Angelina Jolie, known for her fierce independence and boundary-breaking roles, redefined what it meant to be a female action star in Hollywood. Emerging from a lineage of Hollywood royalty, Jolie carved out her own path, transforming her career through iconic roles in action films like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Salt. But perhaps one of her most controversial ventures was her portrayal of Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider franchise—a role that cemented her as an action star but also brought significant backlash, particularly from China.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – A Star-Making Role with a Flawed Legacy
Released in 2001, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider sought to capitalize on the global popularity of the titular video game character. While the film grossed $273 million worldwide, critics were far from kind, awarding it a dismal 20% on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, Jolie’s performance stood out, thanks to her commitment to embodying Lara Croft’s iconic physicality and adventurous spirit. For video game fans, Jolie was Lara Croft, blending charisma, athleticism, and a dose of rebellion.
Despite its financial success, the film’s reception was middling at best, laying the groundwork for a sequel that would ignite international controversy.
The Controversy Surrounding Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
In 2003, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life hit theaters, aiming to expand on the mythos established in the first film. With a production budget of $90 million, it fell far short of expectations, grossing only $160 million worldwide. However, financial underperformance wasn’t the film’s biggest issue.
The sequel’s plot incorporated themes and imagery that Chinese officials deemed offensive and damaging to the country’s reputation. Specifically, the depiction of China as a nation in chaos, overrun by secret societies and lacking effective governance, led to the film being banned in China—a key international market.
“[Tomb Raider] damaged China’s reputation, giving the impression of a country in chaos, with no government, and overrun by secret societies.”
An official interviewed by the BBC went further, accusing the filmmakers of harboring “malicious intentions” and fundamentally misunderstanding Chinese culture:
“In China, there cannot be secret societies.”
This backlash not only affected the film’s box office potential but also sparked broader conversations about how Hollywood portrays non-Western cultures.
How the Ban Shaped the Film’s Legacy
The Chinese market, already a growing force in the global film industry, was critical to the success of big-budget blockbusters in the early 2000s. Losing access to this audience significantly impacted the film’s bottom line, limiting its worldwide reach and branding it a commercial disappointment. Critics, meanwhile, were slightly more forgiving than they had been with the original, awarding it a modestly higher Rotten Tomatoes score of 24%.
Nonetheless, the damage to the Tomb Raider franchise was done. The controversy surrounding The Cradle of Life cast a long shadow over future adaptations of the video game series. The incident also highlighted the challenges Hollywood faces when navigating cultural sensitivities in global markets.
Angelina Jolie: A Pioneer Despite the Odds
Despite the setbacks of the Tomb Raider series, Angelina Jolie’s career only continued to ascend. Her work in the action genre proved that female-led blockbusters could thrive in a male-dominated industry. Jolie’s subsequent roles in films like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Salt not only cemented her status as an action icon but also paved the way for other women to take on similar roles in Hollywood.
While Tomb Raider might not be remembered as a cinematic masterpiece, it remains a pivotal moment in pop culture history. Jolie’s performance brought Lara Croft to life for a generation of fans and solidified her as a trailblazer in the action genre.
The banning of The Cradle of Life in China serves as a cautionary tale for filmmakers navigating the complex interplay between storytelling and cultural representation. For Jolie, the controversy was a mere blip in a storied career. For the Tomb Raider franchise, however, it marked the beginning of an extended hiatus from the big screen.
Today, as Hollywood continues to expand into global markets, the lessons from Tomb Raider remain relevant. Respecting cultural nuances and engaging authentically with diverse perspectives are not just ethical considerations—they’re essential to a film’s success on the world stage.