The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe recap

Four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, are sent to an old Professor's country house, where Lucy discovers that a wardrobe opens onto Narnia, a land held in endless winter by the White Witch. Edmund follows and is corrupted by the Witch's enchanted sweets. When all four enter together, they learn from the Beavers of a prophecy that they will end the Witch's reign, and that the great Lion Aslan has returned. Edmund betrays them to the Witch but is rescued. By an ancient law the Witch claims his life; Aslan offers himself in Edmund's place and is killed, then rises again through a deeper magic. Aslan revives the Witch's stone victims, the children and the Narnians defeat and kill her in battle, and the four are crowned Kings and Queens. Years later, grown up, they stumble back through the wardrobe as children, with no time having passed at home.

Four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie, are sent away from wartime danger to the large country house of an old Professor. Exploring on a rainy day, the youngest, Lucy, hides in a wardrobe and finds that its back opens onto a snowy wood in another world. There she meets a kindly faun, Mr. Tumnus, who takes her to tea and confesses that the land, called Narnia, is held under an enchantment of endless winter by a cruel ruler who has ordered him to hand over any human he finds. Ashamed, he sends Lucy safely home. When Lucy tells the others, no time seems to have passed and they do not believe her. Later Edmund, following her into the wardrobe, meets a tall, proud woman who calls herself the Queen of Narnia. She feeds him enchanted Turkish Delight that leaves him hungry for more and willing to please her, and she draws out of him that he has a brother and two sisters.

Edmund returns from Narnia but spitefully denies that the land is real, wounding Lucy, though the Professor privately takes her claim seriously. Soon all four children enter the wardrobe together and reach the wintry wood, where they find that Mr. Tumnus has been arrested for helping a human. A friendly talking beaver, Mr. Beaver, meets them and leads them secretly to his lodge. There he and Mrs. Beaver feed them and explain the situation: the woman Edmund met is the White Witch, who has cursed Narnia; an old prophecy says that four humans will end her rule; and, most hopeful of all, the great Lion Aslan, the true king, has returned and is on the move. As they talk, they realize that Edmund, already under the Witch's spell and craving more of her sweets, has quietly slipped away to find her.

Edmund makes his way to the White Witch's castle, expecting reward, but she treats him coldly, and he sees the courtyard full of creatures she has turned to stone. Learning that the other three children and the Beavers have escaped, the Witch sets out in her sledge to hunt them down. The children and the Beavers flee toward the Stone Table to meet Aslan. Along the way they encounter Father Christmas, who has at last been able to return now that the Witch's power is weakening, and he gives them gifts and useful tools. The snow begins to melt and streams start to run, unmistakable signs that the long winter is finally breaking and that Aslan's arrival is near.

The children reach the Stone Table and meet Aslan, the noble Lion whose presence fills them with awe. Peter proves himself in his first battle by killing one of the Witch's wolves. A rescue party frees Edmund, who is deeply sorry, and Aslan speaks with him privately and forgives him. But the White Witch comes to claim Edmund's life, invoking the Deep Magic that grants her every traitor. To spare Edmund, Aslan secretly makes a bargain to die in his place. That night the Witch and her followers bind, shave, mock, and kill Aslan upon the Stone Table, while Susan and Lucy watch hidden and grieving. The Witch believes she has won and rushes off to fall upon Narnia's leaderless army.

At dawn the Stone Table cracks and Aslan returns to life, explaining that a Deeper Magic older than the Witch's undoes death when an innocent willingly dies for a traitor. He carries Susan and Lucy to the Witch's castle and breathes life back into the creatures she had turned to stone, raising a fresh army. They arrive at the battle in time; Peter has fought hard, Aslan kills the White Witch, and her forces are defeated. Edmund, gravely wounded but redeemed, is healed by Lucy's cordial. The four children are crowned Kings and Queens at Cair Paravel and reign for many years as adults. At last, hunting a White Stag, they reach the lamp-post again, pass back through the wardrobe, and become children once more, with no time having passed at home. The Professor is unsurprised by their tale.

Aslan sacrifices himself on the Stone Table to satisfy the Deep Magic that gives the Witch a claim on the traitor Edmund's life. He returns to life by a Deeper Magic the Witch did not know, then breathes life back into the creatures she had turned to stone. With this restored army, Aslan and the children join the battle already raging; Peter fights bravely, Aslan kills the White Witch, and her forces are defeated. Edmund, gravely wounded but redeemed, is healed by Lucy's cordial. The four children are crowned at Cair Paravel as Kings and Queens of Narnia and reign long and well as adults. One day, hunting a magical White Stag, they come upon the lamp-post at the forest's edge, push back through the wardrobe, and tumble out as children again, no time having passed in their own world. The Professor, when they try to explain, is not surprised and hints they may reach Narnia again someday.