J.K. Rowling (2016)
Genre
Fantasy / Children's / Historical Fiction / Young Adult
Reading Time
12 Minutes
Key Themes
See below
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A misplaced magical case in 1920s New York unleashes a menagerie of wondrous and dangerous creatures, forcing a shy magizoologist to confront dark forces threatening both the wizarding and non-magical worlds.
Newt Scamander, a British Magizoologist, arrives in New York City in 1926. He carries a magically expanded briefcase full of various magical creatures. He intends a brief stopover on his way to Arizona, but his plans quickly go awry. While watching Mary Lou Barebone, a No-Maj (American term for Muggle) who leads the anti-witchcraft group 'The New Salem Philanthropic Society,' a mischievous Niffler escapes from his case. Newt tries to recapture the Niffler, chasing it into a bank vault. There, he accidentally swaps his case with Jacob Kowalski, a No-Maj baker hoping to get a loan for his own bakery. This swap starts a series of events involving Newt and Jacob.
While Newt chases the Niffler, Tina Goldstein, a demoted Auror from the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA), sees him. Tina, witnessing the magical chaos, mistakenly thinks Newt intentionally exposed the magical world to No-Majs. This is a serious violation of American wizarding law, which unlike the British system, enforces strict secrecy. She arrests Newt and takes him to MACUSA headquarters, hoping to get her old job back. However, her superiors, President Seraphina Picquery and Director Percival Graves, dismiss her concerns. They are focused on a more dangerous, destructive magical force terrorizing the city.
Jacob Kowalski, having accidentally swapped cases with Newt, returns to his apartment. Curious about the strange latches, he opens Newt's magically expanded briefcase, accidentally releasing some of Newt's creatures. One of them is an Erumpent, a large, rhino-like beast that is dangerous when in heat. The Erumpent escapes into the city, causing major damage and attracting Newt and Tina, who must now work together. Newt, understanding the seriousness of the situation, enlists Jacob's reluctant help to recapture his creatures. He promises to remove Jacob's memories once the task is complete, as No-Majs cannot remember the wizarding world.
Newt and Jacob go to Tina's apartment, where they meet her sister, Queenie Goldstein, who is a Legilimens. Queenie, charming and empathetic, quickly understands Jacob's situation and likes him. While Newt and Jacob try to round up the escaped creatures, the sisters become more involved. They learn about the growing threat of an Obscurus, a dark force that appears in magically suppressed children. Director Graves, meanwhile, secretly investigates the Obscurus. He believes it is connected to the Barebone family, especially Credence, Mary Lou Barebone's adopted son, whom he manipulates with promises of magical training.
Because of the increasing magical incidents and fear of exposure, MACUSA arrests Newt and Tina. They are held responsible for the chaos and sentenced to death: Newt for illegal creature possession and endangering the Statute of Secrecy, and Tina for harboring him. They are taken to the MACUSA execution chamber, where they are to be submerged in a memory-wiping potion. However, with Jacob and Queenie's timely help, who create a diversion and use their combined magical and No-Maj cleverness, Newt and Tina escape from MACUSA headquarters. They are determined to clear their names and find the true source of the city's magical destruction.
Credence Barebone, a timid and abused young man, is constantly persecuted by his adoptive mother, Mary Lou, for any hint of magic. Director Graves, pretending to help Credence discover his magical abilities, exploits his vulnerability. He promises to teach him magic if Credence helps locate the Obscurus. Graves believes the Obscurus is manifesting in one of Mary Lou's other adopted children. However, as the film goes on, it becomes clear that Credence himself is the Obscurial. He has suppressed his immense magical power for years due to trauma and abuse. His suppressed magic is about to erupt with catastrophic consequences for New York City.
Credence Barebone is tragically revealed to be the Obscurial. His years of abuse and suppression of his magical abilities cause the Obscurus to burst forth in a devastating display of uncontrolled power. The Obscurus manifests as a dark, swirling cloud of destructive energy, tearing through the city and causing widespread devastation. This exposes the magical world to the No-Maj population. This event confirms Newt's earlier suspicions about the dark force and its danger. MACUSA, Newt, Tina, Jacob, and Queenie are all drawn into the escalating crisis, realizing the true scale of the threat.
