From Spellbinding to Stumbles: Every Fantastic Beasts Film Ranked by Visual Dazzle and Franchise Impact

Fantastic Beasts set out to push the Wizarding World past Hogwarts hallways and into new cities with a moodier, more grown-up vibe. Across three films, the series kept trying on different visual styles. But slick imagery only gets you so far. Clarity, trust, and where each entry left the franchise also mattered. Here is how the trilogy shakes out for me when you balance the look with the impact.

3) The Crimes of Grindelwald went big on visuals, light on coherence

If you want the most visually ambitious entry, this is it. Paris gets a lavish, shadowy makeover; the Lestrange family mausoleum is pure production-design flex; and Grindelwald’s rally is staged like a political nightmare with wands. The film absolutely swings for a darker, more mature aesthetic.

The problem: the story is jam-packed and tangled. Subplots collide, motivations blur, and the late-film revelations mostly created head-scratching instead of excitement. You could feel audience confidence wobble. Yes, the world got bigger on screen, but the messy plotting took the wind out of the franchise’s sails and made the rebound harder for whatever came next.

2) The Secrets of Dumbledore plays it safe, and that helps

After the chaos, this one slams the brakes. The narrative sticks to a single, clean objective instead of piling on twist after twist. The heart of it is the push-pull between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, with their history and choices steering the action.

The magic is still there, just presented with less fireworks, and that restraint makes the movie easier to track. It does not fix every lingering issue, but you can see the intent: slow down, simplify, rebuild trust, and give the series a steadier path forward.

1) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them nailed the template

The first film knew exactly what it wanted to be and didn’t trip over franchise setup. The story is straightforward and welcoming, the tone confident without being self-serious, and the magical setpieces feel inventive rather than overcooked.

It also finds that sweet spot: a world that feels fresh, but comfortably connected to what fans love. No over-explaining, no frantic table-setting. As a result, people left excited about the series instead of worried about its direction. Even after the sequels went bigger and darker, the opener remains the clearest expression of what this corner of the Wizarding World does best.

At the end of the day, your ranking might hinge on what you value most: bold imagery, clean storytelling, or how well a movie sets up the future. For me, the balance is pretty obvious.

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them — Release: November 10, 2016 — Director: David Yates — IMDb: 7.2/10 — Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald — Release: November 16, 2018 — Director: David Yates — IMDb: 6.5/10 — Rotten Tomatoes: 36%
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore — Release: April 15, 2022 — Director: David Yates — IMDb: 6.2/10 — Rotten Tomatoes: 46%

The Fantastic Beasts trilogy is currently streaming on HBO Max. Drop your ranking in the comments — I’m ready for the chaos.