critic Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Review

★★☆☆☆ 2/5

Verdict

Mads Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald era closes the trilogy with election intrigue.

By Marcus Webb · Horror & Genre Critic · July 24, 2026

Where to watch Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Streaming: HBO Max

By region: HBO Max in the United States; HBO Max in the United Kingdom

Full scores & availability on the movie page.

Is Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore worth watching?

Mostly for completists — 46% Celluloid Score. Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.

Directed by David Yates, the film remains a cornerstone of the Harry Potter watch order on Celluloid, scored alongside the rest of the Wizarding World catalogue and the upcoming HBO series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Verdict

Mads Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald era closes the trilogy with election intrigue — lighter than Crimes, still a franchise side-quest. Pair it with our full franchise watch order and where-to-watch notes on the movie page.