Parents' Guide to

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Engaging third Narnia adventure is fun for tweens and up.

Movie PG 2010 115 minutes
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 8+

Based on 37 parent reviews

Harry Potter 1
Harry Potter 1 Adult
June 9, 2013
age 6+

The epitome of Narniaian adventure

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a wonderful adventure. While Prince Caspian was a big disappointment,this movie returns the wonder of Narnia found in The Lion,the,Witch,and the Wardrobe. Now,the Voyage of the Dawn is not NEARLY as literal a book to movie translation as the Lion,the Witch,and the Wardrobe was,the spirit of the story is absolutely preserved. The feeling of adventure our now seafaring friends provide in the book is absolutely present in the movie. The order in which they find each of places is somewhat different in the movie than in the book but they are all there. The biggest change from the book to the movie is that the key plot point involving Eustace occurs much later in the film than it did in the book. The Voyage of The Dawn Treader is an exceptionally well made movie that really captures the spirit of it' s story. The visual work and acting is the best of the 3 Narnia films. The change of order of events doesn't bother me at all. They hit all the important places and the plot and spirit of the story is captured well. I also really liked the character moment where Caspian decides to stay in Narnia rather than seek his father in Aslan's country. His comments "I don't think my father would be proud if I gave up everything he died for." And "I've spent too much time wanting what was taken from me and not what I was given." speak to a reflective and maturing character and I thought that was a nice bit of character development. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a family friendly film and is perfectly appropriate for anyone in 1st grade or older. Pause for those below 1st grade because of the sea serpent. I highly recommend this wonderful adventure movie. Sex/sexuality: Not an issue. Drugs,alcohol,and tobacco: None at all. Language: The 1 out of 5 is accurate. No profanity. Just some mild insults. Emotional intensity: 1 out of 5. Not much. There is a feeling of sadness when it is realized that Edmund and Lucy will never return to Narnia. Violence: 2 of 5. The least amount in the series. The sea serpent can be scary and there is some sword stuff but it's a pretty tame movie overall. Absolutely on for: 1st graders and older. Pause for anyone younger. How faithful is it to the book?: 80% Positive role models: Caspian for sure. And he makes his decision and his own. Aslan does not give Caspian advice on whether to seek his father or stay in Narnia,only that his choice cannot be undone. Caspian then reflects and makes the mature and responsible choice to stay in Narnia and fulfill his duties as king. Positive messages: The story of Eustace gives a good message that a person can change and become a better person.
metaphysics_nut
metaphysics_nut Parent of 13-year-old
July 28, 2020
age 18+

Very, very, badly made.

C.S. Lewis probably turned over in his grave when this was made. It was so bad. Bad acting, inaccurate, stupid, and there is some weird stuff in there. I put 18+ on it because that was the last and I do not recommend it to anyone.
See all 37 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this adaptation of C.S. Lewis' third Chronicles of Narnia book, the two youngest Pevensie kids, Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley), are staying with their aunt, uncle, and obnoxious younger cousin Eustace (Will Poulter). They make the best of their unhappy situation ... until one day, when the seaside painting in their guest room comes to life and sweeps them (and unbelieving Eustace) onto the Dawn Treader, the royal Narnian ship of King Caspian (Ben Barnes). Caspian explains that he and his crew are on a mission to find the seven "lost lords" of Narnia, who were dispatched by his father ages ago but were never heard from again. To restore peace to Narnia, they must track down the lords' enchanted swords and lay them at Aslan's table. As Caspian, the Pevensies, and the crew of the Dawn Treader navigate treacherous waters, they're each tested by an evil mist that emanates from an ominously dark island.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (37 ):
Kids say (96 ):

The Chronicles of Narnia series isn't exactly The Lord of the Rings saga, but, THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER is surprisingly engaging. Yes, it follows the less-glamorous younger siblings and their insufferable on-screen cousin, but that's true to Lewis' story and allows for Edmund and Lucy (and Keynes and Henley) to mature and show that they're as worthy as Peter and Susan to fight for Narnia. Simon Pegg replaces Eddie Izzard as the voice of Reepicheep, and once again the sword-wielding mouse is a highlight of the action -- in this case helping Eustace grow into a brave defender of Narnia.

Director Michael Apted, a master at nuance and character development (he made both the groundbreaking documentary series 7 Up and the Oscar-winning biopic Coal Miner's Daughter), smartly focuses on the relationships between the main characters rather than the action. There are still some special effects-heavy sequences, but it's not mind blowing. So Apted chronicles how Lucy deals with her desire to be as beautiful as her older sister and how Edmund struggles with his jealousy over living in Peter's -- and now Caspian's -- shadow. These are believable younger sibling "issues," and it makes the Pevensies -- and Eustace, who's too logical and uptight for his own good -- incredibly relatable to a tween audience, many of whom are experiencing similar doubts about their self-worth. So although this saga isn't quite as memorable as other epic fantasies like LOTR and the Harry Potter movies, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a worthier-than-expected journey.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how each of the main characters was tested and tempted and yet came out victorious. What insecurities did each of them overcome? What is the movie's message about pride and beauty?

  • For those who've read the books, how faithful is the film to the story?

  • Why do you suppose the Pevensies can't return to Narnia once they've grown up? What is it about getting older that makes your time in Narnia come to an end?

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