At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (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 (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.

MOVIE REVIEW

J.K. Rowling trolls Donald Trump on Twitter, yet she trolls her fans on screen with the increasingly tepid Fantastic Beasts series, a Harry Potter spin-off that lacks magic, charisma, children, and, yes, Harry Potter. Any hope that the first Fantastic Beasts movie was an aberration is distinguished in the first minutes of its sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald, a soul-crushing waste of time, energy, and potential.
Read our Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald movie review »