If you walked into a theater in the mid-2000s, you probably thought you were witnessing the birth of the next Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. The hype was unreal. Massive snowy landscapes, Liam Neeson voicing a divine lion, and a wardrobe that basically launched a thousand childhood hide-and-seek games. But then, things got... quiet. Very quiet.
If you're trying to figure out how many Chronicles of Narnia movies actually made it to the finish line, the answer depends entirely on whether you're talking about the big-budget blockbusters everyone remembers or the deeper history of C.S. Lewis on screen.
The Big Three: The Walden Media Era
Honestly, when most people ask this, they’re thinking of the high-fantasy trilogy produced by Walden Media. Between 2005 and 2010, we got three major theatrical releases.
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005): This was the absolute peak. It grossed over $745 million and made everyone believe Narnia was going to be the biggest thing on the planet.
- Prince Caspian (2008): This one took a darker, more "war-movie" tone. It was expensive—like, $225 million expensive—and while it was good, it didn't quite hit the same heights at the box office.
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010): This is where things got messy. Disney actually bailed on the franchise after Prince Caspian, so 20th Century Fox stepped in to finish the trilogy.
It’s a bit of a tragedy, really. We saw the Pevensie kids grow up on screen, but the story just sort of stopped. We never got to see the Silver Chair or the final, apocalyptic battle that finishes the book series. For years, the franchise felt like a beautiful, unfinished house.
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Wait, there are more? The BBC and Beyond
If you want to be a real Narnia nerd, the count doesn't stop at three. Long before CGI Aslan was a thing, the BBC produced a series of adaptations in the late 1980s.
They weren't "movies" in the modern sense—more like television serials—but they covered way more ground than the Hollywood versions. They actually adapted The Silver Chair, which gave us a look at the later parts of the Narnia timeline that the 2000s movies never reached. If you can handle the "vintage" special effects (think: people in giant beaver suits), there are technically four distinct "stories" told in that run.
There was also an animated version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1979. It’s kinda trippy and very of its time, but it counts!
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The Greta Gerwig Era: Narnia in 2026
Here is where it gets exciting for 2026. After a decade of the rights being stuck in "development hell," Netflix finally put their money where their mouth is.
How many Chronicles of Narnia movies will we have soon? Well, the count is about to go up. Greta Gerwig—yes, the Barbie and Little Women director—is currently at the helm of a massive reboot.
- The Magician's Nephew (2026): This is officially happening. Filming has been spotted all over London, Manchester, and Bradford throughout late 2025 and early 2026.
- The Release Date: Mark your calendars for November 26, 2026. It’s getting a massive IMAX theatrical run before it hits Netflix on Christmas Day.
- The Cast: We're looking at some serious star power. Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, and Carey Mulligan are all attached.
This isn't just a sequel; it’s a total ground-up reimagining. They're starting with the prequel book, which explains how Narnia was created in the first place. It’s a smart move. It avoids the baggage of the older movies while giving us a fresh entry point into the lore.
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Why did the original movies stop?
It basically came down to "boring" adult stuff: money and contracts. Prince Caspian cost a fortune but didn't make Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe money. Disney got cold feet. Then, by the time Voyage of the Dawn Treader came out, the kids were getting too old.
You can't really have a 25-year-old Peter Pevensie trying to act like a schoolboy. Plus, the C.S. Lewis estate is famously protective of the material. When the contract with Walden Media expired in 2011, they didn't just hand the keys to anyone. It took Netflix coming in with a massive "universe" deal to get things moving again.
What you should do next
If you're looking to catch up before the Gerwig-verse explodes in late 2026, here is the best way to handle it:
- Watch the Walden Trilogy: They’re still great. The visual effects in the first one hold up surprisingly well, and the music is incredible.
- Read (or Re-read) The Magician's Nephew: Since the 2026 movie starts here, it's the perfect time to get the backstory on Digory Kirke and the origin of the White Witch.
- Check out the BBC Version: Only if you have a high tolerance for 80s cheese, but it's worth it for the nostalgia.
Honestly, Narnia has always been a bit of an underdog compared to Middle-earth, but with the 2026 reboot on the horizon, we're about to see a whole new generation discover why that wardrobe was so special. Keep an eye on the Netflix trailers—they're expected to start dropping by mid-2026.
Pro Tip: If you're watching the original three movies, don't worry about the chronological order of the books. Just watch them in release order (Lion, Caspian, Dawn Treader). It makes way more sense for the character arcs of the actors.