--- title: "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" year: 2018 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald" fi1m_score: 46 critics_score: 55 critics_reviews: 27 published: "2026-09-19T16:18:49.403480+00:00" updated: "2026-09-19T16:18:49.605187+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) Directed by David Yates · 2h 14m · MPA PG-13 · Fantasy, Adventure **Fi1m score: 46** · Critics 55 from 27 reviews *In a sentence:* Everyone has a secret parent and a wonderful coat, and none of it adds up to a story > The second of Rowling’s planned five prequels is the best-dressed and worst-plotted film in the series: a wizarding Paris built to the last brass fitting, in service of a story that keeps stopping to check its own family trees and never gets going. ## Synopsis The dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) breaks free from American custody and makes for Europe, where he means to gather pure-blood wizards to his cause. In London, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has been barred from travelling abroad by the Ministry of Magic, until Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) asks him to go to Paris and find Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), whom both sides want. Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) is already in Paris. Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) turn up at Newt’s door quarrelling over whether they may marry. Newt’s brother Theseus (Callum Turner) is engaged to Leta Lestrange (Zoë Kravitz), who has troubles of her own. ## Review Two years after *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, J.K. Rowling’s second screenplay sends Newt Scamander to Paris after a boy who may be a weapon, and sends the audience after the plot. This is the middle chapter of a long series and it behaves like one. People are introduced so that they can be useful later, revelations arrive that only mean something if you have been keeping notes, and the story stops rather than ends. It is handsomely built and, for long stretches, a chore. The building is the good news. Stuart Craig, who designed all eight Potter films, gives us a wizarding Paris entered through the skirts of a bronze statue, a Ministry of Magic of green tile and brass lifts, and a travelling circus of striped tents lit from inside. Philippe Rousselot shoots it in rain and slate grey, with lamplight the colour of weak tea, so that even the daytime scenes look like early evening. Colleen Atwood’s costumes do a good deal of the characterisation the script never gets round to: Newt’s blue coat, Leta’s severe black tailoring, Grindelwald in pale wool with his hair bleached to match. It is a fine thing to sit in front of. The creatures are still the best actors. There is a kelpie in Newt’s basement that he rides like a horse, a litter of baby nifflers stealing anything that shines, and a Chinese cat the size of a bus loose in the Paris streets, pacified with a feather on a stick. We grinned at all of it. These sequences have a problem, a solution and a joke, which is what a scene needs, and they have almost nothing to do with anything else in the film. What they are attached to is a great deal of talking. Rowling writes as a novelist here, giving every character a secret and every secret a scene, and Mark Day cuts them together in short blocks so that we are never in one place long enough to want to stay. A stranger explains his lineage. Somebody else corrects him. Somewhere around the hour we realised we had been handed a family tree instead of a story, and we were cross about it, and the crossness did not lift. James Newton Howard’s score swells with choir at each disclosure to tell us we have learned something important, which is considerate, because the dialogue frequently has not made it clear. The humans are a mixed lot. Redmayne’s Newt, all mumble and averted eyes, was a charming oddity in the first film and is a set of tics in this one. Depp plays Grindelwald almost in a whisper, still and pale-eyed, and there is a reasonable idea in it, a demagogue who persuades rather than shouts; the trouble is that nothing else in the film shouts either, so his calm has nothing to push against. Katherine Waterston’s Tina, the co-lead last time, is here mostly to be looked for. Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol carry what feeling the film has, and Fogler in particular can make a man asking a woman not to leave sound like a real person in a real kitchen. Jude Law is the one clear pleasure among the wizards. His Dumbledore is quick and warm and evasive, a man who plainly enjoys being cleverer than everyone present and is plainly ashamed of something, and the film’s single visit to Hogwarts, where he takes a class, was the only stretch in which we forgot we were waiting. Zoë Kravitz is the best of the newcomers, giving Leta a guilt she carries in her shoulders, though the film eventually explains it at a length that undoes the work. David Yates directed the last four Potter films and knows this register better than anyone. He directs traffic here, competently, and traffic is what he has been given. Those films, at their best, had one school, one year and one problem; the first *Fantastic Beasts* had one suitcase and one city. This has three cities, a dozen principals and a plot that turns on who was born to whom. The reviews so far are split more or less down the middle, and we can see both halves. If you loved the first one, there is enough here to pass the time, and the coats alone repay a big screen. It runs 134 minutes and carries a 12A, and when the lights come up the story the title promises is just about to begin. *Fi1m score 46, published 19 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews split almost evenly between positive, mixed and negative. Nearly everyone agrees the film looks handsome: the cinematography, costumes and production design draw praise from admirers and detractors alike, and the creatures remain a reliable pleasure. Jude Law’s young Dumbledore is the performance most often picked out, with several reviews naming him the highlight. A handful of critics find it darker and more purposeful than the first film, with more to say about power and fascism. The reservations cluster on the plot. Most critics find it overstuffed, hard to follow without deep franchise knowledge, and too busy arranging characters for future instalments to tell a story of its own. The spread is wide, from four stars at Radio Times to three out of ten at /Film. Johnny Depp’s Grindelwald divides them sharply: The Hollywood Reporter calls him the film’s major liability, while HeyUGuys and The Playlist count him among its strengths. ### Reviews we read (27) - **Radio Times** (★★★★): This is a sumptuous and absorbing spectacle that is an absolute wonder and joy to behold. David Yates navigates the densely plotted escapades with fast-paced efficiency and epic sense of wonder. