Every 'Transformers' Movie, Ranked
The Transformers (1984) started as a single series, has lasted for decades, and has produced more than a few films that continue to pull in a wide range of audiences. But with so many entries, it has left many fans wondering what the films are and the order they came out in.
With a slew of live-action films and some hidden-gem animated movies, there's more than enough for fans to chew on, and each of them, some more than others, brings a certain charm that makes it stand out. But there's only one film that stands out as the best example of the Transformers lore.
The fifth film in the live-action franchise, Transformers: The Last Knight, proves that even a blockbuster series can go out with a whimper. Continuing the story of Cade Yeager working with the Autobots, the film tries to establish a powerful villain in Quintessa, with a lore that explores the Transformers' presence on Earth for centuries.
The problem is that the first film in this series already established that most of these characters first appeared on Earth in 2007, so it would make no sense for Bumblebee to be fighting in World War II. But these plot holes are made worse by the poor jokes and general lack of transforming and robot action.
Transformers: Age of Extinction left the Witwickys and introduced a whole new cast of characters for its fourth Transformers film. It also sought to deepen its lore by introducing more aliens not tied to the Autobots or Decepticons, such as Lockdown and the Dinobots.
Unfortunately, many elements of Age of Extinction make no sense, even if it's the most visually impressive of these movies. For starters, the lore contradicts past films: Optimus Prime suddenly becomes a knight, and the Dinobots are never given an origin. But the real kicker is the unfortunate scene in which the Romeo and Juliet law is invoked to justify the movie's main romance.
The second live-action Transformers film, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, went bigger than the last movie as an ancient and evil Cybertronian is awakened and aims to destroy the Earth. The one thing this movie is probably most famous for is how it went bigger in every aspect.
We get even more Transformers with classic names like Sideswipe and Devastator, and the action and transformation scenes reach their peak in this film. Sadly, there are also some difficult elements, such as the representation of Mudflap and Skids, which is often considered racially insensitive and hard not to notice.
The third Transformers film in the live-action series, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, fully matures as a franchise and isn't afraid to go darker in its content. The film isn't afraid to show Decepticons killing humans, which wasn't shown in any other form of media at that time, with such brutality.
As the Autobots deal with betrayal from humans and their own, they have to stop a rogue Autobot from bringing Cybertron to Earth and a Decepticon invasion that decimates Chicago. The stakes are higher, and you can feel it; the music and action are at their peak, making this a great finale to such a unique trilogy.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was a film few saw when it was released, but not because it was a bad movie. The film brought together the Autobots and Maximals from the Beast Wars: Transformers (1996) series as they worked together to stop the coming of Unicron.
The film is a direct sequel to Bumblebee (2018) but feels standalone and brings us a great performance by the late Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. It's a fun film that never takes itself too seriously and introduces an expanding universe still being explored in media.
The first live-action Transformers movie, Transformers, works because it keeps the story simple: a young kid gets his first car, which happens to be a robot in disguise. From there, he becomes tied to an intergalactic war brought to his world.
The transformation was ahead of its time; the action is still some of the best in the franchise, and it's a delight to see Peter Cullen return as Optimus Prime after years without him. Transformers remains a perfect start to this series and is easily the most rewatchable of the original films.
The Transformers: The Movie was the first time we ever saw the robots in disguise on the big screen, and there was a lot to love and a lot that drew heavy criticism. The film follows a new team of Autobots as they survive the perils of the galaxy and try to stop Unicron from destroying their home.
The animation in the film is among the best of the decade, and the music is still catchy, but it's hard to overlook the tragic death of Optimus Prime, which scarred young audiences at the time. With some retcons to the lore, like bringing Prime back, and the benefit of hindsight, The Transformers: The Movie has become more appreciated for what it accomplished.
Intended to be a prequel to the live-action movies, Bumblebee quickly took on a life of its own as a film about the fan-favorite Autobot being sent to Earth alone in the '80s, trying to find a home for his friends. The film has an incredible amount of heart and adds even more layers to Bumblebee's character.
For the first time in the live-action films, character and story play a larger role, and it works to their advantage. The Cybertron scenes alone are some of the best Transformers content we've ever gotten, and they all serve to tell a great story about two unlikely friends overcoming their trauma together as they fight robots.
The most recent animated Transformers film to hit theaters, Transformers One, struggled at the box office despite rave reviews and strong animation. The film explores the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron, their friendship, and the tragic fate that would befall it as the war begins.
The voice acting by Chris Hemsworth and Bryan Tyree Henry is top-notch for Optimus and Megatron and sells the film's surprisingly intense drama. If there's any Transformers film you should see first, it's Transformers One, as it serves as a great jumping-on point for everything else.
