The second film in the Fantastic Beasts series sees Johnny Depp and Jude Law joining the cast alongside Eddie Redmayne. Here’s what critics have been saying about it… 

The Guardian: *** “This Fantastic Beasts film is as watchable and entertaining as expected and it’s an attractive Christmas event, but some of the wonder, novelty and sheer narrative rush of the first film has been mislaid in favour of a more diffuse plot focus, spread out among a bigger ensemble cast.”

Screen Rant: “The Crimes of Grindelwald has its moments of wonder and delight, but gets bogged down in its efforts to build out the Fantastic Beasts franchise.”

NME: *** “For the most part, this is a fun and visually arresting blockbuster that will keep fans happy until the next one. As for everyone else? They won’t have a clue what’s going on…”

GQ Magazine: “Simply put, too much happens in the space of a (quite long) movie. It leaves you trying to remember a very complex series of twists and turns that, actually, I think only Rowling ever needed the answers to.”

The Wrap: “Although the film turns grim, and eventually evokes truly uncomfortable memories of the build-up to World War II — and, frankly, today — the delightful cast, exciting new creatures and dazzling new spells make it an enchanting place to visit; it’s just so scary and confusing that you probably wouldn’t want to live there.”

Den of Geek: *** 1/2 “If the first Fantastic Beasts relied heavily on your nostalgia and knowledge of Rowling’s world then its sequel is truly a gospel for the most doctrinaire converts, at least in terms of the script. With lore of the wizarding world and the shrouded histories of both Dumbledore and Grindelwald at play, Rowling’s screenplay can be trenchant, yet as an overall moviegoing experience, it is much more broadly streamlined.”

Rolling Stone: *** “At 134 minutes, Grindelwald can feel like an overload of homework on which we’ll we tested later. Fine for Pottermores, but a trial for us Muggles. Rowling drops intriguing hints that suggest livelier Beasts chapters to come.”

The Telegraph: ** “The biggest riddle in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is working out what on earth the film is actually about.”

The Independent: *** “a film that entertains in spots and does boast some impressive effects but is not a patch on its predecessor.”

Daily Star: *** “The plot feels messy at times, delving into numerous complex storylines without tying up loose ends, and leaving the viewer confused and dissatisfied.”

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is released in cinemas on the 16th November.