Fantastic Beasts and Where to the Find Them is a gift to Harry Potter fans. I had extremely high expectations and hopes and both were satisfied. The acting, story, sets, and special effects are… fantastic. My family is excited to see where the film goes from here.
It should also be noted this film is a “stand-alone movie.” Meaning there is little association with the Harry Potter movies. The only thing they have in common is wizardry. If you are hoping the movie is going to be another Potter installment, then you will be let down.
Let’s get into it. Is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them appropriate for kids?
As always with these posts, parents know their kids the best. I brought my 12-year-old, 10-year-old, and 4-year-old. I was a little nervous about bringing the 4-year-old, but he ended up being fine. We closed his eyes during a few scenes, but we made it through the night without any nightmares.
Here’s what to expect:
Sex: There’s no sex or sexual dialogue.
Swearing: Nothing notable.
Violence: There’s a lot of wizard fighting towards the end of the film and destruction throughout.
Scary scenes: A couple of scenes show dead bodies and a smoke-like being terrorizes New York City that could frighten younger viewers.
If I were to compare this movie to any of the Harry Potter movies, I would put in in the same breath with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Both movies include intense and scary scenes, but mostly fine for a wide range of ages.
My final 2 cents: Most kids I know would be fine with the movie and I think the film could have passed for a PG rating if it had left out the dead bodies. Everyone that saw the movie with me loved it and will watch it again and again.
Kids 9 and up will probably be okay with the movie.
*I would like to offer a special thank you to NYC Dads Group, City Dads Group, and Dove Men + Care for inviting my family to a special screening of the movie.
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