Netflix’s Narnia Release Dates: When The Magician’s Nephew Comes to IMAX and Streaming
Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew has two main release dates. Netflix says the film opens in cinemas worldwide on February 12, 2027, with select IMAX previews beginning February 10. It arrives on Netflix on April 2, 2027. Those dates come from the company’s September announcement and matter if you had been expecting the film in late 2026.
Netflix’s official Narnia update includes the timetable, first-look photos and a cast list. If you want to see the film on the largest screen available near you, the February release is the one to watch. If you plan to watch at home, April 2 is the date to put in your calendar.
Netflix Narnia release dates: why the story starts here
The title can be confusing if your first association with Narnia is a wardrobe. Gerwig is adapting a different C. S. Lewis book, the story that explains how Narnia comes into being. It follows Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, two children who discover a way to travel beyond their own world. Digory’s uncle and his experiments set their journey in motion. The title refers to the relationship between Digory and his uncle, and the events open up questions about responsibility, curiosity and what people do with power they barely understand.
In the order the books were first published, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe came first. In the fictional timeline, the events of The Magician’s Nephew happen earlier. Starting with the origin story changes which details arrive as surprises. A reader who knows the later story may recognise where certain objects or characters fit. A first-time viewer can simply follow two children into a new place.
Who is in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia cast?
Netflix lists David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell alongside Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep. Gerwig wrote and directed the adaptation. Netflix has published production photographs for a closer look at the scale and design of the film. If you’re avoiding spoilers, the cast list and release date are enough to read for now. A photo caption can sometimes explain the significance of a scene you’d rather discover in the cinema.
What the IMAX preview means for viewers in India
The preview starts February 10 in IMAX, according to Netflix. That describes the event window. It leaves the exact programme to local exhibitors. If you live somewhere with more than one IMAX venue, compare the venue, language and time before paying. If you live outside a major city, look at regular cinema listings for February 12 as well. Travelling across town for a specific format may be worth it for you, but the film’s theatrical release is wider than the early preview.
For a family outing, check the local classification and runtime once they are posted. A late evening listing may be less practical than a weekend matinee even when the screen is better. Anyone waiting for Netflix can use April 2 as the announced date and check the local title page nearer the time.
Do you need to read the book first?
The story is a starting point in the world of Narnia, so it’s a reasonable place to come in cold. Read the book first if you enjoy seeing how a filmmaker translates a familiar scene. Save it for after the film if you want the children’s discoveries to surprise you. If you’re watching with someone who only knows the earlier films, explain that this is an origin story with a new central pair. That’s enough context for the title to make sense.
If you want something to share with a younger reader while you wait, start with the opening chapters and stop before looking up illustrations from later in the book. Let them decide whether they want to finish the story before seeing Gerwig’s version.
Illustrative photo by Mattia Revelant on Unsplash.
Read next: the Sunrise on the Reaping guide.
