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

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 553 Ratings

  • Starring: Anna Popplewell, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Tilda Swinton, William Moseley
  • Summary: C.S. Lewis' timeless adventure follows the exploits of the four Pevensie siblings -- Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter -- in World War II England who enter the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe while playing a game of hide-and-seek in the rural country home of an elderly professor. Once there, the children discover a charming, peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and giants that has become a world cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Under the guidance of a noble and mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, the children fight to overcome the White Witch's powerful hold over Narnia in a spectacular climactic battle that will free Narnia from Jadis' icy spell forever. (Walt Disney Pictures / Walden Media) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 39
  2. Negative: 1 out of 39
  1. A generation-spanning journey that feels both comfortingly familiar and excitingly original.
  2. 80
    Generations of readers have found The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe to be a gripping adventure that reaches well beyond its religious underpinnings, and this robust version respects both aspects and finds the same winning balance of excitement and meaning.
  3. 60
    Younger children getting in on the ground floor of fantasy will enjoy the film.
  4. Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    38
    The movie is a leaden, slow-moving beast.

See all 39 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 32 out of 217
  1. 10
    I may not be a Christian, but that didn't mean I couldn't enjoy this movie. Definitely one of the best flicks of 2005. Very LOTR-esque, but better! I have very fond memories of watching this in theaters. Expand
  2. I love when they take a favorite childhood story of mine and adapt it to the big screen. I am always a little weary when it's Disney thou. You never know what Disney is going to do with it, however in the case of The Lion, The Witch, The Wardrobe, is a homerun. They didn't shorten this film into some hour and a half movie about love. They took their time and told the story as it was meant to be told. All the kids were new to the big screen and were terrific. It's a classic tale that is over 60 years old and it's as fresh and relevant today as it was then. Two big thumbs up for the first of the Narnia tales, personally I hope they make all seven of them into feature films! Expand
  3. FlonkelD.
    6
    Very shallow character development.
  4. 4
    Chronicles of Narnia is an extremely corny and childish film. The action scenes prove my point. The decent thing in the movie is the average battle scene at the end. Acting was pitiful and i guess it will do fine with the younger crowd. Expand

See all 217 User Reviews