I used to think that the Michael Bay-era Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies were some of the worst TMNT films ever made.

In fact, when I ranked all of the live-action Ninja Turtles movies, I put 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and 2016’s Out of the Shadows near the bottom of the list (Though not at the very bottom, which I’ll get into later). Fans of Turtle Power are usually in agreement that there are many other better TMNT films, with the most recent one, Mutant Mayhem, being my absolute favorite.

However, with time, I’ve learned to re-evaluate the Michael Bay-era TMNT films, and do you know what? They’re actually not that bad! I mean, they’re not as good as the 1990 original, or The Secret of the Ooze good, but they’re not terrible, either, and here’s why.

Honestly, I'm Now Kind Of Digging Their Look. It's So Different!

The number one complaint I always hear about these two TMNT films is that the Turtles are so UGLY, and do you know what? You’re right! When I first saw these movies, the Turtles made me gag. I mean, they're so burly and bulky, and look nothing like the Turtles from the animated TV shows or movies that I grew up with.

Plus, I didn’t like how tattered their face masks were, or how Donnie wore glasses (with tape in the middle, no less!). Honestly, from the first second I saw how these Turtles looked, I hated them. Which is actually a shame, since looking at them today, I applaud the team that brought them to life.

These Turtles look more like Battletoads than my beloved Turtles. That said, I’ve actually come around on their tank-like designs because there's no other version like them.

Now, when I thought this new direction was how the Turtles would always look, I was appalled. Now that I’ve seen that there are other (and one might say, better) iterations that would come later, I don’t hold such a grudge against this look anymore, and I actually kind of like how “ugly” they are. It’s such a unique look!

Out Of The Shadows Was The First TMNT Movie That Gave Us The Villains That We Clamored For

I love Shredder as much as the next TMNT fan, but by the fifth Ninja Turtles movie, I was kind of tired of the fact that we were getting him yet again. The only times we hadn't seen him as the main antagonist were in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III and in the 2007 animated movie.

That said, what we wanted to see was Bebop, Rocksteady, and Krang, who were regulars in the cartoons. Well, in Out of the Shadows, not only did we get Bebop and Rocksteady, but we also, finally, got Krang!

Honestly, this made up for the plot being so middling. In fact, we got a lot of familiar faces in Out of the Shadows, as we also got Baxter Stockman (played by Tyler Perry this time), Shredder, and even Casey Jones. And yes, like most movies with too many characters, this film feels pretty overstuffed.

But still! This was the TMNT movie that finally gave us the characters that many of us had been waiting our entire lives to see on the big screen! In other words, this is the movie that made many of our dreams come true. If only the movie around these characters could have been better…That said, beggars can't be choosers!

The Action Is Different From Any Other Turtles Films

Along with the Turtles being so much bulkier than in any other TMNT films, these Turtles move differently, too. In fact, it's hard to believe, but these are the only TMNT movies with the Turtles actually being CG in a live-action setting (I'm interested in seeing how they do it with The Last Ronin, though).

This creates a lot of interesting situations that couldn't be performed in the costumes or puppetry from the ‘90s TMNT films. For example, the Turtles can skateboard all over the place in these films, and the action is often frenetic and colorful.

One of my favorite action scenes is when the Turtles are sliding down a snowy hill, and they're slipping under tires and flying into vehicles. It's pandemonium! I also love how the Turtles handle their weapons in these films. One of the biggest problems (especially in The Secret of the Ooze, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III - more on that one in a little bit) was how their trademark weapons were kind of just there.

However, their weapons are actually used in these movies, and it's really refreshing to see. This is something that I never appreciated the first time I watched these films, but it's something I noticed upon a rewatch. That's pretty cool!

They're Arguably Both Better Than TMNT III

I mentioned at the top how I ranked every live-action Ninja Turtles movie, and I did. And, while I put 2014 and Out of the Shadows toward the bottom, I still put Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III at the very bottom, and I stand by that. Both of the Michael Bay-era TMNT films are better than that atrocity.

Because here's the thing. TMNT III seemed entirely uninterested in pleasing the fans. Set in ancient Japan, the villains were some random dudes, and it really had nothing to do with anything we were familiar with. I mean, they couldn't even include Usagi Yojimbo? Really? But they were in Japan!

Anyway, as I said earlier, at least these Bay-era films tried to give the fans what they wanted. Especially Out of the Shadows. Yes, neither was entirely successful, as most fans found these movies to be lacking. But, they were lacking in much the same way as Michael Bay's own Transformers movies were lacking, as they tried to give the fans what they wanted, but often failed in the story department.

So, that's another thing. The Bay-era TMNT films have never been the worst movies in the series. That title still goes to 1993's TMNT III. What a turkey that movie is!

Now That We Know It's Not The Permanent Direction Of The Turtles, It's A Nice Time Capsule

I was born in the ‘80s, was a kid and teen in the ‘90s, and came into adulthood in the 2000s. And, in this span of time, I like to compartmentalize my entertainment as it helps me create time capsules for my life.

Well, having grown up watching the 1987 TMNT cartoon when I was only five, I went from watching people don costumes to actors being motion captured and plugged into a computer, and I feel like a lot of movies from the 2010s were like the latter.

In this way, the Bay-era Turtles films are like a time capsule of the 2010s, and I like that about them now that I don't live in that decade anymore. That’s why these two movies kind of make me nostalgic for that period, and I think they do a good job of encapsulating that era, for good (I think), or for ill.

But, what do you think? Have you come around on the Michael Bay-era Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

All I keep hearing about lately is that “The Rock can actually act!” now that people have seen Dwayne Johnson's new movie, The Smashing Machine. But, hello? Did people not see 2013's Pain & Gain? Because I did, and I could have told you that awhile ago.

But look, I get it. A lot of Dwayne Johnson’s best movies are action flicks, so he hasn’t always had the opportunity to flex his acting muscles. Even though critics seem to be raving about his “scarily unstable” performance in The Smashing Machine, I feel like Johnson has already shown nuance as Paul Doyle in Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain.

So, why was this performance so good? Well, you’re about to find out.

Pain & Gain Was The First Movie Where People Actually Thought, This Man Can Act!

I know it was a while back, but Pain & Gain was a pretty big deal when it first came out. Loosely based on the true story of the Sun Gym Gang, which was a group of mostly bodybuilders who committed crimes like kidnapping, extortion, and murder, the filmwas a big deal for a number of reasons.

One such was that it was a genuinely good Michael Bay movie that wasn’t just another Transformers film, as he had done a string of them by this point in his lengthy career. Another reason was because it was really the first time in Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s career where people were truly impressed by his acting prowess (and to think, he actually wanted to quit before production).

Yes, he’d done other impressive films, like The Rundown, Be Cool, and Southland Tales. But, this was the first where I remember people discussing him as more of an actor, rather than just a wrestler-turned-actor. In fact, this is one of the roles that made me consider whether The Rock might just be a better actor than John Cena or Batista.

He’s arguably the best part of this movie, and I probably wouldn’t even remember this film if not for Johnson’s performance.

He Provides The Moral Compass Of The Film

As mentioned earlier, the film is about bodybuilders-turned-hoodlums, and it’s a wild story that involves kidnapping people and basically muscling them out of money. Johnson’s character, Paul Doyle, is constantly on the fence when it comes to his morality. The main hoodlum, Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) recruits Doyle after he was recently released from prison. In jail, Doyle turned to Christ and hoped to stay on the path…

But, he ends up straying from it once again, and joining the Sun Gym Gang. He actually falls quite heavily, getting back into drugs, however, this is only after a priest makes sexual advances on him, which makes him question his faith to begin with.

He then questions his faith throughout the entire movie, and Johnson shows such a range of emotions that you’re constantly rooting for him. On one hand, you believe his commitment to wanting to save “all God’s creatures.” On the other, you’re laughing as he takes several drug bumps off the back of his hand. That said, you never feel like Doyle is not capable of getting back on the path.

Which is incredibly impressive. Pain & Gain is a humorous movie, but Johnson centers the film. He deviates from his faith, but is also the moral compass, going back and forth on whether he's actually happy living the life he’s leading. This is immensely impressive to be able to pull off, and Johnson did it elegantly. Like I said, this guy can act!

Plus, Like The Smashing Machine, Johnson Plays A Real Person. Actually, Three Of Them

Here’s the thing about telling real people’s stories - sometimes, you might have to embellish a little bit, and that seems to be the case with Johnson’s role as Paul Doyle, as he’s actually a composite character for three people, those being Carl Weekes, Stevenson Pierre, and Jorge Delgado.

Now, in the real Sun Gym Gang, all three of them played instrumental roles in the actual crimes. But, Johnson is such a superstar actor, that it's believable that the writers and director were able to meld all three people into one burly man. Once again, this is extremely impressive. Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Mackie are the main stars of the film, and they play real life criminals, Daniel Lugo and Adrian “Noel” Doorbal, respectively.

Throughout the film, Lugo and Doorbal commit such horrible (and incredibly stupid) crimes that you don’t really feel bad for them. Here’s the thing about Johnson’s character. If you read up on the actual activities from the Sun Gym Gang, you’ll find little elements of the three people Johnson embodies in the film, but a lot of it feels like his own creation.

I think it’s because Johnson is larger than life. His character extends outside of Weekes, Pierre, and Delgado, and he feels like a new criminal in this gang. One who is ultimately unforgettable.

The Film Plays To His Immense Size, But Doesn't Focus On It

Dwayne Johnson is big, but nobody was bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger in his heyday. Films like Commando (which I still think is the greatest action movie ever made) showcased Arnie in all of his muscular glory. I mean, even the way he held his gun showcased his massive biceps. It was truly a sight to behold.

Lots of action movies have done the same with Johnson. It’s one of the reasons why I think a lot of people think he can’t act. For a large portion of his career, he’s just been this massive guy who performs miracles, and looks cool doing it, and honestly, I feel like a lot of people have grown tired of it.

However, sometimes, Johnson has used his massive frame to his advantage, and it’s not just for action purposes. Apparently, his size is an integral part of his character in The Smashing Machine. The thing is, it was also much the case in Pain & Gain. Paul is a big guy, and the other characters use him for his size, but, he’s more than just his muscles. In fact, the strongest muscle he uses (wait for it) is his heart.

In the movie, he’s massive, but that’s part of his character, which is something I wish we saw more in Johnson’s career - his size used for story purposes.

In The End, I'm Excited For The Smashing Machine, But Let's Not Forget Pain & Gain

Am I excited for The Smashing Machine? Hell yeah, I am. For one thing, I love Dwayne Johnson, and for another, I love Benny Safdie films (hopefully, The Smashing Machine gets more love than my beloved Uncut Gems come Oscar season).

That said, I don’t think we should forget about Pain & Gain, which I feel like a lot of people have. When I heard people raving over Johnson’s portrayal of Mark Kerr, I thought, have we already forgotten his portrayal as Paul Doyle? Apparently, people have, which is why I decided to write this article.

However, people should remember Pain & Gain since it was that first glimmer that Johnson always had it in him. It’s a testament to his dedication to the craft, and I’m happy that people are finally seeing him for the great actor he could always be.

What do you think? Do you remember Pain & Gain? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Will Smith and Michael Bay go way back, as the latter made his filmmaking debut directing the former in Bad Boys, which helped propel Smith to worldwide fame as he was doing The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Three decades after that collaboration, the two men were gearing up to reunite for an upcoming Netflix subscription-exclusive movie. Unfortunately, I have some disappointing news for those of you who were looking forward to this bout of Bayhem, as the director of this duo has departed the project.

Michael Bay is no longer attached to Fast & Loose, which will see Will Smith playing a man who wakes up in Tijuana with no memories and eventually discovers he’s been living two lives: one as a crime kingpin and the other as an undercover CIA operative. According to Deadline, Bay’s departure stems from creative differences with Smith. The outlet notes that Fast & Loose has both action and comedic moments, but Bay reportedly wanted more of the former, while Smith wanted the latter to be emphasized.

So now the search for a new director is underway, as Netflix is looking to get Fast & Loose’s principal photography underway by October. No potential contenders are mentioned in the article, but fingers crossed that Smith and the other producers can find someone soon, otherwise filming will likely need to be pushed into 2026. Fast & Loose is written by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Chris Bremner and Eric Pearson, and Kelly McCormick and David Leitch from 87West are also attached to produce.

While Fast & Loose didn’t work out for Michael Bay, he has other cinematic irons in the fire. In April, it was reported that he’s going to team up with Sydney Sweeney for the upcoming video game adaptation OutRun. Then in June, word came in that he’s supposedly developing a new Transformers movie for Paramount Pictures that he wants to direct. Alas, reports of Bay working on a Skibidi Toilet movie have been greatly exaggerated, as he amusingly made clear in a video.

As for Will Smith, he was last seen on the big screen teaming back up with Martin Lawrence and directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah for Bad Boys: Ride or Die. While the prospects of Bad Boys 5 happening reportedly aren’t looking good right now, Smith is set to return to another one of his past properties with I Am Legend 2, where he’ll co-star alongside Michael B. Jordan. He was also lined up for a Planes, Trains and Automobiles remake with Kevin Hart back in 2022, but it’s unclear if that project is still happening.

For now, it’s looking like Fast & Loose will be the next movie we see Will Smith in, so continue visiting CinemaBlend for updates on its progress. Don’t forget to also look over the 2025 Netflix release dates to see what’s headed to the streamer for the rest of the year.

There was a time when Michael Bay was the main steward of the Transformers film series, having brought mythology centered on the Autobots and Decepticons to live action in 2007 and directed the first five entries in this continuity. However, while he has been credited as a producer on the last three Transformers movies, including the animated Transformers One, we’re coming up on a decade since he actually directed one of these blockbuster flicks. However, word on the proverbial street claims that’s changing soon.

According to Puck News (via ScreenRant), Michael Bay is developing a new Transformers movie for Paramount Pictures that he wants to direct. Supposedly it was Bay who wanted to return to the franchise rather than Paramount that courted him back. The Binge’s Jordan VanDina is said to be writing this project’s script, and while it remains to be seen if Bay’s wish to direct will be granted or not, he will, at minimum, be more of a “hands-on producer.” It’s also unclear if this particular Transformers movie would be set in the same continuity as the previous ones he helmed or be a complete reboot.

Whatever the case, assuming this information is accurate, it’s a baffling turn of events. The film side of the Transformers franchise is already in a weird enough place, and bringing back Michael Bay doesn’t make much sense to me for two big reasons.

Michael Bay Left The Transformers Franchise On An Underwhelming Note

I don’t need to remind anyone familiar with the Transformers movies that the ones Michael Bay directed were not critical darlings. The first movie earned mixed reception at best, and the following four were all negatively received. This is in sharp contrast to Bumblebee and Transformers One, which were both critically acclaimed. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts also fell into more mixed territory.

Most of Bay’s Transformers movies were, however, huge box office draws, with Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction both crossing $1 billion worldwide. However, there was a sharp drop-off from Age of Extinction to The Last Knight, with the latter only making $605.4 million worldwide. At that time, it was the lowest-grossing Transformers movie, although all of the ones released since have made even less. Even Bay admitted he made too many Transformers movies.

Plans for a Last Knight sequel fell through, and considering his track record with this franchise and that his last two movies, 6 Underground and Ambulance, didn’t make much of a splash critically and commercially, I don’t understand why Paramount would be as eager to have him back. Sure, he’s still a well-known filmmaker, but the cinematic landscape’s a lot different compared to when he delivered Transformers in 2007. We need to leave this era behind.

There Are Already So Many Other Transformers Movies In The Works

Besides, it’s not like Michael Bay is needed to help keep the Transformers film series moving forward. There are already a handful of cinematic projects in various stages of development. Sadly, a Transformers One sequel is not among them, though it’s not surprising considering how little it made at the box office.

However, the Puck writeup mentioned that Josh Cooley, who directed One, recently closed a deal to direct a live-action Transformers movie, and there are two other mystery movies in early development. And then, of course, there’s the Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover movie that Rise of the Beasts’ ending set up. Chris Hemsworth will play the lead, making this his second Transformers role after voicing Optimus Prime in One. Admittedly, it’s been a while since we’ve gotten an update on this crossover, but it has the potential to be a major cinematic event.

I’d rather the Transformers film series continue breaking new ground, even if its efforts aren’t always successful. Bringing back Michael Bay doesn’t help with this, but we’ll certainly let you know if this news ends up being legit.

