With the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a fresh take on the Harry Potter series brings the character’s fans back to theaters.

Although none of the original characters are in the film, fragmented allusions to J.K Rowling’s classic lingers throughout.

Fantastic Beasts, playing at AMC Loews, follows Brit Newt Scamander — played by Eddie Redmayne — on his quest in 1920s New York to return one of his beloved beasts back to its home.

Tensions between No-Majs (American for Muggles) and wizards are high, and bad guy Grindelwald is out to put wizards back on top.

While in New York, Scamander gets into a sticky situation, lets loose several of his beasts, and gets arrested several times.  

With dream team — Porpentina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Mary Lou (Samantha Morton) and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) – Scamander sets across New York City to both bring back his beasts and save the city from the destructive obscurus.

Overall, the Fantastic Beasts franchise will be a must-watch for all Harry Potter fans; however, if you go into the movie thinking of Dumbledore, Hogwarts and butterbeer you will be slightly disappointed.

Old characters will only be introduced in the movies ahead.

On the other hand, the movie did show subtle influences from Harry Potter, including the classic opening music sequence (which made me squeal, just a little) and the Ministry of Magic.

So if you’re like me and you severely miss the tales of the boy who lived, go and watch this movie.

It may not completely reach Harry Potter status and could’ve done with stronger parallels to the book, but it is still a good watch.

Fantastic Beasts, which is rated PG-13, earns 3 out of 5 stars from me, but I expect bigger things from the four movies to come.