Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

PG-13

2016

2h 7m

Fantasy

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

343 Reviews

79%

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50,000+ Ratings

The year is 1926, and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident, were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

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Critics Consensus

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them draws on Harry Potter's rich mythology to deliver a spinoff that dazzles with franchise-building magic all its own.

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Karen Han

CutPrintFilm

12/08/2017

7/10

Fantastic Beasts is a charm, excelling when it's allowed to be its own creature and falling short only when it's forced to pay its franchise dues.

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Kristen Lopez

Culturess

11/20/2017

Much of the film's rapid-fire entertainment value and slick filmmaking style do a lot towards covering up the weak narrative excuses.

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Alison Herman

The Ringer

08/11/2017

Rowling imbues Fantastic Beasts from start to finish with a sense of discovery.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

04/09/2022

2/4

Rowling throws her audience into the fray without developing personalities we grow to love. As a result, Fantastic Beasts feels underwhelming, if diverting for the duration.

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David Gonzalez

The Cinematic Reel

02/14/2022

3/4

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is an unexpected return to Rowlings wizarding world but with anything, the unexpected surprises are sometimes the best.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

01/18/2022

1.5/4

...a predominantly worthless endeavor that seems to serve no purpose other than to lay the groundwork for future installments.

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Boots McGee

09/24/2024

a fanciful journey, full of imaginative creature design and world building. THIS movie is great. commenting from 2024....they should have stopped here.

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Anonymous C

@AnonymousCat Feb 21

Amazing movie! The monsters are incredibly realistic, and I love the way it portrays JK Rowling’s amazing descriptions. It shows you the magical world from an adult perspective instead a young wizard going to Hogwarts aka Harry. Absolute must see if you’re a Potter-head or like magic and fantasy.

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Tucker F.

@nerd1 Jan 27

Fantastic Beasts was really good there was a lot of scenes in the movie that are really good and the Beasts in the movie look really cool To be honest it would have been a good Netflix or HBO Max series

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Brandon K

@TheKeizer Dec 29

The best movie in the series, has really cool creatures and fun action scenes.

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E 1

@Rickson Nov 2

A great new story from the world of Harry Potter that is in no way inferior to the old films and knows how to enchant with great characters and breathtaking magic!

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Oliver J

@Ollie1997 Oct 12

Consensus: “With dazzling visuals, captivating performances, and a fresh take on J.K. Rowling’s magical universe, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a spellbinding adventure that will delight fans both old and new.” David Yates’ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them takes audiences back to the magical world of J.K. Rowling with a fresh, enchanting twist. Set in 1920s New York, the film introduces us to Newt Scamander, a charming yet socially awkward magizoologist whose love for magical creatures drives both the story and the film’s heart. The movie excels in world-building, giving fans a new perspective on the Wizarding World while delivering stunning visual effects and a whimsical yet grounded sense of magic. Eddie Redmayne shines as Newt, balancing awkward humor with genuine heroism, while the supporting cast—including Katherine Waterston and Dan Fogler—adds depth and charm. Though the plot occasionally leans on familiar tropes, the film’s imagination, creature design, and sense of adventure keep it compelling from start to finish. Fantastic Beasts successfully balances nostalgia with originality, proving there’s more to explore beyond Hogwarts.

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David Yates

Director

Eddie Redmayne

Newt

Katherine Waterston

Tina

Dan Fogler

Jacob Kowalski

Alison Sudol

Queenie

Ezra Miller

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Blu-Ray Trailer

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Trailer 2

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Comic-Con Trailer

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Teaser Trailer 1

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Announcement Trailer

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Synopsis

The year is 1926, and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident, were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

Director: David Yates
Producer: J.K. Rowling, David Heyman, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Nvizible, Heyday Films, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Fantasy/Action Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 18, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $234.0M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Datasat, Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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