The story of The Legend of Tarzan
It's been a decade since John Clayton—better known as Tarzan—left the African jungle behind to build a life in London. Years of civilization have transformed him into a polished nobleman, far removed from the feral child who once swung through trees and communed with apes. When Parliament invites him back to the Congo as a trade emissary, it seems like a straightforward diplomatic mission. But Tarzan doesn't know he's being used. What unfolds is a deadly convergence of greed, revenge, and the pull of the wild—a story that forces him to confront both his past and the men who'd exploit it for profit. The film flashes back to his origins, showing how a shipwrecked orphan became the king of the jungle, before dragging him into a conspiracy far darker than any animal attack he's ever faced.
Behind the making of The Legend of Tarzan
Director David Yates, fresh off his work on the final Harry Potter films, took the helm for this 110-minute adventure, which was shot across multiple continents and released in 2016. The ensemble cast reads like a who's who of contemporary cinema: Alexander Skarsgård carries the title role, while Margot Robbie plays Jane Porter with intelligence and grit, Samuel L. Jackson brings comic relief and genuine friendship as American activist George Washington Williams, and Christoph Waltz—ever the master of menace—embodies the film's primary antagonist. Jim Broadbent, Djimon Hounsou, and Casper Crump round out a production that cost considerable resources to mount. The film grossed $126.6 million worldwide, a respectable if not blockbuster return that reflected moderate audience interest in a character reinvention that didn't quite capture the zeitgeist. Awards recognition was modest: the film earned two wins and four nominations across various ceremonies, with a Metascore of 44 suggesting mixed critical opinion, though it carries a PG-13 rating that was designed to keep doors open for younger viewers.
What makes The Legend of Tarzan stand out
Here's the thing: Yates doesn't make a children's film, even if the rating suggests otherwise. What's striking is how the movie treats Tarzan as a man caught between two worlds—neither fully civilized nor truly wild anymore, which is a more psychologically interesting premise than most adventure films bother with. Skarsgård brings a physical presence that's undeniable; you believe he can move through a jungle with preternatural grace. The film's opening sequences, where we see him in London drawing rooms, create genuine tension by showing us a character who's uncomfortable in his own skin, and that discomfort pays off when he's forced to return home. Samuel L. Jackson's scenes crackle with energy, and the rapport between him and Skarsgård suggests a friendship that might've carried an entire buddy-adventure film on its own. Christoph Waltz, playing a Belgian industrialist named Léon Rom, brings the kind of cultivated villainy that makes you understand exactly why greed corrupts so thoroughly—he's not a cartoon, he's a man pursuing what he believes he's entitled to. The cinematography captures both the claustrophobia of the jungle and the alienation of Victorian London, and there's at least one sequence involving an animal attack that genuinely unsettles, even if critics weren't universally convinced by the film's overall execution. Rotten Tomatoes rated it at 36%, which stung, but that score doesn't capture what the film attempts: a serious, adult take on material that's usually treated as pulp.
Where to stream The Legend of Tarzan online
The Legend of Tarzan is currently available on Netflix, making it accessible to subscribers looking for action-adventure fare without the commitment of a theatrical rental. Movie OTT tracks streaming availability across platforms, and the widget at the top of this page shows you exactly where this title is streaming right now—no hunting required. Since streaming catalogs shift regularly, checking the widget ensures you're seeing current information rather than relying on outdated guides. If you're browsing Movie OTT's catalog of adventure films, you'll find this sits alongside other jungle-set narratives and action vehicles, all in one searchable place.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed The Legend of Tarzan?
David Yates directed the film. He brought the same visual sophistication he'd developed on the Harry Potter franchise to this 2016 adventure, creating a film that's visually ambitious even if critical reception was mixed.
Q: Is The Legend of Tarzan based on a true story?
No. The film is based on the fictional character Tarzan, created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912. While the film's narrative is entirely fictional, it draws on Burroughs' original mythology of a shipwrecked orphan raised by apes in the African jungle.
Q: What's the runtime of The Legend of Tarzan?
The film runs 110 minutes, a lean runtime that keeps the pacing brisk even as it attempts to explore Tarzan's internal conflict between civilization and wildness.
Q: Is The Legend of Tarzan appropriate for children?
The film carries a PG-13 rating, though it's worth noting that some reviewers felt the tone skewed more adult than family-friendly. There are animal attacks and moments of violence that might unsettle younger viewers—it's not pitched at the same audience as Disney's animated jungle adventures.
Q: Where can I watch The Legend of Tarzan?
You can stream The Legend of Tarzan on Netflix. Check the Where to Watch widget on this page for the most current availability, since streaming rights can change.
Final thoughts on The Legend of Tarzan
The Legend of Tarzan isn't a perfect film, and it's not the adaptation that die-hard Burroughs fans were hoping for. But it's worth a watch if you're in the mood for intelligent action filmmaking that takes its source material seriously. Skarsgård commits fully to the role, the supporting cast elevates the material, and there's genuine craft on display—even if the final product didn't quite land with critics or audiences in the way the studio hoped. It's a film that swings for something beyond the routine adventure-movie playbook, which counts for something. Don't expect a children's romp through the jungle; expect a more complicated story about a man trying to reconcile his nature with his nurture.
