Milla Jovovich was once considered among the most exciting and promising rising stars in the action movie sphere, but the past few decades haven’t granted her the right projects to make her the household name that many once expected, and In the Lost Lands only reconfirmed it. The actress started her career in dramas like Chaplin and Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, before making her transition into sci-fi and action with 1997’s The Fifth Element. Most of Milla Jovovich’s best movies followed shortly thereafter, with 2002’s Resident Evil marking her most iconic role to date.

The Resident Evil franchise quickly became Jovovich’s biggest success, with Paul W.S. Anderson’s eccentric and stylistic movies capturing the spirit of their video game source material in consistently interesting ways. Her lead performance was the one constant that kept this series alive at its lowest points, and the many sequels took up the majority of her subsequent filmography. While projects like the recent In The Lost Lands prove that she’s capable of stepping outside this series, it’s fair to say that she’s not found too much success outside of Resident Evil.

In The Lost Lands Is Another Underwhelming Action Movie For Milla Jovovich

The GRRM Adaptation Is An Unfortunate Misfire

Unfortunately, In The Lost Lands doesn’t seem like the movie that’s going to break Jovovich’s unfortunate streak at the box office (or with critics). Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, the movie is an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s acclaimed fantasy short story, which follows a feared witch and a mysterious hunter who travel into the dangerous “Lost Lands” in search of a prize for their desperate queen. In typical George R.R. Martin fashion, the story is filled with intense world-building and rich characters who really bring this atmospheric tale to life.

However, Anderson’s movie fails to capture much of the stylistic flair and scopeless ambition that made Martin’s original story so interesting. Despite the author’s involvement in this project, much of that tale’s magic is lost in the messy dialogue and excessive special effects of In The Lost Lands. Jovovich does a great job of making her character interesting through her physical performance, but the script is ultimately way too thin and scattered for the final product. In The Lost Lands has set a record-breakingly low Rotten Tomatoes score and is on track to perform just as underwhelmingly at the box office.

The Fifth Element Was Milla Jovovich’s Last Great Action Movie

It’s Been A Long Time Since Jovovich Exceeded Expectations

While there are certainly things to enjoy in the Resident Evil movies, particularly for those who’ve played the video games and recognize the intricacies of this fictional universe, it’s hard to call any of the films great. They’re entertaining at times, but the franchise ultimately struggles with its inaccessibility; not only is the series so deep that it’s essentially impossible to jump in at such a late stage, but the recent sequels also feel stuck in their early-2000s filmmaking style. To find a truly excellent action movie in Jovovich’s filmography, we have to go even further back to The Fifth Element.

This great sci-fi movie was directed by Luc Besson and takes place several years in the future, following a group of surviving humans as they hunt for the mysterious “fifth element” that could help them win an apocalyptic war. The excellence of Besson’s movie lies in its simplicity; the stripped-back story allows audiences to focus on the detailed world-building and brilliant character work on display, which is amplified by strong performances from Jovovich, Gary Oldman, and Bruce Willis.

The Fifth Element is a bonkers thrill ride that deserves all the recognition it constantly gets from classic sci-fi fans. The action genre wouldn’t be the same today without Besson’s movie, and its DNA is noticeable throughout many of the biggest blockbuster movies of the past few decades. Unfortunately, it set the bar incredibly high for Jovovich’s career and the actress hasn’t quite managed to replicate that level of success since.

Why Milla Jovovich’s Action Movies Rarely Work

The Poor Streak Isn’t Totally Jovovich’s Fault

It’s hard to say why Milla Jovovich’s career hasn’t taken off, because she’s a very talented and charismatic actress who fully understands the strength and dedication needed to pull off such physically demanding roles as Resident Evil’s Alice. Her performance in The Fifth Element proves that she can be engaging and captivating when she needs to be, but the fact remains that many of her recent movies just haven’t brought out that side of her. The problem lies in the scripts themselves, which often fail to understand what audiences are looking for in modern action movies.

The days of over-stylized, practical action movies like Resident Evil are safely behind us, but many of Jovovich’s recent movies feel like they’re trying to replicate that same structure. Perhaps it’s due to her continuing collaborations with her husband/director Paul W.S. Anderson, whose films aren’t always welcomed with open arms by critics. I’m sure there’s a great project on the horizon for Jovovich, but it needs to be something that genuinely pushes the genre forward – instead of merely relying on nostalgia for the past.

Will Any Of Milla Jovovich’s Upcoming Action Movies Be Great?

The Actress Could Have Some Hidden Gems On The Horizon

Jovovich has two projects officially in development, and they could both end up being huge surprises that get the actress’ career back on track. The first of these is Midnight, an upcoming action-thriller that marks the directorial debut of American filmmaker Joshua Otis Miller. Very few details are currently known about the project, but it’s confirmed that both Rosario Dawson and Alexandra Shipp will be starring alongside Jovovich – with the former also serving as the film’s producer. We don’t have enough information about Midnight to predict how well it will perform, but there’s no denying the talent involved.

Although many audiences have been hoping for Resident Evil 7 in the future, that’s unlikely to be the movie that finally breaks Jovovich’s poor streak. However, the actress’ upcoming sci-fi thriller World Breaker is much more likely to be the hidden gem her fans have been searching for. The film will be directed by The Machinist’s Brad Aderson and stars Luke Evans in another major role alongside Jovovich, though plot details are being held firmly under wraps. It’s possible that World Breaker will be another underwhelming action flick like In The Lost Lands, but there’s also a chance it exceeds expectations.