Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them made its debut in 2016. The series has three parts so far, the third installment being The Secrets of Dumbledore. The movies are following a three part book series of the same name. 

 All three films give viewers a deeper understanding of the curiosity within the Wizarding World. Directed by David Yates, the latest addition to the franchise follows the story of professor Albus Dumbledore as he and other wizards try to take down Gellert Grindelwald. Including Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore, many talented faces appear in the star studded cast. Dumbledore knows about Grindelwalds rising power and the way it will affect the Wizarding World; he enlists Scamander and other allies with the challenge of taking down the dark wizard. 

With a 59% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has brought in both negative and positive feedback. While receiving praise on its aesthetic and magical hue, some may argue that the film lacks a well-told story. A review article by The Seattle Times said, “A story that’s both too complicated and unintriguing.” Among harsh words, there are many who are optimistic towards the movie’s release. With a positive Metascore of four, the negative score has been outweighed. The score is an average of reviews done by reputed critics.

Although some aspects of the fantastical world can be confusing for viewers, there is also a mystifying side that sparks interest.  USA Today said, “There’s a renewed emphasis on magical creatures and another decidedly political bent to the franchise as it digs into dark themes and offers a bewitching goofy side.” The threequel is set prior to the original Harry Potter series, and it demonstrates Grindelwald’s determination to destroy the Muggle population. (Muggles are humans born with no magical ability.) 

It is no secret that OHS is overflowing with Harry Potter fans. Even though the first book came out in 1997, the series has gained traction from people of all ages. Sophomore Luca Gfrerer has been an avid fan of the fantasy filled films for a large part of her life. She said, “More movies keep coming out and it has stayed around despite the fact that the main series is over, which is really cool and I am very excited for it.” Students are ecstatic to see what lies ahead for the story that they have cherished for a long time.

Some students are waiting to finish the original book series before diving into the cinematic world. There are seven books, the last being Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Sophomore Hannah Blahosky is one of the students still working their way through the novels. She said, “I have read four or five of the books but I am going to wait to read all of them to watch the movie.” Although the Fantastic Beasts films are set 50-65 years prior to Harry Potter, having knowledge of the story will be significant to understanding the magical universe within the stories from Fantastic Beasts. 

Anyone looking for charm and thrill will thoroughly appreciate The Secrets of Dumbledore. The fantasy filled adventure will take viewers of all different ages through the mystical universe of the Wizarding World. The new action packed film is rated PG-13 and was released to the public at Northwoods Cinema 10 on April 14.