With Netflix announcing earlier this year that there are new Narnia series and films in the works, countless fans have been anticipating re-living the magical nostalgic experience that Disney’s version of the films encapsulated.
C.S. Lewis’ seven fantasy novels titled “The Chronicles of Narnia” continue to be a big hit with children worldwide, and fans were left disappointed when Disney dropped the films based on these novels after only producing three of them. In publication order, they produced ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ in 2005, ‘Prince Caspian’ in 2008, and ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ in 2010.
The novels and films are based on the events of World War II, where children had to evacuate to the English countryside during the Blitz. The first film starts on this pretense, by showing the journey of four siblings who similarly have to leave their families and homes behind and are displaced because of the war.
As we anxiously wait for more updates from Netflix (you can also watch the best movies on Netflix or the best Disney movies of all time in the meanwhile), let’s revisit the plots of all the Narnia movies in order.
Watch these official Narnia films and you will never regret it!
All the Narnia Movies in Order
Beware, Spoilers Ahead!
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Runtime: 143 minutes)
Director: Andrew Adamson
Stars: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Storyline:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Image via Buena Vista Pictures The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the distillation of what the film series does right.
In this Narnia movie, Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley) are the four main protagonists of the film, who evacuate from London, to live in the countryside with Professor Digory Kirke.
A game of hide-and-seek results in the youngest child, Lucy, finding a hidden world in an old wardrobe. Here, she befriends the talking faun named Mr. Tumnus and learns of the White Witch, who has assumed power over the land and kept it in an eternal wintery state.
Edmund, upon following Lucy into the realm, meets the White Witch who hides her evil intentions by promising to make Edmund a prince. She wants him to lure his other two siblings, and kill them all, to break the prophecy of her rule ending when “two Sons of Adam” and “two Daughters of Eve” claim the four thrones at Cair Paravel.
Subsequently, in their third visit, all four children enter Narnia together. Upon learning that their brother Edmund has joined the White Witch, the children begin their adventure to meet the real ruler of Narnia, a lion named Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) and get their brother back.
With the White Witch defeated at the paws of Aslan at the end of the movie, the children enjoy a long reign as the Kings and Queens of Narnia – only to stumble upon the old Wardrobe one fine day and return back to their home where no time has passed. The story follows the seven lost lords. Walden Media hoped to produce The Magician’s Nephew as the fourth film in the series, but negotiations fell through and they lost the rights.
The Mark Gordon Company began developing The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair.
Prince Caspian (Runtime: 150 minutes)
Director: Andrew Adamson
Stars: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Release Date: May 16, 2008
Storyline:
Almost a year since the events of the first film, the four Pevensie children are whisked into Narnia through a train station.
Upon arriving, they see Narnia in a state of ruins and realize that 1300 years have passed. In this time, the Telmarines have invaded the land, Aslan is nowhere to be found, and all the creatures and locals who inhabited the land are treated like slaves. Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) is the one who summons the Kings and Queens through Susan’s horn, as his uncle, King Miraz, has wrongfully stolen the throne from him and plans to murder him. He assembles all the old Narnians and unites them in a war against his uncle’s army.
After an unsuccessful infiltration of Miraz’s castle, where the Narnians suffer heavy losses, Caspian is lured by a dwarf into summoning the White Witch using black sorcery. While everyone is enchanted by her and unaware of her wickedness, Edmund manages to shatter the ice preventing her from escaping.
As the movie unfolds, the only option left for the Narnians is a one-on-one duel between Peter and Miraz which goes horribly wrong, when one of Miraz’s generals kills Miraz and blames it on the Narnians. Luckily, Lucy finds Aslan in the woods, and he awakens the forest and the river god and defeats the army, making Caspian a King.
The Pevensie children then return home, knowing that Peter and Susan would not return to Narnia for another adventure again.
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The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Runtime: 113 minutes)
Director: Michael Apted
Stars: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Storyline:
Edmund and Lucy are living with their irritating cousin Eustace Scrubb (Will Poulter) while Susan and Peter are in America with their parents. Upon inspecting a painting of a ship in the bedroom, Lucy realizes that the painting is moving.
The room is engulfed by the ocean which transports the three of them into Narnia aboard Prince Caspian’s ship, the Dawn Treader. Three Narnian years have passed since they departed. Caspian is now searching for the seven Lords of Narnia that his uncle banished under his rule.
They travel to the Lone Islands where they are imprisoned, and here Caspian meets the first of the seven lords who informs him of a mysterious green mist that people are being sacrificed to. The crew of the ship manages to rescue them and the lord gifts Caspian a sword – one of the seven handed to the lords by Aslan. The voyage takes them to several islands, and they learn that they must place the seven swords at Aslan’s table on Ramandu’s Island to defeat the mist.
The mist continues to test the protagonists in several ways, by showing them their fears and insecurities. Eustace who initially despises Narnia, has a change of heart when he turns into a dragon (due to his greed) and is treated warmly by Reepicheep, the mouse.
The film ends with Aslan assisting the heroes in recovering all the swords, and the land is rid of darkness once again. Aslan informs Lucy and Edmund that this would be the last time they find themselves in Narnia as they have learned all they had to from this world, but Eustace still has adventures that await him.
The film also shows cameo appearances by Susan, Peter, and the White Witch.
So, there were the Disney movies that introduced us to the magical world of Narnia. Let us know which of the three Narnia movies in order movies you enjoyed the most!
Conclusion
So, there were the Disney movies that introduced us to the magical world of Narnia. Let us know which of the three Narnia movies in order movies you enjoyed the most!
You should also watch Marvel Movies in Order and James Bond Movies in Order. These movies are great examples of action and suspense. You can watch these film to make your weekend night even more interesting.
If you have any further questions do let us know in the comment section.
Chris Mack
