Usually, when people rank the Transformers movies, they only focus on the live-action ones, and look, I get it. People sometimes forget about animated motion pictures because their minds immediately jump to the small screen when they think of animation rather than the big screen.

Fine and good, fine and good. However, just like I consider the animated Spider-Man movies to be one of the best Spider-Man movies, I also think the two best Transformers movies of all time are 2024’s Transformers One (which made me a believer again), and 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie.

Well, the latter is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and I just want to write about why the first Transformers movie is still the best Transformers movie.

It Took Genuine Risks Killing Off Its Main Protagonist

While we didn’t place it on our list of movies that will make you cry, just ask any ‘80s baby - The Transformers: The Movie made many a young kid bawl. And, that’s because the movie KILLED OFF OPTIMUS PRIME! Now, while a more cynical, older kid might tell you that Hasbro only did that to sell more toys, most other kids will tell you that they don’t care. When Optimus died, it was like a part of our childhoods died with us.

But, Optimus’ death is key because the rest of the movie involves who will take his place. The plot centers around The Matrix of Leadership, and which Autobot will step up to be the next Prime. We get Ultra Magnus, and ultimately Hot Rod, who fights valiantly and becomes Rodimus Prime. This is important because frequent villain, Megatron, gets transformed into a more powerful Decepticon named Galvatron.

Honestly, it’s all quite ridiculous stuff, but in the best sort of way. And, none of it likely would have worked if they didn’t kill off the main character. That took chutzpah.

Its Beautiful Artwork Hasn’t Been Replicated In Any Other Transformers Film

I’m sorry, but I find the Michael Bay Transformers movies to be ugly. I don’t know. I just don’t like seeing the Transformers in live-action, just like I don’t like seeing my beloved Ninja Turtles in live-action. I just think they look better in animated form (both the Transformers, and the Ninja Turtles).

So, it’s kind of crazy to me that I think the first Transformers movie from the ‘80s is still the best looking Transformers movie. Yes, a lot of it looks like the original cartoon, and that’s fine, but there are also some flourishes that were made just for the big screen that you would never see on any Saturday morning cartoon.

This is especially true with the scenes involving Unicron upgrading Megatron. In this space scene, Megatron gets transformed into Galvatron, and it’s a beautiful sight for sore eyes. There’s all these bright colors, and wire framed details that are still astounding, even to this day. It just goes to show - sometimes the old stuff is the best stuff.

And That Soundtrack Really Gets The Blood Pumping

I’m going to say something that you might not agree with, but I still think is 100% true. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for The Transformers: The Movie is one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time. I mean, it honestly just gets the blood pumping in a way that few other soundtracks manage.

For instance, let’s just talk about Stan Bush’s “The Touch”. Is there any other song that could accompany Transformers, er, transforming and blasting seconds later like "The Touch"? I honestly don’t think so. Or what about Vince DiCola’s haunting “Unicron Medley,” which really sets the stage for Orson Welles’ chilling performance (because yes, this was one of Welles’ last performances as the voice of Unicron).

It’s just, with such great music, such awesome visuals, and such an amazing story, The Transformers: The Movie is the clearest representation of the Transformers brand that we’ve ever gotten on a big screen, and nobody is going to convince me otherwise.

It’s no secret we’re in the era of popcorn buckets, given all the drops movie theaters and studios are constantly announcing to coincide with upcoming movie releases. But, hold on… I think Universal Studios might have just given other popcorn buckets a run for their money with its new light-up Transformers popcorn bucket.

CityWalk at Universal Studios in Hollywood is a great place to shop for merchandise without actually buying a ticket to go inside the parks. And, you have to check out this Transformers popcorn bucket in one of the shopping center’s stores:

Look how adorable this Optimus Prime is! It’s basically a toy you can walk around the theme parks with around your neck or take to the movies with you, and this little buddy has my heart. And based on the background, I’m guessing this is from the main studio store. Not only do his eyes light up, but there’s a fun little compartment in the back of his head to store the popcorn. According to the video from @beckypluseli on Instagram, the bucket costs $35. My main curiosity has to do with how heavy it is.

This Optimus Prime popcorn bucket is just one of many popcorn buckets that have come out lately. The Super Mario Galaxy movie had a pretty good Yoshi popcorn bucket, and this week, a Top Gun bucket that looks like a Maverick helmet was announced to go with the movie's return to theaters for one week in May. The Devil Wears Prada 2 also announced a red popcorn purse that will allow fans to accessorize with their containers. Oh, and did you see the outhouse Shrek one for the movie’s 25th anniversary re-release?

There are honestly way too many popcorn buckets to keep track of these days, but the design of the Transformers one just hits better for me than a lot of these others. If you’re wondering when you can take a Transformers popcorn bucket into a theater to enjoy a movie from the franchise, there is currently a Transformers film being developed by Paramount, and it could involve Michael Bay. It was also announced this past fall that an animated series that will feature both Transformers and G.I. Joe is in the works from Invincible co-creator Robert Kirkman.

The most recent Transformers movie was the 2024 animated flick starring the voice talents of Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm. It was a commercial disappointment, considering it made just $129 million in a world where past movies have made over $1.1 billion.

However, overall, hype for this franchise remains! Now, we need to get back to this amazing light-up popcorn bucket. This new piece of merch goes to show you can show your love for Transformers without having to wait for the next movie.

