The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

PG

Released Dec 9, 2005

2h 20m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

75%

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216 Reviews

61%

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250,000+ Ratings

During the World War II bombings of London, four English siblings are sent to a country house where they will be safe. One day Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a wardrobe that transports her to a magical world called Narnia. After coming back, she soon returns to Narnia with her brothers, Peter (William Moseley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and her sister, Susan (Anna Popplewell). There they join the magical lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson), in the fight against the evil White Witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton).

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Critics Consensus

With first-rate special effects and compelling storytelling, this adaptation stays faithful to its source material and will please moviegoers of all ages.

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

Incredibly engrossing but intermittently so. It holds you, but the grip could have been even more firm.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 9, 2019

Full Review

Sukhdev Sandhu

Daily Telegraph (UK)

This is a worthy opening salvo, a film that succeeds through the sheer weight of our expectations, and that won't disappoint younger audiences.

Feb 10, 2007

Full Review

Ian Freer

Empire Magazine

It's an enjoyable adaptation and good enough for us to welcome this new franchise.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast

The film captures the essence of the novel, which succumbing to the 2000s tendency to lean into fight scenes and CGI (puppets look good, though!). The kids are well cast, but this adaptation feels bloated and padded at nearly 2.5 hrs.

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 30, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Despite its generic swords-and-sorcery storyline, it's amusingly padded with extensive fantasy elements, making it a must-see for those itching for magic-doused adventure.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 29, 2020

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

A wonderfully realised and pleasant feature.

Rated: 7/10

Apr 19, 2020

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Benjamin H

The fantasy elements are well handled in the first beloved Narnia film, and while this film certainly succeeds on a lot of its effects and provides exciting sequences alongside moments of charm and curiosity, it is still pretty hollow in some places and lacks a proper emotional punch alongside an even flow throughout which does affect a lof of its core human characters. Aslan and the White Witch were cool though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Fun movie for family movie night! Timeless story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

Full Review

Ralph R

Rewatching The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe reminded me why it's such a timeless movie. It still gets me every time, especially the lullaby scene with Mr. Tumnus, played beautifully by James McAvoy, who is one of my favorite actors. Liam Neeson's voice as Aslan is inspiring and adds so much gravitas to the character. But for me, the standout is Tilda Swinton as the White Witch. Her performance is chilling and commanding, making her one of the most memorable parts of the movie. The production is top-notch. The visuals are stunning, especially considering it was released in 2005, and they mostly hold up well even now. The costumes and set design are fantastic, capturing the magical and otherworldly feel of Narnia. The soundtrack is another highlight, adding emotional depth to key moments and making the experience even more immersive. Based on the beloved novel by C. S. Lewis, the film does a good job of sticking to the important plot points while making the story accessible to a new generation. Of course, no adaptation is perfect, but this one stands on its own as a great piece of fantasy storytelling. It's not just a movie; it's a journey into a world full of magic, courage, and redemption. This movie also feels like the perfect pick for the holiday season. It has that warmth and wonder that makes it ideal to watch with family at Christmas. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe remains a classic, and I can't recommend it enough for anyone who wants to experience a bit of magic.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/24/24

Full Review

Shaked G

Nice movie. But it is not vary good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

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Darío C

Great movie to watch with family. Nice acting and visual effects are surprisingly good. A heart-warming story for all ages.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

Full Review

Audience Member

A great family film with everything a child or a young adulthood could want. As an adult, there are some plot devices that I wish they explored a little bit more - especially regarding the “PG” violence at the end. Overall, a magical story that feels like you’re a kid again with the world at your fingertips and a brain for imagining, believing, exploring, etc.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/12/24

Full Review

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Andrew Adamson

Director

Tilda Swinton

Jadis The White Witch

Georgie Henley

Lucy Pevensie

Skandar Keynes

Edmund Pevensie

William Moseley

Peter Pevensie

Anna Popplewell

Susan Pevensie

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

During the World War II bombings of London, four English siblings are sent to a country house where they will be safe. One day Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a wardrobe that transports her to a magical world called Narnia. After coming back, she soon returns to Narnia with her brothers, Peter (William Moseley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and her sister, Susan (Anna Popplewell). There they join the magical lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson), in the fight against the evil White Witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton).

Director: Andrew Adamson
Producer: Mark Johnson
Screenwriter: C.S. Lewis, Christopher Markus
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walden Media
Rating: PG (Frightening Moments|Battle Sequences)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 9, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $291.7M
Runtime: 2h 20m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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