The Transformers Films Ranked (2024 Edition)

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The Transformers films began with the animated feature, Transformers: The Movie, released in 1986. Set in the same universe as the Saturday morning animated TV series and Marvel comics, the film was produced by Toy company Hasbro and based on their toy line. The story continues the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, introducing new characters and killing off several fan-favourites, including Optimus Prime. Despite a mixed critical reception and being designed as a way to sell more toys, the film gained a cult following over the years, praised for its ambitious animation, voice acting, rock soundtrack, and has become somewhat of a cultural touchstone.

In the 2000s, the Transformers franchise was revitalized with a live-action film directed by Michael Bay, simply titled Transformers, released in 2007. This film introduced a new generation to the epic battles between Autobots and Decepticons, featuring advanced CGI technology that brought the transforming robots to life on the big screen. It was a commercial success, spawning multiple sequels, including Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), and Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014). Despite a massive drop-off in critical responses, with the films receiving backlash for their incoherent narratives and muddled direction, the series maintained popularity due to its explosive action, visual effects, and heavy marketing.

When the financial returns finally bottomed out, the franchise evolved to embrace a more family friendly and stripped down storytelling approaches with the release of Bumblebee in 2018. This film served as both a prequel and a soft reboot, focusing on the character of Bumblebee and offering a more emotional film than its predecessors. A hit with the critics, the film stumbled at the boxoffice resulting in a return to the Bay style of film with Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts. The film was a moderate success, both in ticket sales and with the critics, but the most memorable thing about it was tacked on set up for a cross-over with the G.I. Joe franchise.

The franchise is now attempting to bring in a new audience with Transformers One, an animated film that aims to explore the origins of the Transformers and their mythology, providing fans with an anticipated glimpse into their lore. The evolution of The Transformers films demonstrates the franchise’s ability to adapt and find new life across generations, making it one of the most success series in film history.

Here are our rankings for the Transformers film.

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