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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (Harry Potter) Hardcover – Illustrated, November 18, 2016

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 15,550 ratings

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J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut is captured in this exciting hardcover edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenplay.

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best.

Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader's bookshelf.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J.K. Rowling is the author of the bestselling Harry Potter series of seven books, which have sold over 450 million copies, been translated into 79 languages, and made into eight blockbuster films. She has written three companion volumes in aid of charity: Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (in aid of Comic Relief), and The Tales of Beedle the Bard (in aid of Lumos), as well as a screenplay inspired by Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. J.K. Rowling has also collaborated on a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts Parts One and Two, which opens in London’s West End in the summer of 2016. In 2012, J.K. Rowling’s digital company Pottermore was launched, where fans can enjoy her new writing and immerse themselves deeper in the wizarding world. J.K. Rowling has written a novel for adult readers, The Casual Vacancy, and also writes crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arthur A. Levine Books; Illustrated edition (November 18, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1338109065
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338109061
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10+ years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.9 x 1.2 x 8.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 15,550 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
15,550 global ratings
I want a Niffler...
5 Stars
I want a Niffler...
This was FIVE STARS for me. Yes, I know screenplays aren't typically liked, but I really enjoyed it.For a Harry Potter related story, it's wonderful and new and so different. The creatures are familiar, the trolls, a few of the magical elements are the same... But the differences really shined. A whole new unique twist I spent few hours reading. (And HP is the only book series where I hadn't seen ANY of the movies, including this one.)The paper cover? Gorgeous. I enjoy the colors (so totally Ravenclaw). The creatures within the 1920s art deco feel are so pretty. Best cover by far for me.Under the cover? A pretty denim blue book with a gold Niffler embossed. So cute! The polka dot end papers are whimsical and adorable.Inside, there are a lot of art deco type design on every page. Some of the pages throughout have creature prints or the actual creatures emerging through the design. Very aesthetically pleasing.As for the story... Newt Scamander, whom we've all heard about being the author of the book Fantastic Beasts, arrives in New York City in search of a rare creature. In his casee, he carries his incidentals, or so the human setting tells the customs official. In reality, he transports his collection of beasts.So when his case gets accidentally exchanged with an unsuspecting human, chaos was bound to break...Add in a power hungry wizard, GRAVES, and the US version of the Ministry of Magic, MACUSA, and you have this entire new world within the Wizarding one that was pleasant to visit and a joy to read!Two hours of reading time for me, with two breaks, just wasn't enough. I'd take stars away for something like that, but it was too fun and too different. I loved every moment and want to do it all over again. I would even love more and more of Newt and this 1920s Wizard world...It was so much fun.HIGHLY RECOMMEND just for the new story alone.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
Great book
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024
This is the first screen play I have read. It was unique, but the vivid descriptive writing kept me engaged and wanting to learn more about these magical creatures. The characters are likeable and funny. I now need to rent and watch the movies to see how it all came together.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
This book is like brand new. I love it. Great job seller! I will shop with you again.
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2016
Fantastic Beasts (FB) appears to be a prequel to the Harry Potter (HP) series, even if it is claimed otherwise. The story begins in 1926 (in Prohibition Era New York), and the creators say that the fifth movie of the series will end in 1945. Being familiar with the HP story line helpful to understand FB and where it might lead. JK Rowling is a very deliberate writer. When the first HP book was published, no reader could have realized that the seemingly merely entertaining elements of the story were foreshadowing the rest of the story. I expect that the same is true about the first installment of the FB series, except that we know certain elements of the future. (Note: spoilers are coming.)

The central figure in FB is Newt Scamander, but the larger story appears to be focused on the conflict between Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore. How exactly will Newt fit into this story in the future installments is unclear. In the first FB story, he is the one who subdues Grindelwald with the aid of his magical creature.

At the core, JK Rowling's books are detective novels, even if they convey some social, psychological, and spiritual messages. As in the HP books, we are led to suspect someone (here, Modesty as the Obscurus or Obscurial child), only to be proven wrong in the end. Yet, when you contemplate the story line, you will find that Credence had a reason to hold a grudge against Senator Shaw (whom the Obscurus murders). As usual, we have a final battle scene after which we come to a "full" understanding of the events. That is, full for the current installment of the series. In the first installment, the surprise at the end of the story is that Percival Graves was in fact Grindelwald in disguise. As per usual in the HP universe, for the final battle, the protagonist has to descend to the underworld (symbolized here by a subway station).

The surprise ending, however, was alluded to throughout the story. The opening scene is about Grindelwald's evil magic and its press coverage. It had to be tied in somehow with the main story line. As widely known, JK Rowling chooses the names of her characters to convey meaning (and often double meaning). There was a reason that Grindelwald used the alias of Percival Graves (Dumbledore's full name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore). Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald had a close, intense, but brief friendship in their late teens (Rowling spilled the beans many years ago that this was a gay relationship). In spite of the break up, Grindelwald apparently retained feelings for Dumledore, which is indicated not only by his choice of alias, but also by his thinly veiled jealousy when learning that Dumbledore had shown fondness for Newt Scamander at Hogwarts. Newt suspects Graves when Graves deems the Obscurus in Newt's suitcase "useless" (a Grindelwaldish approach), and tries to find out about Graves' background from the goblin Gnarlak who deems the inquiry perilous. In a scene, Graves gives a necklace with a pendant to Credence. Credence is supposed to touch the pendant to summon Graves when he found the Obscurus child. The pendant is the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. However, in the HP series, the Bulgarian quidditch player Krum knew it only as "Grindelwald's mark." Thus, there were several hints throughout the story about Graves' true identity.

Given the time line of the intended FB series, it is likely to end with the duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald in 1945, and allegory of WWII events (Allied victory over Nazi Germany). Another interesting aspect is that the story begins at the time of Voldemort's birth (ultimately, Voldemort murders an already imprisoned Grindelwald in HP7). There are no coincidences in Rowling's stories.

Rowling's recurrent themes include social issues, such as discrimination and bigotry. In FB, the twist on this theme is Mary Lou's character, a "Second Salemer." The Salem Witch Trials are among the embarrassing events in American history, truly showing backwards mentality and bigotry. The irony is that the "Second Salemers" are correct (according to the story): there are witches among us. Yet, in spite of being right about the fact, Mary Lou is a morally flawed character who abuses children (a tip of the hat to Dickens's stories, as well as to the HP books: Voldemort grew up in an orphanage, HP as an orphan was abused by his aunt and uncle). Mary Lou's character with her fondness for punishments reminds me of Dolores Umbridge.

Another recurring theme in Rowling's writings is the symbolic trinity. Like the Tale of the Three Brothers, we have three adopted children under Mary Lou's supervision: Credence, Chastity, and Modesty, and the youngest one is (probably) the only survivor among them. Their names indicate allegory. There is also a trio of characters (Newt, Tina, and Queenie) with a sidekick (Jacob), similar to the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione with Neville as a sidekick. Newt's character has elements that echo Hagrid's: a fondness of dangerous (and other) magical creatures, being expelled from Hogwarts, and having Dumbledore's support who had disagreed with them being expelled. Newt's background includes a doomed love affair with Leta Lestrange (presumably a family member of Bellatrix Lestange's husband of the HP series). It is evident that Newt is more comfortable around his magical creatures and in his suitcase than around people and in the outside world. There is some budding romance between Newt and Tina, hampered by Leta's memory and Newt's awkwardness around people.

Jacob Kowalski (whose initials probably coincide with Rowling's) is an unlikely hero in the story. What makes him lovable is his honesty (the legilimens Queenie would instantly recognize dishonesty, and she finds Jacob's honesty attractive) and openness. At the end of the story, we see him in his bakery, and obviously the "obliviation" did not fully work on him. Thus, he bakes pastry in the shape of the magical creatures he encountered throughout the story and finds Queenie familiar upon entering his store. Good or bad, the magical creatures will become merchandise also in our real life stores (action figures, plush toys, etc.), and I can see Kowalski Bakery opening a branch at Universal Studios' HP World in the near future, where we can buy the pastries seen in the movie. In that sense, the movie is a commercial for the new merchandise...

