Best Transformers Movies – Minority Mindset

From 1986 when the first animated Transformers film was released, there have only been a small number of franchise films, with just seven so far and another one said to be in production. Whether you’re fresh to the universe or preparing for a rewatch, here’s a list of the top Transformers movies to help you get started.

Best Transformers movies as of 2025

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve always found the Transformers film series to be a fascinating blend of action, humor, and robot-on-robot combat. Ranking these films can be tricky because entertainment value sometimes doesn’t align with storytelling quality. However, when it comes to deciding on my preferred movies from the franchise, I find it relatively straightforward to single out the ones that strike a balance between excitement and narrative depth.

While it’s best to steer clear of dwelling on the films I didn’t enjoy as much – Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Age of Extinction (2014), and The Last Knight (2017) – let me move forward and discuss the Transformers movies that left a lasting impact.

Now, let’s delve into the Transformers films that I believe truly shine!

Bumblebee (2018)

In essence, the 1987 prequel movie, aptly titled “Bumblebee,” serves as a refreshing reboot for the Transformers franchise following several mishaps from 2009 to 2017. Directed by Travis Knight and penned by Christina Hodson, this film centers around an Autobot warrior named B-127, who happens to be a Bumblebee. Post the fall of Cybertron, B-127 finds refuge on Earth in a scrapyard. For those new to the Transformers cosmos, here’s a brief introduction: Cybertron is an advanced planet birthed from the physical form of a godlike robot named Primus. It is home to the Cybertronians, intelligent machines powered by Energon and equipped with transformation gears that enable shape-shifting.

Hiding and evading pursuers, our principal Autobot, battered and transformed, finds solace in a California scrapyard disguised as an old, weather-beaten Volkswagen Beetle. It is here that he encounters Charlie, a young girl who is struggling with the passing of her father. Upon receiving the car as a gift on her 18th birthday from her uncle, she starts to restore it. Little by little, the vehicle undergoes a transformation, producing sounds of metal grinding – crunch-crunch-crunch. As Charlie and the Autobot develop a friendship, a fresh danger arises: the Decepticons have secretly infiltrated Earth.

In contrast to the action-heavy movies directed by Michael Bay, Bumblebee offers a unique twist with its emphasis on an unexpected friendship and the subtle, heartwarming aspects of humanity, even in unconventional settings like a junkyard. Hailee Steinfeld delivers an exceptional performance as Charlie, and instead of relying on worldwide chaos and explosions to drive the story, Bumblebee opts for a more concentrated plot steeped in 80s nostalgia. The film grossed $468 million at the box office and boasts a remarkable 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Transformers One (2024)

In 2024, an animated movie titled “Transformers One” is set to release, directed by Josh Cooley (the man behind Toy Story 4). This film is scripted by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari. It delves into the past of two characters, Optimus Prime (originally Orion Pax, voiced by Chris Hemsworth), and Megatron (formerly D-16, voiced by Bryan Tyree Henry). At one point, these adversaries were friends, and the movie explores how their friendship evolved into enmity. I find friend-to-foe narratives intriguing, perhaps because I’ve experienced a few friendships disintegrate recently, and I’m curious to see how it unfolds for others, even if they’re fictional characters.

The Transformers franchise shines due to its compelling storyline, top-notch animation, and a captivating backstory. The initial portion mirrors the dialogue style and humor found in Marvel films, enhancing the overall enjoyment factor. Additionally, our beloved character Bumblebee makes an appearance, revealing new facets of his personality as a diligent scavenger in a junkyard, exhibiting a touch of overenthusiasm. Although we’ve previously seen him as one of the good guys from previous installments, this movie subtly presents a unique angle that leaves you questioning if, under slightly altered circumstances, he might have allied with Megatron instead. For further insights into Transformers One, feel free to peruse this review.

Transformers (2007)

Let’s discuss the top pick from the Michael Bay Transformers film series, a blast from the mid-2000s! This movie takes you back to those exciting times. The initial live-action installment in Paramount’s series introduced us to Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky, an ordinary high school student, and Megan Fox as Mikaela Banes, the love interest who becomes an integral part of his extraordinary journey.

The film sets the scene by providing essential background information, as many new Transformers fans were unfamiliar with the franchise upon its reboot. It’s revealed that a catastrophic civil war on their home planet, Cybertron, has left it in ruins, and both the Autobots and Decepticons are searching for the AllSpark. This powerful artifact, responsible for the existence of all Cybertronians, is believed to be hidden somewhere on Earth and could either bring about creation or destruction. The Autobots aim to utilize it to mend their war-torn world, while the Decepticons intend to exploit its energy for universal domination.

In a twist of events, Sam encounters the Autobots following his purchase of an old Camaro that transforms into Bumblebee (voiced by Mark Ryan), a sentinel dispatched to safeguard him. Subsequently, additional Autobots make their appearance on Earth, among them Optimus Prime, voiced by Peter Cullen who has previously lent his voice to the character in the 80’s series and the initial animated film. Sam, along with Mikaela, joins forces with the Autobots to thwart Megatron and the Decepticons from seizing the AllSpark and annihilating mankind. While it may not be winning any significant awards, this movie offers a delightful experience that you can always come back to whenever you wish.

The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

On certain occasions, nothing beats the original, and this is one of those instances where we must acknowledge the superiority of this timeless animated masterpiece, directed by Nelson Shin and written by Ron Friedman. To put it simply, it’s uncontestedly the best Transformers film ever made. Conceived as a link between Seasons 2 and 3 of the 1980s TV series, The Transformers: The Movie transports us to the year 2005, where the malevolent Decepticons have seized control of Cybertron. The Autobots are gearing up for a counterattack to reclaim their planet, but a shocking surprise attack results in heavy casualties. (Spoiler alert: Optimus Prime meets his end. A sad farewell.) The ensuing narrative unfolds as the remaining Autobots confront not only the Decepticons but also Unicron, voiced by the legendary Orson Welles, a cosmic entity that feeds on planets.

Unlike many children’s films, this one dared to push boundaries. It didn’t flinch when it came to eliminating its brave leader, addressing heavy topics such as war, grief, and even capital punishment. By today’s standards, it’s quite a violent kids’ movie. Beyond the fundamental aspects of storytelling, The Transformers soundtrack stands out, and the animation is remarkable, given that it originated from a studio predominantly known for television productions. If you yearn to reconnect with your inner child, this is the film to watch.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

The latest live-action Transformers film, titled “Rise of the Beasts,” serves as an impressive revival for the franchise, taking place in 1994. This movie broadens the Transformers universe by introducing three new robotic groups: the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons, which are animal-inspired factions alongside the traditional Autobots and Decepticons. For instance, we see Optimus Primal, a bot modeled after primates. I can’t help but be impressed by the creative touch behind this character. The narrative revolves around Noah Diaz, a former military electronics expert excellently portrayed by Anthony Ramos, who adds a much-needed realistic feel to the movie. Diaz finds himself in the midst of conflict when ancient Transformer factions awaken in Brooklyn.

Under the direction of Steven Caple Jr., Rise of the Beasts manages to pull off quite a lot without being exceptional or outstanding. It’s more about having a good time than anything else. The action scenes are solid, the characters are likable, and I find myself preferring animals as transforming entities over cars. Critics had mixed opinions about the movie, and it was considered a flop at the box office, grossing only $441.7 million globally against a production budget of close to $200 million.

How we chose the best Transformers movie

We eliminated the poor-quality Transformers films from our selection to focus on the top choices. However, it seems that Michael Bay is returning for another installment, giving him an opportunity to make amends for past productions.

2025-07-21 23:38