While there are a ton of upcoming movies in 2025 to be excited about, if you're someone who is chronically online and deep into brainrot memes, you're thrilled about the arrival of one movie. News dropped late last year that Michael Bay is attempting to make "Skibidi Toilet" the next Transformers, and like many others, I'm dying for an update on that.

After a period of silence, Bay has finally spoken, and setting the record straight the Skibidi Toilet movie. The director who has teamed up with Will Smith and many other notable actors over the years stated the situation plainly, and Frank Grill had to chime in as well.

Michael Bay Sets The Record Straight On His Involvement In The Skibidi Toilet Movie

If Michael Bay is involved with the Skibidi Toilet movie, that's news to him. The director took to Instagram with a video, and sorry to say for anyone holding onto hope, said he is not working on a movie tied to the weirdest meme of the modern era:

Well, I suppose that's that. While I wasn't surprised when I heard the rumor that the same man behind one of the most popular animated adaptations in the world was going to make a movie about a head in a toilet, I didn't really question it. In hindsight, I kind of feel silly that I accepted it as fact with no further questions. Though to be fair, the memeability of a movie like Minecraft has led it to crush at the box office. Is it so hard to believe someone like Michael Bay wouldn't be involved in a movie like this?

Frank Grillo Responded To Michael Bay's Video

The reader might be wondering how Frank Grillo factors into this story in a meaningful way, and it's a valid question. Well, beyond the connection between them in that the actor appears in the Michael Bay-produced franchise The Purge, Grillo was fancast by some to appear as Marcone in the Skibidi Toilet movie. If Grillo won't be collaborating with Bay on a meme movie, he's at least hoping he'll be in the mix for one of the other scripts that the director is working on:

I don't need to rewatch The Rock again to know why Grillo wants to be involved in whatever Michael Bay has coming up on the horizon. The director knows how to make a damn good action movie, and his movies tend to perform well at the box office. I'm sure many actors would shamelessly shoot their shot in his Instagram comments, especially if they had a valid excuse for doing so.

The bad news here is that we no longer know what to believe about a potential Skibidi Toilet movie. There have been many hilarious memes made about movies and TV shows over the years, but it appears the odds of this meme getting a movie are quickly circling the drain. I'd love to see it get made, but just to be completely transparent, I'm not sure I'd ever commit to sitting down to see it in theaters.

Michael Bay has new projects on the way, and apparently we'll need to keep an ear out for any updates on the Skibidi Toilet movie. If nothing else, hopefully we'll get some bad indie horror movie out of it, similar to some of the other beloved characters getting that treatment as of late.

There are a lot of promising upcoming video game adaptations on the way, and a project being tooled by the unlikely duo of Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney could be yet another great addition to that list. In case you haven’t heard, the man behind the Transformers movies and the Euphoria star are both attached to bring OutRun, a classic arcade racer, to the big screen at some point in the future.

Though I am extremely excited to see how the iconic Sega video game franchise is converted into a massive movie and dive into its world, I have to admit I’m also a tad bit apprehensive about it all. On one hand, the game’s speed and flash are perfect for a film adaptation, but on the other, there are some things that have me worried. Let’s break it all down…

Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney Are Both Obsessed With Cars, And That Has Me Excited For OutRun

When I first saw Deadline’s report about Bay directing an OutRun movie (he’s also producing alongside Sweeney), I immediately thought that it made total sense for him to make a car-centric movie. I mean, some of Bay’s best movies (Bad Boys, The Rock, Ambulance) have either featured awesome classic cars or over-the-top car chases (or both), so we’re all but guaranteed to see some flashy race sequences that look incredible on screen. This guy is more obsessed with cars than he is with the JFK assassination, and it shows.

On top of being one of the most in-demand actresses right now, Sweeney is also what you could consider a gearhead. Her love of all things cars is well documented with her 2023 Ford campaign, her time getting behind the wheel of a NASCAR car in 2024, and even her appearance in The Rolling Stones’ “Angry” music video a couple of years ago. Hell, she even restores vintage Ford Broncos in her spare time. Needless to say, she loves cars.

Great Racing Video Game Adaptations Are Few And Far Between

Though some of the best video game movies of all time have come out in the past decade, great big-screen versions of racing games are few and far between. Sure, Gran Turismo came out in 2023 and took the world by storm with its incredible sports underdog story and superb racing sequences, but that was more based on a true story instead of a straight-up video game movie.

The same can’t be said about Need for Speed, the 2014 adaptation of the classic racing game of the same name. Though Scott Waugh’s adaptation made a cool $203 million in theaters, per BoxOffice Mojo, the movie was a stinker and failed to match the excitement and energy of the game. I’m worried that while we could have another Gran Turismo hit on our hands, we could also very well have a Need for Speed repeat.

I Hope This Changes, But Sydney Sweeney Isn't Attached To Star In The OutRun Movie

At the time of this writing, Sweeny is only listed as a producer and is not attached to star in OutRun. This is something I hope changes as the project’s development continues, because I honestly think she’s one of the best actresses for the job to lead a movie about racing around the country. I would love it even more if the roles are swapped (in the game, it’s a male driver and female passenger) and Sweeney is the one behind the wheel, and someone like her Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell is in the passenger seat.

I guess I’ll just have to be patient and see what Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney are cooking up for us. In the meantime, I’m going to find a local arcade with OutRun and dump some quarters.

Feeling nostalgic as of late, I’ve spent the past few weeks going back and watching some of Michael Bay’s best movies. After watching classic action flicks like The Rock and revisiting end-of-the-world disaster films like Armageddon, I’ve noticed a common thread through the divisive director’s filmography. And no, it doesn’t involve Bay’s love of explosions, gritty film filters, or his signature 360-degree shot.

Instead, it involves JFK. That’s right, John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, who was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. So, what does a former president who died 30 years before Michael Bay directed his first movie have to do with one of the most stylish directors of the ‘90s? Let me explain…

I First Noticed Michael Bay's Fixation With The JFK Assassination While Watching The Rock

Revisiting The Rock was a wild, crazy, and all-around enjoyable experience. Nicolas Cage is the perfect amount of over-the-top-ness with his portrayal of Stanley Goodspeed, the late Sean Connery knocks it out of the park with his take on John Mason, and the action is just too good. But I completely forgot about this 1996 box office smash hit’s ending, or at least the final shot of the movie, long after Goodspeed and Mason saved the day.

Before they depart and go their separate ways, Mason tells Goodspeed that if he fancies a journey, he recommends Fort Walton, Kansas, before handing him a note describing the location of a mysterious treasure. And you know what it is? None other than a microfilm revealing who actually killed JFK more than 30 years earlier.

Next, I Noticed The Conspiracy Came Up Again In Armageddon

A few weeks later, I showed Armageddon to my kids and discovered yet another JFK reference in this 1998 disaster flick. In the scene when Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) is going over his crew’s demands before going off into space to save the world by blowing a massive asteroid in two, the lead driller says that in addition to not having to pay taxes after the mission, they also want to know who really killed JFK.

I know, I know, the JFK assassination was all the rage back in the mid-to-late 1990s, but I couldn’t stop laughing as I thought about Michael Bay’s fascination with the “granddaddy of them all” when it comes to conspiracy theories.

And Who Appears In Transformers: Dark of the Moon? You Probably Already Know

Though not the best Transformers movie, 2011’s Dark of the Moon was a fun time and a nice change of pace from its disastrous 2009 predecessor. And you know who shows up in this wild and action-packed summer blockbuster? John F. Kennedy, or at least a digital recreation of the 35th president.

In the opening scenes of the movie, Kennedy, upon learning that a spacecraft from Cybertron crashed on the lunar surface, authorizes a mission to put man on the Moon as a cover operation so they can research the alien ship. Though different than the other two examples above, it was still a fun “ah ha” moment.

Michael Bay Even Made A Super Bowl Commercial Involving JFK

There were a lot of big Super Bowl LIX commercials that caught the world’s attention this year, and one of those was a Secret Service ad directed by none other than Michael Bay. The extended ad, which dives into the history of the Secret Service and everything it has done over the years, features a number of shots of different presidents, including John F. Kennedy. However, this time, it’s less about conspiracies and focuses more on his famous “Don’t ask what your country can do for you” speech and then a shot of his motorcade from the 1960 campaign.

I would love to find out if Michael Bay has a particular interest in John F. Kennedy or if this is just some random series of occurrences. Until then, I guess I’ll keep watching his movies…

For the past 40 years, the Transformers brand has been a major part of the lives of millions around the world, be it the highly successful toyline from Hasbro and Takara Tomy or the nearly dozen movies that have hit the big screen. The franchise has made a ton of cash at the box office, and while it's arguably led to some of the worst movies based on toys ever made, the Transfomers movies have been a lot of fun for the most part.

If you’ve ever wanted to go back and re-watch all the various Michael Bay movies and their prequels, as well as those awesome animated movies, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s break down the Transformers movies in order, both chronologically and by release date.

The Live-Action Transformers Movies In Chronological Order

You can see all of the Transformers movies in order by release date at the bottom of this article, but for now, we’ll focus on the live-action film series and how to watch those seven movies chronologically. With the Michael Bay films and the two prequels respectively directed by Travis Knight and Steven Caple Jr., this series takes you through decades of the fight between the Autobots and Decepticons.

Bumblebee (2018)

Though one of the most recently released films in the franchise, 2018’s Bumblebee takes place in San Francisco back in 1987, two decades before the events of Transformers. In this box office smash hit, Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) finds and befriends B-127, aka Bumblebee (voiced by Dylan O'Brien), after the friendly Autobot lands on Earth and transforms into a yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

Battling the Decepticons and a secret government agency known as Sector 7, the unlikely duo rely on each other to save both of their worlds before it’s too late.

Stream Bumblebee on Paramount+.

Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts (2023)

Though Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was a mixed bag for longtime Beast Wars fans, the 2023 action flick still had a lot going for it. Set between the events of Bumblebee and the first entry in Michael Bay’s series, Rise of the Beasts finally brought the Maximals into the fold and had them team up with the beloved Autobots to protect a powerful artifact sought after by the Terrorcons.

With its 1994 setting that allowed for so much good music, this big-screen spectacle starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback as the humans caught between the ancient fight was a lot of fun and could lead to a G.I. Joe crossover.

Stream Transformers: Rise of the Breasts on Paramount+.

Transformers (2007)

Though the prologue is set in the late 19th century, the vast majority of Transformers takes place in the mid-2000s. More than a century after coming to earth in hopes of finding the AllSpark, a device that could restore life and order on Cybertron, the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) team up with Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), a seemingly normal teenager who helps them retrieve the powerful object before the Decepticons can use it for evil.

It's the movie that turned LaBeouf and co-star Megan Fox into big screen superstars, and introduced the world to that signature Transformers soundscape.

Stream Transformers on Paramount+.

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

Often viewed by franchise fans and otherwise as the worst Transformers movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen still ended up being one the most successful entries in the franchise. At least in terms of box office receipts, if not Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Set two years after the events of the first film, Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) once again find themselves caught in the fight between the Autobots and Decepticons. However, this time, they have a new threat, the Fallen (Tony Todd), who wishes to destroy all life on the planet.

Stream Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on Paramount+.

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (2011)

Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which made more than $1 billion at the box office, is set after Revenge of the Fallen and sees Sam and his new girlfriend Carly Spencer (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) getting caught up yet again in the longstanding fight between the Autobots and Decepticons, who have teamed up with the villainous Sentinel Prime to recreate Cybertron on Earth.

Massive in scope and scale, this 2011 blockbuster turned up the action and stakes for the franchise, and those beloved (and hated) characters that populate it.

Stream Transformers: Dark of the Moon on Paramount+.

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Set several years after the “Battle of Chicago” that took place in Dark of the Moon, Transformers: Age of Extinction follows Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg), a single dad and down-on-his-luck inventor as he unknowingly revives Optimus Prime and fights alongside the Autobot leader as he takes on new foes, both human and machine.

With the fate of Earth and Cybertron in the balance, the forces of good attempt to save the day before it’s too late. And considering the franchise didn't suddenly end right after this one, I think we all know how it went.

Stream Transformers: Age of Extinction on Paramount+.

Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

Following the events of Age of Extinction, Wahlberg's Cade Yeager and the Autobots find themselves in a race against time in Transformers: The Last Knight when a brainwashed Optimus Prime is sent to Earth to carry out a plan to steal the planet’s energy core.

However, with some new allies (both human and machine), the heroes stand a chance at saving the planet and Optimus Prime from the clutches of evil.

Stream Transformers: The Last Knight on Paramount+.

The Animated Transformers Movies In Chronological Order

In addition to the all-time great animated series, there have been two animated Transformers movies over the years. Here’s how to watch them in chronological order.

Transformers One (2024)

Released in September 2024, Transformers One centers on Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry) going from miners and best friends to powerful Transformers and mortal enemies.

The earliest-set movie in the franchise to date, this decorated underperformer at the box office throws audiences into the middle of the civil war that would shape the rest of the franchise.

Stream Transformers One on Paramount+.

Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Released in 1986, Transformers: The Movie takes place years after the events of the O.G. animated series of the same name, and follows the next stage in the seemingly never-ending battle between the Autobots and Decepticons.

With Peter Cullen having already cemented his status as the ideal voice of Optimus Prime, the hero returns from his latest battle with Megatron gravely injured, and his allies find themselves being hunted by an evil and powerful force known as Unicron.

Buy Transformers: The Movie on Blu-ray on Amazon.

All Of The Transformers Movies By Release Date

As promised, here are all the Transformers movies by release date. If you want to watch all of the movies in the order they were released in theaters, this is going to do the trick.

• 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)

Well, this should help you watch all of the Transformers movies in order (both chronologically and by release date). And while the future of the franchise isn’t known at this point, there are still plenty of promising upcoming sci-fi films on the 2025 movie schedule.

Will Smith has had a long and wildly successful career as an actress and recording artist. But he became a movie star largely thanks to his work on the Michael Bay movies Bad Boys. That franchise (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription) was only the beginning of his collaboration with the filmmaker, which will continue with their recently announced projects Fast and Loose. And Smith had a classic response after news broke he’s teaming up with Michael Bay again.

Fast and Loose is the latest upcoming Will Smith movie, continuing his comeback after he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. The fact that more Bayhem is coming with the actor is definitely thrilling for fans, especially those who love action. Smith posted on his Instagram Story after news broke, check it out below:

Well, that's on pretty on brand. Smith gives Bay credit for making him into a movie star, with their reunion definitely turning heads. And I have to wonder if his caption wondering if Bay could "do it again" is a reference to Smith's professional comeback in the wake of The Slap. After all, he's been pretty open about that viral event in the time that's passed.

News about Smith working on Fast and Loose goes back in 2022, before the public's perception of the actor changed. Michael Bay wasn't always going to be in the director's chair, but now he's once again working with the Men in Black icon for the project. And one can only imagine how much explosions and Bayhem might be included in the forthcoming movie.

Fast and Loose is expected to be a Netflix original project, and only time will tell if it becomes one of the best Netflix movies on the streaming service. The upcoming action flick will focus on a crime boss who suffers from memory loss, and discovers that he was actually a secret CIA agent. This seems like a great role for Smith, one that will likely include high stakes drama and shootout scenes.

While Michael Bay directed the first two Bad Boys movies, he let other filmmakers take on the reigns for the most recent sequel. That's what makes his reunion with Will Smith on Fast and Loose such an exciting concept, one that's already creating a stir online.

Smith's standing in Hollywood has definitely been improving as of late, making it clear he's not "cancelled", despite his ongoing beef with Chris Rock. Bad Boys: Ride or Die performed well this summer, proving audiences are still down to enjoy his projects. We'll jut have to wait and see what comes from his upcoming flick with Michael Bay.

Fast and Loose is in preproduction now and doesn't currently have a release dates. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Here on CinemaBlend, we write a fair amount about movies and TV shows that are used as meme material online. Recent examples include the fanbase for The Acolyte’s Yord Fandar being called the #YordHorde, fans breaking out all sorts of memes in response to Shrek 5 being announced, and House of the Dragon’s Paddy Constantine reposting numerous memes about Season 2. But right here, right now, it’s time to talk about how an especially popular meme, one that’s unquestionably one of the internet’s weirdest current obsessions, is being turned into a franchise by Michael Bay and is described as potentially becoming “the next Transformers”: Skibidi Toilet.

