Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a 2016 fantasy film directed by David Yates and produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is a prequel to the Harry Potter film series and is based on the book of the same name by J.K. Rowling. Set in 1926, the story follows Newt Scamander, a British magizoologist portrayed by Eddie Redmayne, who arrives in New York City with a suitcase full of magical creatures.
Upon his arrival, Newt accidentally swaps suitcases with Jacob Kowalski, a No-Maj (non-magical person) played by Dan Fogler. This mishap leads to several of Newt's magical creatures escaping into the city, causing chaos. Newt encounters Tina Goldstein, a former Auror played by Katherine Waterston, who arrests him for breaking magical law. After realizing that Jacob's suitcase only contains baked goods, they are released, but not before Tina introduces them to her sister Queenie, portrayed by Alison Sudol, who has the ability to read minds.
As Newt and his companions attempt to recapture the escaped creatures, they uncover a darker plot involving an Obscurus—a powerful and destructive force created from suppressed magical abilities. This subplot intertwines with the growing tensions between the magical community and No-Majs in America, particularly through the actions of Percival Graves, a high-ranking Auror played by Colin Farrell, who suspects Newt of being involved in dark wizardry.
The film culminates in a climactic battle where Newt and his friends confront both Graves and the Obscurus. Ultimately, they manage to save the city from destruction while revealing Graves as Gellert Grindelwald, a notorious dark wizard. In an effort to protect the magical community's secrecy, Newt uses a Thunderbird to disperse a memory-erasing rain over New York City.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them received generally positive reviews for its visual effects and world-building but was critiqued for its pacing and character development. The film grossed over $814 million worldwide and was followed by two sequels: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022).