Swapping Vines for the Victorian Life: The Legend of Tarzan If you're looking for an old-school adventure that trades the typical origin story for a gritty, late-Victorian political thriller, The Legend of Tarzan
is a solid pick for your next movie night. Directed by David Yates—the mind behind the final four Harry Potter
films—this 2016 adaptation offers a more mature take on the classic character. Where to Watch You can currently find the film on several major platforms: Streaming Services : Available on in many regions and Rent or Buy : You can rent or purchase digital copies on Amazon Video Apple TV Store Google Play Fandango At Home Physical Media : If you prefer a disc, you can find the DVD and Blu-ray at retailers like Barnes & Noble Plot Overview
Instead of showing us Tarzan's childhood, the movie picks up years after he has left the jungle. Now known as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke , he lives a refined life in London with his wife, watch the legend of tarzan
His peaceful life is interrupted when he is invited back to the Congo as a trade emissary. Unbeknownst to him, he is a pawn in a deadly scheme masterminded by Captain Leon Rom
, a treacherous envoy for King Leopold II of Belgium who plans to trade Tarzan for a fortune in diamonds.
Critics were divided on The Legend of Tarzan, giving it a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audience scores are much higher (60%+). This is a classic example of a film that is a blast to watch on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Swapping Vines for the Victorian Life: The Legend
If you are looking for a serious drama, look elsewhere. If you want to see a ripped Lord of the Jungle fight Belgian soldiers, shout at gorillas, and swing across the savannah with a hip-fired pistol, you will thoroughly enjoy this movie.
The Legend of Tarzan moves beyond the typical "raised-by-apes" origin story to explore:
The smartest decision Yates makes happens in the first ten minutes. This is not an origin story. Thank God. The Verdict: Is It Worth Your Time
We don’t spend forty minutes watching a shipwreck, a dead parent, or young John Clayton III learning to sign with apes. Instead, we meet Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård) as a fully-formed man: John Clayton III, Viscount Greystoke, living a repressed life in Victorian England.
He has been domesticated. He wears a stiff collar, eats with silverware, and speaks perfect, clipped English. Jane (Margot Robbie) is by his side, sipping tea. The movie trusts that you know the basics of Tarzan. By skipping the childhood trauma, the film explores a far more interesting theme: Can a man who has seen the raw truth of nature ever truly be comfortable inside the cage of civilization?
That tension is the engine of the film. When the Belgian envoy, Captain Rom (a gloriously slimy Christoph Waltz), lures Tarzan back to the Congo, you feel the physical reluctance in Skarsgård’s muscles. He is fighting his own nature.
If you’re looking to watch The Legend of Tarzan without paying a rental fee, you have limited but legitimate options:
Streaming availability changes monthly based on licensing agreements. As of this writing, here are the most reliable places to find the film.