Yes, in news I certainly never expected, a Skibidi Toilet franchise is in the works. As reported by Variety, Michael Bay and former Paramount Pictures president Adam Goodman have begun early talks to take the web series created by Alexey Gerasimov for his YouTube channel DaFuq!?Boom! and adapt it for film and television. Although Goodman described this endeavor as not being a “be-all, end-all for us,” he sounds optimistic about working with Bay to bring Skibidi Toilet to the big and small screens through their Invisible Narratives independent studio. He described Gerasimov’s creation as follows:

If you’re unfamiliar with Skibidi Toilet, which launched in early 2023, the web series follows a conflict between singing human-headed toilets, as clearly seen at the top of this story, and humanoids that have CCTV cameras, speakers and television screens for heads. These Cameramen and Speakermen have formed an alliance that collectively refers to them as the Titans to stop the Toilets from eradicating humanity. The Skibidi Toilet series, which doesn’t contain any clear dialogue, is packed with references to various video games, chief among them being that the leader of the Toilet, called G-Toilet, borrows his name and likeness from Half-Life’s G-Man. Here’s a taste of this insanity:

Along with the web series itself being popular, Skibidi Toilet has spawned countless memes online, thanks in large part to how Generation Alpha has taken to it. Official Skibidi Toilet merchandise will even start becoming available for purchase this fall, with Invisible Narratives getting in on that licensing deal with Bonkers Toys. Now Michael Bay and Adam Goodman are eager to take this property to film and TV, and the latter mentioned that he’s envisioning a live-action/animated hybrid that would stylistically be like the John Wick movies and District 9. Goodman also stated:

Hearing Skibidi Toilet compared to these movies is weird, although at least the Transformers mention makes sense given that Michael Bay directed the first five entries in the live-action film series highlighting the robots in disguise. Still, I don’t blame him and Goodman for wanting to capitalize on this web series’ success, though whether or not anything comes from all this remains to be seen. Frankly, if a Skibidi Toilet movie and/or TV show does get off the ground, I’m worried that will turn younger people off from it since the meme will have become mainstream, and thus no longer cool.

Keep your eyes peeled on CinemaBlend for, and I didn’t think I’d be typing these words today, the latest news on the film and TV plans for Skibidi Toilet. Look through our 2024 movies schedule and 2024 TV schedule to see what’s available to watch now and what’s arriving later in the year.

Before it officially hit the 2024 movie schedule, the highly anticipated Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s Hollywood red carpet premiere was the place to be. Stars of the excellent action movie series and key figures from the franchise gathered for a night filled with excitement and nostalgia. One standout among the crowd was the original franchise director, Michael Bay, the visionary filmmaker who helped launch the comedy phenomenon led by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The Transformers moviemaker’s presence was a poignant reminder of the franchise's storied past as he reflected on the journey of his "baby" that started it all.

The Armageddon helmer, renowned for his explosive and visually stunning cinematic style, directed the original Bad Boys film in 1995. This movie not only launched a successful franchise but also catapulted Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, and Bay himself into stardom, as it was his directorial debut. In a video posted on Instagram, Michael expressed his deep connection and admiration for the series despite not directing this latest installment.

In the video you can watch above, Bay shared the mix of pride and sentimentality he felt while attending the event. He said:

It's fascinating to see the frequently stoic director of Ambulance share such a heartfelt message with his fans. The Rock filmmaker's role as the franchise's foundational architect is undeniable. While Smith and Lawrence are the stars, Michael's distinctive style and tone set the foundation for the entire series. His signature blend of high-octane action, humor, and heart is evident throughout the franchise.

Although Bay's absence in the director's chair might have been a concern before the third movie's release, his endorsement of El Arbi and Fallah provided a reassuring seal of approval. If you need a reminder of how great that first movie is, you're in luck—one of the best '90s films is currently streaming on Hulu.

Michael Bay’s praise for the new directors seems well-deserved, as Bad Boys 4 had a triumphant opening weekend. This success has set high expectations for the series' future, especially with some intriguing developments in the latest film. The ending leaves plenty of room for Mike and Marcus to quickly return to theaters, raising hopes for a fifth movie in the franchise.

Considering how quickly Ride or Die was greenlighted after the blockbuster success of Bad Boys for Life, it wouldn’t be surprising if a sequel were announced soon. For now, we’ll have to see how well Bad Boys: Ride or Die performs throughout its entire theatrical run. It’s interesting to speculate on what role Bay might play if another movie is greenlit.

In the meantime, you can catch up on the previous installment, Bad Boys for Life, with a Hulu subscription.

When we see recasting in major franchise movies, it’s usually for some completely unavoidable reason, like when Michael Gambon took over the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies following the death of Richard Harris. When recasting does happen in a big movie, it’s big news, as was the case when Megan Fox was seemingly fired from the Transformers franchise by director Michael Bay. 

Fox used some inflammatory language to describe the experience of working on a Michael Bay set. The words used were so bad that Bay indicated he had no choice but to fire Fox, indicating the decision wasn’t his, but rather that of producer Steven Spielberg, but that’s not the whole story.

What Megan Fox Said About Michael Bay 

The story begins back in 2009. The second Transformers film, Revenge of the Fallen had been released and would go on to become the fourth highest-grossing movie of the year worldwide, and number two in the U.S., despite not being the best Transformers movie. A third film had already been announced. In September, Megan Fox gave an interview in Wonderland Magazine. She was asked what it was like to work with Michael Bay. 

The actress's comments weren’t kind. While she suggested that she was actually holding back her true feelings, she painted Bay as a directorial tyrant, invoking the name of Hitler as a comparison...

Fox’s comments went viral. The use of Hitler’s name specifically was seen as perhaps a step too far. Repercussions would be incoming. Fox would end up not being cast in the third Transformers movie, with the female lead instead played by model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, current fiancee of Jason Statham, with Fox's character being written out.

What Michael Bay Said Happened Next 

There have been conflicting reports about exactly what happened behind the scenes following Megan Fox’s controversial comments. For her part, Fox claims she is the one who chose not to return for the third film. Considering she clearly didn’t enjoy being directed by Bay, that’s not necessarily impossible.

Of course, the commonly held belief was that Fox had been fired by an irate Michael Bay who didn’t take kindly to what the actress said. In an interview for GQ (via UPI), around the release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Bay has his own harsh words. He criticized Fox’s work ethic but claimed he didn’t take her comments personally, saying instead that the decision to remove Fox had been made by producer Steven Spielberg. Bay said…

It wouldn’t be that shocking if Steven Spielberg, the Jewish director of Schindler's List, took particular exception to using Hitler’s name like that. However, there’s a bit more to the story. 

What Seven Spielberg Actually Said 

Following Michael Bay’s interview in which he laid responsibility for the firing of Fox at Steven Spielberg’s feet, the director and Transformers producer was asked by EW about it. Spielberg denied telling Bay to fire Fox, saying simply…

So exactly what happened here is far from clear. Perhaps Fox’s claim that she left voluntarily is the actual truth. Fox would eventually apologize for making her comments public, though not for the comments themselves. Fox and Bay would reconcile, resulting in the actress being cast in the Bay-produced live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. 

‘Tis the season for some holiday cheer, and for those lucky enough, Tom Cruise’s annual Christmas cake. For those unaware, every year Cruise sends a beautiful coconut cake to some of his former co-stars and friends around the holidays. The cake is legendary and apparently delicious. The last few years, Hayley Atwell found her way onto this exclusive cake list after collaborating with the action star on Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning. She recently posted a picture of the package on Instagram, and the wrapping is just as impressive as the cake. 

It’s no surprise that a cake sent by the Magnolia actor would also be wrapped immaculately. Cruise is famously a perfectionist, always going the extra mile to ensure he produces the best product possible at the movies. His Christmas present delivery is no exception, as his cakes were delivered in perfect white boxes adorned with a festive gold ribbon and a sparkly reindeer ornament. Of course, he also added a little note, wishing the recipient a happy holiday. You can see the Instagram story post by Atwell below: 

While Hayley Atwell didn’t show a photo of the actual cake, the gorgeous box is a great tease of what’s inside. Tom Hanks once said that he would choose the Christmas cake as his last meal if he could, describing it as a “white chocolate coconut bundt cake” which sounds absolutely heavenly. Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell even threw a party to celebrate landing on the infamous cake list, which really shows just how this is a legendary dessert. Just thinking about it makes me hungry. 

Based on the picture she took, Hayley Atwell’s cake turned up in perfect condition, but that hasn’t always been the case, and not every delivery man knows what kind of precious cargo they are carrying. Last year, Michael Bay’s yearly gift from Cruise arrived in tough shape. Even in its melted form, the cake still is probably very tasty. However, if I had to choose, the Atwell way is just so aesthetically pleasing, and it almost makes you forget about the delicious contents inside. 

Atwell can definitely get used to seeing a cake show up at her doorstep every year, as she will be working with Cruise again soon. The end of Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning promises an action packed follow up, and the team has been working on M:I 8 since the previous film wrapped. That means fans can anticipate Cruise and Atwell on the big screen together again very soon. There are many reasons to make a movie with the Jerry Maguire actor, including his undying commitment and infectious energy, but getting on that cake list is definitely a holiday perk worth mentioning. 

When Hayley Atwell isn’t receiving cakes from Tom Cruise, she’s acting alongside him. You can see both movie stars in Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning, which can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription. For more information on other 2023 films available to rent or stream during this holiday season, make sure to check out the 2023 movie release schedule. 

The great Bruce Willis made it a point to work with all kinds of filmmakers over the course of his celebrated career, which sadly has been cut short due to his ongoing battle with aphasia and FTD. Willis was capable of quiet character-driven dramas like The Sixth Sense or Unbreakable. But he got his start in comedy, shining in the weekly television comedy Moonlighting (which just arrived on the streaming platform Hulu). And he made his bones in action blockbusters such as Die Hard, The Fifth Element, The Last Boy Scout, and Michael Bay’s Armageddon. An old rumor connecting Willis to his Armageddon director is making the rounds once again, and I get why people are saying it. But no, Willis is not in the 2001 war epic Pearl Harbor, either in person or as a digital composition. 

This one needs to be seen to be believed. Michael Bay directed Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, and Jennifer Garner in the war drama Pearl Harbor. And in one specific scene, Bruce Willis fans swear they spy the Die Hard actor in the background as an extra in a chaotic scene. Take a look at this clip, shared to Twitter: 

I went so far as to screen grab the background extra, because yeah, it really looks like Bruce Willis, circa Die Hard with a Vengeance (which some consider to be the best Die Hard sequel ever made). 

Do a quick search on this rumor, however, and you will find the following on IMDB’s trivia page:

I studied it. And I agree that the likeness is extremely striking. It looks very much like Bruce Willis as John McClane in the background of Pearl Harbor. But as people have pointed out in the comments of the Twitter post, the footage doesn’t match any moment from a Die Hard movie, so there’s no footage that could be digitally composited into the background of a scene. It would be a clever inside joke conducted by Michael Bay as a tribute to his Armageddon star, who did appear with Ben Affleck in the 1998 blockbuster (and even tried to break into a space shuttle while on the film’s set). But I don’t believe that was enough for Bay to include Willis in Pearl Harbor. 

In my opinion, this rumor (debunked on IMDB) belongs in the group about the ghost who appears in a mirror in Three Men and a Baby, Stanley Kubrick admitting in The Shining that he filmed the moon landing, or the actor who allegedly hung themselves in the background of a scene from The Wizard of Oz. They sound wild, and we want there to be a grain of truth. But no, this looks like an extra to me. 

When you think of 1998's summer blockbuster and one of the best action movies Armageddon, several things come to mind: asteroid annihilation, an ensemble cast, Aerosmith's "I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing," and, of course, Ben Affleck’s unforgettable presence. But it's 2023, and what's resurfacing isn’t just a nostalgic remembrance of the movie but Affleck’s snarky commentary about a particular plot point he brought up to director Michael Bay. Honestly, I cannot get enough of his 1999 hot takes. 

Here's a quick flashback for those who aren’t familiar. On the film's DVD commentary track, the Chasing Amy actor recounted how he had once questioned the logic of the film's premise: Why was it easier to train drillers to become astronauts than to train astronauts to drill? According to Affleck, Michael Bay's response was succinct, “Shut the fuck up.” In the nearly two minutes of the commentary, which was posted to Twitter by @AtRightMovies, the DC Movies veteran can be heard hilariously recounting:  

Michael Bay might be best known for bringing Bayhem to projects like Ambulance, but he’s also known not to mince words. T director with a pension for explosions gave the Bad Boys For Life filmmakers one piece of blunt advice: “Don’t fuck up my baby.” While it's easy to call the Transformers producer's response gruff, the off-the-cuff remark, combined with Affleck's spot-on impression of the man behind the camera, is comedic gold. The Justice League alum doesn’t stop there; he continues by cracking wise about the “salt of the earth” approach of the film:

Listening to the Gone Girl actor poke fun at his director is too funny. Of course, it was obviously all in good fun because the two would reunite a few years later for the Bay’s epic war and romance flick Pearl Harbor–which has a few problems of its own as a film. You can listen to the entire clip in the video embedded below:

While NASA probably isn't recruiting oil drillers for space missions just yet, some of Armageddon's wild ideas might not be far from the real playbook for asteroid defense. Turns out that using a nuke might actually work. Got that, Ben? Who's chuckling now?

While Armageddon might not take home the award for best space movies, it is certainly funnier and more entertaining than it has any right to be and well worth revisiting. You can stream the 1998 hit with a Max subscription. Or you can check our schedule of 2023 movie releases to see what's coming to a theater near you. 

While the Barbie movie is absolutely dominating at the box office, it’s far from the first blockbuster movie based on toys. Case in point: the ongoing Transformers franchise, which began with Michael Bay’s 2007 movie. A new installment came earlier this year in the form of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which introduced beloved characters from Beast Wars. Apparently Michael Bay tried to veto one major Rise of the Beasts moment with Anthony Ramos. Although he definitely had his reasons.

Michael Bay directed the first five installments of the live-action Transformers movies, before new filmmakers got in on the fun starting with Bumblebee. He’s been able to bring Bayhem to other projects like Ambulance, but he’s still seemingly invested in the sci-fi franchise. Paramount CEO Brian Robbins recently spoke to Variety about Rise of the Beasts, and how Bay tried to scrap the Transformers movie’s twist ending. Specifically the reveal that G.I. Joe was in the same universe, which opens up the opportunity for major crossovers. Robbins said that Bay was worried about that cheapening the events of the previous movies, but as he shard:

Looks like persistence worked in this case. While Michael Bay was originally hesitant to have G.I. Joe and Transformers collide, he was eventually convinced that this was the move. And it should be fascinating to see how this crossover plays out in future movies. Bring on the Hasbro Cinematic Universe!

The final scene of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Anthony Ramos’ protagonist Noah Diaz attends an interview for a security job. But it’s revealed that the meeting is actually a recruitment by the military to join G.I. Joe, given how he proved himself in the conflict with the Terrorcons. It was something that moviegoers didn’t see coming, and has the potential to greatly affect the future of both the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises. 

It’s unclear what’s coming next, but Anthony Ramos will seemingly have a major role to play in at least one of those properties. The last G.I. Joe movie Snake Eyes was a box office bomb, so perhaps a connection to Transformers will help to increase fan interest. Although technically Rise of the Beasts is the worst performing entry of the franchise. Maybe a crossover movie will come next, which could help increase the box office appeal of both properties. Only time will tell, but I assume Michael Bay will have a strong opinion regardless.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is streaming now for those with a Paramount+ subscription. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Within the realm of sci-fi movies, the long-running Transformers franchise has been entertaining audiences for almost 20 years at this point. The original five-film run from director Michael Bay kicked things off with a very serialized storyline that built the mythos of the feature film saga pretty strongly. The relevance of that canon has been questioned by fans in a post-Bumblebee world, and the debate has returned in the lead-up to the release of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. It’s time for an expert to step in, and as luck would have it, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has a clear answer for how director Steven Caple Jr.’s movie connects to the Bay-verse. 

