Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
The orphaned heiress and intrepid archaeologist, Lara Croft, embarks on a dangerous quest to retrieve the two halves of an ancient artefact which controls time before it falls into the wrong hands. As an extremely rare planetary alignment is about to occur for the first time in 5,000 years, the fearless tomb raider will have to team up with rival adventurers and sworn enemies to collect the pieces, while time is running out. But, in the end, who can harness the archaic talisman's unlimited power?
Despite a considerable budget of $115.0M, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider became a box office success, earning $274.7M worldwide—a 139% return.
4 wins & 21 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Simon West's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lara Croft trains alone in her mansion, displaying her exceptional combat skills, independence, and isolation in her privileged but emotionally detached world.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Lara discovers a hidden clock in the mansion that activates with the planetary alignment, revealing her father's secret message and the existence of the Triangle of Light.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Lara chooses to travel to Cambodia to find the first piece of the Triangle before the Illuminati, actively entering the adventure and accepting her father's legacy., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Powell reveals he possesses the first half of the Triangle and knows the location of the second piece in Siberia. Lara realizes she's been outmaneuvered and the enemy is ahead of her., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Powell uses the completed Triangle to bring Lara's father back from death, forcing her to choose between saving her father (her deepest desire) or saving the world by destroying the Triangle., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Lara chooses to destroy the Triangle, accepting her father's death and her own identity separate from his legacy. She combines her skills with emotional maturity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Lara Croft: Tomb Raider against these established plot points, we can identify how Simon West utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Lara Croft: Tomb Raider within the action genre.
Simon West's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Simon West films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Simon West filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Simon West analyses, see The Expendables 2, Con Air and The Mechanic.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lara Croft trains alone in her mansion, displaying her exceptional combat skills, independence, and isolation in her privileged but emotionally detached world.
Theme
Bryce mentions Lara's father, hinting at the unresolved grief and the theme of letting go of the past to embrace one's destiny.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Lara's world: her mansion, her team (Bryce and Hillary), her skills as a tomb raider, and the approaching planetary alignment. Establishes her emotional distance from her father's death.
Disruption
Lara discovers a hidden clock in the mansion that activates with the planetary alignment, revealing her father's secret message and the existence of the Triangle of Light.
Resistance
Lara researches the Triangle of Light, learns about the Illuminati's search for it, and receives guidance from her father's letter. She debates whether to destroy the clock or pursue the artifact.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lara chooses to travel to Cambodia to find the first piece of the Triangle before the Illuminati, actively entering the adventure and accepting her father's legacy.
Mirror World
Lara encounters Alex West in Cambodia, her former colleague and romantic interest who now works for the enemy, representing the path of compromise she could have taken.
Premise
The fun of tomb raiding: Lara explores Cambodian temples, battles the Illuminati, retrieves the first half of the Triangle, travels to Venice, and infiltrates Manfred Powell's estate to find clues about the second piece.
Midpoint
Powell reveals he possesses the first half of the Triangle and knows the location of the second piece in Siberia. Lara realizes she's been outmaneuvered and the enemy is ahead of her.
Opposition
Lara races to Siberia, confronts Powell and the Illuminati at the tomb, and fights to prevent them from obtaining ultimate power. The stakes intensify as time runs out before the alignment ends.
Collapse
Powell uses the completed Triangle to bring Lara's father back from death, forcing her to choose between saving her father (her deepest desire) or saving the world by destroying the Triangle.
Crisis
Lara struggles with the impossible choice between her personal need for her father and her responsibility to humanity. Her father encourages her to let him go.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lara chooses to destroy the Triangle, accepting her father's death and her own identity separate from his legacy. She combines her skills with emotional maturity.
Synthesis
Lara defeats Powell, destroys the Triangle as time runs out, escapes the collapsing tomb, and returns home transformed. She makes peace with her father's memory.
Transformation
Lara stops the clock that started her journey, symbolically moving forward from grief. She's no longer isolated but connected to her father's memory in a healthy way, ready for new adventures.