As a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, I was excited to find out that the movies would accompanied by a spinoff based on J.K. Rowling’s book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a journal of magical creatures that comes straight out of the wizarding world. Watching the trailer revealed an enticing plot, and with David Yates – the director of Harry Potter movies five through eight – as the director and J.K. Rowling as the screenwriter, there was no question that I would go see it.

The movie is set in the 1920s and follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol), a diverse group consisting of a magical creature caretaker, a no-maj (non-magical) aspiring baker, a former Auror of the Magical Congress, and a bubbly, mind-reading witch that gets tangled up in a crazy adventure to find Newt’s escaped creatures and protect the wizarding world from havoc and the prying eyes of suspicious no-majes.

David Yates and J.K. Rowling really made the movie a success with every detail: from the personalities of the creatures and characters to the carefully curated music.

The actors do an excellent job conveying a wide range of emotions, including humor, sadness, trust, enthusiasm, compassion, and vengeance, putting the audience on a captivating rollercoaster ride for the entirety of the movie. Furthermore, the creatures – such as the treasure-obsessed Niffler and the storm-inducing Thunderbird – each have their own loveable and unique personality, which adds dimension and detail to the story line.

The movie caters to a varied audience, so that any type of movie-goer can enjoy the movie; the scavenger hunt for magical creatures brings a fun, light-hearted and humorous side to the movie for fans of comedies or family movies, while a threat to the wizard world creates a darker, more suspenseful side for fans of thrillers or dramas.

While anyone can enjoy Fantastic Beasts, devoted fans and followers of the Harry Potter world will have a deeper appreciation of the film, as it incorporates motifs and themes from the series that started it all, including a warped, yet nostalgic version of the infamous score, “Hedwig’s Theme” and a group heroic friends reminiscent of the “Golden Trio.”

If you have yet to see Fantastic Beasts, grab a friend, head on over to your local movie theater, and grab some popcorn, because this movie is a must-see! Plus, it’s the perfect indoor activity for avoiding cold weather and spending time on Winter Break! Enjoy!