I was present for the Rise of the Beasts press day, and the veteran producer was on hand to talk about the past, present, and future of the Transformers franchise. As one might expect, the Michael Bay-helmed movies absolutely do play into the events of the more recent narrative throwbacks. Speaking with CinemaBlend, Lorenzo di Bonavenura clarified how Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is the key to understanding how everything is connected: 

For those of you attached to the journeys of Shia LaBeouf and Mark Wahlberg’s franchise leads, you don’t have to discard those memories when you see Rise of the Beasts. If anything, the accessibility for newbies and trusted loyalists is another one of the picture’s advantages heading into its theatrical release; which sees Paramount's latest competing with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as well as plenty of other would-be summer blockbusters. 

Knowledge of those past adventures isn’t required, with Bumblebee being the most explicitly referenced chapter in this seventh film. As such, you don’t have to use your Paramount+ subscription to cram seven stories worth of lore into your head; though you’re more than welcome to revisit your favorites without fear that they don’t matter to the plot at hand.

If anything, a screening of 2007’s Transformers might feel a bit more poignant after taking in Optimus Prime’s new arc. Even in that case, it’s a new ballgame that follows fresh human leads Noah (Anthony Ramos) and Elena (Dominque Fishback), as they team up with transforming newcomers Mirage (Pete Davidson), Airazor (Michelle Yeoh), and Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman).

While some may have thought that Rise of the Beasts was looking to distance itself from the Michael Bay era, signs have pointed to the contrary throughout production. Most notably, the fact that Bay is still an executive producer on the franchise helps keep those connections in place. 

Also, director Steven Caple Jr. consulted the Ambulance director when it came to the more blockbuster-y aspects of this Transformers jaunt. And there's an unquestionable difference in approach between the original Bayhem era and the more family-friendly era that Bumblebee kicked off. 

With that readily apparent, the adventures that came before are still firmly in place down the timeline; and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has assured us all that this won’t be changing any time soon. What we know about Transformers: Rise of the Beasts prepared us for yet another fresh perspective in the war between humanity and Transformers. 

That’s exciting no matter what side of the fandom you sit on, especially with the Beast Wars crew getting in on the action. You can take part in all of the new twists, turns, and transformations this weekend, as Rise of the Beasts ascends to its place on the schedule of 2023 new movie releases on June 9! 

Over the course of the past decade-and-a-half, the Transformers franchise has given us some of the biggest, baddest, and loudest big-screen explosions. These massive spectacles that combine high-quality visual effects with old-school practicality have gotten audiences to come back time and time again to see how Michael Bay (and later, Travis Knight) found new and inventive ways to make things go BOOM!

As part of our partnership with AMC Theatres, where you can now purchase tickets to see the new story unfold between the heroes and villains, along with whatever explosion scenes might be featured in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, we’ve put together a rundown of our favorite scenes in the previously released movies in the franchise that live rent free in our heads years after the concussive action left us trembling in our seats.

Blackout’s Base Attack - Transformers

The opening scene in Transformers is one of those quintessential Michael Bay moments that we’ve come to expect from the director over the years, and it doesn’t disappoint. Of course, we’re talking about Blackout’s attack on the U.S. military base that kicks off the 2007 summer blockbuster. Before the whole scene goes to hell in a handbasket and gives us one of the most awesome explosions in the franchise, we are treated to a scene that is similar to NASA engineers discovering a big rock is headed towards Earth in Armageddon. 

Blackout’s transformation from a large military helicopter to a destructive Decepticon is brilliant, tense, and epic, as he starts to run roughshod over anyone in his way. And then comes the massive concussive blast that takes out a chunk of the base with one of the coolest sound effects in the franchise.

Mission City Battle - Transformers

Okay, the final battle between the Autobots and Decepticons at the end of Transformers is sweet from start to finish, and features some incredible action that still looks great 16 years later. And while the battle gets epicly intense when Optimus Prime and Megatron have their big duel to end the Mission City battle, there’s a great and more low-key moment earlier in the sequence where Starscream lays down a barrage of missiles from the sky, leaving the heroes battered and confused.

But the beauty of this explosion comes before and after the big blast. While the army awaits reinforcements to collect the Allspark, we get this classic Michael Bay shot where the camera swings from behind Sam (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela (Megan Fox) that really sets the tone for the ensuing chaos. There’s a similar, slow-mo moment immediately following the blast that’s incredibly emotional.

Egyptian Bombardment - Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

Though it isn’t the best entry in the franchise, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has some of the better action sequences, including the epic battle in Egypt. When the surviving Autobots and NEST’s forces go to Egyptian ruins to find a way to bring Optimus Prime back to life, they have an epic fight with the Constructicons that leads to what is perhaps the most ridiculous explosion in any of the movies. Of course, we’re talking about the air raid to wipe out the evil robots.

The shot of ruins being carpet bombed by jets is a sight to see and remains as intense now as it was 14 years ago, thanks to Michael Bay’s seeming obsession with constantly outdoing himself when it comes to blowing things up. We get loud, concussive blasts, slow-mo running, dramatic music, and an unforgettable cinematic moment.

Chicago Invasion - Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

Over the years, Michael Bay has brought widespread destruction to cities like New York, Paris, Miami, and San Francisco, and in 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon, he added Chicago to the list. In the epic final act of the franchise’s third installment, the Decepticons invade the “Windy City” as part of their plan to enslave humanity and bring their home planet of Cybertron to the solar system. And boy, is it epic!

The shot of buildings along the Chicago River being bombarded by missiles in the twilight is a visual that is just too good to pass up, and it’s hard not to think about it whenever visiting the city.

Lockdown’s Grenades - Transformers: Age Of Extinction

Released in 2014, Transformers: Age of Extinction is another intense and action-packed installment in the franchise, one that introduced a whole new cast of human characters as well as some new Transformers as well. One of those, a Cybertronian assassin with an arsenal of impressive weapons, also gives us one of the movie’s – and franchise’s – best explosions.

Though Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) and a few other survivors make it out of their encounter with Lockdown partway through the movie, his friend Lucas (T.J. Miller) isn’t as lucky, getting turned to metal after being caught in the blast. It was sad to see the character go, but that explosion was just so ridiculously awesome.

Medieval Warfare - Transformers: The Last Knight

Transformers: The Last Knight didn’t waste any time getting the action started. In fact, the first explosions featured in the 2017 sequel are incorporated into the Paramount Pictures logo from the jump, creating a cool and eye-catching effect. Unlike previous installments, this movie starts in medieval England where King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table partner with a group of Transformers known as the Knights of Lacon.

In addition to old-school weaponry and warfare, we also get to see Dragonstorm, a three-headed robot made up of the Knights, unleash a wave of fire on the Saxon forces, creating a fun and unique action sequence for the franchise. It’s like Braveheart meets Game of Thrones meets Transformers.

The Battle Of Cybertron - Bumblebee

Travis Knight’s 2018 Transformers prequel Bumblebee starts off in spectacular fashion with the intense battle of Cybetron sequence, which sees the Autobots try in vain to defeat the Decepticons. When it becomes certain that Optimus Prime and his forces won’t win this bitter civil war, he sends Bumblebee to set up a new base of operations while he stays back to buy his friend some time.

In the final moments of this intense scene, the Decepticons unleash an onslaught of firepower on the Autobots base, bringing the massive structure down the surface of the planet. The scale of the structure, and destruction that turns it into a pile of metal, is awesome in every sense of the word.

We can’t wait to see what Steven Caple Jr. brings to the table when he takes over the franchise for a movie that will blend classic Transformers and Beast Wars characters for another addition to the franchise. But the only way to know for sure is by watching Transformers: Rise of the Beasts when it debuts in theaters nationwide on June 9th, so go ahead and purchase your tickets before it’s too late.

The next installment in the Transformers franchise will take the property in a bold new direction. When Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the seventh movie in the series, hits the schedule of 2023 movie releases, it will be the first to introduce classic '90s CGI cartoon Beast Wars characters like Optimus Primal and Mirage into the live-action universe. With a fresh take and a new director at the helm, fans are eagerly anticipating what the film has in store, and how a new team of creatives continue the franchise. For director Steven Caple Jr., that team included OG series director Michael Bay, albeit via Zoom. That’s right, the Rise of the Beasts director explained how Bay helped with the upcoming movie. 

Caple is no stranger to stepping into already realized worlds, seeing as how he was responsible for directing Creed II, taking over responsibilities from the director of the first movie Ryan Coogler. In a recent interview with THR, Caple opened up about the challenges of bringing the world of Transformers to life on the big screen, and how he turned to Bay for guidance as he tried to put his spin on the material. The filmmaker revealed:

For Caple, one of the biggest challenges was navigating the world of visual effects, a new area for him as a filmmaker. So who better to turn to than the man responsible for directing the first five installments? According to The Land director, Bay was able to offer valuable insights and advice regarding VFX as he prepared for the project. Caple continued:

In addition to what we already know about Rise of the Beasts, Caple revealed that the movie takes place in 1994, seven years after the events of Travis Knight’s critically well-received Bumblebee, which was set in the '80s. The Autobots are joined by new allies, the Maximals, and face new foes, the Terrorcons, led by the planet-eating Unicron (played by Colman Domingo). Director Steven Caple Jr.’s goal for the movie is to elicit emotions from the audience towards both new and familiar Transformers characters. He is excited for fans to see the film, which he hopes will create a solid foundation for the franchise going forward. He told the publication:  

Fans of the beloved '80s series may be concerned about how the new film will fit in with the existing canon, but with a bit of guidance from Bay on VFX, Caple’s unique vision aims to balance honoring the past and forging its own path. It’s hard to say where Rise of the Beasts will rank amongst the other Transformers movies, but with Caple at the helm, it seems the film is in good hands and is poised for exciting possibilities in the future.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is currently slated for release on June 7, 2023, and fans can expect plenty of action, excitement, and yes, robots in disguise. While you wait for the Autobots and Maximals to “roll out” into your local theater, consider revisiting 2018's Bumblebee, which is streaming for anyone with a Paramount+ subscription.  

Animal cruelty on sets is rare, but when it happens, the story spreads like wildfire. Oftentimes, the director is found to be at fault. This time, 6 Underground director Michael Bay found himself at the center of allegations involving a pigeon being killed by a camera boom while filming the 2019 action thriller in Italy. After a report surfaced claiming the director was charged by Italian authorities for the 2018 incident, Bay chose to set the facts straight about the Netflix film.

The prolific director hopped on his Instagram account to dispel any misconceptions about the rumored pigeon-killing incident. The alleged charges were reported by The Wrap with a reported statement from Bay. Following the story’s publication, Bay chose to set the record straight with Variety with help from his lawyer. While he gave the entertainment magazine a nice rebuttal, the Ambulance director wasn’t done telling his side of the story as he gave more details. In his words:

Michael Bay was seemingly offended by the inaccuracy especially given his reputation as a well-known animal activist. He wanted his followers to know what played out shooting the scene involving the alleged pigeon-killing incident. In true director style, the director laid out what happened on the set and in the courts.

Michael Bay was upset by the fact that the reporting appeared to favor the Italian courts without considering all the facts. Of course, Bay had to throw a slight jab at the country for allegedly having the endangered bird on the menu at certain restaurants. Given how serious the case is, he didn’t take kindly to his name being used for views after speaking with The Wrap.

Of course, Michael Bay couldn’t go into too much detail as the legal case is reportedly still ongoing. As an animal lover, it appeared the Transformers director made sure all safety precautions were in place for the birds despite the alleged incident happening. The alleged incident has been garnering more attention than the 2019 Netflix action thriller, which received a mixed reception from critics. The film’s reception led to a proposed franchise being scrapped. If you want to revisit 6 Underground, check out the thriller by getting a Netflix subscription. While you’re there, get into the best movies on the streamer.

Michael Bay found himself at the center of a highly publicized story this past week. It was reported that the veteran film director had been charged with killing a pigeon, an act that allegedly took place in Italy while he was filming 6 Underground (which can be streamed using a Netflix subscription). At the time the news was reported, Bay released a statement in which he denied the allegations, and he now has more to say. Not only is the filmmaker doubling down on his assertion that the story is false, but he’s also gotten a lawyer involved. 

The Transformers filmmaker has reportedly made a request of TheWrap, which broke the news of the situation involving the pigeon. Mathew Rosengart, the director’s attorney sent a letter – which was obtained by Variety – to the news outlet. In the message, the lawyer denied the trade’s notion that “Michael Bay had been accused or ‘charged’ with ‘killing a pigeon’ in connection with a film he directed." Rosengart also referred to the headline and story as “false, reckless, and defamatory.” With this, he’s asking that the publication retract or correct the story. The note also reads: 

In the original report, someone close to the blockbuster production alleged that the incident involved a homing pigeon being killed by a dolly under the Ambulance director’s watch. Pigeons are considered a protected species in Italy and, under the country’s law, they cannot be killed, harmed or captured.

Michael Bay said via his initial statement that “no animal involved in the production was injured or harmed” on the set of the movie or any project he’s made over the past several decades. Bay, who admitted that he couldn’t get into specifics at the time due to this being an ongoing case, also stated that he was given the opportunity to settle by paying a fine but opted not to do so because he “would not plead guilty to having harmed an animal.” As noted in Matthew Rosengart's statement on his behalf, the Bad Boys director considers himself a "well-known animal lover and major animal activist."

6 Underground, which began principal photography in July 2018, was a massive undertaking, as the film was shot in Italy, Budapest, Los Angeles and the United Arab Emirates. The gritty story focuses on a group of individuals who become vigilantes after faking their deaths, and it stars Ryan Reynolds, Dave Franco, Adria Arjona and Corey Hawkins. When it was released the following year, the movie was streamed by a lot of Netflix subscribers. The action film seemed to be setting up a franchise, and even the stars had ideas about potential cast additions. Updates on a second installment have been scarce, and it’s unclear as to whether this latest development will have any bearing on such a project.

As of this writing, TheWrap has yet to formally respond to Matthew Rosengart’s letter on behalf of Michael Bay. It’s currently unclear as to how this situation might progress and how Bay’s legal situation will pan out.

Update: This story has been corrected to reflect a later statement from Michael Bay's legal representation.

Michael Bay is known as the director of some of the best action movies in existence. That sort of title doesn’t come easy, and admittedly there’s a fair amount of danger on the set of films like the Transformers franchise or even Bay’s Netflix action-comedy with Ryan Reynolds, 6 Underground. In the case of that last movie, the director has been accused of killing a pigeon, with this supposedly taking place during the film’s shoot in Italy.

The accusations stem from a 2018 incident, which, according to reporting by The Wrap saw Bay’s production accidentally killing a pigeon in the middle of a take. As the birds are a protected species in Italy, this death is considered a criminal offense. In response to these claims, Michael Bay issued the following statement: 

Naturally, Bay has denied these claims of wrongdoing, to the point where he’s rejected offers from the Italian government to pay a fine to settle the legal issues. No further information is available at this time, except that the crime was anonymously reported to the authorities by an alleged witness.

Though no specific sequence is mentioned in the 6 Underground allegations, there are some clips from the Netflix original that suggest where and when this supposed death took place. Again, when a movie makes claims that it contains maximum Bayhem, concerns are to be had whether or not criminal allegations are in play.

What usually quells those thoughts is Bay’s methodical execution of larger than life stunts that still find their way safely onto camera. Even last year’s Ambulance saw Michael Bay share a particularly dangerous car stunt on social media, and the entire process showed a controlled environment that played to the director’s strengths, but still looked rather safe.

No matter what arguments are made for or against the hypothetical methods for this alleged wrongdoing, the legendary action director is ready to make his case. When that will happen, and what the results will be, are currently unknown. For now, the world will have to wait and see where this story goes in the days to come. Those curious to see the film for themselves can catch 6 Underground through access to a Netflix subscription.

‘Tis the season to get together with friends and family, to exchange gifts, and to eat a lot of food that’s probably not very good for you. Friends of Tom Cruise have a very special way to do that last thing, as the actor famously sends out a special, and apparently quite delicious cake, to people he has previously worked with. Unfortunately one person who will apparently not be able to enjoy their Cruise cake is director Michael Bay, because FedEx seems to have treated it like it was at the center of an explosion in a Michael Bay action movie.

Michael Bay posted a pair of videos to Instagram when he received his special cake from Tom Cruise. The first was a big reveal of what it was. Bay is clearly incredibly excited to have received the cake, which Cruise reportedly sends to a lot of people every holiday. Unfortunately, in the second posted video, the Armageddon director reveals that Armageddon has come for his cake.  

