Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Directed by David Yates and written by J.K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them expands the Harry Potter universe into 1920s America. The story centers on Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a British magizoologist who arrives in New York with a suitcase full of magical creatures. When several escape, he teams up with No-Maj (Muggle) baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), former Auror Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), and her quirky sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) to recapture them. Meanwhile, a sinister force—an Obscurus—terrorizes the city, leading to tensions between the wizarding community and the Magical Congress of the United States (MACUSA). The film blends whimsical creature encounters with darker themes, setting up the conflict for future sequels.