Alice Through the Looking Glass

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Year: 1998

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: English

Director: John Henderson

TV MovieFantasyFamilyCrude humor and satireDreamlike quirky and surreal storytelling

A modern adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic fantasy follows Alice after ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ A mother reading the bedtime story falls asleep and steps through the Looking Glass into Chessland, a whimsical realm of oversized chess pieces. There she meets the Red and White Queens and other eccentric characters while traveling the chessboard countryside, ultimately becoming a crowned queen.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Alice Through the Looking Glass yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Looking-Glass Land, Alice's Bedroom (Home)

The story largely unfolds in Looking-Glass Land, a chessboard-like realm accessed through a bedroom mirror. This world features talking flowers, shifting streams, and two opposing Queens, all set on a vast, rule-bound landscape. The journey ultimately returns Alice to the safety and familiarity of her home with her daughter.

❄️ Fantasy realm 🧭 Adventure 🗺️ Surreal landscapes 🪄 Magic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:21

Main Characters – Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998)

Meet the key characters of Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alice (Kate Beckinsale)

An adult Alice who is pulled into Looking-Glass Land while her daughter watches. She is brave, resourceful, and learns to navigate a world ruled by chess logic, balancing curiosity with caution. Her journey culminates in self-empowerment and a renewed bond with her family.

🎭 Adventure 🧠 Clever 🧭 Curious

White Queen (Penelope Wilton)

A precognitive and supportive figure who guides Alice through the journey. She embodies foresight and calm authority, offering strategic insight as the realm shifts. Her presence adds prophecy-like depth to the quest.

🔮 Prophetic 🧭 Guide 🧊 Calm

Red Queen (Siân Phillips)

A vigorous rival queen who embodies ambition and command. She challenges Alice and the White Queen, forcing tests of wit and loyalty. Her dynamic presence heightens the political tension of the chessboard world.

🔥 Ambitious 🧭 Strategic 🗡️ Rival

White Knight (Ian Holm)

A noble protector who guides and defends Alice through treacherous landscapes. He embodies chivalry and moral resolve, helping her navigate the journey toward the eighth row.

🛡️ Protector 🗺️ Guide 🐴 Cavalier

Gnat (Steve Coogan)

A quirky adviser in the wood who teaches about looking-glass insects. He adds humor and practical knowledge, helping Alice interpret the land's strange rules.

🪲 Insect-guide 🧭 Informative 😄 Entertaining

Tweedle-Dum (Gary Olsen)

One of the comic brothers who recites poems and creates tension with their bravado, marking the realm's unpredictable mood.

🎭 Comic 🗨️ Wordplay 🧩 Puzzle

Tweedle-Dee (Marc Warren)

The other half of the playful duo, adding mischief and linguistic games that test Alice’s patience and wit.

🎭 Comic 🗨️ Wordplay 🧩 Puzzle

Humpty Dumpty (Desmond Barrit)

A sage-like figure who revels in portmanteau ideas, teaching the power and danger of words as he tumbles from his wall. His unbirthday moment punctuates the limits of certainty.

🗣️ Wordplay 🧩 Philosophy 🌀 Unreliable

Little Alice (Charlotte Curley)

The daughter figure who anchors the story in family and care, highlighting the real-world impact of the fantasy adventure.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family ❤️ Heart 🧭 Reminder

Red King (Michael Medwin)

A slumbering monarch whose presence grounds the dreamlike landscape and hints at the dangers of power without wisdom.

🏰 Authority 💤 Sleep 🧪 Mystery

White King (Geoffrey Palmer)

A benevolent monarch who, along with his court, contributes to the chessboard’s rules and to the sense of a structured world within the dream.

🏰 Leadership 🧭 Guiding 🛡️ Protector

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:21

Major Themes – Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998)

Explore the central themes of Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪞 Identity

Alice navigates between worlds, grappling with who she is as she moves from ordinary life to a board-driven fantasy. She forgets her name in a place where names define reality, then reclaiming it marks a shift in self-understanding. The journey becomes a test of personal identity and agency.

👑 Power

The quest to become a queen drives the plot as rival claims and coronation rituals test loyalties and strategy. Power is depicted as something earned through courage and clever choices, not just birthright. The chessboard setting literalizes political maneuvering and leadership under pressure.

🗣️ Language

Wordplay and portmanteau are central, with characters bending language to either confound or illuminate. Humpty Dumpty and others use language as both tool and puzzle, shaping how characters perceive reality. The narrative treats words as magic that can unlock or trap understanding.

✨ Reality

The boundary between dream and waking life blurs as Alice’s journey mirrors a personal transformation. The tale begins with a mother reading to her daughter and ends with Alice returning home, suggesting the adventure alters her perspective even as the world changes back to the ordinary.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:21

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Alice Through the Looking Glass

Don't stop at just watching — explore Alice Through the Looking Glass in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Alice Through the Looking Glass is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Alice Through the Looking Glass Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Alice Through the Looking Glass, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Alice Through the Looking Glass Summary

Alice Through the Looking Glass Timeline

Track the full timeline of Alice Through the Looking Glass with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Alice Through the Looking Glass Timeline

Alice Through the Looking Glass Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Alice Through the Looking Glass that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Alice Through the Looking Glass Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Alice Through the Looking Glass

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Alice Through the Looking Glass: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Alice Through the Looking Glass