You might also know him from his production company, Studio Ghibli, which is also behind animated classics such as My Neighbor Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle. Spirited Away is an animated film from the world-famous Hayao Miyazaki.
If your kids need a little reminding now and then that they’re on the same side, this movie might help! Their counter-plots against Olaf are only possible because of their smarts, their ingenuity and their outstanding teamwork. To give you an idea of Olaf’s outlandish personality, just know that he’s been played by both Jim Carrey and Neil Patrick Harris!Īs for the story itself, you’ll find several similarities to Narnia, including a tight-knit group of siblings who work together to solve problems. Rather than taking care of them, Olaf concocts a number of elaborate schemes to try and swindle the children out of their inheritance.
The story revolves around the three Baudelaire children who are sent to live with a distant relative, Count Olaf, after the death of their parents.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)Ī tale so popular that it’s been adapted into a movie and a Netflix mini-series, A Series of Unfortunate Events is an utterly unique experience that combines absurd humor, childhood whimsy, steampunk science and Victorian gothic aesthetics.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010).Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009).Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007).Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001).It’s satisfying for both kids and adults alike. You’ll watch the actors morph from cute 11-year-olds into confident, heroic 17-year-olds right before your eyes.
Some of the later movies might get a bit dark for very young children since they explore the ramifications of fighting a war against evil, but again, one of the central themes is growing up. They’re fun, action-packed movies with themes of love, friendship, courage, adventure and doing the right thing. If you’re looking for something similar to Narnia, Harry Potter should hit the spot. If you haven’t seen the movies, however, here’s the gist: A young orphan learns that he’s actually a wizard, and he’s whisked away into a new world filled with magic spells, talking animals and evil sorcerers that need defeating. Even more than Narnia, it’s one of the best-selling children’s book series of all time, and it’s also one of the highest-grossing film series in the world.
If you’re just looking for general movies like Chronicles of Narnia, however, here are a few titles that might do the trick! The Chronicles of Narnia (2005) To be clear, nothing that you watch will be an exact copy of Narnia. There’s even a subplot about the kids forgiving their brother after he’s wronged them, so if your children don’t always get along, this movie might have some pointers for maintaining the peace!Īnother defining feature of Narnia is that it’s based off a book series, so even after the credits roll, your little ones can stay immersed in the magic by just going to the library. It also promotes good family values such as cooperation between siblings and faith in trusted authority figures. Narnia is an epic, adventure-based series filled with swords, ships, battles, talking animals and portals to other worlds. When that happens, you’ll need movies like Narnia to fill the void. The only bad thing about Narnia is that it eventually comes to end.