Rowling's magical universe always has some cross references to our "muggle world." One of these is a political dimension. In the UK, there was a Ministry of Magic. Its counterpart in the USA is the Magical Congress of the USA, or MACUSA for short (it sounds like Medusa). Interestingly, Rowling made these administrative entities very different from those in the muggle world. For example, the court system is not independent of the executive branch both in the UK (HP books) and in the USA (FB). And the head of the Congress (which is supposed to be the legislative branch) is the President (who is supposed be the head of the executive branch). And, in line with this election year's Hollywood trend (e.g., Independence Day 2), the president was portrayed as a female (Madam President - similar to Newsweek's aborted front page in the wake of the US Presidential election of 2016).

The book itself is written in the form of a screenplay, which makes it more similar to The Cursed Child than the HP novels. Some people may not like the format. Those who like reading Shakespeare (not just watching the drama performed on stage) will have no problem with it. I did not like The Cursed Child; its writing was flat and the story line was (to me) less than appealing. Note that it was not really written by Rowling. However, the writing of FB is witty and enjoyable. There are some minor inconsistencies; e.g., the latch on Newt's suitcase that regularly pops open is variably referred to as a latch or a catch. There are some witty references that will be understood only by those who had read the HP books. For example, at an early scene, Mary Lou is asking Newt (who is in the crowd) whether he was a seeker for the truth. To this Newt responds that he is more of a chaser, a reference to the magical game of quidditch.

I would like to add praise to the book's design. It just feels good in my hands, a feel that would never be conveyed by an e-book. The illustrations and layout add much to the overall value of the book.

Why not five stars? Upon reading the book (and seeing the movie), I felt that it fell short of the first HP book's qualities. In fact, my impression was that had this book been the very first to be published, it might not have caught on the way the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone did. It appears to fit the HP universe, yet I sense that the spiritual message is absent. (Or did I overlook it? It was not necessarily obvious in the Sorcerer's Stone, even if it became very clear in hind sight.) In spite of some shortcomings, the book is an enjoyable tale.
45 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
Fantastic.I couldn’t stop reading.It’s a book full of adventures and fantasy.It was really fun ,enjoyable ,and fantastic.

I loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2024
It was a fun book. Learned about magical beats. Why do I breed to type twenty words? It was a fun book to read.
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2016
This was FIVE STARS for me. Yes, I know screenplays aren't typically liked, but I really enjoyed it.

For a Harry Potter related story, it's wonderful and new and so different. The creatures are familiar, the trolls, a few of the magical elements are the same... But the differences really shined. A whole new unique twist I spent few hours reading. (And HP is the only book series where I hadn't seen ANY of the movies, including this one.)

The paper cover? Gorgeous. I enjoy the colors (so totally Ravenclaw). The creatures within the 1920s art deco feel are so pretty. Best cover by far for me.

Under the cover? A pretty denim blue book with a gold Niffler embossed. So cute! The polka dot end papers are whimsical and adorable.

Inside, there are a lot of art deco type design on every page. Some of the pages throughout have creature prints or the actual creatures emerging through the design. Very aesthetically pleasing.

As for the story... Newt Scamander, whom we've all heard about being the author of the book Fantastic Beasts, arrives in New York City in search of a rare creature. In his casee, he carries his incidentals, or so the human setting tells the customs official. In reality, he transports his collection of beasts.

So when his case gets accidentally exchanged with an unsuspecting human, chaos was bound to break...Add in a power hungry wizard, GRAVES, and the US version of the Ministry of Magic, MACUSA, and you have this entire new world within the Wizarding one that was pleasant to visit and a joy to read!

Two hours of reading time for me, with two breaks, just wasn't enough. I'd take stars away for something like that, but it was too fun and too different. I loved every moment and want to do it all over again. I would even love more and more of Newt and this 1920s Wizard world...

It was so much fun.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND just for the new story alone.
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars I want a Niffler...
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2016
This was FIVE STARS for me. Yes, I know screenplays aren't typically liked, but I really enjoyed it.