The rampaging Obscurus, controlled by the distraught Credence, causes immense destruction across New York. Newt, Tina, Jacob, and Queenie, along with MACUSA Aurors, try to contain the creature and calm Credence. During this intense confrontation, Director Percival Graves arrives and reveals his true intentions. He tries to protect Credence, not out of compassion, but because he wants to use the Obscurus's power for his own evil plans. Graves openly defies MACUSA, further showing his sinister agenda and confirming his connection to the dark events plaguing the city. This leads to a direct magical confrontation with the combined forces of MACUSA and the protagonists.
In a confrontation, Newt, with help from MACUSA Aurors, overpowers Graves. Newt uses a unique magical creature, a Swooping Evil, to subdue Graves and reveal his true identity. In a shocking revelation, Graves is unmasked as Gellert Grindelwald, one of the most dangerous dark wizards of all time, who had been operating in disguise within MACUSA. Grindelwald's exposure clarifies his manipulation of Credence and his plans to start a war between the magical and No-Maj worlds. His capture is a significant victory for the wizarding community, though it hints at a larger conflict to come.
To prevent widespread exposure of the magical world after the Obscurus's destruction and Grindelwald's unmasking, Newt releases his Thunderbird, Frank. Frank disperses a rain-like magical substance over New York City that acts as a mass memory charm, erasing the recent memories of the No-Maj population regarding the magical events. Jacob Kowalski, as a No-Maj, must also have his memories erased, a poignant moment for Newt, Tina, and Queenie, who have grown fond of him. Newt gives Jacob a silver Occamy egg as a parting gift, subtly influencing his future. Newt then says goodbye to Tina, promising to deliver his book in person.
After his memories are erased, Jacob Kowalski returns to his ordinary life, seemingly unaffected by his adventure. However, the silver Occamy egg Newt gave him is made of pure silver. Jacob uses the proceeds from selling the egg to get the loan he needed. He successfully opens his own bakery, specializing in pastries shaped like Newt's fantastic beasts, a subconscious echo of his forgotten magical experiences. Tina and Queenie visit his bakery, and while Jacob doesn't consciously remember them, there's a flicker of recognition, hinting at the lasting, if unremembered, impact of his time with the magical world.
The Protagonist
Newt starts as a loner focused solely on his creatures but learns to trust and form bonds with humans, particularly Tina, Jacob, and Queenie. He becomes more assertive in confronting injustice.
The Protagonist
Tina begins as a cautious and slightly insecure witch, desperate to prove herself to MACUSA. Through her adventures with Newt, she regains her confidence and finds her voice, ultimately being reinstated as an Auror.
The Supporting
Jacob starts as an ordinary man with simple dreams. He is thrust into the magical world, demonstrating courage and kindness, and though his memories are erased, his experience subtly influences his future, leading him to achieve his dream with a magical twist.
The Supporting
Queenie initially appears as a charming but somewhat naive character. Her romance with Jacob and her willingness to defy MACUSA's laws for love demonstrate her growing independence and strength of conviction.
The Antagonist
Graves's arc is a reveal of his true identity. He begins as a seemingly noble but stern authority figure and is unmasked as the cunning and dangerous dark wizard Grindelwald, whose agenda is to bring about global wizarding supremacy.
The Supporting
Credence's arc is tragic. He starts as a timid, abused boy, manipulated by Graves, and ultimately succumbs to the Obscurus, becoming a destructive force. His story highlights the devastating consequences of magical suppression and abuse.
The Antagonist
Mary Lou is a static antagonist, embodying the prejudice and fear of the No-Maj world towards magic. Her abuse of Credence leads directly to her demise and the unleashing of the Obscurus.
The Supporting
President Picquery remains a steadfast leader throughout the film, representing the authority and strictness of MACUSA. Her arc involves confronting an existential threat to the Statute of Secrecy and ultimately making difficult decisions to protect the wizarding world.
The film explores different forms of prejudice: the No-Maj hatred of magic (shown by Mary Lou Barebone), the wizarding world's fear and discrimination against Obscurials, and the strict separation between magical and No-Maj communities in America. This theme shows how fear of the unknown or different leads to persecution and suffering, especially in Credence's story. The American wizarding laws, which forbid any contact or relationships with No-Majs, also reflect deep-seated prejudice and fear of exposure, contrasting with Newt's more open-minded approach.
