When the final Harry Potter movie came out, most people felt that was the end of the franchise. Then the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie was announced, and fans went crazy. A new movie, following a brand new protagonist in America. And on it’s opening weekend, Fantastic Beasts has dominated the box office with $75 million. No matter what age you are, this movie puts the magic back into the Harry Potter franchise.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, loosely based on the short textbook series J.K. Rowling released, follows a lovable Newt Scamander on his adventures in New York. While there, his case full of magical and “dangerous” creatures from all around the world is opened, letting out the creatures. Joined by a No-Maj (non-magic) and two witches, he tracks down his beasts and saves the city. The movie was incredibly well written, full of twists and turns everywhere. It captured the magic from the original movies while creating a whole new world for a new generation of viewers.

One of the best things about Fantastic Beasts was the CGI. A range of beasts had to be created for this film, and all of them looked real. It gave the movie that extra push so you could almost feel the magic. And the setting, in 1920’s New York, was so well-created. The soaring skyscrapers and cobble streets, everything was so in detail. The atmosphere was perfectly set up for this film to deliver, and it did.

Another amazing aspect of the film was the deep plot as well as the diverse written characters. Staying true to the style, each character had a backstory that was expanded on. There was no one-sided character, no predictability. The main protagonist was a shy, awkward Hufflepuff, and the secondary protagonists were intelligent women who were more than just eye candy. This movie broke down barriers when it came to stereotypes.

Paired up with the amazing CGI, this was the new beginning the Harry Potter franchise needed. With callbacks to the old movies that hardcore fans would love, this movie projected a feeling of hope and acceptance. It shows us that not everything is black and white, that things are not always what they seem. Looks can be deceiving and even wizards struggle with that.

So even if you are a die-hard fan, or new to the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you will love this movie. It’s so much more than another Harry Potter film, and is one of the best films of this year. It may have been in the Harry Potter franchise, but this movie is on it’s own level. The characters, plot, and CGI help it rise to the top, and it shows that a movie doesn’t always have to be stereotypical to be great.