Box Office: ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’ Soars High For A Magical Opening

By Meliza Baker - 20 Nov '16 10:44AM

It has been five years since the last Harry Potter film series, and now Harry Potter fans and enthusiasts will finally get to watch the Eddie Redmayne-fronted spin-off, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".

The film is a prequel to "Harry Potter" and was set 70 years before it. However, the said film is not part of the storyline of Harry Potter and instead follows the journey of Newt Scamander (Redmayne), a shy wizard who mistakenly unleashes a suitcase of magical creatures in 1920s New York City. Scamander also who wrote the fictional book that bears the film's title. It is a book requirement for all first-year Hogwarts students and was seen in the Harry Potter series.

According to the Entertainment Weekly's Nov. 18 to 20-weekend box office projections, the Yates film indicates a $70 to $75 million range, however, because of its positive reviews it is no surprise the film climbs even higher until Sunday, reported.

Several high profile releases will also be screened in select theaters at the specialty box including Tom Ford's "Nocturnal Animals" from Focus Features and Kenneth's Lonergan's "Manchester by the Sea" from Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions in time for Hollywood's awards season, The Hollywood Reporter said.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was well received by critics and now considered as one of the most successful franchises in history. It is based on the book by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter author herself.

The $180 million film opens in over 4,000 theaters. This most anticipated film features an ensemble cast including Academy award winner actors Eddie Redmayne and Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Katherine Waterston, Carmen Ejogo, Ron Perlman, Ezra Miller, and Johnny Depp.

It has easily topped the U.S. box office this Sunday alongside its competition films "Dr. Strange" and "Trolls", and this week's strongest newcomers including the coming-of-age drama "The Edge of Seventeen" and Open Road's boxing biopic "Bleed for This", which are also anticipated by moviegoers.

The new fantasy film is directed by no other than David Yates, also the director of the four previous Harry Potter films.