The year was 2016. Harry Potter fans were basically starving for a return to the wizarding world, and then we got Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them movie. It wasn't what anyone expected. Honestly, it was a huge gamble. Instead of the lightning-scarred kid we grew up with, we got Newt Scamander, a socially awkward magizoologist with a battered brown suitcase and a coat that’s a very specific shade of peacock blue. It worked. People loved it.
But looking back now, the movie feels different than it did during that initial opening weekend. It wasn't just a spin-off. It was a massive tonal shift. Directed by David Yates and written by J.K. Rowling herself, the film moved the magic from the cozy, familiar halls of Hogwarts to the gritty, jazz-age streets of 1926 New York City. That change changed everything.
The Weird Charm of Newt Scamander
Most protagonists are brave, loud, and ready to punch the villain. Newt isn't. Eddie Redmayne plays him with this flickering eye contact and a tilted head, looking more comfortable talking to a Bowtruckle named Pickett than to a human being. It’s refreshing. He represents a different kind of masculinity—one based on empathy and observation rather than raw power.
When Newt arrives in New York, he’s just supposed to be passing through. He wants to release a Thunderbird named Frank back into the wilds of Arizona. Then, a Niffler happens. If you’ve seen the Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them movie, you know that the Niffler is basically the breakout star of the entire franchise. It's a platypus-like creature with an insatiable lust for gold, and it causes absolute chaos in a bank, leading to Newt’s fateful encounter with Jacob Kowalski.
Jacob is the heart of the story. He’s a "No-Maj" (the American term for Muggle) who just wants to open a bakery. Dan Fogler brings this incredible warmth to the role. Usually, the non-magical characters in these stories are either villains or victims. Jacob is a partner. He’s us. He’s the audience surrogate who looks at a giant, glowing Erumpent and says, "I don't think I'm dreaming."
Why the 1926 Setting Actually Changed the Lore
New York in the twenties was a pressure cooker. The movie does a great job of showing the segregation between the magical and non-magical worlds. In the UK, things seemed a bit more relaxed, but in the US, Rappaport’s Law was in full effect. No socializing with No-Majs. No marrying them. It was strict.
This environment created the Second Salemers, led by Mary Lou Barebone. Samantha Morton is terrifying in this role because her evil isn't magical; it’s ideological. She hates what she doesn't understand. This tension is what birthed the Obscurus—a dark, parasitic force that develops when a magical child is forced to suppress their powers.
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Ezra Miller’s portrayal of Credence Barebone is haunting. The reveal that he is the Obscurial, and not his younger sister, was a genuine "gotcha" moment for many. It added a layer of tragedy that the original Harry Potter films rarely touched on with such directness. It wasn't just about "good vs. evil" anymore. It was about trauma and the consequences of repression.
The Creatures Are More Than Just CGI
It’s in the title, right? The beasts.
The movie could have easily just been a monster-of-the-week flick. Instead, the creatures serve as metaphors. The Thunderbird represents freedom. The Occamy, which grows or shrinks to fit the space available, represents the adaptability of the magical world.
- The Niffler: Pure comic relief but also a catalyst for the plot.
- The Demiguise: A creature that can turn invisible and see the immediate future, which is a nightmare to catch in a department store.
- The Swooping Evil: A colorful, brain-eating butterfly-reptile thing that Newt uses like a yo-yo. It sounds terrifying, but it’s actually weirdly beautiful.
The VFX team, led by Tim Burke and Christian Manz, did something special here. They didn't just make monsters; they made animals. They gave them behaviors, mating dances, and specific diets. When Newt performs the Erumpent mating dance, it’s ridiculous, but he treats it with the seriousness of a scientist. That’s the core of the film’s soul.
The Grindelwald Problem and the Pivot to Prequels
We have to talk about the ending. The reveal of Percival Graves (played brilliantly by Colin Farrell) actually being Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) changed the trajectory of the series. Suddenly, this wasn't just a movie about catching escaped animals. It was a prequel to the greatest wizarding war in history.
Some fans loved it. Others felt it pulled the focus away from Newt’s niche world.
