Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Fate of one. Future of all.
Gellert Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and has begun gathering followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one capable of putting a stop to him is the wizard he once called his closest friend, Albus Dumbledore. However, Dumbledore will need to seek help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, 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.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 14 November 2018 |
| Genre | Fantasy, Adventure |
| Director | David Yates |
| Starring | Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston and Dan Fogler |
| Runtime | 134 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 5.3/10 · Metacritic 52/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 36% · TMDB users 6.8/10 |
| Budget | $200 million |
| Box office | $655 million worldwide |
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What kind of watch this is
David Yates directs this 134-minute fantasy adventure, where a former student returns to stop his old teacher. The hook is simple: Newt Scamander thinks he is doing a favor, but the favor is a trap. The film spends its runtime testing how far a wizard can go before he stops being a hero and starts being a tool. It is less about the creatures and more about the politics of power. A dry look at loyalty in a world that has decided magic is a birthright.
What the critics said
The reception was lukewarm, to put it mildly. Rotten Tomatoes sits at a 36% approval rating as of August 2024, with an average rating of 5.3 out of 10. Metacritic lands on 52 out of 100 as of February 2023, a figure it labels mixed or average. It is the lowest-rated entry in the Wizarding World on both platforms. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called the plot "diffuse," noting the wonder was mislaid. Andrew Barker of Variety described it as a "cluttered expansion," where tension is replaced by chess pieces being moved. The magic is there; the story is not.
How it did with audiences
It cost $200 million and took in $655 million worldwide, a margin that keeps the accountants calm but the critics twitchy. On TMDB, users rate it 6.8 out of 10. The opening weekend dipped 16% from the first film, a statistical bruise that Deadline attributed to mixed reviews and stiff competition. Audiences went to see it, they just didn't rush to praise it.
What came next for the cast
Eddie Redmayne went from The Theory of Everything to The Trial of the Chicago 7. Katherine Waterston shifted from Alien: Covenant to Babylon. Dan Fogler traded The Walking Dead for A Complete Unknown. The credits list these turns, but they cannot say this film caused them. They can only say what followed.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Read more: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire · Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince · Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Sources
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q18199331 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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