🎬 Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts 4: The War of Shadows (2025)
“Darkness rises, legends return.”
Fantastic Beasts 4: The War of Shadows (2025) marks a bold and more mature chapter in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, pushing the series deeper into war, betrayal, and the looming rise of Voldemort’s era. Directed once again by David Yates, this installment brings back the signature blend of whimsical magic and political tension, but this time with more urgency and emotional weight than previous entries.
Following the defeat of Grindelwald’s forces in Bhutan, the wizarding world remains fractured and on the brink of all-out war. Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne) returns reluctantly to the center of the conflict, but this time, the mission is bigger than him. The international magical communities — from the Ministry of Magic in London to MACUSA in New York — must unite to stop a shadow uprising led by Grindelwald’s last loyal followers. Meanwhile, Dumbledore (played masterfully again by Jude Law) finds himself haunted by personal and political decisions as the cost of peace grows bloodier.
One of the most emotionally gripping threads of the film is the fallout between Credence Barebone and Dumbledore, as the truth about his identity as Aurelius Dumbledore continues to tear at both men. Ezra Miller returns in a more subdued, tragic performance that finally gives Credence the depth he deserves. The film also reintroduces Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), who was noticeably absent in the previous movie, now a hardened leader in the fight against Grindelwald’s legacy.
The pacing is tighter than previous films, and the tone more serious, but the magic is still visually stunning. From shadow-duels in crumbling castles to magical beasts caught in the crossfire of battle, The War of Shadows lives up to its title. Creatures like the Aetherwing and the Shadeling offer breathtaking moments of wonder — a reminder that this is still Newt’s story, even in a world torn apart by wizards’ ambitions.
The supporting cast, including Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski and Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander, bring needed levity and brotherly warmth to balance the grim politics and spells flying across Europe. Mads Mikkelsen as Grindelwald continues to steal every scene he’s in — calm, menacing, and manipulative, he’s a villain with tragic gravitas.
Final Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Fantastic Beasts 4: The War of Shadows is the best entry in the series since the first film, maturing the franchise with stakes, spectacle, and soul. It doesn’t rely on nostalgia — instead, it carves out its own legacy while setting the stage for an epic finale. With war brewing and destinies colliding, the next chapter promises to take us even deeper into the darkest corners of the Wizarding World.