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There's a persistent rumor that the series was originally intended to be three films and then got bumped to five. Whether that's true or not, you can feel the tug-of-war in the script. On one hand, you have the whimsical hunt for a runaway Niffler. On the other, you have the rising tide of wizarding fascism. It's a jarring mix.
Colin Farrell's performance as Graves was so grounded and menacing that many fans were actually disappointed when he transformed into the more "theatrical" Grindelwald. Graves felt like a real threat within the American magical government (MACUSA), reflecting the paranoia of the era.
Production Secrets and Design Choices
The production design by Stuart Craig is legendary. He’s the man who gave us the look of Hogwarts, and he brought that same detail to 1920s New York. They built a massive set at Leavesden Studios in the UK because filming in actual modern-day New York would have been impossible.
The MACUSA headquarters is based on the Woolworth Building, but the interior is inspired by Art Deco cathedrals. It’s meant to feel bureaucratic and intimidating. Everything is vertical. Everything is watched. It contrasts perfectly with the inside of Newt’s suitcase, which is a sprawling, sun-drenched sanctuary.
James Newton Howard’s score also deserves a shoutout. He had to follow John Williams’ iconic themes. Instead of just copying "Hedwig’s Theme," he created something jazzier and more adventurous. It feels like a travelogue. It feels like 1926.
Impact on the Wizarding World Canon
Before this movie, we didn't know much about global magic. We knew there were other schools, but we didn't know how they functioned. Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them movie introduced us to Ilvermorny (the American school) and the concept of a Wand Permit.
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It also gave us Tina and Queenie Goldstein. Tina is the career-driven ex-Auror with a heart of gold, and Queenie is a Legilimens (mind reader) who falls for a No-Maj. Their relationship as sisters is one of the strongest emotional anchors in the film. Queenie’s ability to "hear" Jacob’s thoughts—and her fascination with his lack of "inner filters"—is one of the most charming subplots in any fantasy movie.
Addressing the Critics
Not everyone was a fan of the pacing. Some felt the movie spent too much time in the suitcase and not enough time developing the central mystery. And yeah, the climax is a bit of a CGI blur of gray smoke over New York. That’s a valid critique.
However, the film holds an 74% on Rotten Tomatoes for a reason. It captured a sense of wonder that had been missing since the early Potter films. It wasn't just about "The Chosen One." It was about a guy who liked bugs and birds and wanted people to stop being afraid of them.
Key Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era of the Wizarding World, there are a few things you should actually do rather than just re-watching the film for the tenth time.
First, track down the original "textbook" published in 2001 for charity. It’s tiny, but it’s filled with Newt’s handwritten notes. It gives a completely different perspective on the creatures than the movie does.
Second, look into the "MinaLima" design books. Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima are the graphic designers who created every newspaper, wanted poster, and candy wrapper in the film. Their work is what makes the world feel lived-in. You can see the evolution of their designs from the Victorian-esque Harry Potter style to the bold, geometric lines of 1920s New York.
Lastly, pay attention to the costumes. Colleen Atwood won an Oscar for this movie for a reason. Newt’s coat was designed to be practical for a field researcher but also slightly out of place in a city. Queenie’s clothes are soft and pastel, reflecting her empathetic nature. Every piece of fabric tells a story about the character's magical status and personality.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Rewatch
- Watch for the cameos: There are several references to families we know from the original series, including a certain Leta Lestrange whose photo Newt keeps in his case.
- Listen to the ambient sound: The sound design for the creatures isn't just stock animal noises. The Erumpent's "glow" has a specific low-frequency hum that was designed to be felt as much as heard.
- Compare the MACUSA trial to Harry's trial: Notice the difference in legal procedure between the 1920s US and 1990s UK. It says a lot about the cultural differences in the magical world.
- Analyze the "Goldstein Apartment" scene: This is arguably the best scene in the movie. It’s quiet, character-driven, and shows magic being used for mundane things like cooking and mending, which makes the world feel real.
The Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them movie remains a unique entry in the franchise. It tried to be a historical drama, a creature feature, and a political thriller all at once. Even with its flaws, it succeeded in expanding a universe that many thought had already told all its stories. It reminded us that magic isn't just in ancient castles; it’s in the streets, in the suitcases of strangers, and in the way we treat the creatures we don't yet understand.