Summary

  • The Da Vinci Code series, based on Dan Brown's bestselling novels, received mixed reviews but became a huge commercial success, grossing over $750 million worldwide.
  • Angels & Demons, the first novel in the series, was reworked as a sequel to The Da Vinci Code due to its success. It received better reviews compared to the third movie, Inferno.
  • The future of The Da Vinci Code series is uncertain after the TV adaptation of The Lost Symbol was canceled after one season due to declining ratings and negative reviews.

The Da Vinci Code series of movies brings Dan Brown's bestselling novels to life on the big screen with Tom Hanks in the starring role. The Da Vinci Code is the second novel by author Dan Brown to feature his recurring protagonist, the renowned "symbologist" Robert Langdon. As the first movie of the series adapted, the plot sees Langdon called in to investigate a murder at the Louvre that soon sees him on the run from the police, an albino assassin, and a secret society while discovering information that Jesus Christ may have fathered a child with Mary Magdalene.

The book didn't attract great reviews and was widely condemned by the church, none of which prevented it from becoming a gigantic bestseller. It was really only a matter of time until a movie was made. The same criticisms that dogged his books have also followed The Da Vinci Code series of movies, which received lukewarm to poor critical reviews, but big box office takes. The first movie grossed over $750 million worldwide and paved the way for the franchise. And with the streaming wars in full force, it's not surprising that a move to television also happened for Dan Brown's hero Robert Langdon.

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The Da Vinci Code Series In Chronological Order

Movie/Series

Release Year

The Lost Symbol

2021

The Da Vinci Code

2006

Angels & Demons

2009

Inferno

2016

Angels & Demons is actually the first novel in Dan Brown's book series but was reworked to be a sequel following the success of the first installment of The Da Vinci Code series. Ron Howard — who directed all three movies — clearly took criticisms of the first movie to heart too, and ensured the sequel moves at a quicker pace and doesn't get overly bogged down in exposition. This might be why the controversial Angels & Demons received arguably the best reviews of the Robert Langdon movie trilogy.

Critics loved it much more than 2016's Inferno, which sees Langdon racing against time to stop a plot that will wipe out half the planet's population. Inferno's story barely holds together, but is somewhat helped by performances from Felicity Jones and the late Irrfan Khan. However, it's the weakest of the franchise and Inferno has the lowest box office to match. It appears Tom Hanks' reign as Robert Langdon is over, with Ashley Zukerman taking over the character on the TV show, which was canceled after only one season.

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Was The Da Vinci Code Franchise Successful

An image of the painting Mona Lisa's eyes used in The Davinci Code

None of The Da Vinci Code series of Robert Langdon-centered films have received spectacular reviews from critics, but they've mostly been hits. That said, there was a noticeable downturn in profit with each entry. While plans for a fourth Robert Langdon movie currently appear not to be on the cards, the original plans for the third installment, Inferno, were to adapt an entirely different Dan Brown book – The Lost Symbol. Director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks abandoned that plan, stating that the material went over too much of the same ground as The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, and opted to adapt the newer book in the franchise.

However, those abandoned plans weren't scrapped entirely, and The Lost Symbol eventually made its way into a TV format, with some major changes, including moving its appearance in the timeline to be a prequel to Da Vinci Code. This includes recasting Robert Langdon with a younger Ashley Zuckerman (Succession, Fear Street). The TV show sees Langdon investigating the actions of the Freemasons and searching for his abducted friend and mentor (Eddie Izzard) and has middling to positive reviews. Unfortunately, this too was canceled.

The Da Vinci Code Series' Future Is Uncertain

The Lost Symbol promo image.

The future of The Da Vinci Code series hangs in the balance after The Lost Symbol ended only one season in. The Da Vinci Code TV show had a very brief run on the streaming service Peacock, and there have been various reasons listed as to why the show was canceled. First, The Lost Symbol reviews were less-than-positive. While the show started out relatively strong, the season started to wane and suffer for the same reasons that The Da Vinci Code series often did, something critics were quick to point out. Therefore, as the show went on it received more and more negative reviews and audience interest began to dissipate.

The disappointingly low ratings brought The Lost Symbol TV show to a close, and the rest is ancient history. Peacock also said that in one season, the show has done what it set out to do. However, making The Lost Symbol into a miniseries probably isn't what showrunners really had in mind, as the narrative very much feels like it's beginning to build something grander. Nonetheless, this is the reasoning that Peacock wrote in a statement for its reason for ending The Lost Symbol after one season (via THR).

“We were so proud to bring this action-packed mystery thriller to our members and enjoyed watching this compelling series unfold with a satisfying, complete story.”

The Da Vinci Code Books In Order

The Da Vinci Treasure and The Da Vinci Code

Book Name

Release Year

Angels & Demons

2000

The Da Vinci Code

2003

The Lost Symbol

2009

Inferno

2013

Origin

2017

While there were three movies and a TV series in the adaptations, there were five total books in Dan Brown's novel series. The first four books were all adapted, although changed somewhat in the movies and TV series. Unlike the movies, Angels & Demons started Robert Langdon's story in the books and took place first in chronological order. After this, Robert moved on to the mystery of The Da Vinci Code. That is where things also switched up in the movies, as Ron Howard chose to skip over The Lost Symbol and move on to Inferno. Next, The Lost Symbol was never a prequel in the Da Vinci Code series. Instead, it took place after The Da Vinci Code in the timeline.

That then led to Inferno, which is where the movie and TV adaptations stopped. For Dan Brown, he had one more book that arrived in 2017 called Origin. This allows filmmakers one more chance for an original story if they choose. This book takes Robert Langdon to Spain and the Guggenheim Museum to listen to a man who claims he can change how religion is viewed forever, but when the man is murdered, Langdon tries to find out his secrets before they are lost forever. As with the other books and movies, it remains a polarizing and controversial read that received mostly positive reviews and hit the bestseller lists.

  • da vinci code
    the da vinci code
    Director:
    Ron Howard
    Release Date:
    2006-05-19
    Cast:
    Tom Hanks, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno
    Writers:
    Ron Howard
    Rating:
    pg-13
    Runtime:
    150minutes
    Genres:
    Thriller, Mystery
    Budget:
    $125 million
    Studio(s):
    Sony
    Distributor(s):
    Sony, Columbia Pictures
    Sequel(s):
    Angels & Demons, Inferno
    Franchise(s):
    The Da Vinci Code