“We are not tolerated. We are hidden. And we are told to hide. And to fear.”
This theme is most clearly shown through Credence Barebone. His severe physical and emotional abuse by Mary Lou Barebone, combined with the forced suppression of his magical abilities, leads to the devastating manifestation of the Obscurus. The film illustrates the destructive psychological and physical effects of denying one's true nature and enduring long-term trauma. It argues that suppression, rather than control, can lead to uncontrolled and catastrophic outbreaks, both for the individual and for those around them.
“You are a wizard, Credence. I've seen it.”
Newt Scamander embodies this theme through his dedication to rescuing and caring for fantastic beasts, often those others consider dangerous or undesirable. He sees the value and beauty in creatures that are misunderstood or feared. This compassion extends to humans, as he shows empathy for Credence and understanding for Jacob, a No-Maj. The film suggests looking past appearances and societal judgments to find worth and offer kindness to those on the fringes of society, whether they are magical creatures or ostracized individuals.
“There are no strange creatures, only blinkered people.”
A central tension in the film is the conflict between maintaining the Statute of Secrecy, especially strictly enforced in the American wizarding world, and the inherent desire for freedom and connection. Grindelwald actively seeks to break the Statute and expose magic to the No-Majs, believing in wizarding supremacy. Conversely, MACUSA is dedicated to absolute secrecy, even to the point of executing those who violate it. Newt, while understanding the need for secrecy, also believes in the right of magical creatures to exist and be protected, often finding himself caught between these extremes.
“We are fighting a war out there, Mr. Scamander! A war that has been raging for centuries! And it is time we came out of the shadows!”
A portal to a portable ecosystem for fantastic beasts.
Newt's magically expanded briefcase serves as a central plot device, containing an entire menagerie of fantastic beasts within a series of diverse habitats. Its accidental swap with Jacob's case drives the initial conflict, leading to the escape of several creatures. The briefcase is also a sanctuary, a place of comfort and study for Newt, and a symbol of his dedication to magizoology. It allows for the introduction of various creatures, each contributing to the plot's challenges and resolutions, and serves as a literal and metaphorical 'world within a world' that Newt carries with him.
A destructive magical parasite born from repressed magic.
The Obscurus is a dark, parasitic magical force that manifests in young witches or wizards who are forced to suppress their magical abilities due to fear or abuse. It is a highly volatile and destructive entity, capable of immense devastation when unleashed. The search for the Obscurus by Graves, and its eventual manifestation through Credence Barebone, is the primary source of the city-wide destruction and the major magical threat in the film. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the dangers of repression and the tragic consequences of denying one's true nature.
The magical ability to read minds and perceive thoughts.
Legilimency, the magical art of navigating another's mind, is a key ability possessed by Queenie Goldstein. This power allows her to instantly understand people's thoughts, emotions, and intentions, often serving as a tool for exposition, character insight, and comedic relief. It enables her to quickly discern Jacob's true nature and form a bond with him, and to understand the motivations of others. It also highlights the different ways magic can be used for connection and empathy, contrasting with its use for manipulation, as seen with Grindelwald's own powerful Legilimency.
The international law separating the magical and No-Maj worlds.
The Statute of Secrecy is the foundational law governing the magical world, dictating that wizards and witches must remain hidden from the No-Maj population. In America, this law is particularly stringent, leading to severe penalties for exposure. It acts as a constant source of tension and conflict, driving many of the characters' actions and fears. Newt's accidental breaches, Tina's demotion, and Grindelwald's explicit goal to shatter it all revolve around this crucial magical law, highlighting the political and social dynamics of the wizarding world in 1920s America.
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Joanne Rowling, best known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author and philanthropist. She wrote Harry Potter, a seven-volume children's fantasy series published from 1997 to 2007. The series has sold over 600 million copies, been translated into 84 languages, and spawned a global media franchise including films and video games. The Casual Vacancy (2012) was her first novel for adults. She writes Cormoran Strike, an ongoing crime fiction series, under the alias Robert Galbraith.
