Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Kernel Score: 84% · 19,550 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure
Released: 2016-11-16
Runtime: 133 minutes
Is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them worth watching?
Worth watching. This is a lighter, quirkier spin-off with a shy wizard, a magical suitcase and a fun creature-chase setup. It is charming, though its plot is thinner than the main Harry Potter story.
Watch it if you
- love the Harry Potter world
- enjoy whimsical creature adventures
- want a lighter fantasy
Skip it if you
- want the depth of the main series
- dislike heavily CGI-driven plots
Best for: Family movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Stream: Fubo, Peacock, YouTube TV, HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In 1926, Newt Scamander arrives at the Magical Congress of the United States of America with a magically expanded briefcase, which houses a number of dangerous creatures and their habitats. When the creatures escape from the briefcase, it sends the American wizarding authorities after Newt, and threatens to strain even further the state of magical and non-magical relations.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a PG-13 fantasy adventure with magical creatures and some dark undertones.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes magical peril and dangerous creature encounters, with some darker plot elements.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
If you liked Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) — 91%: The most enchanting chapter of the wizarding world
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) — 87%: Early magical adventure with a strong sense of wonder
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) — 89%: Bigger, darker adventure in the same world
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) — 86%: The start of the series' final chapter
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) — 82%: Another fantasy journey with a reluctant hero
- The Wizard of Oz (1939) — 87%: The classic, whimsical fantasy adventure
Director
Cast
- Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander
- Katherine Waterston as Porpentina 'Tina' Goldstein
- Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski
- Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein
- Colin Farrell as Percival Graves
- Jon Voight as Henry Shaw Sr.
- Ron Perlman as Gnarlak
- Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald
- Zoë Kravitz as Leta Lestrange
- Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them FAQ
Is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them worth watching?
Worth watching. This is a lighter, quirkier spin-off with a shy wizard, a magical suitcase and a fun creature-chase setup. It is charming, though its plot is thinner than the main Harry Potter story.
Where can I watch Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?
In the US you can stream Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on Fubo, Peacock, YouTube TV and HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them OK for kids?
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a PG-13 fantasy adventure with magical creatures and some dark undertones.
What movies are like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?
If you liked Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, try Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.