For many viewers today, John Carter is seen as a misunderstood masterpiece—a grand adventure that arrived a few years too late for the pulp era and a few years too early for the peak of the cinematic universe craze.

Despite its rocky theatrical release, John Carter has gained a significant following in the years since. Fans praise:

He quickly finds himself embroiled in a planetary civil war between the humanoid Red Martians of Helium and Zodanga, and the four-armed, green-skinned Tharks. Along the way, he meets the fierce scientist-princess (Lynn Collins), sparking a journey of redemption as he evolves from a man looking for gold to a warrior fighting for a world's survival. A Legacy of Influence

: Borrowed the "hero on a strange planet" trope.