Filming the scenes where Lara drives her Land Rover through the jungle there had to be endless re-shoots due to snakes and other wildlife falling through the open top roof. Angelina Jolie herself was reported to be terrified.
When Lara starts smashing the clock with a hammer, Hillary (the butler) uses a silver tray to protect his face. This is a reference to the games, in which, while exploring Croft Manor, the player can shoot at the butler, who then also uses the tray he's carrying around to protect himself.
Angelina Jolie agreed to do the first film because of all the locations she would get to visit. She fell in love with Cambodia, leading her to move there and help with a minefield cleanup. It was also where she met and eventually adopted her first son, Maddox.
Towards the end of the film when Lara finds a bunch of wolves, she says "A-ha!" This was a link to the original games where Lara would use this phrase whenever she picked up an item.
Lara Croft's father was played by Angelina Jolie's real-life father, Jon Voight. Angelina Jolie's birth name is Angelina Jolie Voight.