It’s unclear what happened here. Michael Bay seems to think the cake melted. It honestly looks like somebody decided to eat it, though if they did that they did a perfect job repackaging it to make it look brand new. Clearly this cake has been through some stuff. It’s sad because the cake is apparently delicious and Michael Bay was so obviously excited to receive it.

The Tom Cruise holiday cake is sort of a big deal. Cruise has been sending out the cake for at least 20 years according to what Michael Bay says here. People that he works with on movies end up getting it, though Cruise and Michael Bay have never made a movie together so making a Tom Cruise movie is apparently not a requirement. It’s unknown how many people get this special cake but it has to be in the hundreds if not the thousands at this point.

While getting a cake from Tom Cruise is probably pretty special on its own, the cake is also according to those that have eaten it, especially good. Glen Powell, who has received the cake for a couple years since filming Top Gun: Maverick with Cruise, apparently throws a party every year where the cake is the guests of honor, so that all of his friends can try a bite. 

Perhaps Bay can get through to Cruise and let him know what happened and a replacement cake can be ordered. This probably isn’t the first time that a cake has been mangled in transit, and while I’m sure producing and shipping these cakes to so many is already a production, I hope they make a few extras just in case something like this happens. 

It looks like filming is underway on the Road House remake film starring Jake Gyllenhaal! To celebrate such an occasion, the Spider-Man: Far From Home star shared an adorable picture with legendary director Doug Liman. Many familiar faces chimed in to congratulate Gyllenhaal on such an occasion, including director Michael Bay.

The photo, which was posted to Instagram, shows Liman and Gyllenhaal certainly very happy to be filming as they hold the clapboard that says "Road House." They seem to be in a beautiful tropical location. This is a major departure from the Missouri setting from the original film. Check out the post below.

Michael Bay must have been excited to see two of his friends together working on a new project. He wished them luck, commenting:

Bay and Gyllennhaal must’ve struck up a friendship working on Ambulance. Doug Liman is also known for his exciting and explosive films. He has directed movies like The Bourne Identity and The Edge of Tomorrow, so the new Road House film should be a non-stop thrill ride. Liman is also known for frequently working with Tom Cruise, but hopefully he doesn’t expect Gyllenhaal to be doing his own stunts, as Road House has a lot of them. 

Road House is a remake of the 1989 film of the same name. It starred Patrick Swayze as a tough bouncer who is tapped to manage a rundown bar called The Double Deuce. The film is a favorite amongst many people, so hopefully Gyllenhaal is up to the task of playing such a well-loved character. The film is being made for Amazon Prime Video, with MGM also behind the project. 

The Nightcrawler star isn’t the only one who will be joining Doug Liman for this film. UFC fighter Conor McGregor will be making his acting debut in the film alongside Gyllenhaal. While it is undetermined what character McGregor will be staying, he is said to be playing an original character and not portraying himself. Gyllenhaal’s character is a former UFC fighter as well, so I’m sure these two will have plenty to talk about. McGregor isn’t the only heavy-hitter (no pun intended) joining Gyllenhaal on Roadhouse. The stacked cast includes Billy Magnussen, Daniela Melchior, Gbemisola Ikumelo, and Lukas Gage.

Road House isn’t the only thing Gyllenhaal is working on. That man seems to never stop working. He is announced to star alongside Oscar Isaac in a movie about the making of The Godfather. He also recently worked with The Gentleman director Guy Richie on a film called The Interpreter, which will be released next year. 

Roadhouse has just begun production, so it will probably be a while before we see Jake Gyllenhaal taking over a dive bar. In the meantime you can check out Michael Bay’s Ambulance, starring Gyllenhaal and streaming now for Peacock subscribers. And for other news about what may be coming to streaming down the line, check out our 2022 movie schedule.

As much as any movie-lover may enjoy the theatrical experience, I think it's safe to say that we all have a breaking point. Sometimes a film is just so bad that it is not worth your time anymore, and the exit looks far more appealing than the idea of seeing a feature through to the end credits. You get out of your seat, and you walk out.

For Stephen King, this is evidently an impulse that doesn't strike often, but there is one recent blockbuster that he says he was unwilling to sit through when he went to go see it on the big screen: Michael Bay's 2007 his Transformers.

This revelation comes to us via the author's popular Twitter account, and came up in a response to a Tweet from another writer, namely crime novelist Linwood Barclay. After Barclay wrote that Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic World: Dominion is the first film he's "walked out on in years," King replied with his walk out story, and an urge for his followers to share their's:

And in case there was any confusion regarding precisely which Transformers movie Stephen King didn't see through to the end, he specifically identified Michael Bay's first live-action Transformers blockbuster when a follower inquired:

When it comes to pop culture criticism on social media, Stephen King generally likes to keep things positive, whether he is trumpeting the excellence of Yellowjackets or urging movie-goers to check out James Wan's Malignant. That being said, he's not a critic who practices the idea of "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." He's never been too shy about lambasting adaptations of his own work that he feels didn't work, and it was almost exactly a year ago that he revealed what he considers to be the worst horror movie ever made.

It seems fair to assume that Stephen King has not attempted to give Transformers another go in the years since its theatrical release and give it a new appraisal (he's explained that he doesn't make a habit of rewatching things), and it's worth noting that he is far from alone in his judgement of the Michael Bay movie. Of course, the blockbuster also has a great number of fans, and it was the fifth biggest hit at the box office in 2007.

If you haven't seen Transformers for yourself and want to see if you can last longer watching it than Stephen King, the film is available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, and you can rent/purchase it digitally from Google Play, Amazon, and Vudu.

After delivering the Ryan Reynolds-led 6 Underground to Netflix back in 2019, director Michael Bay turned his attention to Ambulance, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Eiza González. The action-thriller that cost way less to make than Transformers: The Last Knight follows two bank robbers who hijack an ambulance and take two first responders hostage as they’re fleeing police. Ambulance has been playing in theaters for several weeks, and now life finds itself imitating art, as a hijacked ambulance was involved in a high-speed pursuit in the Chicago area today.

At approximately 4:40 p.m. CT, a Chicago Fire Department ambulance was stolen while it was parked on a street in the 200-block of West Cermak. As reported by ABC 7 Chicago, the man who stole the ambulance fled southbound to the Stevenson Expressway while police were in pursuit, and eventually the chase moved to the 1-55 heading south. Police pursued the man for almost two hours; at around 6:20 p.m. CT, the ambulance slowed to almost a stop, and it appeared as though the man was gesturing and speaking to the police out his window, but then he took off again.

Strips laid out on the road eventually took out one of the ambulance’s back tires, but the chase continued until around 6:30 p.m. CT, when the offender stooped roughly 70 miles outside of Chicago, near Dwight, Illinois. Although the man initially got down on his knees and looked like he was going to surrender, after speaking with the police for a little bit, he attempted to flee the scene on foot and even tried flagging down a red pickup hauling a trailer, but wasn’t able to get through the passenger door. Less than a minute later, several police officers and a K-9 unit apprehended the man and took him into custody on the side of the highway near the Streator-Kankakee exit. 

It’s unclear why the suspect stole the ambulance, but officials say no one was in the back of the vehicle when it was stolen. There also isn’t any word on if any civilians or CFD personnel were injured during this event. It’s worth noting that when he exited the vehicle and tried to run from police soon after, the man was holding a backpack, but there’s no information about its contents. Ironically, the man was taken away from the scene in an ambulance.

Hopefully we’ll learn in the coming days/weeks about why this ambulance theft took place, but as wild as this was to watch happen in real time, it didn’t come anywhere close to the craziness of Michael Bay’s Ambulance. But hey, that’s the filmmaker’s bread and butter: delivering action-packed, explosive spectacles to moviegoing audiences that they know they’ll never need to worry about witnessing in real life. While Ambulance has only made $46 million worldwide off a $40 million budget, it’s been one of the more critically well-received entries in Bay’s filmography, with CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg giving it 3.5 out of 5 stars in his review.

Don’t forget to look through our Ambulance ending breakdown and continue visiting CinemaBlend for more news about this movie and Michael Bay’s other projects. Oh, and we’ll also pass along if any other high-speed chases reminiscent of blockbuster movies happen to occur in real life.

Armageddon was peak Michael Bay – explosions, action, and high stakes. The sci-fi disaster featured an all-star cast led by iconic action hero Bruce Willis. At the time, getting Willis to headline the big-budget blockbuster was a coup as the 1998 film was only his third feature film as a director. But the Pulp Fiction actor was down for anything on the set. Bay recalled the time Willis tried breaking into an actual NASA space shuttle while shooting the action flick.

The legendary director opened up about his time working with Die Hard star Bruce Willis for only his third movie. He revealed to Variety that the Hollywood icon took over the set of the disaster film, recalling he was “tough at first” but had “great fun energy.” Michael Bay recalled the atmosphere being “like camp.” Said camp experience took hold of Willis leading to a mischievous incident. While shooting at the U.S. space center NASA, Bay recounted the actor informing him of his plans.

You wouldn’t expect anything less from one of the 1990s’ top action stars. Plus, shooting at the world-famous space center would bring out anyone’s inner astronaut. Bruce Willis wanted the full experience, not just a simulated one. But as expected, NASA officials weren’t happy with The Sixth Sense actor’s antics. Michael Bay recalled how they thawed Willis’ actions before any damage could be done.

Of course, NASA's upper brass didn’t want one of Hollywood’s top stars to get inside an actual shuttle. Shuttles are filled with sensitive equipment handled by trained astronauts. If the Hollywood icon had touched or pushed something accidentally, it could’ve spelled real-life disaster. But on the opposite end, if Willis had gotten injured under NASA’s watch, there would’ve been lawsuits flying back and forth between all involved parties. On top of that, it would’ve been bad press and postponed the film as we’ve seen in other cases.

While Bruce Willis was the star, Armageddon was filled with A-list talent, including Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, and Liv Tyler. Upon its release, critics poorly received the blockbuster. But like many Bayhem films, it was a box office hit, becoming 1998’s top-grossing film with over $553 million in worldwide gross. Willis even got nostalgic for that time as he broke out his onscreen spacesuit. Of course, there are still questions about its scientific accuracy despite the Transformers director revealing the disaster film was more accurate than viewers assumed.

Hearing this story and similar ones are great to hear after learning of the actor’s retirement due to his aphasia diagnosis. Of course, you can relive Willis and company trying to save the Earth by getting an Amazon Prime subscription to stream Armageddon. You can see what upcoming movies Bruce Willis have coming up as moviegoers get to see his last film appearances.  

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Ambulance. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

Ambulance is full of intense moments, Michael Bay delivering his special sauce in plenty of explosions, but there is one sequence that stands a head above the rest. In the second act of the movie, EMT Cam Thompson, played by Eiza Gonzalez, is forced to perform amateur surgery on a bullet wound while the titular emergency vehicle is leading cop cars in a highway chase, and ultimately the whole thing is taken to ridiculous levels as the patient experiences a burst spleen that ends up being clamped with a hair clip.

The whole situation may seem insane and totally improbable – but Michael Bay insists that what we see go down in the scene is based on actual procedure, which he learned about from real trauma doctors.

I sat down with the filmmaker earlier this month during the Los Angeles press day for Ambulance – also having the opportunity to interview stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza Gonzalez – and in between talking about Bay’s self-awareness and convincing Dwayne Johnson not to quit the production of Pain & Gain, I felt compelled during to ask about the big spleen bursting. Acting very proud of the work that was done, Bay explained how he went extra lengths in the development of the scene to make it as true-to-life as he possibly could. Said the director,

Ambulance was made with a budget nearly $200 million less than his last Transformers movie, but Michael Bay got some serious production value and thrills out of his R-rated surgery sequence. It features Eiza Gonzalez (who had a panic attack during filming) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen’s characters going wrist-deep inside the chest cavity of the cop played by Jackson White, and while it seems like the film is just playing up extremes, apparently that’s not the case.

Continuing, Michael Bay not only emphasized the qualifications of the medical professionals that he consulted in the making of Ambulance, but revealed that the men he talked to are featured in the film: they are the doctors who, via FaceTime from the golf course, guide Cam Thompson through the surgery:

Ambulance is now playing in theaters everywhere, and you can discover all of the films set to arrive on the big screen and streaming between now and the end of the year via our 2022 Movie Release Calendar.

It frequently gets glamourized, but filmmaking can be a tedious process for actors. On top of the repetition that comes with doing take after take of a single shot, there is also a great deal of time spent between shots setting up lighting, sound, blocking, and more. This general atmosphere can be exacerbated in productions where performers are confined to contained primary locations – and Michael Bay’s Ambulance is a great example, with the majority of the movie’s runtime featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza Gonzalez, and Jackson White inside the titular emergency vehicle.

Nobody could blame the actors for getting that long road trip feeling of “I need to get out of this car” late into production, but Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had their own ways to make peace with the tight environment.

As captured in the video at the top of this article, I interviewed the two stars earlier this month during the Los Angeles press day for the movie, and during the conversation I asked them about their experiences inside the eponymous ambulance. For Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the key for him was in just adapting to his space and making a kind of home in it. Rather than constantly getting in and out of the truck between set ups, he found his “own space” in it. He explained.

In the film, Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II play a pair of bank robbers who see their heist go awry when their exit is beset upon by a team of waiting, undercover Special Investigation Section agents. Looking for an escape, the criminals take a police officer (Jackson White) hostage, and the cop gets shot when trying to get away. They end up hijacking an ambulance with an EMT (Eiza Gonzalez) on board, and she tries to save the officer’s life while the fugitives try to figure out a new getaway plan.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, Danny, does a lot of screaming and gun-waving in Ambulance, but what kept the actor from feeling any kind of claustrophobia during production was reminding himself what typically happens in an emergency vehicle like the one they were riding around in. The movie was shot between January and March 2021, which was a time when COVID-19 cases were spiking in the United States, and Gyllenhaal was cognizant that the back of the vehicle he was making a movie in was usually a space where lives were really being saved:

This is a sentiment that surely Eiza Gonzalez can relate to, given that she had a panic attack while just pretending to perform surgery in the back of an ambulance.

Among the best Michael Bay movies, Ambulance is a ridiculous thriller that knows exactly what it is, as I note in my CinemaBlend review. It stars Garret Dillahunt, Keir O'Donnell, Moses Ingram, A Martinez, and Cedric Sanders in addition to Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza Gonzalez, and Jackson White, and it’s now playing in theaters everywhere. You can check the official website for local listings.

To learn about more films on their way to the big screen and streaming between now and the end of the year, head over to our 2022 Movie Release Calendar.

Yellowstone continues to cement itself within the ranks of linear TV royalty, with viewership totals and demo ratings that blow most other shows out of the water. It's a show whose explosiveness often comes through character interactions, particularly those involving Kelly Reilly's Beth, but co-creator Taylor Sheridan hasn't exactly shied away from more literal explosions and madcap action during the western drama's first four seasons. But is there ever a point when Michael Bay, the most explosive director in Hollywood, could settle in behind the camera for an episode in Season 5 or beyond? It’s definitely more likely than John Dutton giving up his ranch, I’ll say that.

Michael Bay is currently promoting his first theatrical release in five years with the action thriller Ambulance, which has already become one of Bay’s most well-reviewed movies across his entire career. And while there are probably better ways to celebrate such feats than by traveling to Montana to direct an episode of Yellowstone, there are definitely worse ways. During a screening Q&A (via Collider), Bay expressed his fandom for the Paramount Network series, and revealed that even though jumping into other creators’ worlds isn’t his preference, he would be down to lend his talents to the Dutton family saga. In his words:

By all means, Michael Bay has certainly introduced audiences to some highly celebrated worlds with such films as Bad Boys, The Rock and the Transformers franchise. So for the most part, he’d rather devote his time to that kind of overarching creative energy, as opposed to figuring out how to make himself comfortably fit into another creator’s vision. Which is why, as he implied, fans shouldn’t expect to see his skills on display within the Star Wars universe at any time. (Although I do love the fact that he thinks the trilogy-geared franchise is somewhere around the fifth film.) 

