Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Book and Movies Guide

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them represents both a published textbook within J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world and a three-film cinematic franchise that expands the Harry Potter universe backward in time. The series, which includes Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), explores events preceding Harry Potter’s era by several decades. Directed by David Yates and written by Rowling herself, the franchise introduces audiences to Newt Scamander, a magizoologist whose textbook becomes required reading at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The films are set primarily in the 1920s and 1930s, depicting a global magical community on the brink of conflict as dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald rises to power. While originally conceived as a five-film saga, Warner Bros. ultimately released only three installments, concluding with The Secrets of Dumbledore in 2022. The series connects to the original Harry Potter films through recurring characters, thematic elements, and visual design choices that deliberately echo Rowling’s earlier work.

What is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them exists in two distinct forms within the broader wizarding world franchise. The first is a fictional textbook authored by Newt Scamander, which appears in the Harry Potter books as standard coursework for first-year students at Hogwarts. Rowling published a real-world edition of this textbook in 2001 as a charity project, expanding upon the creature descriptions mentioned briefly in the original series. This cross-format approach became a defining characteristic of how the franchise expanded beyond traditional film storytelling.

The cinematic interpretation takes significant liberties with Scamander’s character, transforming the modest textbook author into an adventurous magizoologist who travels the world collecting and protecting magical creatures. The 2016 film introduces audiences to 1926 New York City, where Scamander’s brief visit becomes complicated when creatures escape from his enchanted briefcase. The narrative weaves together multiple storylines involving MACUSA (the American wizarding governing body), the Second Salemers (an anti-wizard cult), and the growing political tensions between the magical and non-magical communities.

Quick Overview

Key Insights

• Five films were originally announced for the franchise, but only three were ultimately produced and released
• J.K. Rowling served as screenwriter for all three films, making this one of her most directly involved cinematic projects
• The franchise grossed approximately $1.9 billion worldwide across its three installments
• Eddie Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Newt Scamander in The Theory of Everything (2013), before taking on the role
• The series marks the second time David Yates directed a Wizarding World franchise, following his work on the final four Harry Potter films
• Critical reception declined with each successive installment, with the first film receiving generally positive reviews while sequels faced more mixed responses

Snapshot Facts

Is Fantastic Beasts Connected to Harry Potter?

Fantastic Beasts operates as an official prequel to the Harry Potter film series, sharing the same canonical universe and frequently intersecting with characters and concepts established in the original films. The connection runs deeper than simple thematic similarities, extending into specific character lineages, visual design choices, and plot threads that directly reference events from the Harry Potter storyline. The franchise was conceived as an expansion of the Wizarding World, taking audiences to new geographic locations while maintaining ties to familiar elements.

Character Connections

Newt Scamander serves as the primary bridge between the two franchises. In the Harry Potter books, students use his textbook as required coursework during their first year at Hogwarts. The films expand this minor reference into a full origin story, depicting Scamander as a young wizard whose adventures with magical creatures eventually lead him to write the textbook. Additionally, the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows reveals that Scamander’s grandson Rolf marries Luna Lovegood, establishing a direct genealogical connection between the characters.

Albus Dumbledore features prominently across the film series, with his complicated history with Gellert Grindelwald taking center stage in the second and third films. The narrative reveals a blood pact between Dumbledore and Grindelwald that prevents the former from directly confronting his former friend, adding depth to the character history established in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This blood pact serves as a central plot mechanism driving the entire trilogy’s conflict.

Lita Lestrange, a character introduced in the sequels, connects to Bellatrix Lestrange, one of the most notorious villains in the Harry Potter series. This family connection appears as a visual reference through analyses of Harry Potter connections within the franchise.

Visual and Thematic Links

The production design deliberately echoes the Harry Potter aesthetic while establishing its own identity. MACUSA president Seraphina Picquery’s golden throne was designed to mirror Dumbledore’s chair in the Hogwarts Great Hall, serving as an intentional visual reference connecting the two worlds. The Deathly Hallows symbol, which plays a crucial role in the Harry Potter finale, also appears throughout the Fantastic Beasts films, reinforcing the narrative thread that binds both franchises together.

Hogwarts Castle appears briefly in the sequels, allowing filmmakers to showcase the school with subtle differences from the Harry Potter films that reflect the earlier time period. The architectural elements and interior designs maintain consistency with the established aesthetic while incorporating period-appropriate modifications. This attention to detail helps ground the prequel in its predecessor’s visual language.

Timeline Within the Wizarding World

The Fantastic Beasts films are set approximately 65 to 80 years before the events of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, placing them squarely in the interwar period between World Wars I and II. This timeline allows the franchise to explore events that shaped the wizarding world before the establishment of the Ministry of Magic’s current structures as depicted in the original series.