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-a-wonder-and-a-joy-to-behold/) - **Total Film**, James Mottram (80/100, inferred): Yates understands what makes the Wizarding World work, delivering a bigger and more complex universe filled with detail and charm while balancing darkness with light. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review/) - **Screen Daily** (75/100, inferred): The film finds its feet and flies, with questions of family and identity at its heart. It is elegantly paced with explosive set-pieces that effectively set up the rest of the series. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review/5134399.article) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Caryn James (70/100, inferred): The critic finds it a vibrant, engaging improvement on the first film thanks to better effects, a darker tone, and more vibrantly drawn characters and relationships. Depp's performance as Grindelwald is singled out as a major liability. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/fantastic-beasts-crimes-grindelwald-review-1158267/) - **Empire**, Ian Freer (65/100, inferred): An enjoyable foray into Rowling’s imagination with impressive craft and a more appealing lead performance, but it feels underpowered and like mere set-up for future installments. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fantastic-beasts-crimes-grindelwald-review/) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (65/100, inferred): The film bogs down in franchise detail and prequel plotting despite JK Rowling's fertile imagination. Jude Law's enigmatic young Dumbledore stands out as a highlight. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/08/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-jude-law-dumbledore-shines-in-saggy-sequel) - **Slant Magazine** (2.5/4): The fun but more predictable sequel moves the series forward only incrementally, getting more mileage from creature interactions and set pieces than from its human-centered scenes. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald/) - **Evening Standard**, Matthew Norman (60/100, inferred): The film is visually bedazzling with rich cinematography and inventive detail, but the plot is overly complex and requires deep knowledge of the franchise to follow. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-totally-potty-but-visually-stunning-a3991821.html) - **The Times**, Edward Porter (★★★): The film has entertaining qualities and sweet emotional moments but feels padded and flabby overall. The saga risks wearing out its welcome through excessive prequel expansion. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-harry-potter-spin-off-is-magical-in-parts-zj886khhz) - **Time Out** (3/5): The sequel provides twists and glorious visuals but has too much plot to truly soar. It feels jumbled and rushed due to the volume of exposition and characters. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (45/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a clotted diversion cluttered with too much story and complicated plotting that requires untangling who did what to whom. It offers minor ornamental pleasures but surrenders to maximalist tendencies, with a tantalizing shift to Hogwarts as a bright spot. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/movies/fantastic-beasts.html) - **Sight and Sound**, Pamela Hutchinson (40/100, inferred): The film is an overplotted caper offering sumptuous visuals but only scraps of substance. Its narrative mechanics are bewildering and exasperating, leaving the story feeling emptier as it expands. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/fantastic-beasts-crimes-grindelwald-review-bottomless-bewildering-adventure) - **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (40/100, inferred): The critic finds little magic in the plotty, reference-heavy sequel that trades frivolity for soapy melodrama and feels like a heavier but less satisfying meal focused on milking the brand. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/theres-not-much-magic-in-the-plotty-reference-heavy-fa-1830320413) - **The Telegraph** (2/5): The film suffers from severe prequel-itis, fussily rearranging characters and lore instead of telling a coherent story. It feels inward-looking and self-referential. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/fantastic-beasts-crimes-grindelwald-review-gravest-case-prequel/) - **Variety**, Andrew Barker (35/100, inferred): Real magic is in short supply in this cluttered expansion; it is the noisiest, most rhythmless, and least coherent entry in the Wizarding World saga, a confusing jumble of new characters and marginalia. Surface pleasures like costuming and score survive, but compelling stories are missing. [Read](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/fantastic-beasts-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-1203023598/) - **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (35/100, inferred): The film is described as a tedious slog full of narrative throat-clearing and irritating character tics, though the ending rally scene offers a spark of interest. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/fantastic-beasts-review.html) - **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (30/100, inferred): The review calls it an overstuffed sequel that loses some of its magic, with too many characters and storylines robbing it of charm despite following a familiar pattern. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-harry-potter-1202018874/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (30/100, inferred): The film is an excruciating bore, both hectic and leaden with a grindingly complicated plot and charmless central character. It is enlivened only by stray glimpses of Hogwarts, a flicker of gay romance, and computer-generated creatures, leaving fans frustrated. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-20181108-story.html) - **HeyUGuys**, Luke Walpole (4/5): The critic praises the visually stunning and endearing qualities, noting it overcomes narrative missteps with new paths in the Wizarding World and strong performances, especially from Depp and Law. They single out the heavy-handed plotting as a complaint. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review/) - **The Playlist**, Charles Barfield (B): The critic finds it a magical, darker, weirder, and more relevant addition, praising the rich visuals, chaotic storytelling, and allegorical elements. They single out the grand world-building and Depp's performance for praise, while noting it may frustrate some with its twists. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/fantastic-beasts-2-review-20181114/) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (3.5 out of 5): The critic finds it a darker, leaner, more straightforward and better film than the first, with more on its mind regarding themes of fascism and power. Praises the visual appeal, new character introductions, and Jude Law's Dumbledore, but notes it's ambitious even if sometimes to its detriment. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review/) - **The Wrap**, William Bibbiani (70/100, inferred): The sequel is exciting and enchanting but frustratingly convoluted, cramming too much plot into its runtime. The critic praises the glorious magic moments, levity amid grim elements, and time given to characters, while noting the dense storylines as the main annoyance. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/fantastic-beasts-crimes-of-grindelwald-film-review-j-k-rowling-jude-law-johnny-depp/) - **Digital Spy**, Hugh Armitage (60/100, inferred): It's a beautiful return to the Wizarding World with magical moments and twisty lore, but struggles with juggling storylines as a middle film in a series, feeling like an exercise in positioning characters for future movies. Redmayne and Law shine. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a869646/fantastic-beasts-crimes-of-grindelwald-review/) - **NME**, Alex Flood (50/100, inferred): Beautifully shot and inventive, works harder on mythology but too much new info makes it confusing even for fans; clunky dialogue, but spectacle makes it tolerable for fans. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/fantastic-beasts-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-2402568) - **Polygon**, Karen Han (40/100, inferred): The film wastes audience time with cumbersome retcons and excessive setup for a sequel, though the beasts remain charming. It falters with plot filler, callbacks to better Harry Potter films, and shallow political allegories. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/8/18072518/fantastic-beasts-crimes-of-grindelwald-review) - **The Ringer**, Zach Kram (35/100, inferred): The movie is messy and fails as a self-contained story, overly focused on setting up future installments with little resolution or satisfying conclusions in the present. It prioritizes long-term lore over immediate entertainment value. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2018/11/16/movies/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review-harry-potter-jk-rowling) - **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (3/10): The critic calls it a miserable, dull slog with excessive dialogue and lack of propulsion, complaining about the convoluted plot and poor execution of action. They single out the lack of excitement and story momentum as the main issues. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/562392/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-review/) ## Details - **Director:** David Yates - **Director:** David Yates - **Screenplay:** J.K. Rowling - **Cinematography:** Philippe Rousselot - **Editor:** Mark Day - **Music:** James Newton Howard - **Production design:** Stuart Craig - **Costume design:** Colleen Atwood - **Producer:** J.K. Rowling, David Heyman, Lionel Wigram - **Cast:** Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander; Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein; Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski; Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein; Johnny Depp as Grindelwald; Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore; Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone; Zoë Kravitz as Leta Lestrange - **Runtime:** 2h 14m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 16 November 2018 - **Genres:** Fantasy, Adventure - **Budget:** $200 million - **Box office:** $655 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bYBOVWLNIs ## Where to watch in the US - HBO Max: streaming, uhd - Peacock: streaming, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - Hulu: add-on, hd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $5.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $5.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $7.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-19.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2019: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* (2016), Fi1m 61: One suitcase, one city, one problem; the version of this that works — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them.md) - *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban* (2004), Fi1m 82: The series at its most confident, with weather and a real story — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban.md) - *Spirited Away* (2001), Fi1m 92: A bathhouse full of strange creatures and not a line of exposition wasted — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spirited-away.md) - *Pan's Labyrinth* (2006), Fi1m 87: Fascism and fairy tale in the same frame, and it means both — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/pans-labyrinth.md) - *Hugo* (2011), Fi1m 76: Another clockwork Paris, this one built around a boy rather than a franchise — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/hugo.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. 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