Whether you grew up during the 1980s or you came to the franchise a little later on, there’s no denying how popular Transformers is. What began as a toy line, about cars and planes that transform into robots, has since morphed into a collection of cartoons, comics, games, and a hugely successful series of movies.
How successful? Well, the Transformers films have taken billions of dollars at the worldwide box office! Not only that, but the films have become highly influential to other modern blockbusters too, with many taking inspiration from the look and feel of the TF movies – especially when it comes to action scenes.
But how familiar are you with the Transformers films, and more importantly, do you know the order of the movies? Well, whether you’re new to the Transformers movie series or not, this post can help you out.
Below is a run-through of the Transformers films, taking into account the live-action features, as well as the animated offerings. Here you will find all the details you need to know about each film.
Let’s roll out…
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The Transformers movies
Transformers: The Movie (1986)
If you thought the Transformers movie franchise began with live-action movies then you’re sadly mistaken. Long before Optimus Prime and Bumblebee ‘transformed and rolled out’ in the real world (so to speak), the Transformers appeared in an animated movie.
The film was 1986’s Transformers: The Movie – a feature-length adventure that saw the Autobots and the Decepticons take to the big screen in a spin-off of the ’80s Transformers cartoon series. Heroes and villains collided in an epic battle featuring new foes, Galvatron and Unicron! (84 mins)
Transformers (2007)
Despite the animated movie’s status as a cult classic, Transformers: The Movie did not spawn any additional animated features. As such, the Transformers movie franchise was parked for the next 21 years, until technology reached a point where a convincing live-action feature could become a reality instead.
That point in time came in 2007, with the release of Transformers. The live-action film acted as an origin story, introducing the heroic Autobots and villainous Decepticons, to a wide audience.
In the film, the two factions of alien robots bring their ongoing war to Earth, as they seek out the AllSpark – a powerful artefact that is responsible for creating the Transformers. (143 mins)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Due to the financial success of Transformers, a sequel was quickly put into production. The film – titled Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – arrived in cinemas in 2009, and continued the story with the Autobots and the Decepticons still locked in battle.
Picking up two years after the events of its predecessor, the Decepticons follow the orders of Megatron’s master, The Fallen, to seek out a powerful machine which could destroy all life on Earth. It’s up to the Autobots, and their human companions, Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Barnes, to help save the day. (149 mins)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Although Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen received mixed reviews from critics, the film was another box-office hit. As such, a second sequel went into production, before arriving in cinemas in 2011 under the title Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
In this movie, the Autobots and Sam Witwicky face another race against time as the Decepticons attempt to possess some powerful technology, which has been abandoned on the Moon. (154 mins)
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Upon release, Transformers: Dark of the Moon was a huge hit at the box-office. As a result, a fourth live-action feature arrived in 2014, under the title Transformers: Age of Extinction.
In this instalment, struggling inventor, Cade Yeager gets pulled into the latest Autobot adventure. This adventure involves various new robots, including the mysterious Dinobots. (165 mins)
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
Following the financial success of Transformers: Age of Extinction, a fifth live-action movie, called Transformers: The Last Knight made its debut in 2017. In this film, Cade Yeager is gifted a talisman by a dying Transformer, before being drawn into another battle to save the world. (149 mins)
Bumblebee (2018)
Upon release, Transformers: The Last Knight was both a critical and commercial flop, however, this didn’t impact the film series too much. A sixth instalment arrived in 2018, under the title Bumblebee.
However, rather than pressing forward with the timeline, Bumblebee was positioned as a prequel to 2007’s Transformers. Set in 1987, the film depicted an early encounter between the titular Autobot, Bumblebee, and 18-year-old high diver, Charlie Watson. (114 mins)
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
With Bumblebee proving popular with audiences, a seventh film arrived in 2023. The movie – Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – was yet another prequel, this time set after Bumblebee, but before the events of Transformers.
Picking up the story in 1994, the Autobots join forces with ex-military electronics expert, Noah Diaz. The film also introduces new characters in the shape of the Maximals and the Terrorcons. (127 mins)
Transformers One (2024)
Breaking away from the live-action features, the next Transformers movie is the 2024 animated feature, Transformers One. Created as an origin story, the movie looks at the relationship between Optimus Prime and his foe, Megatron. (104 mins)
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Transformers in order
The Transformers movies in production order
Should you wish to watch all of the Transformers movies in production order, please follow this list:
- Transformers: The Movie (1986)
- Transformers (2007)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
- Bumblebee (2018)
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
- Transformers One (2024)
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Are all of the Transformers movies part of the same series?
The Transformers movies are divided into separate categories. The categories are as follows:
The original animated movie
- Transformers: The Movie (1986)
The animated reboot movie
- Transformers One (2024)
The live-action Transformers movies
- Transformers (2007)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
- Bumblebee (2018)
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
It’s also worth noting that due to the use of prequels and sequels, the live-action film series can be rearranged into the following timeline order:
- Bumblebee (2018)
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
- Transformers (2007)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
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Who are the cast of the Transformers movies and are the films the work of the same director?
Notable cast members in the Transformers movie series include Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Orson Welles, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor, Anthony Anderson, John Turturro, Jon Voight, Hugo Weaving, Bernie Mac, Tony Todd, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Alan Tudyk, Buzz Aldrin, Mark Wahlberg, Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing, Anthony Hopkins, Mitch Pileggi, Tony Hale, Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Pete Davidson, Michelle Yeoh, Scarlet Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, Keegan-Michael Key, and Brian Tyree Henry.
In terms of the directors, the Transformers movies are the work of the following:
- Nelson Shin directed Transformers: The Movie
- Michael Bay directed Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Transformers: Age of Extinction, and Transformers: The Last Knight
- Travis Knight directed Bumblebee
- Steven Caple Jr. directed Transformers: Rise of the Beast
- Josh Cooley directed Transformers One
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What is the best Transformers movie?
According to IMDb, the Transformers movies are rated as follows:
- Transformers: The Movie (1986) – 7.2/10
- Transformers (2007) – 7.0/10
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) – 6.0/10
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) – 6.2/10
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) – 5.6/10
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) – 5.2/10
- Bumblebee (2018) – 6.7/10
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) – 6.0/10
- Transformers One (2024) – 7.6/10
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I hope this post about the Transformers movie series has proved useful. For more informative posts like this one on It’s A Stampede!, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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