The approach of the Second World War serves as a backdrop for the central conflict between Dumbledore’s faction and Grindelwald’s movement, creating parallels between magical and Muggle historical events. Grindelwald’s rise to power mirrors the political upheavals occurring in the non-magical world, a connection the films occasionally acknowledge through dialogue and setting choices.

Fantastic Beasts Movies: Plots, Cast, and Release Order

The Fantastic Beasts film series follows a chronological narrative spanning twelve years in the wizarding world’s history, beginning in 1926 New York and concluding in 1938. Each installment expands the scope of the conflict while introducing new characters, locations, and magical concepts. The films were released between 2016 and 2022, with production challenges and cast changes affecting the later entries.

The First Film: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

The inaugural film introduces Newt Scamander arriving in New York City with a briefcase containing numerous magical creatures. When several of these creatures escape, Scamander partners with No-Maj (American term for Muggle) Jacob Kowalski and MACUSA employee Tina Goldstein to recapture them. The plot complicates when the Second Salemers, an anti-wizard organization, become involved, and dark magical energy threatens to expose the hidden wizarding community to the wider world.

The cast features Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein, and Colin Farrell as Graves, the powerful MACUSA official who harbors sinister intentions. Ezra Miller appears as Credence Barebone, a troubled young man with connections to the Second Salemers.

The Second Film: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

The sequel shifts focus from creature adventures to the escalating conflict between Albus Dumbledore and the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who has escaped custody and begun assembling followers for his vision of wizard supremacy. Newt, reluctantly recruited by Dumbledore, travels to Paris to stop Grindelwald’s plans while the narrative explores the complex history between the two future adversaries.

Johnny Depp took over the role of Gellert Grindelwald following Colin Farrell’s Graves being revealed as a disguise. Jude Law joined the cast as a younger Albus Dumbledore, while Ezra Miller’s Credence Barebone storyline continued with a surprising revelation about his true identity. The cast also included Zoë Kravitz as Lita Lestrange, Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander, and Claudia Kim as Nagini.

The Third Film: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

The final installment sees Albus Dumbledore and Newt Scamander leading an alliance of wizards and allies against Grindelwald’s growing movement, which threatens to drag the wizarding world into open war with the Muggle population. With the blood pact preventing Dumbledore from acting directly, Newt serves as the primary field operative while Dumbledore orchestrates events from the shadows.

Mads Mikkelsen replaced Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald following legal disputes, while the ensemble cast remained largely intact. The film concludes the immediate narrative arc while leaving certain plot threads unresolved, as no further films were officially announced after this release.

Key Magical Creatures Featured

The Fantastic Beasts franchise places magical creatures at its thematic center, returning to the creature-focused origins suggested by Newt Scamander’s textbook. The films introduce both entirely new creatures and familiar species from the Harry Potter universe, creating a rich bestiary that expands the world’s magical ecosystem.

• Occamy: Serpentine, winged creatures that can shrink or grow to fit any enclosed space. They originate from the Far East and are protective of their nests.
• Niffler: A platypus-like creature with a predilection for shiny objects. Despite its kleptomaniac tendencies, the Niffler proves endearing and has become a fan favorite.
• Demiguise: Ape-like creatures with transparent bodies that can become invisible when threatened. They possess precognitive abilities and are valued for their hide.
• Murtlap: Creatures resembling rats that live near the sea. Pickling them in vinegar produces a remedy effective against minor curses.
• Erumpent: A rhinoceros-like creature from Africa whose horn contains an explosive fluid that can destroy entire buildings.
• Graphorn: Large, purple-hued creatures with dual horns, native to mountainous regions. They are mentioned in the textbook and depicted in the films.
• Thunderbird: A massive bird native to Arizona that can create storms with its wings. The first film features a rescued Thunderbird as a central creature.

Book vs. Movies: Key Differences

The Fantastic Beasts films take significant liberties with the source material, transforming a modest textbook into an expansive cinematic universe with interconnected storylines and original characters. Understanding these differences helps clarify how the franchise reinterpreted its source material for screen storytelling.

Format and Content

The published Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them textbook consists primarily of creature descriptions organized alphabetically, with occasional humorous notes and corrections from later editions. The 2001 charity edition includes an introduction by Newt Scamander describing his background and methodology, but contains no narrative plot beyond these supplementary materials. The films, by contrast, construct elaborate storylines involving political intrigue, magical conflicts, and character development that bear little resemblance to the textbook format.

Character Interpretation

The book presents Newt Scamander as a relatively straightforward author figure, with the introduction suggesting a mild-mannered magizoologist with academic interests. The films reinterpret him as an adventurous protagonist capable of physical feats and emotional depth, with Eddie Redmayne’s performance emphasizing social awkwardness, compassion for creatures, and quiet heroism. Jacob Kowalski, Tina Goldstein, and Queenie Goldstein exist entirely as film creations with no basis in the original textbook.

