If you grew up in the mid-2000s, you probably remember the absolute chokehold that a certain snowy lamppost and a talking lion had on the global box office. It was a weird, magical time. Walden Media and Disney were trying to find the "next Harry Potter," and for a minute there, they actually did. But then things got complicated. If you're looking for what are the Narnia movies in order, the answer is actually two-fold because there is the way they came out in theaters and the way C.S. Lewis originally wrote the books.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess.
Most people just want to know how to watch the big-budget versions starring Liam Neeson as the voice of a literal deity-lion. We only got three of them. Just three. Out of seven books, we barely made it halfway through before the franchise stalled out, changed studios, and eventually fell into the hands of Netflix.
The Three Big Screen Adventures
First off, let’s talk about the theatrical releases. This is the "Release Order," and it's how 99% of people experience the world of Narnia today.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
This is the one. The big one. Directed by Andrew Adamson, it perfectly captured that feeling of escaping a dreary, war-torn England for a world of Turkish Delight and eternal winter. It made a staggering $745 million. Tilda Swinton was terrifying as the White Witch, and the child actors—Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell—actually felt like siblings. It hits the beats of the book almost perfectly.
Prince Caspian (2008)
Things got darker here. Ben Barnes joined the cast as the titular prince, and the tone shifted from "whimsical fairy tale" to "war epic." It was expensive. Like, $225 million expensive. While it’s a solid movie, it didn’t quite capture the same magic as the first, and the box office reflected that. It was still a hit, but the "Narnia-mania" started to cool down a bit. This is where the Pevensie children started to age out of the roles, too.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
This is where it gets interesting behind the scenes. Disney actually dropped the franchise after Caspian didn't meet their massive expectations. 20th Century Fox stepped in to save it. We lost the two oldest Pevensies, Peter and Susan, and gained Will Poulter as the annoying (but eventually lovable) cousin Eustace Scrubb. It’s a seafaring adventure, basically a series of vignettes on different islands. It was charming, but you could tell the budget had been trimmed.
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Why the Book Order Confuses Everyone
If you go to a bookstore today and buy a boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia, the first book won't be The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It’ll be The Magician’s Nephew.
C.S. Lewis wrote them in a specific order, but later, some fans (and his estate) decided they should be read chronologically. This matters because if Hollywood ever decides to reboot the whole thing, they have to choose: do we start with the origin story or the famous wardrobe?
- The Magician's Nephew (The creation of Narnia)
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Pevensies arrive)
- The Horse and His Boy (Takes place while the Pevensies are kings and queens)
- Prince Caspian (The return to Narnia)
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The sea journey)
- The Silver Chair (Eustace's mission)
- The Last Battle (The end of everything)
If you're asking what are the Narnia movies in order based on this list, you'll notice we are missing four entire films. We never saw the creation of Narnia. We never saw the "Golden Age" story of The Horse and His Boy. And we definitely didn't get the apocalyptic conclusion of The Last Battle.
The BBC Era: A Nostalgic Trip
Long before CGI lions were a thing, the BBC produced a series of Narnia adaptations between 1988 and 1990. If you can handle "Doctor Who" levels of practical effects—think people in giant beaver costumes—these are actually quite faithful. They covered:
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Prince Caspian
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
They actually made it further than the movies did! The Silver Chair featured Tom Baker (the fourth Doctor!) as Puddleglum the Marsh-wiggle. It's weird, it's low-budget, and it's incredibly cozy.
The Netflix Mystery
So, where are we now? In 2018, Netflix bought the rights to the entire Narnia catalog. This was huge news because it was the first time one company held the rights to all seven books. For years, there was silence. People thought the project was dead.
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Then, Greta Gerwig entered the picture.
Fresh off the massive success of Barbie, it was confirmed that Gerwig is set to write and direct at least two Narnia films for Netflix. This changes everything. We aren't just getting another sequel; we’re getting a total reimagining. Reports suggest production might finally kick off in 2024 or 2025, with a massive budget and a likely theatrical release before it hits the streaming platform.
Gerwig has talked about being "scared" of the source material because it's so beloved. That’s actually a good sign. It means she respects the weirdness of Lewis’s prose. Narnia isn't just high fantasy; it's a strange mix of British schoolboy sensibilities, Christian allegory, and chaotic Greek mythology.
Why We Never Got The Silver Chair
For a long time, there was a script for The Silver Chair floating around. Joe Johnston, the guy who directed Captain America: The First Avenger, was attached to direct. They were going to soft-reboot the series. No Pevensies. Just Eustace and a new character named Jill Pole.
It died in "development hell."
Studio shifts, rights issues, and the general feeling that the "YA fantasy" bubble had burst killed the momentum. It’s a shame, really. The Silver Chair is arguably one of the best books in the series because it’s a gritty road trip through a land of giants and underground civilizations.
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How to Watch Them Right Now
If you want to do a marathon this weekend, here is your path:
- Step 1: Stream The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on Disney+. It holds up remarkably well. The battle at the end is still epic.
- Step 2: Watch Prince Caspian. Enjoy the production design and the introduction of Reepicheep (the bravest mouse you'll ever meet).
- Step 3: Watch The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It’s currently on Disney+ in most regions as well, thanks to the Disney-Fox merger.
If you're feeling adventurous, hunt down the old BBC versions on DVD or YouTube. They fill the gap for The Silver Chair, even if the "special effects" make you giggle.
The Core Themes You Might Have Missed
C.S. Lewis wasn't just writing for kids. He was a scholar. When you watch the movies in order, you can see the themes of faith, betrayal, and the loss of childhood innocence.
Susan Pevensie’s arc is particularly controversial among fans. In the movies, she’s a badass archer. In the books, Lewis eventually writes her out because she becomes "too interested in nylons and lipstick and making invitations." It’s a weirdly sexist turn for a character who literally fought in wars. It will be interesting to see if Greta Gerwig tackles this "Problem of Susan" in the new versions.
Also, the transition from Caspian to Dawn Treader highlights the theme of "growing up." In Narnia, you can’t stay forever. Eventually, Aslan tells you that you're too old and have to find him in "your own world." It’s a gut-punch for anyone who used to hide in their closet hoping to find a secret door.
To get the most out of the Narnia cinematic universe, start with the 2005 film and work your way through the trilogy. Don't worry about the "chronological" book order for now—the movies weren't made that way, and trying to watch them out of release order will just confuse the character arcs of the Pevensie children. Keep an eye on Netflix production updates, as the casting announcements for the Gerwig reboot are expected to drop any day now, likely starting a whole new cycle of Narnia-mania for a new generation.