For a Harry Potter related story, it's wonderful and new and so different. The creatures are familiar, the trolls, a few of the magical elements are the same... But the differences really shined. A whole new unique twist I spent few hours reading. (And HP is the only book series where I hadn't seen ANY of the movies, including this one.)

The paper cover? Gorgeous. I enjoy the colors (so totally Ravenclaw). The creatures within the 1920s art deco feel are so pretty. Best cover by far for me.

Under the cover? A pretty denim blue book with a gold Niffler embossed. So cute! The polka dot end papers are whimsical and adorable.

Inside, there are a lot of art deco type design on every page. Some of the pages throughout have creature prints or the actual creatures emerging through the design. Very aesthetically pleasing.

As for the story... Newt Scamander, whom we've all heard about being the author of the book Fantastic Beasts, arrives in New York City in search of a rare creature. In his casee, he carries his incidentals, or so the human setting tells the customs official. In reality, he transports his collection of beasts.

So when his case gets accidentally exchanged with an unsuspecting human, chaos was bound to break...Add in a power hungry wizard, GRAVES, and the US version of the Ministry of Magic, MACUSA, and you have this entire new world within the Wizarding one that was pleasant to visit and a joy to read!

Two hours of reading time for me, with two breaks, just wasn't enough. I'd take stars away for something like that, but it was too fun and too different. I loved every moment and want to do it all over again. I would even love more and more of Newt and this 1920s Wizard world...

It was so much fun.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND just for the new story alone.
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13 people found this helpful
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Rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick look!
Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2022
Came in good time! Perfect condition. I bought on the 20$ sale and it’s worth the amount I paid! The book is beautiful. Targeted for teen to adult audience as it’s not a novel it’s a script to the movie. I’m so happy to add it to my Harry Potter/Fantastic Beast Collection!
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Rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick look!
Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2022
Came in good time! Perfect condition. I bought on the 20$ sale and it’s worth the amount I paid! The book is beautiful. Targeted for teen to adult audience as it’s not a novel it’s a script to the movie. I’m so happy to add it to my Harry Potter/Fantastic Beast Collection!
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Unbounded
1.0 out of 5 stars Hoop papier weinig tekst
Reviewed in the Netherlands on March 23, 2024
Meteen retour gedaan, had gedacht dat het een volledig boek was maar helaas
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Unbounded
1.0 out of 5 stars Hoop papier weinig tekst
Reviewed in the Netherlands on March 23, 2024
Meteen retour gedaan, had gedacht dat het een volledig boek was maar helaas
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João
5.0 out of 5 stars En perfectas condiciones
Reviewed in Spain on December 28, 2023
El libro es muy hermoso y llegó en perfecto estado, gracias.
Parth Lakhani
5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Is A Wonder! The Page Quality Is Also Very Good. And The Main Thing, The Book Is Original!
Reviewed in India on October 27, 2023
Just One Thing That I Didn't Liked. That The Story Is Based On Its Original Movie Which Was Realised In The Your 2016, And I Have Watched It! But You Must Buy It For You, Or Your Child Who Is 10 Or Above. Thank You Amazon!
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Parth Lakhani
5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Is A Wonder! The Page Quality Is Also Very Good. And The Main Thing, The Book Is Original!
Reviewed in India on October 27, 2023
Just One Thing That I Didn't Liked. That The Story Is Based On Its Original Movie Which Was Realised In The Your 2016, And I Have Watched It! But You Must Buy It For You, Or Your Child Who Is 10 Or Above. Thank You Amazon!
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Todo lo compro aquí
5.0 out of 5 stars Tuve que hacer el cambio dos veces.
Reviewed in Mexico on October 16, 2017
El libro en sí venia impecable una vez a excepción de la cubierta de papel que le ponen idéntica a la carátula. Esta venia maltratada la primera vez igual que la segunda, solo que en esa ocasión venían las hojas manchadas por fuera. Recomiendo checar muy bien el libro para ver que venga en optimas condiciones, ya que al parecer están un poco maltratadas algunas ediciones a consecuencia del lugar donde las guardan. Fuera de eso, es un libro muy bonito y a un muy buen precio.
4 people found this helpful
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