Scope and World-Building

The original textbook focuses exclusively on magical creatures without exploring the broader wizarding world in detail. The films expand this into a comprehensive prequel series, introducing new geographic locations, governmental structures like MACUSA, historical events, and character relationships that complement and expand upon the Harry Potter universe rather than simply illustrating a book.

Where to Watch or Read Fantastic Beasts

The Fantastic Beasts films are available through multiple streaming and purchase platforms, with availability varying by region and changing over time. As of 2024, the trilogy has appeared on various services including Max (formerly HBO Max), Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+, though specific platform availability depends on current licensing agreements.

Streaming Platforms

The films have historically been available for streaming through Warner Bros. Discovery properties, given the studio’s distribution of the franchise. Checking current listings on major streaming services remains the most reliable method for finding immediate access. Rental and purchase options through digital retailers like Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play provide permanent ownership alternatives.

Reading Materials

The original Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them textbook remains in print and is widely available through book retailers. Rowling’s expanded edition includes creature profiles, previously unseen illustrations, and supplementary materials about the magical world. Additional related reading includes Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay, which provides the script from the first film alongside production notes and commentary.

Fantastic Beasts Release Timeline

The franchise evolved over more than two decades from initial concept to completed trilogy, with significant changes occurring throughout development. Understanding the timeline helps contextualize how the series progressed from ambitious expansion plans to a more modest three-film conclusion.

1. 2001: J.K. Rowling publishes Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as a charity book, expanding on the Hogwarts textbook mentioned in the Harry Potter series
2. 2013: Warner Bros. announces development of a five-film Fantastic Beasts franchise, with Rowling confirmed as screenwriter
3. 2015: Eddie Redmayne officially cast as Newt Scamander; David Yates announced as director
4. 2016: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them released in November, becoming a commercial success
5. 2018: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald released in November, beginning box office decline from predecessor
6. 2019: Reports emerge about franchise restructuring and potential cancellation of remaining films
7. 2022: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore released in April, serving as the trilogy’s conclusion

What Remains Confirmed and Uncertain

The Fantastic Beasts franchise exists in a defined but somewhat ambiguous state following its third installment. Certain facts are firmly established through official announcements and released content, while other aspects remain open to interpretation or speculation.

Context: The Franchise’s Significance and Reception

The Fantastic Beasts franchise occupies an unusual position within the Wizarding World legacy, representing both ambitious expansion and commercial challenges that ultimately limited its scope. The decision to proceed from a planned five-film series to a three-film conclusion reflected both creative considerations and box office realities that affected the latter installments.

The series introduced several elements that expanded the Harry Potter universe’s geographic and cultural scope. By setting the first film in 1920s New York and featuring MACUSA as the American wizarding governing body, the franchise established that magical communities exist worldwide with distinct cultural characteristics. Paris appears in the sequels with its own magical underworld, suggesting further potential for exploring international wizarding cultures in future projects.

The Fantastic Beasts films represent J.K. Rowling’s most direct involvement in Wizarding World screenwriting beyond the original Harry Potter book series.

— Industry analysis of the franchise’s development history

Critical reception varied across the trilogy, with the first film generally receiving positive reviews while subsequent installments faced increasing skepticism from critics and audiences alike. The decision to conclude the series after three films, rather than pursuing the originally announced five-film arc, suggested a recalibration of expansion ambitions within the franchise.

Sources and Statements

The Fantastic Beasts franchise draws from multiple authoritative sources within the Wizarding World mythology and mainstream film documentation. J.K. Rowling served as the primary creative authority, writing all three screenplays and providing ongoing guidance about canonical details. The official Wizarding World website maintains current information about franchise developments, while production materials and cast interviews provide additional context for creative decisions.

The central narrative follows Albus Dumbledore and his agents—principally Newt Scamander—on a quest to overcome Gellert Grindelwald as the First and Second World Wars approach.

— Description of Fantastic Beasts narrative

Warner Bros. as distributor and producer provided official announcements regarding release dates, cast changes, and franchise direction throughout the development process. Film industry publications and entertainment-focused websites have documented the franchise’s production history, casting decisions, and box office performance with varying degrees of official confirmation.

Summary

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them encompasses both a charity-published textbook within J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world and a three-film cinematic franchise that expands the Harry Potter universe backward in time. The series follows Newt Scamander, Eddie Redmayne’s magizoologist character, as he becomes involved in the escalating conflict between Albus Dumbledore and the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the 1920s and 1930s.

Originally conceived as a five-film saga, the franchise concluded with The Secrets of Dumbledore in 2022, leaving certain narrative threads unresolved. The films maintain canonical connections to the Harry Potter series through recurring characters, visual design choices, and thematic elements that reinforce the shared universe. For those interested in exploring similar content, the Jurassic Gardens by the Bay article provides another perspective on creature-focused entertainment.

Frequently Asked Questions