Just because Michael Bay hasn’t directed any purely western fare shouldn’t count against him in this instance, either, since Yellowstone is as much a modern drama as it is any other genres. (The same couldn’t be said for 1883, of course.) With its gorgeous locations and an abundance of characters who are ready to fight at the mere mention of a hat dropping, not to mention the occasional helicopter or two, Yellowstone would be an extremely interesting sandbox for Bay to mess around with, even if his episode would probably involve disasters and catastrophes that the Dutton family may not be able to walk away from unscathed. Not that this would happen, but how wild would it be if Michael Bay managed to convince Taylor Sheridan to introduce a narrative arc involving an asteroid heading straight for the ranch, Armageddon-style? Is it time yet for Yellowstone to get a What If…? anthology series like the MCU?

At the moment, Taylor Sheridan & Co. haven’t yet started up the Season 5 production process in Montana, and it’s assumed that the early months of 2022 have been spent filming the 6666 spinoff. To that end, with Bay’s promotional run for Ambulance ending ahead of the summer, it is indeed feasible for him and Sheridan to have a sit-down to discuss potentially bringing the blockbuster director to Paradise Valley in the future. And if the now self-aware director wanted to bring over any of his films’ stars, such as Nicolas Cage, Yahya Abdul-Mateen, or Scarlett Johansson, then that would be amazing. 

With Ambulance proving that Michael Bay can work just as easily with a lower budget as a monster one, Yellowstone could be a rocking next step in his career, should he so choose to follow in Taylor Sheridan’s boot-steps. And even though his episode might make things ever so slightly more unbelievable to Kevin Costner, how badass would it be to see Bay pull of a hectic car chase but with cowboys on horseback instead of behind the wheel?

Ambulance is now in theaters everywhere, while Yellowstone can be streamed in its current entirety, including Season 4, on Peacock. 

Bayhem has never come cheap, and the best person to back that call would be the architect of that pop cultural phenomenon, filmmaker Michael Bay. When walking the red carpet for his latest film Ambulance, the budget for the film came up as a point of discussion, to which Bay himself admitted, “for me, that’s small.” He’s not kidding, as the final price on his Universal action thriller came out to nearly $200 million less than his last Transformers movie. 

This comes from THR’s own coverage of Ambulance’s big premiere, where it was confirmed that only $40 million was spent in creating Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya-Abdul Mateen II, and Eiza Gonzalez's fast paced joy ride. For those of you playing along at home, several sources of knowledge on Transformers: The Last Knight reports that film as having an estimated budgetary range between $217 - $260 million. 

As always, without exact figures on print and advertising, as well as all the other backend bells and whistles movies require, those figures may not be exact. Interestingly enough, that $40 million budget is about $8 million more than the $32 million figure Ambulance's protagonists are trying to steal. Still, taking a look at the fast and loose history of Bayhem, the story of Michael Bay budgets is interesting to follow. 

Starting with his directorial debut in 1995’s Bad Boys, a $19 million check was what got it all started. Bay would eventually jump into a higher bracket with 1998’s Armageddon, as that movie saw $140 million set as its budgetary spend on the books. It wasn’t until 2009’s estimated $200-$209 million price tag for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen that Michael Bay would climb into this much higher stratosphere, leading to an eventual plateau and two more sequels than Steven Spielberg would have recommended making. 

Save for 2013’s Pain and Gain and 2016’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, the rest of Bay’s Transformers movies would stay in the $200+ million range, with The Last Knight providing the high water mark. From that point on, there was a big scaling back in spending, as 2019’s 6 Underground was made for a relatively small $150 million. Now in the age of Ambulance, a leaner/meaner Michael Bay has presented himself, and so far the results have seemed to please critics. Even our own Eric Eisenberg had to tip his hat, as in our official Ambulance review he stated that Bay has embraced his aesthetic, and plays it like a champ.

It’s not Michael Bay’s cheapest film, as that honor would go to either Bad Boys or Pain and Gain, depending on if you adjust for inflation or not. However, if the box office results speak loudly enough, perhaps we could be seeing a new age of Bayhem dawning. The thrills might be less expensive on the balance sheets, but when the images include stunts so dangerous looking they play on Instagram as well as on the big screen, every penny is worth it. 

You can get a taste of the chaos for yourself this weekend, when Ambulance opens, only in theaters. Plenty more thrills and excitement await eager moviegoers on the schedule of 2022 movie releases, so don’t forget to keep your movie calendar up to date with what’s in store. As for you Transformers fans, you’ll have to wait until June 9, 2023 for the already wrapped Transformers: Rise of the Beasts to hit the big screen.  

Ambulance director Michael Bay and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza González discuss the making of their new action film. They talk about the intimate nature of shooting an action movie like Ambulance, working with an intense director like Michael Bay, and more.

Video Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 00:27 - The Surprisingly Intimate Nature Of Shooting An Action Movie Like Ambulance 
• 02:10 - How Ambulance Approached Shooting A “Real” Surgery In the Back Of An Ambulance 
• 03:51 - Michael Bay On Honoring Sean Connery With A Reference To The Rock 
• 04:40 - Eiza González, Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II On Working With Michael Bay
• 07:55 - Michael Bay Talks Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Quitting Pain And Gain A Week Before Production Began

When Dwayne Johnson has a new movie coming out these days, one generally has a pretty good idea of what to expect. Whether it’s Hobbs & Shaw, or the Jumanji sequels, or Skyscraper, or Jungle Cruise, Johnson typically plays a muscly hero who bursts with charm and charisma. Back in 2013, however, director Michael Bay got a very different kind of performance out of him. Pain & Gain begins featuring the star as a weight-lifting man of faith who is dedicated to living a good life, but by the end he is snorting pounds of cocaine and grilling human hands in a backyard barbecue.

The based-on-a-true-story crime thriller is among Michael Bay’s best movies, and it’s easily one of the greatest turns of Dwayne Johnson’s career – and keeping that in mind, it’s crazy to know that Johnson actually tried to get out of making Pain & Gain a week before the start of principal photography.

Personally speaking, Pain & Gain is my favorite Michael Bay movie, so I felt compelled to bring it up last week when I had the chance to sit down with the filmmaker during the Los Angeles press day for his latest thriller, Ambulance. I mentioned my specific appreciation for Dwayne Johnson’s work in the film, and Bay told me the story of how he stopped the actor from backing out of the project:

In Pain & Gain (which is written by Avengers: Endgame screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely), Dwayne Johnson plays Paul Doyle, and the character is really the opposite of all the family-friendly blockbuster protagonists that we regularly see him as today. It’s one of only two R-rated films that Johnson has made in the last decade, the other one being 2017’s Baywatch.

Dwayne Johnson was first attached to make Pain & Gain in December 2011, and while he got cold feet a few months later when production started in March 2012, Michael Bay makes it sound like the cast and crew ultimately had a blast during filming. As the director explained, this was partially because he had a real passion for the project, and also because he was shooting right in his own backyard in Miami, Florida. Said Bay,

Based on Michael Bay’s comments, it sounds like there was a fun fast-and-loose-ness in the making of Pain & Gain, with Dwayne Johnson joined in the cast by Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Mackie (one of his great pre-Captain America roles). Recalling his time making the 2013 movie, Bay continued,

Pain & Gain is one of the smallest features Michael Bay has made, and that’s actually something that it shares in common with his latest. Ambulance was shot during the first year of the pandemic, and it is a very stripped down cinematic experience as an extension of that – the story set over the course of a single day and the story mostly unfolding as a feature-length car chase. As I note in my review of the film, it’s also another one of Bay’s best movies.

You’ll be able to check it out yourself when Ambulance – starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza Gonzalez – hits theaters everywhere this Friday, April 8. Head over to the movie’s official website to learn about showtimes near you, and discover all of the films heading to theaters and streaming in what remains of the year by checking out our 2022 Movie Release Calendar.

If there’s a broad adjective that can be applied to Michael Bay’s Ambulance, it’s definitely “intense.” (In Bay’s own words, it’s a “study in tension.”) Set over the span of a single day, the movie goes from a first act bank heist to what becomes a non-stop car chase – with two criminals (Jake Gyllenhall, Yayha Abdul-Mateen II) holding an EMT (Eiza Gonzalez) hostage in an on-the-move emergency vehicle while she tries to save the life of a dying police officer (Jackson White).

It’s a crazy thing to behold watching it on the big screen, and that’s partially an extension of the fact that it was a pretty crazy film to make, as evidenced by the fact that shooting one sequence actually led Eiza Gonzalez to hyperventilate and have a mid-scene panic attack.

The sequence in question involves the movie’s characters performing a surgery while the titular ambulance races away from pursuing police officers, and while I won’t get too far into the details (it’s best to experience in a theater), you can definitely get excited for what unfolds via my interview with Eiza Gonzalez. As captured in the video above, I asked her about what it was like shooting the scene, and she explained that it not only required a lot of preparation, but that she fully recognized what the moment means for her character:

Continuing, Eiza Gonzalez added that the impact of the stress didn’t stop with just deep and quick breathing. The anxiety of the moment also caused the muscles in her hands to tense and cramp up to the point where her fingers started involuntarily clenching, making them look like claws:

It probably goes without saying that it’s typically best to not perform life-saving surgery while in the midst of a panic attack and not having full use of your hands… but this is just a movie, and it’s some wild cinema. In fact, it’s the best sequence in Ambulance.

You can witness it all for yourself very soon, as the intimate-yet-still-Bayhem-filled blockbuster arrives in theaters everywhere this Friday, April 8. As I note in my Ambulance review, it’s a fun and crazy ride, and one that definitely deserves the big screen experience (check out the official website for where it’s playing near you).

To learn more about all of the films that are set to come out between now and the last week of December, check out our 2022 Movie Release Calendar.

For the careers of both actor Will Smith and director Michael Bay, their collaboration on 1995’s Bad Boys was an early and crucial success. Though Bay only returned for a fun cameo appearance in Bad Boys For Life, the Ambulance director’s legacy is still entwined with that particular series. Which means people obviously want to know how he felt about Smith’s big Oscars slap with Chris Rock. Bay did offer some thoughts, but they were more of a reaction to the self absorption of Hollywood rather than any sort of judgement call. 

While speaking with Yahoo in an interview for Ambulance’s forthcoming release, the filmmaker was locked and ready to give his two cents about current events. The legendary action director did just that, but went an extra mile when it came to describing his feelings. As it turns out, this is what Michael Bay’s experience with “the slap” has consisted of: 

The behind the Transformers film franchise has always been some who's kept an eye on the events of the world, with a healthy respect for those who serve in the armed forces. Naturally, that interest dovetails into keeping a watchful eye on the continued conflict in Ukraine, so it’s not a surprise that he’d feel this way about the entire situation. His comment about “self absorption,” no matter what side you fall on that particular subject, does carry weight in light of the fallout from the 94th Academy Awards’ fateful telecast.

The event that lead to Will Smith’s eventual resignation from The Academy continues to be well discussed in the public eye, despite taking place a week and a half ago. Many in Hollywood have given their thoughts from both sides of the aisle, providing opinions that cover all sorts of ground. As the matter continues to be evaluated, and key figures like show producer Will Packer are further shedding some light on what happened behind the scenes, there are no signs that this discussion will be slowing any time soon. 

Some might still be wondering just why anyone would ask Michael Bay about Will Smith’s Oscar slap, outside of the fact that the two have worked together on and off. Well, in light of the incident at hand, Bad Boys 4 has run into a bit of a setback. The series’ legacy continues to tie into Bay’s filmography; so people are going to want to know if he has any special insight or commentary on Smith’s current state. Unfortunately for anyone who is looking for that sort of information, what you see above is probably all you’re going to get. 

In the realm of the present, Michael Bay’s latest dose of “Bayhem” opens this weekend, with the theatrical debut of Ambulance. That’s just part of what you can expect from the 2022 movie releases headed to the movies this year, and you can check out the competition in our complete rundown. However, if you want to learn more about what to expect, CinemaBlend’s official review of the film is also available for your reading pleasure. 

Michael Bay has a special brand, and it is distinctive from the style of any other filmmaker in the industry. When you’re watching one of his movies, you know it. The sheen is glossy, camera swirls, the soundscape is booming, and rarely are you ever more than a few minutes from watching a car crash or an explosion. It’s an energy that Bay has maintained in his work since the release of Bad Boys in 1995, and while there has been a great deal of vocal criticism of his unique aesthetic, he understands his place in pop culture and is open to making fun of himself.

I sat down with Michael Bay last week during the Los Angeles press day for his new film Ambulance, and I opened the interview asking about some meta moments in the new thriller when a pair of cops (Jackson White, Cendric Sanders) directly reference both Bad Boys and The Rock. Also thinking about his excellent cameo in Bad Boys For Life, I asked if he is at a point where he has a self-awareness about his career, and he responded in the affirmative:

That self-awareness does Michael Bay a lot of favors in the making of Ambulance, as I write about in my review of the film. As he notes, the thriller is built for escalating tension, as the entire cinematic experience is basically a bank heist followed by a car chase, with the three principal characters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza Gonzalez) trapped together in an emergency vehicle leading the parade.

The special sauce, however, is the traditional, bombastic Michael Bay aesthetic, which spices up the ride with chaos and general extremeness. It has a wildness that only Bay can create, and it’s both gripping and entertaining.

As for the special Michael Bay references that are included in Ambulance, the filmmaker had an explanation that was both fun and sweet. The nods to his past blockbusters are in part his way of showing appreciation to the “younger generation” that love his movies, but he also noted that the characters talking about The Rock is a kind of dedication to Sean Connery, who starred in the beloved hit and passed away when Ambulance was in development. Said Bay,

You’ll have to go see Ambulance to learn the details about the film’s fun Michael Bay references, but you won’t have to wait long to do so. The thriller will be in theaters this Friday, April 8 – and between now and then stay tuned here on CinemaBlend, as I’ll have more from not only my interview with Bay, but also stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza Gonzalez.

To learn about all of the films hitting the big screen and streaming for the rest of the year, check out our 2022 Movie Release Calendar.

There is a specific moment in Michael Bay’s Ambulance where the whole thing clicked for me. In the midst of a high speed chase on a Los Angeles freeway, a police officer (Jackson White) profusely bleeds out in the back of the titular vehicle, and EMT Cam Thompson (Eiza Gonzalez) is forced to perform amateur surgery while getting instructions from a video call with her surgeon ex-boyfriend (Andy Favreau) and a pair of his colleagues… who are consulting while standing together on a golf course. Hands dig deep in a chest cavity, organs are manipulated, and unconventional items are used as surgical tools.

It’s madness, and such a peak level of madness that it renders the entire experience in a new light. The mold for Ambulance is a high concept thriller, but Bay orchestrates it all with such messy, hyper-self-aware and constant intensity that it ultimately plays like a gory and profanity-laden roller coaster – one that gets you to throw your hands in the air and scream along with all the characters. So when Jake Gyllenhaal’s Danny is screaming about plastic flamingos, or a remote-controlled low-rider is being tricked out with minigun, all you can really do is marvel at it, jaw agape.

Based on Laurits Munch-Petersen’s 2005 Danish thriller of the same name, with a script by Chris Fedak that remained relatively fluid during production, Ambulance packs all of its action into a single day, and begins chronicling the stressful morning of Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). Will is a decorated veteran, but his wife, Amy (Moses Ingram), is sick, and his insurance won’t cover the $231,000 surgery that will save her life. Desperate to take care of her and their newborn son, he lies to Amy and says that he is going to go out for a job interview, but in truth he is secretly reaching out to his estranged, criminal brother, Danny.

Will wants a loan, but what Danny offers instead is a job and a share of $32 million payday. The plan is to pull off one of the biggest bank heists in Los Angeles history along with a crew of three other guys (Devan Chandler Long, Brendan Miller, Victor Gojcaj), and the metaphorical train is ready to leave the station. With no other options at his disposal, Will joins the robbery.

Everything starts out well, but the plan goes to hell thanks to the surprise arrival of a pair of cops, Officer Zach (Jackson White) and Officer Mark (Cedric Sanders) – who are only at the bank because the former is trying to get up the nerve to ask out a teller (Kayli Tran). Bullets start to fly as a Special Investigation Section undercover operation springs into action, but Danny and Will split off from their colleagues with Zach as a hostage. When Zach is shot, they end up hijacking an ambulance with Cam Thompson aboard, and they race around the city trying to figure out an exit strategy and also keep the dying police officer alive.

Michael Bay goes all out with Ambulance, but does so with a wink.

