Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Dumbledore and his friends play a high-stakes game of ‘Whose Suitcase Is It Anyway?’ to confuse a wizard Hitler, and a magical deer-thing picks the world leader.

🍿 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s Pact

The film opens with Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald meeting, acknowledging their past feelings for one another. Grindelwald reveals his plans to dominate the Muggle world, which Dumbledore opposes, believing it to be madness. Their shared history and a blood pact prevent them from directly engaging each other.

The Qilin and Grindelwald’s Ambitions

In China, Newt Scamander aids a Qilin, a magical creature able to see into one’s soul and the future, during its birthing process. Grindelwald’s followers attack, killing the mother and kidnapping the newborn. Grindelwald intends to exploit the Qilin’s precognitive abilities for his own power grab. However, Newt manages to rescue one of the twin Qilin, unknown to Grindelwald’s forces.

Dumbledore’s Team Assembles

Unable to directly confront Grindelwald, Dumbledore recruits a team including Newt, his brother Theseus, Ilvermorny teacher Lally Hicks, Yusuf Kama, Jacob Kowalski, and Newt’s assistant Bunty. They convene at Aberforth Dumbledore’s inn to strategize against Grindelwald’s growing influence and plan to disrupt his plans to seize power within the International Confederation of Wizards.

Political Intrigue and the Election

The team travels to Berlin, where Yusuf infiltrates Grindelwald’s inner circle. Grindelwald manipulates the political landscape, seeking to become the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW. The existing Mugwump, Anton Vogel, is pressured to acquit Grindelwald of his past crimes. Meanwhile, Grindelwald’s followers undermine the German Ministry of Magic, further solidifying his power.

The Prison Escape and Portkey to Hogwarts

Theseus is imprisoned, and Newt ventures into Erkstag, a secret wizarding prison, to rescue him. Lally and Jacob thwart an assassination attempt on a Brazilian Supreme Mugwump candidate, but Jacob is framed for attacking Grindelwald, who uses the incident to fuel anti-Muggle sentiment, further boosting his popularity. Newt and Theseus escape Erkstag and use a Portkey to reach Hogwarts.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne): A magizoologist and confidant of Dumbledore, Newt leads a team to thwart Grindelwald’s plans.
• Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law): A powerful wizard who recruits a team to stop Grindelwald, but is unable to directly confront him due to a blood pact.
• Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen): A dark wizard seeking to control the wizarding world and wage war on Muggles.
• Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler): A brave Muggle baker and friend of Newt, who joins the team to fight against Grindelwald.
• Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol): A Legilimens who initially joins Grindelwald but eventually renounces him and reunites with Jacob.
• Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller): An Obscurus and illegitimate son of Aberforth Dumbledore, manipulated by Grindelwald but ultimately turns against him.
• Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner): Newt’s older brother and an Auror who joins the fight against Grindelwald.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Albus Dumbledore: “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” – Dumbledore imparts this wisdom, highlighting the importance of compassion and humility.
• Albus Dumbledore: “There are always choices.” – Dumbledore says this to emphasize free will and the power to choose one’s path, even in difficult circumstances.
• Gellert Grindelwald: “Our war with the Muggles begins today!” – Grindelwald makes this declaration after falsely being chosen by the Qilin, solidifying his anti-Muggle agenda.
• Newt Scamander: “Our best hope… is to confuse him.” – Newt explains the team’s strategy to disrupt Grindelwald’s ability to see the future.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $200,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $95,850,844
• Worldwide Gross: $407,150,844

💥 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Reviews

Personal Review

I really wanted to love this movie, especially after being a huge Harry Potter fan. The visuals were amazing, and seeing Hogwarts again gave me goosebumps. But honestly, the plot was all over the place! I found myself zoning out at times. Mads Mikkelsen was a great Grindelwald, but I still missed Johnny Depp. The ending was sweet with Jacob and Queenie’s wedding, but overall, the movie just didn’t live up to the hype for me. I’m hoping the next one will be better!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the Harry Potter universe”
  • “Viewers interested in fantasy and adventure films”
  • “Those who enjoy stories about good vs. evil”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Fantasy violence”
  • “Some intense scenes”
  • “Themes of war and political manipulation”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While visually stunning, ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’ suffers from a convoluted plot and too many characters, making it difficult to connect emotionally with the story. The performances are strong, but the narrative lacks the magic and wonder of the original Harry Potter films.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “This film struggles to find its identity, caught between being a ‘Fantastic Beasts’ adventure and a Dumbledore-centric prequel. Mads Mikkelsen delivers a compelling Grindelwald, but the overall story feels disjointed and lacks a clear focus, leaving the audience underwhelmed.
• Empire: “A step up from ‘Crimes of Grindelwald,’ this film rights some wrongs with a more streamlined plot and engaging action. However, it still doesn’t capture the magic of the original series, and some characters feel underdeveloped, hindering the emotional impact.

Audience Reactions

The special effects and visuals are absolutely stunning and captivating.: Viewers praised the amazing visuals and appreciated the return to the wizarding world, but were disappointed by the messy plot.

Mads Mikkelsen’s performance as Grindelwald was a standout, bringing a new level of menace.: Some felt Mikkelsen did a better job but also noted the movie suffered by casting him and therefore reducing the likeable aspects of the film

Overall Consensus: Visually impressive but narratively weak, ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’ pleases some fans with its wizarding world nostalgia but ultimately fails to deliver a compelling and coherent story.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Johnny Depp filmed one scene as Grindelwald before being replaced by Mads Mikkelsen, and he received his full salary due to a ‘pay or play’ contract.”
• “The film explores Dumbledore’s past and his relationship with Grindelwald more deeply, revealing secrets that impact the larger Wizarding World narrative.”
• “The Qilin, a magical creature that plays a crucial role in the film, is based on Chinese mythology and is said to be able to see into one’s soul.”

🖥️ How to Watch Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore?

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is available to rent or buy on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for television airings. Consider purchasing the Blu-ray or DVD for a physical copy and access to special features. Subscription streaming availability may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, you might like these similar films:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011): The direct continuation of the wizarding world saga, featuring an epic final battle between good and evil.
• X-Men: First Class (2011): Explores the origins of a powerful group of gifted individuals facing a common enemy, similar to the team Dumbledore assembles.
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): A historical action-adventure set during wartime with a hero fighting against a powerful, charismatic villain with a dangerous ideology.
• Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016): Features a group of young people with special abilities who must band together to face dark forces, appealing to the same sense of wonder and adventure.

🛒 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Related Products

• LEGO Harry Potter: Dumbledore’s Office: Relive iconic moments from the Harry Potter series with this detailed LEGO set featuring Dumbledore’s office. A must-have for fans of all ages!
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Illustrated Edition: Explore the magical creatures of Newt Scamander’s world with this beautifully illustrated edition, bringing the beasts to life with stunning visuals.
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened – Mobile Game: Embark on a new wizarding adventure in this immersive mobile game. Duel with friends, explore Hogwarts, and master spells in a vibrant, interactive world.
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – Movie Poster: Bring the magic home with this high-quality movie poster featuring the main characters and iconic imagery from ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’.

🎧 Soundtrack

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Heaven” – performed by Gregory Porter
• “Witches, Wands and Wizards” – performed by James Newton Howard
• “The Erkstag” – performed by James Newton Howard

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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