The Transformers movies hold a unique place in pop culture. They have made over a billion dollars, but not all of them are loved by audiences.
The action always excites with explosions and robots fighting, but sometimes the characters and stories fall short. However, with Transformers One coming out, the franchise is starting to improve.
Since Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the franchise has shown more affection than during the Michael Bay films.
The human characters in the live-action movies are more interesting. In Transformers One, the franchise takes pride in its origins, no longer feeling ashamed.
While some Transformers films are quite bad, they are also becoming much better. Here is a ranking of all the Transformers movies based on their quality and how well they have aged.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) Directed by Michael Bay
It is hard to think that switching from Shia LaBeouf to Mark Wahlberg was a good idea, but that is what happened here. Wahlberg’s performance suffers because the script does not help him. Transformers: Age of Extinction is a long movie filled with confusing moments.
The new main girl, Nicola Peltz, is again oversexualized. In a strange and creepy scene, viewers find out she is a minor dating an older guy, but their relationship is legal because he is only three years older, according to “Romeo and Juliet laws.” This was unnecessary, just like making the movie in the first place.
In addition to that oddness, there is obvious product placement for American and Chinese products. The marketing promises exciting Transformers dinosaurs, but they do not appear until two hours into the film.
By that time, the audience is already checked out. The action is fun, but the robot fights are still hard to follow. There are many questionable moments, bad jokes, and a weak story that make Age of Extinction an unenjoyable film.
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) Directed by Michael Bay
Transformers: The Last Knight feels like the moment when Bay and the studio simply gave up. The script is lazy, filled with silly lines and bad jokes, and it ignores a lot of the lore from previous films. However, there are better characters in this movie. Wahlberg has more to do than just invent. Anthony Hopkins appears as a quirky, rich character and is entertaining.
Transformers: The Last Knight introduces the idea that Transformers have been around since the days of King Arthur and have helped humans throughout history, including during WWII. These stories sound much more interesting than the film audiences got.
There is also a plot where Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is brainwashed and becomes evil, but this plot ends quickly and leads to another big explosive battle that does not make sense. Megatron (Frank Welker) returns, feeling like he must be in every film. It makes sense that Bay did not return to the franchise because Transformers: The Last Knight feels like the last gasp.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) Directed by Michael Bay
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was rushed due to a writers’ strike, and it shows. The story does not allow for breaks, which is a problem with its two-and-a-half-hour runtime. The editing is poor, and there are even many reused shots.
Like all Michael Bay Transformers films, the humor is awkward and immature, appearing at random times. LaBeouf’s roommate and parents only tell lame jokes and get in the way. There are also shockingly racist robots that already felt outdated in 2009.
If there is one thing that somewhat works in these films, it is the action. The action is strong here, especially during the forest scene with Optimus Prime. However, leaving Optimus Prime dead for most of the movie is an odd choice, as it removes one of the best aspects of the series.
Megatron does very little to make way for a new Transformer villain, The Fallen (Tony Todd). Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen leaves much to be desired.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) Directed by Michael Bay
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is the first movie on this list that is somewhat decent. While it has many common Transformers issues, the final battle featuring Autobots versus Decepticons in Chicago results in one of the best third acts in the franchise.
Shockwave is a powerful villain who brings unique skills to the film, creating an exciting scene where LaBeouf and others try to survive in a falling building crushed by his drill.
Although Transformers: Dark of the Moon is flawed, it has some of the most entertaining sequences in the Bay movies. However, the plot remains confusing. The Decepticons want to turn Earth into Cybertron, but their methods create confusion.
Megatron, again, has very little to do, and Sentinel Prime (Leonard Nimoy) takes center stage, even though he does not do much other than betray Optimus Prime. It is too long, but it is still less tedious than the others.
Transformers (2007) Directed by Michael Bay
Here is the film that started it all. Transformers may have the same issues as a typical Transformers film, but at least it minimizes them. Transformers remains the best of the Bay films because it is the simplest.
The Autobots come to Earth to defeat Megatron and the Decepticons before they get the Allspark. The film does not bother to create confusing lore or a history that causes many plot holes.
LaBeouf and Fox shine in their roles, and their relationship has nice moments. They work well together, and it is a shame Bay could not give Fox more to do. The introduction of the Transformers is handled well, with LaBeouf and Bumblebee developing a charming bond.
The fights are not as explosive and chaotic as in later films. Bay’s direction is more focused, allowing Transformers to avoid feeling like a mess. This film is still the best of the Michael Bay movies, although that is not saying much.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) Directed by Steven Caple Jr.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts focuses on human characters, aligning more with what Bumblebee set up five years before, and that is a huge plus. Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback play fun main characters, and the robots also gain more humanity.
The character designs are more like those in Bumblebee, making the Transformers appear closer to their original forms than ever. Seven films in, and the franchise is still trying to balance human character moments with large metal-on-metal action, but as the start of a new trilogy, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts begins on a good note.
Transformers One (2024) Directed by Josh Cooley
The newest film in the Transformers franchise is the first fully animated feature since 1986’s Transformers: The Movie. Transformers One returns to full animation, allowing it to be the most accurate version of the franchise since Transformers: The Movie.
The story takes place on Cybertron and shows the origin of Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry), keeping the plot simple, heartwarming, and emotional.
The downfall of the friendship between Optimus Prime and Megatron is very engaging and gives the film a strong emotional core. While the new cast takes time to get used to (sometimes it sounds like you only hear Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson), they perform their roles well, especially Brian Tyree Henry.
Transformers returning to animation and life on Cybertron proves to be a great idea, as audiences love the newest addition to the franchise. Fans hope to see more films like this in the future.
Bumblebee (2018) Directed by Travis Knight
From the opening scene on Cybertron, it was clear that Bumblebee would be different from the Bay films. It looks like a scene straight from the classic cartoons, featuring new designs of the Transformers that feel true to their origins.
However, what makes Bumblebee stand out is its human characters. Hailee Steinfeld’s Charlie is a strong character with a fun personality and an interesting background.
The bond she builds with Bumblebee is heartwarming and reminds viewers of E.T. The action is not as overwhelming as in the other films, but director Travis Knight ensures that everything is clear and that the main characters remain central to the story.
With better human characters, a solid script, and more focused action, Bumblebee is the best of the Transformers films to date.
