It was tough to find great documentaries on C.S. Lewis.
Here are the best I’ve found so far. I’ll keep adding to them!
1) Beyond Narnia: The Real Life Of C.S. Lewis | The Secret Lives and Loves of C.S. Lewis
“C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia” tells the story of the man behind The Chronicles of Narnia. He wasn’t just a writer—he was a scholar, a soldier, and a man of deep faith.
The doc shares fun facts—Lewis failed his driving test 17 times! He also kept a promise to a war buddy, living with the man’s mother for years.
I list out a couple of dozen awesome factoids about this doc in this dedicated page: https://dailydoc.com/beyond-narnia-the-real-life-of-c-s-lewis/
You can watch it for free by clicking the video embed above.
2) C.S. Lewis & The Chronicles of Narnia
“C.S. Lewis & The Chronicles of Narnia” is a 57-minute biography C.S. Lewis).
The doc explores his transformation from a young boy enthralled by Celtic myths to a celebrated author whose Christian allegories would inspire generations.
It touches on his relationships, faith, and literary career—including his friendships with fellow writer J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings).
Some highlights:
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- He lost his faith in God at age 9 after his mother’s death, only to become one of Christianity’s most famous defenders decades later.
- Liked Naming from Young Age — He had a way with names from a young age. He hated his own name from Clive to Jack (which stuck with his close friends) and his brother’s name to Warnie (from Warren.
- As an Oxford scholar, he was initially told his Narnia stories were a waste of time—including by Tolkien, who disliked the mix of mythologies.
More Highlights
- The inspiration for Aslan the Lion may have come from a lion-shaped doorknob on a Belfast church where Lewis’ grandfather was a rector.
- A child evacuee staying at Lewis’s house during WWII inspired the wardrobe concept.
- Lewis’s love of Celtic mythology and medieval knights shaped the world of Narnia.
- During World War I, Lewis fought in the trenches, losing a close friend who made him promise to care for his mother—which led to an unusual domestic arrangement.
- The Kilns, his Oxford home, provided an idyllic setting for storytelling, with its woodlands and lake resembling Narnia.
- The doc explores the religious symbolism of Narnia, particularly Aslan as a Christ figure—which some fans later resented.
- Lewis fell in love late in life with Joy Gresham, an outspoken American writer, but their marriage was tragically short due to her illness.
You can watch it for free by clicking the video embed above or here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofH-Lh6hWaM&t=2s.
It’s also available to rent here on AppleTV and here on Amazon Prime ($3.99 for both last I checked)
3) The Magic Never Ends: The Life and Work of C.S. Lewis
Note: this doc is sometimes called “The Life and Faith of CS Lewis”.
“The Magic Never Ends: The Life and Work of C.S. Lewis” (2002) is a 57-minute doc anchored by narrator Ben Kingsley.
It explores Lewis’s life as a beloved author with more emphasis on his life as a Christian thinker.
It shows his journey from atheist to apologist, his deep friendships, and the personal tragedies that shaped his work.
You can watch it:
- for free on Hoopla at https://www.hoopladigital.com/play/11488766
- for free on Tubi (with ads) at https://tubitv.com/movies/457674/the-life-and-faith-of-cs-lewis
- with subscription on IndieFlix (though they also have a free trial last I checked) at https://watch.indieflix.com/videos/the-life-and-faith-of-c-s-lewis
Check here for any additional options to stream: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-life-and-faith-of-cs-lewis
Thanks for reading!
-Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc