Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Trailer Just Left ‘Barbie’ in the Dust, but Not Everyone Is Sold
Few fantasy properties carry the generational weight of C.S. Lewis’s world, so it was always going to be a big moment when the first ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ trailer arrived. Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, this adaptation returns to the very origins of the realm Lewis imagined, and the hype around the project has been building ever since Netflix announced it.
The first look made its debut on October 13 at an IMAX screen at the AMC Lincoln Center in New York, where Gerwig showed the trailer and behind-the-scenes footage before sitting down with Stephen Colbert to discuss her follow-up to ‘Barbie’. The trailer, scored by Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” then landed online and immediately became one of the most talked-about movie moments of the fall.
Now the numbers are in, and they’re staggering. According to WaveMetrix data reported exclusively by Deadline following Netflix’s earnings call, the trailer racked up more than 481.3 million views in its first 7 days.
That total more than doubles the 240 million views the ‘Barbie’ trailer earned in the same window. It also topped ‘Wonka’ at 237.2 million and ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ at 281.6 million.
The online frenzy was just as visible. The trailer trended at No. 1 on X, remained the top trending movie trailer on YouTube, and even caused NarniaFilm.com to crash briefly under the flood of visitors.
A Universe Begins. See how Narnia was created in Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, a film by Greta Gerwig – only in theaters February 12. https://t.co/jwxksCL0N7
— Netflix (@netflix) October 13, 2026
Those eye-popping figures didn’t happen by accident. Netflix backed the launch with global paid media across social, linear, and connected TV, and out-of-home advertising, spanning TikTok, Reddit, Meta, X, Snap, Pinterest, and YouTube, plus spots during early morning, late-night, and Sunday NFL programming.
The streamer has plenty riding on this one. With a $280 million budget, the film ranks among Netflix’s most ambitious projects, and it will be the first Netflix release to receive a full 45-day theatrical window.
Director Greta Gerwig and Josh Horowitz watch the NARNIA: THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW trailer in IMAX https://t.co/Xpxz9Sp2oj
— Narnia Movie (@NarniaMovie) October 16, 2026
Gerwig has made no secret of her big-screen ambitions. “I told Ted I only know how to make movies for the big screen,” the filmmaker said during the New York event, as reported by the Associated Press.
Still, raw viewership doesn’t tell the whole story. Cosmic Book News reported that dislikes on the trailer have climbed to 65,000, up from 15,000 on the day it dropped, with commenters continuing to roast it.
Fan site NarniaWeb found a similarly split audience in a poll that drew more than 4,000 responses. While 46% said the trailer made them more optimistic and 35% felt less so, opinions on Gerwig’s creative direction leaned negative, with 40% mixed, 32% disliking it, and only 28% approving.
A NARNIA fan reacts to the trailer for the new movie, including talking about the Led Zeppelin song and how clear it is that director Greta Gerwig loves this universe. Coming to AMC Theatres 2/12! https://t.co/BkB8X37jgz
— AMC Theatres (@AMCTheatres) October 15, 2026
Critics have noticed the tonal shift too. Gulf News described the trailer as sparkly and noted that Gerwig had essentially brought sequins to a franchise once defined by wet English countryside and knitted jumpers.
The story follows Digory and Polly, played by David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell, and charts the birth of Narnia itself. Daniel Craig plays Uncle Andrew, Emma Mackey takes on Jadis, and Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep round out the starry ensemble alongside Ciarán Hinds.
First poster for Greta Gerwig’s ‘NARNIA’. Trailer releases tomorrow. https://t.co/CZ9kUEDIVm
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 12, 2026
Meanwhile, the source material is enjoying a revival of its own. ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ currently sits at No. 3 among Children’s Classics in Amazon’s Kindle Store, while ‘The Horse and His Boy’ and ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ have also climbed the chart.
The adventure kicks off with exclusive IMAX sneak previews on February 10, followed by a worldwide theatrical release in IMAX and standard theaters on February 12 and a Netflix debut on April 2.
What do you think of Greta Gerwig’s take on ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ after seeing the first trailer?
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