While my appreciation of what Ambulance pulls off didn’t materialize until around the mid-point of my screening (the aforementioned surgery scene), the reality is that the movie is bonkers all the way through – you just have to find yourself on its wavelength. It starts dramatically edging on mawkish, with shots of Will’s military commendations bluntly contrasting his anxious call with an insurance agent and the piercing sound of a crying baby. This is followed by an earnestly emotional introduction to Cam, whom we watch help a girl who has been impaled by an iron fence post in a car accident, but the film really starts finding its tone with the introduction of Danny.

Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the industry’s most gifted actors, and while he can excel even when the material is subtle and nuanced, Ambulance calls for some spectacular, Nicolas Cage-level scene chewing, and he is gleefully up for the task. At one moment he is the most charming, charismatic man in the room, and then a switch flips and his neck veins looks ready to burst as he bursts with rage; at all times he is captivating, and gets to deliver insane lines of dialogue like the retort, “I wish I didn’t have herpes, but we live with what we’ve got.”

Once the principal characters are all aboard the eponymous emergency vehicle, the gas pedal gets nailed to the floor, and not only does that mean the traditional Bayhem (counting the number of destroyed vehicles would be an impossible challenge in this near-constant chase), but things just get bizarre. This is a thriller where the SIS Captain in charge of the operation (Garret Dillahunt) – who is fully decked out in University of Southern California gear – calls off a pursuit because he discovers that his monstrous pet English Mastiff, Nitro, is in the back seat of the police car being driven by Officer Mark.

Ambulance runs longer than it should, but still provides a big, satisfying finish.

Moviegoers familiar with the work of Michael Bay will not be surprised to learn that the film is a skosh overindulgent. Entertaining as the ride may be, the combination of the intimate intensity inside the ambulance and the chaos going on outside of it is a lot to take in, and this is a feature that sports a 136 minute runtime. The climax delivers the high-intensity punch it intends, and it ends up finding satisfying conclusions to the dynamics between the characters, but between all of the crazy stunts, flying bullets, booming explosions, and swooping drone shots, it’s an experience that leaves you feel drained as the end credits begin.

That exhaustion is really part of the filmmaking school of Michael Bay, along with plotting that doesn’t wholly make sense when put under scrutiny, but Ambulance succeeds because it is one of the director’s most “knowing” movies. There isn’t any slick pretension that tries to make you think you’re watching an overtly serious crime thriller a la Michael Mann’s Heat. In the Bay tradition, this film is glossy, loud, and overbearing, and delivered with a wink, it’s one of his best works to date.

While some may know Michael Bay best for blockbusters like Bad Boys and Armageddon, there are plenty of people who mainly associate him with the Transformers movies. Bay directed the first five installments in the robots in disguise’s film series, and while all those movies each pulled in more than $500 million worldwide, critical reception ranged from mixed to undeniably negative. In hindsight, Bay now realizes he should have followed Steven Spielberg’s advice and not made as many Transformers movies.

After delivering the Ryan Reynolds-led 6 Underground for Netflix in 2019, Michael Bay is back on the theatrical scene with Ambulance, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. It arrives five years after Bay’s last Transformers movie, The Last Knight. During an interview with Unilad, Bay acknowledged that while his Transformers movies were moneymakers, he spent too long in the director’s chair with this franchise, saying:

So if Michael Bay had listened to Steven Spielberg, he would have called it a proverbial day with 2011’s Dark of the Moon, Granted, it and 2009’s Revenge of the Fallen weren’t nearly as well received as the first live-action Transformers movies, but they were bigger moneymakers, so Bay could have left on a general high note. But as Bay mentioned, Paramount asked him to stick around for Age of Extinction and The Last Knight, and because he had a good time making cinematic Transformers tales, he obliged.

While Age of Extinction ended up being the first Transformers movie to cross the $1 billion mark, neither it nor The Last Knight impressed on the critical front. Furthermore, The Last Knight is the worst commercially performing entry in the main film series, with only the 2018 spinoff Bumblebee trailing behind it. Michael Bay also said that he’s “passionate” about any movie he does, so it’s not like he slacked off with the later Transformers movies. Still, it would be interesting to see where the franchise would be now if Bay had listened to Spielberg and stepped aside for someone else to take the helming reins on entry #4.

Although Michael Bay’s time directing Transformers movies is done, he was credited as a producer on Bumblebee, and the same goes for next year’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. So while he does still have a hand in the Transformers franchise’s creative process, he’s no longer the person leading the directorial charge. Kubo and the Two Strings’ Travis Knight succeeded Bay on Bumblebee, and Creed II’s Steven Caple Jr. was tapped to direct Rise of the Beasts, with both movies taking place long before Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky met Optimus Prime. 

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will hit theaters on June 9, 2023, and is one of several upcoming Transformers movies on the docket. Meanwhile, you can see Michael Bay’s Ambulance on the big screen starting April 8.

It’s not a Michael Bay film without explosions and highly intense action scenes. Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon… the list goes on when it comes to Bay’s explosive box office epics. They’re such an integral part of Bay’s work most moviegoers refer to it as “Bayhem.” Of course, his upcoming release Ambulance falls right in line with his trademark cinematic spectacles. While there will be wild explosions in the upcoming thriller, the director admitted he’s unhappy with one aspect of the Bayhem.

When it comes to action films, the Bayhem is all about making things as real as possible. The filmmaker has been an advocate for practical effects. So he only pulls out the CGI card when necessary. But sometimes it doesn’t yield the best results. The Pearl Harbor director spilled to Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont why he was less than pleased about using computer graphics this time around.

Even the Bad Boys director had his gripes about Bayhem. Of course, less-than-stellar CGI is nothing new in cinema. But for a filmmaker like Bay who thrives for all the action to look realistic, having bad 3D graphics doesn’t follow the model. Just his final words alone signaled a bit of irritation in not having the perfect results for the thriller. Given how grand his explosions are, it’s only right that the action stalwart is in his feelings about those scenes.

Of course, 3D artists and designers do their best with the time they have to complete the work. Because of the time crunch and limited funds, CGI scenes can throw a film’s storyline off. The battle scene between T’Challa and Killmonger in Black Panther has been the go-to scene for pointing out bad CGI in recent years. As much as special effects are in demand, not everyone needs them all the time as in the case of Tenet’s otherworldly scenes. In some cases, films like Greyhound relied on special effects over practical ones to recreate elements to keep costs down. That hasn’t stopped some Hollywood studios from throwing shade at the increasingly commonplace technology.

The intense action-thriller follows in the Bay traditions as viewers will get to see Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as adoptive brothers who wind up on a high-speed hostage chase after a bank robbery goes wrong. Eiza Gonzalez, Garret Dillahunt, and Moses Ingram support the two actors.

Eagle-eyed fans will have to play spot the subpar CGI when Ambulance hit theaters on Apr. 8. The action film is one of the upcoming movies fans can grab popcorn and enjoy the epic ride.

Within the history of blockbuster filmmaking, numerous directors have staged some memorable explosions, but few have done as many as Michael Bay. The man behind box office titans like Transformers, Armageddon and Bad Boys really knows how to thrill movie lovers. To some, the explosions featured in his films, and those of other directors, may not seem all that intricate. However, Bay recently opened up about how there’s actually a “special sauce” when it comes to crafting those massive moments. 

Michael Bay has been at this for some time now, so it’s no surprise that he has knowledge to dish out. One would think that he’d have loads of technical jargon to share when discussing his approach. However, during a recent interview, he managed to keep things relatively simple. As a matter of fact, he likened the process of making an explosion to a creating a culinary delight:

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles producer definitely shared some elegant thoughts with Empire. I honestly appreciate how he used such savory terminology to describe such a bombastic process. His thoughts are intriguing, especially when it comes to the idea of making the explosions look realistic. In his time, he’s staged them for films that are more grounded in reality and others that are steeped in fantasy or science fiction. Though his features have been criticized for their story mechanics, it’s hard to throw shade at his skills as a cinematic showman. 

In this entertainment landscape, it’s hard for moviegoers to miss large blasts and other massive moments. Trailers like The King’s Man’s give viewers their fair share of them. Spider-Man director Jon Watts is among those who even shares such big moments through behind-the-scenes videos. A number of these sequences are pretty impressive, though Michael Bay recently took issue with one past stunt in particular. 

Spectre, the fourth film in Daniel Craig’s 007 run, holds the record for the largest explosion in the history of cinema. But the Pain & Gain director called “bullshit” on that. He believes his 2001 war epic, Pearl Harbor, is the rightful owner of the record. While making his case, he sighted the sheer number of real plans the production utilized, even going as far as to say that he and his crew had “had 350 events going off” simultaneously.

Though Michael Bay doesn’t have the title at the moment, maybe he can earn it with his latest film, Ambulance. The intense-looking, Jake Gyllenhaal-led flick may contain some massive moments that could push it to the top of the movie explosion hill. We’ll just have to wait and see how Bay utilizes his “special sauce” for the production.

Ambulance opens exclusively in theaters on April 8th and is one of this year’s biggest new movie releases.

Competition can be a fun inspiration when it comes to making movies. The drive to outdo not only yourself but other movies on the market is something that can lead to envelope-pushing moments in movies. For example, moments like Spectre’s record setting explosion. However, director and explosion enthusiast Michael Bay has spoken on record to claim the James Bond record is BS, which leads to a rather interesting discussion when it comes to who has the biggest boom.

Recently, Micael Bay was on hand with Empire magazine to discuss his new film Ambulance. When you’ve got the man who most recently filmed a stunt that was crazy-destructive, and used footage of said stunt to create the world’s first glimpse at his next movie, you know destruction is definitely on the menu. 

In this case, the master of disaster himself submits that his 2001 film Pearl Harbor contains a greater feat of explosion than the Daniel Craig movie’s big moment. Basically, the bombing attack that acted as a pivotal moment in World War II (and cinematic) history is being pitted against James Bond destroying a gigantic building with an explosive chain reaction. Comparing his reenactment of the pivotal attack on the US naval fleet to Spectre’s destruction of Blofeld’s secret base, Michael Bay used the following details to refute the current 007 record.

While Bay claims his World War II drama should be the one that holds the record, it’s not as simple as that. To be certified for a Guinness Book of World Records honor takes time, the submission and review of evidence, and eventually a decision from the group itself. Though that sort of examination isn't at stake, we can definitely take a look at the two scenes in question, in order to get a better understanding. 

First, let's take a look at a portion of 2001’s Pearl Harbor, which showcases the reenactment of the bombing run. Please note, this is only part of the overall sequence from Mr. Bay's film, and not a presentation of the total scene: 

On the surface, it’s a bit difficult to compare Michael Bay’s extended sequence of destruction to one moment from Spectre. As you can see in the video included above, the Pearl Harbor attack sequence is longer and more sustained, so there could be a case for it outdoing the big scene from director Sam Mendes’ second James Bond outing. Here’s the video for what that specific sequence’s claim to explosive fame entailed: 

One massive, single location is being compared to a widespread canvas of explosions, and on a basic level of examination, it’s not a clear call to make. There’s a possibility that Michael Bay could be right, and more firepower was involved in his previous film. The only way to be certain would be for the folks at the Guinness Book of World Records to review this claim, along with any evidence that Michael Bay has to back it up, and make an official ruling. 

It’s probably a long shot that Michael Bay could contest this perceived slight on Pearl Harbor’s explosive reenactment, as it’s been almost 21 years since the film was released. That being said, you can almost be assured that the legendary action director is going to try and break those James Bond records. Just as No Time To Die shattered Guinness World Records history through looking into what records were left to be broken, Mr. Bay will probably keep those particulars in mind when budgeting his next big blockbuster.

Maybe the only way to settle this is to let Mr. Bay consult on a future 007 explosion; or maybe to even let him direct a future film in the franchise of James Bond movies? Now that Cary Joji Fukunaga has made history as the first American director to work in the series, it could happen. That is, if Michael Bay would even be interested in directing a Bond film in the first place. 

Ambulance will create its own brand of explosive commotion in the name of Bayhem, when it debuts exclusively in theaters on April 8th. You can get a taste of that movie, which seems to blend both Speed and Heat into one massive mashup, when you watch the film's trailer. If you’re really looking for all of the bang for your box office buck, then the full list of new movie releases for 2022 is going to be a great road map to doing just that. 

Micheal Bay has directed some of the most influential action blockbusters of all time, from Armageddon (starring Bruce Willis) to the Transformers movies. But of course, his breakthrough feature was 1995's Bad Boys. The buddy cop flick had iconic written all over it, and it proved that lead actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence could hang with the genre's greats. The film was especially a launching pad for Smith, and Bay takes credit for making him a true movie star. Smith's Mike Lowry would instantly become one of cinema's coolest characters, with his style and love of cool cars. On that note, Bay has now revealed the "stupid" mistake he made after making the film -- and it relates to the movie's awesome vehicle.

Believe it or not, the classic 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo that Will Smith whips around in Bad Boys was actually Michael Bay’s personal vehicle. Interestingly, he revealed on Instagram that he made a major decision related to the car that he really seems to regret. And to be quite honest, I'm truly surprised that he did this. Check out the truly shocking post for yourself down below:

So the director says that he sold the car to a friend for a modest fee at the time but that the price tag for the car today is over $1 million. I mean, he didn’t think the vehicle would become as popular as it did. Though I'm honestly not surprised that ended up being the case. The sweet ride is such a big part of Mike Lowry's vibe and became iconic due greatly to the classic drag race at the end of the film. If I were the filmmaker, I would've been kicking myself even before learning the value of the car. Because let's be honest, it's just too cool of an item to sell regardless.

Michael Bay has featured some seriously sweet cars in his films. (Looking at the Camaro from 2007's Transformers.) 2003's Bad Boys II would feature an even more expensive Porsche and up the action even more from the original. Of course, the franchise is still going strong, with the release of Bad Boys For Life in 2020 and a fourth movie reportedly on the way. 

Michael Bay may have relinquished directing duties for the third film, but he was still very hands-on in making the movie. And ultimately, it managed to maintain his style. He actually made a really cool cameo in the latest film and directed a scene that features one of the patented 360-degree shots he puts in every movie. So Porshe or not, Bay will always be linked to the iconic film franchise.

The director's next film Ambulance, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, looks intense and has all the trademark flourishes the filmmaker is known for. The movie is set to release on Netflix on April 8, and I can't wait to see the high-octane action that's sure to come with it!

Bad Boys came out in 1995 and was arguably the first major step in Will Smith’s journey to becoming one of the biggest stars in the history of Hollywood. The film proved he could carry a big action project, subsequently allowing him to gain roles in other high-profile '90s hits like Independence Day and Men in Black. Michael Bay, who directed the classic cop movie, famously made Smith run with an open shirt in a scene, something Smith disagreed with. But Bay clearly knew that he was helping make Smith a true movie star, and the sex appeal would do just that. Now, Smith has apologized to the filmmaker over the disagreement and did so in a fun way.

The Bad Boys actor recently released a new memoir about his career, and Michael Bay revealed on Instagram that he received one as a Christmas gift from his longtime collaborator. It’s a thoughtful present, but the message inside is what makes it really cool. While by the pool at his beautiful house, Bay shared the words and reminded the world that he was right about opening up the shirt. Here’s the post:

The old adage that “sex sells” is pretty accurate, and it was especially true for Will Smith as he quickly catapulted to cinematic stardom. So it was only fitting that he'd find a way to say thank you to his director. Of course, as with anything, Smith does stuff in style, and the note and book are humorously on brand for him. Though Michael Bay was a first-time director at that point, he had some keen foresight, and it's nice to see that Smith can now appreciate the creative decision. 

The Bad Boys franchise continues to endure in a big way even today. Though fans had to wait a long time for a follow-up to the 2003 sequel, Will Smith and co-star Martin Lawrence finally returned with a bang with Bad Boys for Life. And ultimately, in early 2020, it became one of the biggest movies in the world before the pandemic hit. With the success of the third film, a fourth installment is in development, but let’s hope we don’t have to wait 17 years for it. 

The I, Robot star's career has truly been one of the most fascinating in Hollywood, and now he’s a sort of elder statesman without being very old. That status has led to some new perspectives about his life and career. He truly set out to become a star, taking advice from the greats like Arnold Schwarzenegger and carefully taking roles in order to increase his stardom. It’s crazy and kind of funny to think that part of it can be attributed to a shirtless scene from one of his earliest movies.

