hears complaints about not "looking" like Ellie—despite delivering a critically acclaimed performance. Expecting an actor to be a pixel-perfect match for a computer-generated character is an unrealistic standard. Turner has already proven her range and presence on Game of Thrones, and once the first trailer drops, the conversation is likely to shift.
For fans eager to revisit Lara's origins—or discover them for the first time—the 2018 Tomb Raider on HBO Max offers a solid, action-packed entry point. And with Prime Video's series still in development, there's plenty of time for the backlash to cool and anticipation to build.
For more on video game adaptations, check out our list of 5 Video Games That Deserve Their Own Anime Series and 10 Video Games That Nailed It.
