21 Years Later, This Epic Fantasy Movie Has Aged Surprisingly Well

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I absolutely love The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe! It’s a classic fantasy story and, in my opinion, the best book in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series. There are seven books total, but this one seems to be the most popular – it’s been adapted into movies and shows a lot, though not all of them are great. I thought the 2005 movie was particularly well done!

Andrew Adamson’s film was a big-budget hit, earning two Academy Awards and featuring stars like Tilda Swinton and Liam Neeson. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tells the story of four children who find a way into the magical world of Narnia through a wardrobe, but they discover Narnia is under attack.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Has Aged Well

Special effects don’t always hold up over time, but The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has actually aged quite well, despite a few shots looking a little dated. This is likely thanks to the impressive practical effects and beautiful costumes. Tilda Swinton’s costumes as the White Witch are particularly striking, and the film successfully brings the enchanting world of the books to life.

As a Narnia fan, I have to say the movie adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe really nails the book. They didn’t rush anything, giving plenty of screen time to even the smaller, important moments – like when Lucy first meets Mr. Tumnus. What’s really cool is that the filmmakers actually improved on the story, adding this creepy, folk horror vibe to Aslan’s sacrifice. And the Battle of Beruna? Seriously, that scene is epic – easily the best part of the whole Chronicles of Narnia series, in my opinion.

Why The Other Two Chronicles Of Narnia Movies Were Not As Good

Sadly, despite hints that more films were coming, the Chronicles of Narnia series stopped after The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The movies also began to change from the books in ways fans didn’t like. For example, Prince Caspian added a romance that wasn’t needed, and the overall story felt too gloomy for a family movie.

Even if the Narnia movies had closely followed the books, adapting C.S. Lewis’s work would have been challenging. Each book in the Chronicles of Narnia tells a complete story on its own, which makes it hard to build a long-running film series like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.

Hollywood Is Lacking High Fantasy Movies

Despite some incredible fantasy films over the last century, it’s still challenging to create a successful high fantasy movie in Hollywood. Fantasy stories are often quirky and imaginative, which can make it hard to attract a broad enough audience for studios to justify the financial risk. Even well-regarded films with popular actors, like Labyrinth, didn’t become huge hits right away—they gained a dedicated following over time.

A big budget and impressive special effects aren’t enough to guarantee success for a fantasy movie; it also needs compelling characters that audiences can connect with. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe succeeded because it had both, and benefited from being based on well-loved books. While Hollywood could use more fantasy films, Greta Gerwig’s new adaptation is promising a fresh approach.

How Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Will Be Different From The Previous Films

As a huge movie fan, I’m really excited about Greta Gerwig’s take on Narnia! What I love is that she seems to be starting with The Magician’s Nephew instead of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – something almost every other filmmaker has done. It’s a smart move, because it allows her to really build the world of Narnia from the ground up, and avoid constant comparisons to the already fantastic, but older, film adaptation. Honestly, if anyone can nail this, it’s Gerwig. She just gets storytelling.

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2026-02-01 20:02