Will Smith may not be doing a ton of those scenes now, but he still has a ton of upcoming projects in the works. His old director also has a new film, Ambulance, slated to hit Netflix this year, and it seems to be filled with the speed and heat that you would expect from the action director. Hopefully, we'll see the pair link up again soon and, who knows, if it happens, maybe Smith will open his shirt again for a new sequence.

The first two Bad Boys movies are available to stream on Peacock, while the third is on Hulu.

Don’t worry, the world isn’t coming to an end - at least, not yet. We may be having a pretty big space problem straight out of a movie in the future, though, as NASA just launched a spacecraft into space to disrupt an asteroid. If that sounds oddly familiar, it’s because Michael Bay basically predicted the same situation in his 1998 film Armageddon, starring ultimate badass Bruce Willis. Apparently, the sci-fi film was “not far off” from real life, as Armageddon basically becomes a true story, minus all the drilling. 

NASA launched its DART rocket yesterday with the intention of crashing into an asteroid, with the purpose of the crash not being to destroy the asteroid, but to knock it slightly off course. This is only a test to see if this type of plan would work if Earth were ever threatened by an asteroid heading in its direction. The asteroid targeted by DART is millions of miles away and poses no threat to Earth. Phew.

With such a plan being set into motion, though, it’s tough not to think of Michael Bay and Armageddon, a film in which an asteroid is very much on course to be the end of our world. Bay seems to have had a little fun with the idea that he “told us so”, because he posted about the uncanny correlation on his Instagram, and you can check out his post below:

It’s a little unnerving that a movie director known for dramatic and over the top action films (I mean, it’s not called Bayhem for nothing), of all people, would be the one who knew what one of the biggest threats to Earth may be. NASA is, in fact, concerned about the possibility that Earth could be threatened by space rocks.

If the fact that our scientists are taking on a similar concern and plan that Michael Bay foretold in Armageddon, there is a particular bright side to this new development: at least they are thinking ahead and planning. In Bay’s film, there is no preparation taken before the asteroid is seen and determined to basically wipe the planet off the map. 

In an interview with The Wrap, Michael Bay seems to agree that it’s a positive thing that scientists are making plans for such an end of the world event. In fact, it seems as though he may have even made Armageddon with the real fear that asteroids would be our undoing, calling them “lethal”. Here’s what he says, exactly:

We won’t really know what happens with the DART rocket for almost a year, as it will take 10 months for the spacecraft to reach the asteroid and collide. Hopefully, there are no unforeseen consequences of sending the DART rocket millions of miles into space and hitting a big rock, but that’s a whole different movie anyway. 

What would happen if you crossbred Jan de Bont’s Speed with Michael Mann’s Heat? Apparently, no one but Michael Bay thought to ask that question, as he’s blended both of those ‘90s classics into the wild result that is his latest film, Ambulance. Dropping Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya-Abdul Mateen II into a heist gone horribly wrong, the action goes mobile, with a very sensitive ticking clock scenario in the mix.

Adopted brothers Will (Yahya-Abdul Mateen II) and Danny Sharp (Jake Gyllenhaal) are the heart of Ambulance’s crazy, kinetic drama, courtesy of Universal Pictures’ first full look. With Will in desperate need of money to pay for his wife’s life saving operation, he turns to his brother for some help. Though instead of a simple loan, Danny offers Will the opportunity of a lifetime: $32 million, in the largest robbery LA history has ever known. The course of Bayhem never runs straight and true though, as what was supposed to be a simple task turns out to be a reckless race against time, thanks to the theft of the titular Ambulance. 

The reckless part of the equation isn’t just because Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jake Gyllenhaal have stolen an ambulance; but rather it’s who’s in the vehicle that complicates things. As it turns out, Ambulance sees Will and Danny Sharp commandeering a wounded police officer’s ride to the hospital. With an EMT (Godzilla vs. Kong’s Eiza González) along for the ride as well, a life is in the balance, and Will looks like he’s about to have a crisis of conscience.

Dramatic weight aside, Ambulance looks like it does what any good Michael Bay directed film should do. The man who helped land franchises like Transformers and Bad Boys has his fingerprints all over this movie, right down to that special tint of orange sunlight that hits Yayha Abdul-Mateen II’s face in an early scene. Oh, and in case you missed it for some reason, there’s that extremely dangerous looking scene where the ambulance explosively plows into some cop cars.

What more could you want from a trailer for a movie like Michael Bay’s Ambulance? Looking like a cinematic child possessing the momentum of Speed combined with the intense action and pathos of Heat, it’s got that charm that looks to disarm all that stand in its path. And if that doesn’t work, then the tons of speeding metal death barreling down the highway and Army of the Dead’s Garret Dillahunt, waiting to finish the job. Talk about a potential summer blockbuster.

Only, you won’t have to wait that long for Ambulance to crash into theaters, as it’s set to debut on February 18th, 2022. You’ve still got some time to prepare, and two options standing right in front of you. For a quicker boost of adrenaline, check out the rest of what 2021’s movie selection has to offer, as there’s plenty of action left to discover. Or, if you’re willing to wait, you could zoom over to the 2022 release schedule, and see what’s going on in the year to come.

When it comes to Michael Bay movies, there a few things you can count on. They always include insane action, the sort of action specifically designed to impress with as much style as possible. Also, the main characters are also impossibly good looking people most of the time, and the camera is there to make them look as good looking as possible. A lot of time men show up with no shirts on just so you know how good looking they are, but now Michael Bay has turned the camera on himself, and he's getting some great comments from friends and fans, including Tyrese Gibson, who calls the result "bayham."

For the uninitiated, "bayhem" is the sort of mayhem that is frequently created in movies directed by Michael Bay. His action is so specific to himself that is has gained it's own name. However, in a comment on Michael Bay's Instagram, where the director shows up shirtless to start his own summer vacation after wrapping his latest movie, Tyrese Gibson has coined a new term. Gibson called this image "bayham" which is apparently what you call it when Michael Bay is looking like a hunk of meat.

It's no "Will Smith running toward the camera in Bad Boys," but yeah, this looks like "bayham." I mean, I guess if you have 400,000 Instagram followers and you look decent with your shirt off, you might as well use that for what it's worth.

Summer may be wrapping up for most of us, but Michael Bay is just getting started on his summer vacation, as he's been spending the last few months on his movie Ambulance. The films stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a couple of robbers who steal an ambulance when their heist goes bad. The movie was shooting earlier this year and attendees at the most recent CinemaCon got a look at it, but it sounds like the movie is wrapped up and ready to go, though it isn't set for release until next year.

Normally we wouldn't see a movie like this completed quite so far out from its release, the movie doesn't even have a set release date yet, but normal isn't exactly a word that means much any more when it comes to film production. While movies are still being made, they're taking longer, and they're still only being released at a snail's pace compared to what we're used to seeing. The result is that we're seeing movies completed long before they end up getting released.

It's possible this could mean a longer than usual vacation for Michael Bay. While he's got his name attached to a number of movies as a producer, the only directing gig he has on the horizon is Robocalypse, a film that has been in development hell for years, and thus there's no guarantee it's actually going to happen.

The last time that filmmaker Michael Bay tried to capture his signature “Bayhem” on screen, it was for Netflix and the high-octane Ryan Reynolds vehicle 6 Underground. Next February, however, Bay is coming back the big screen (where he belongs, if we’re being honest) for an explosive new thriller set in Los Angeles over the course of one incredibly tense day. The film is called Ambulance, and we just got our very first look at the movie during the Universal Studios panel at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Here’s what was shown!

Ambulance will star two actors who’ve been at this for a while, but have yet to dive into the world of Bay. Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II hold down the two leads on Ambulance, playing brothers from different mothers who seem to be estranged, but are pulled back together for a difficult situation. Mateen’s character’s wife is in dire need of a surgery, which he can’t afford, even though he served his country loyally as a member of our military. So he approaches his “sibling” (Gyllanhaal) with a request for a favor. He needs several thousand dollars. Gyllenhaal offers more, with a caveat.

Jake needs Yahya to help him pull off a bank robbery in downtown Los Angeles. It should be clean. As Gyllenhaal suggests, “When have I ever done anything that puts you in harm’s way?” If they succeed, they will walk away with $32 million… far more than Abdul Mateen II needs, and plenty of cash to fund Gyllenhaal’s opulent lifestyle. Except, guess what? Things go horribly wrong. A young police officer shows up in the middle of the job, hoping to complete a routine bank transaction. The brothers take him hostage. But when the cop ends up getting shot, the brothers know the only way they survive this day is if they keep the officer alive. Which prompts them to flee the scene in a stolen ambulance.

Ambulance, based on this lengthy look (it was far longer than a standard trailer) boasts the extreme energy and manic pace of Michael Bay’s traditional action pictures, with the claustrophobic hook of the actors being limited to the confines of the ambulance -- once they get into it. The footage looks like Bay is trying to mash Speed, Con Air, his own picture The Rock, and Michael Mann’s Heat into one film. And it works? For now, at least.

Jake Gyllenhaal seems to be bringing the over-the-top sinister tones of Nightcrawler or Southpaw to this character, while Baby Driver’s Eisa Gonzalez is a wild-card addition as the medical tech in the ambulance who is forced to keep the wounded cop alive. Ambulance could take audiences by surprise when it blasts into theaters on February 18. Seeing as how this is the very first time I am even hearing about the film, it certainly took me by surprise at CinemaCon.

Ryan Reynolds may grab headlines nowadays for his work with companies like Aviation Gin and his faux feud with Hugh Jackman, but he’s an actor first and foremost. Even there, the last several years have been quite good for him, from finally playing getting to play Deadpool and voicing Pikachu. However, for those of you who enjoyed watching Reynolds in the Netflix action movie 6 Underground, bad news: that outing was a one-and-done affair.

While Netflix is developing sequels to recently-released action movies like Extraction, The Old Guard and Army of the Dead, 6 Underground will not get a follow-up adventure. Here’s what the streaming service’s movie chief, Scott Stuber, had to say about the Ryan Reynolds-starring and Michael Bay-helmed movie to Variety:

Released on Netflix and in limited theaters on December 13, 2019, 6 Underground starred Ryan Reynolds playing an American billionaire and philanthropist simply identified as One who puts together a team of vigilantes to eliminate the world’s “untouchable” criminals and terrorists. 6 Underground’s cast also included Mélanie Laurent, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ben Hardy, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco and Corey Hawkins. Michael Bay directed off a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the same duo who wrote the first two Deadpool movies (the latter of which was penned with Reynolds).

When 6 Underground was announced in March 2018, the plan was for the Netflix movie to launch a franchise. However, upon hitting the streaming service and despite being viewed a lot of people, it was met with a lot of negative reception from critics, ranking at 36% on Rotten Tomatoes. General moviegoers were kinder to 6 Underground judging by its 60% Audience Score, but a little over a year and a half later, Scott Stuber and the other Netflix executives feel that it just wasn’t a big enough hit to warrant greenlighting a sequel. As such, this won’t join the ranks of Netflix’s burgeoning action franchises.

Though Ryan Reynolds’ time in the 6 Underground world is over, he isn’t done with Netflix by any means. This November, we’ll see him acting opposite Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot in Red Notice, which will follow an Interpol agent (Johnson) on a mission to apprehend the world’s greatest con artist (Reynolds) and the world’s greatest art thief (Gadot). Reynolds also shot The Adam Project for Netflix, which is about a man who travels back in time to get help from his younger self with confronting their deceased father.

Before either of these movies arrive, you can see Ryan Reynolds starring in Free Guy, which premieres in theaters on August 13. And while it’s been three years since we last saw him play Wade Wilson, Reynolds is also on track to reprise the Merc with the Mouth for Deadpool 3, which is being written by Bob’s Burgers duo Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, and will be set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The holiday of Memorial Day is intended to reflect on the sacrifices that our military veterans gave in the name of freedom and democracy. Commemorating the loss of our warfighters in times of battle, films like Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor also help remind the world of days that lived in infamy, and the men and women who fought to avenge such actions. Which makes it all the more fitting that Bay would share a fantastic throwback to his time on that film, and the day that saw some very special veterans sitting on that very set.

As a fitting Memorial Day tribute, Michael Bay shared a photo on Instagram that dates back to the production of the 2001 historical drama. With Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer kneeling front and center, this Pearl Harbor photo boasts survivors of the December 7th, 1941 attack flanking them, with one of the massive sets from the film staged behind all involved. The photo is quite amazing to behold, and can be seen below:

The main focus of this Pearl Harbor throwback is, rightfully, the participation of the veterans who survived that fateful day and their presence on the set. While the movie itself has drawn some negative attention for various reasons, there is one thing that cannot be questioned. That is the fact that Michael Bay is a huge supporter of the US military, and through films such as Pearl Harbor, as well as his military biopic 13 Hours, and even his Transformers franchise, Bay has always paid tribute to the warfighter. The results can always be questioned, but his heart is definitely in the right place.

Coincidentally, Pearl Harbor has just celebrated its 20th anniversary, as the movie was released into theaters on Memorial Day weekend back in 2001. While Michael Bay doesn’t draw attention to that fact in his post, it is something worth mentioning as it’s kind of surprising to think of this film, starring the likes of Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, and Kate Beckinsale finally reaching that milestone. No matter how you rank the film in your assessment of Bay’s filmography, or even the ranks of historical melodramas, that is a fact that’s kind of stunning to behold.

It’s especially interesting to look back at Pearl Harbor after the release of Roland Emmerich’s Midway, which feels like a modern day counterpart to Michael Bay’s previous work. Were Bay’s historical fiction narrative a sweeping hit back in 2001, we might have gotten Midway, and a slew of imitators, a lot sooner. Alas, with the film’s not so rosy reception, Hollywood continued to focus on the more popular Western Front of World War II, which has predominantly been the focus of films depicting that conflict.

The heroism of “The Greatest Generation” will always be a source of narrative entertainment, both fictitious and fact based. So long as the actual legacy of the men and women who helped fight for victory in World War II is preserved and respected, such projects will be a welcomed sight. But you have to admit, Michael Bay’s inclusion of many survivors from Pearl Harbor’s horrific true events is quite a flex, especially in a career that’s built on flexes that are uniquely his.

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Becoming a movie star brings unique challenges, as it tests even the most skilled performers. Will Smith learned that lesson for himself while making Bad Boys with Michael Bay back in the ‘90s. And as history has shown us, Smith more than conquered the hurdles to stardom, and still remains a box office draw to this day. Which makes him more than qualified to prepare LeBron James for movie stardom, prompting Bay himself to throw in his own two cents on the subject.

While LeBron James may only have a handful of acting credits so far, but the NBA superstar’s film career might get its largest boost with this summer’s Space Jam: A New Legacy. During a past episode of his show The Shop, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence were guests, and they told some fun Bad Boys set stories throughout the show, including when Michael Bay insisted Will Smith was shirtless. Bay himself re-shared a clip from one particular story on his Instagram, while making LeBron James a pretty big promise:

Similar to a story he once told during a late night guest spot, the story that Will Smith had to share involved that time Michael Bay wanted him to go shirtless in Bad Boys. Smith, obviously not feeling it, pushed back against that notion, to which Bay retorted that his abs would make him a movie star. With a compromise dictating Will Smith walk in with an opened shirt, Michael Bay celebrated victory, and now he’d like to repeat that feat with LeBron James.

Well, there you have it folks. Michael Bay is ready to take LeBron James to the next level, and he’s acknowledged that Will Smith’s pointers to compromise with his direction is sage advice. Strangely enough, the story of Smith’s shyness to do a shirtless scene in Bad Boys feels like the origin story for moments in films like I Am Legend where that coyness was totally absent. Looks like Bay’s advice pays off over time, as well as in the moment, as you’ll see in this classic moment of pure Bayhem:

LeBron James made his most lasting impression with his role in the Judd Apatow/Amy Schumer comedy Trainwreck, where his slightly fictionalized version of himself proved that he was a comedic secret weapon. With Space Jam: A New Legacy looking to prove that James can translate that success into blockbuster tentpole magic, a Michael Bay movie would pretty much be the next step in conquering an acting career. And when a legendary action director wants to make you a star, you can pretty much count on him trying his best; especially when that director is known to push the envelope in order to get the shot.

How Michael Bay will make LeBron James a movie star remains to be seen. But you’ll be able to see James himself take his next big step in Space Jam: A New Legacy, which debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on July 16th. If you’re not a subscriber yet, check out the six month prepaid subscription offer that’s currently available, ready to put you in the middle of the action.