Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

In the mid 1920s, a British magizoologist lands in New York with a magically enlarged briefcase that hides a living menagerie. Newt Scamander hopes to study and safeguard his creatures, but trouble arises when several beasts slip free, drawing the attention of MACUSA and local authorities. As Newt and a few unexpected allies scramble to recapture the animals, the case of magical creatures becomes entangled with human fears, bureaucratic bickering, and a brewing conflict between magical and non magical communities. As Newt's patience and compassion are tested, he tries to keep both his charges and the larger magical world safe. Along the way, questions of friendship, loyalty, and the price of secrecy surface as a wider magical conflict beckons nearby.

Directed by David Yates and written by J.K. Rowling, the 2016 film relaunches the Wizarding World, drawing on J.K. Rowling's background material and star studded cast including Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Colin Farrell, and more now.

The film performed strongly at the global box office, earning hundreds of millions worldwide and signaling a successful expansion of the Wizarding World into a new era of creature heavy adventure and big screen spectacle for fans around the globe.

The film broadened the Wizarding World beyond Hogwarts and helped fuel a new wave of fan engagement, merchandise, and spin offs. Its creature designs and period setting sparked ongoing curiosity about the wider magical ecosystem and how it might exist alongside modern life. It invited conversations about how magic fits.

Critics generally praised the production values and Eddie Redmayne's performance, though some felt the narrative pace lagged at times. The film invites reflection on prejudice, secrecy, and responsibility toward living beings while celebrating curiosity and wonder. Its tonal balance between whimsy and danger resonated with broad audiences in many countries.