 During pre @-@ production , Disney announced a December 14 , 2007 release date , but pushed it back to May 16 , 2008 , because Disney opted to not release it in competition with The Water Horse , another Walden Media production . Disney also felt the Harry Potter films comfortably changed their release dates from ( Northern Hemisphere ) winters to summers , and Narnia could likewise do the same because the film was darker and more like an action film . The world premiere was held at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on May 7 , 2008 . The British premiere was held at the O2 Arena on June 19 , the first time the dome has hosted a film screening . Around 10 @,@ 000 people attended the event , the proceeds of which went to Great Ormond Street Hospital . 
