If you've been dreading a rewatch of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, you're about to get your wish—it's officially leaving HBO Max on June 1, 2026. And honestly, not many Potterheads will be shedding tears. The 2018 film, widely considered the worst entry in the entire Wizarding World franchise, was a critical and commercial disaster that derailed J.K. Rowling's ambitious five-film prequel plan.
The Fantastic Beasts series started strong in 2016 with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which earned mostly positive reviews and grossed over $800 million worldwide. But the sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald, stumbled badly. It made only $650 million globally—$150 million less than its predecessor—and holds a dismal 36% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics slammed it for queerbaiting audiences with the Dumbledore-Grindelwald relationship and for abandoning the charming characters introduced in the first film.
The movie also featured Johnny Depp as the titular villain at the height of his legal and personal controversies, which didn't help its appeal. Directed by David Yates, the film felt cursed from the start. The franchise never recovered; the third installment, The Secrets of Dumbledore, underperformed so badly that Warner Bros. pulled the plug on the remaining two films.
For many fans, The Crimes of Grindelwald is the ultimate cautionary tale of how not to expand a beloved universe. It's a big reason why millennials aren't up in arms about HBO's upcoming Harry Potter reboot—because nothing could be as disappointing as this prequel mess. As the show prepares to reimagine the original story, the departure of this film from streaming feels like a symbolic cleansing.
If you want to see Jude Law's debut as young Albus Dumbledore or Johnny Depp's controversial Grindelwald one last time, you have until June 1. After that, the film will vanish from HBO Max—and maybe that's for the best. For more streaming departures, check out Hugh Jackman's Near-Perfect Sci-Fi Marvel Masterpiece 'Logan' Leaving HBO Max in June 2026.
Meanwhile, the Wizarding World is moving on. HBO's Harry Potter reboot is set to launch in 2026, promising a fresh take on the books. And if you're looking for other magical worlds to explore, check out Beyond Hogwarts: 10 Book Universes That Outshine Harry Potter's Worldbuilding or 5 TV Shows That Build Worlds Better Than Harry Potter.
So say goodbye to The Crimes of Grindelwald—and hello to a brighter future for the franchise. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on streaming departures and the HBO reboot.
