The filmmakers of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald somehow managed to up their game from the first film. Across the board, the story, special effects, character development – all of it – is even better than the first go around. For a film already set several decades back from Harry Potter’s time in the wizarding world, there are quite a few flashbacks – there’s lots of information to take in. The film is chock full of Easter eggs for Potter fans, so keep your eyes and ears open, especially for some old names and magical objects, as well as familiar places – yes, we mean Hogwarts!

One of the best parts of the film are the scenes where we get insight into Albus Dumbledore’s past. We learn more about his relationship with Grindelwald, and get to see what kind of teacher he was at Hogwarts. We’re really looking forward to getting to know even more about Dumbledore in future films.



An old, yet new, character introduced in the film is Nagini in human form. The future Horcrux for Lord Voldemort plays a faithful companion to Credence, so it’ll be interesting to see how this caring character eventually develops into someone who works on the side of Death Eaters.

Newt’s brother Theseus and fiancé Leta Lestrange bring an interesting love triangle element to the story. Between old feelings that arise and a miscommunication with Newt’s love interest Tina, things don’t go very well.



And then there are the magical creatures. The baby Nifflers are adorable and hilarious, with their mother playing a rather significant role in this film. Our favorite new creature is the Zouwu, a giant lion-like beast that can fly, which when calm, has a temperament somewhere between a playful kitten and a puppy.

As everyone knows, there is a big reveal in this film. Eddie Redmayne himself stated that his “jaw dropped” – and he wasn’t kidding. Many in our audience were shocked and, quite frankly, confused as to how this reveal could be possible. And, considering the source of the information, we’re not really 100 percent sure it’s true as this person has been known to tell a lie a time or two. In any case, this new information will make for great fan discussion and theories while we wait for the third installment of the Fantastic Beasts series.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald hits theaters Friday, November 16. You can preorder tickets here through Fandango.

Read SnitchSeeker's set visit breakdown of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, including the return to Hogwarts and London, and entering Paris's Wizarding world.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World™.

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, Poppy Corby-Tuech, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. The film is produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram. Tim Lewis, Neil Blair, Rick Senat and Danny Cohen serve as executive producers.

The film reunites the behind-the-scenes creative team from the first “Fantastic Beasts” film, including Oscar-winning director of photography Philippe Rousselot (“A River Runs Through It”), three-time Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig (“The English Patient,” “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Gandhi,” the “Harry Potter” films), four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”), and Yates’ longtime editor Mark Day (the last four “Harry Potter” films). The music is by eight-time Oscar nominee James Newton Howard (“Defiance,” “Michael Clayton,” “The Hunger Games” films).

Slated for release on November 16, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.

This film is rated PG-13 for some sequences of fantasy action.