There’s something uniquely frustrating about sitting through a movie that doesn’t quite work and realizing it was so close to being great. Sometimes it’s not the story itself that’s the issue, but how it’s told. That’s exactly what fans have been calling out over on social media, highlighting movies that might have been better, or even great, if they’d followed a different character. And yeah, I’ve got one that could have been one of the best horror movies of the modern era, but instead landed as a lukewarm sci-fi romance.

Over on Reddit, fans have been pointing to some of the most obvious examples of bad movies with great plots or of good scenes in otherwise bad movies. People are still hung up on how Godzilla (2014) sidelined Bryan Cranston’s character after setting him up as the emotional core. Others argue Transformers would’ve been way more interesting if it followed Megan Fox’s character instead of Shia LaBeouf’s, which, honestly, I completely agree with. And then there’s Passengers, where a lot of viewers think the entire story should have been flipped. For me, that’s the one that got away. It had all the pieces to be a modern classic, and I’m still a little bitter about what it could have been.

Passengers Chose The Wrong Perspective

On paper, Passengers is a fascinating premise. Two people wake up decades too early on a spaceship, alone together, trying to figure out how to survive. But the version that made it to theaters is told almost entirely from Chris Pratt’s character’s point of view. We meet him first and spend nearly 30 minutes sympathizing with him. We understand his loneliness and watch him make the decision that sets the entire story in motion.

And that’s kind of the problem. Because if you take a step back, what he does is pretty disturbing. He wakes up another person, played by Jennifer Lawrence, knowing she will never get back to her life. The movie knows this is a big deal, and even treats it as a twist, but there is no tension because we already know he made this decision, and we’ve become sympathetic to his choices based on how the film is structured.

I'm certainly not the first to suggest that the movie should have opened with Jennifer Lawrence's character, Aurora Lane. Even her name, Aurora, feels significant, hinting at her role in the story. It evokes Disney’s book-to-screen adaptation of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, a character defined by her awakening, making her a natural focal point of the narrative. In contrast, Chris Pratt's character, Jim, is simply "Jim." I mean, Jim is far from lead character energy when you have Aurora right there.

How The POV Change Could Have Worked

Imagine if Aurora wakes up alone, confused, and trying to figure out what went wrong. Eventually, she meets Chris Pratt’s character, who appears to be in the exact same situation, another passenger who woke up 90 years too early. There’s comfort in that shared experience. Soon, they start to develop chemistry and even fall for each other.

But then something starts to feel off. And when the truth finally comes out, that she wasn’t woken up by accident, but because of him, it’s a gut punch. Not just for her, but for the audience too. That version of Passengers isn’t a romance with a messy ethical wrinkle, but a psychological horror story, something closer to Black Mirror or The Twilight Zone. And it could have been something really special.

What makes it even more frustrating is that all the pieces for that movie are already there. Very little would need to change structurally, aside from perspective and, honestly, the ending. Because let’s be honest, the film lets Pratt’s character off far too easily, pushing toward a tidy, feel-good resolution that doesn’t really feel earned.

Imagine a darker alternative in which Jim doesn’t get that ending; instead, he dies, and Aurora is left alone, facing the same impossible choice he once made. Does she live out her life in isolation, or does she do the unthinkable to someone else?

That’s the kind of ending that sticks with you. As it is, Passengers is still an interesting watch, and you can watch it with a Hulu subscription. But it always feels like it’s just one perspective shift away from being something far more memorable.

Be sure to check our 2026 movie calendar to see what movies, including new horror movies, are headed to a theater near you.

For years, there’s been talk about Transformers and G.I. Joe, two of Hasbro’s biggest toy franchises, crossing over in a theatrical setting. In 2023, the groundwork was finally laid for that with the G.I. Joe tease tacked onto Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ ending, but it remains to be seen whether this crossover movie will actually happen. However, there’s a different kind of onscreen Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover that’s being put together, and I’m jazzed about Invincible’s Robert Kirkman being involved with it.

Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment are teaming up to make an adult animated series called Energon Universe, which is based on the same-named comic book franchise published by Skybound. Lucifer’s Joe Henderson has been tapped to write the series and serve as showrunner, and Deadline states that Energon Universe will be “broad, with adult sensibility in the vein of Kirkman’s gritty adult animated series Invincible.” The Transformers and G.I. Joe characters will be joined by Void Rivals, an original IP created by Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici in 2023 that’s part of the same comic book line.

Transformers and G.I. Joe are usually depicted as family-friendly properties, and if/when that crossover movie gets off the ground, it’s a safe bet it’ll be PG-13. That said, I’m all for Transformers and G.I. Joe coming together with Void Rivals within more R-rated confines. Robert Kirkman and the rest of the talent behind Invincible have done stellar work, with the Amazon Prime Video subscription-exclusive series’ fourth season premiering in March 2026 and a fifth season already ordered. I absolutely welcome these properties being adapted in a similar manner. 

Per this report, Energon Universe “is expected to be taken out to buyers shortly.” So we’ll have to wait and see if it’s set up on Prime Video alongside Invincible or ends up at a different streamer. I also welcome seeing Joe Henderson tackle a comic book adaptation that’s more faithful to its roots, as the Lucifer TV series deviated significantly from its source material. The comics Energon Universe also includes M.A.S.K. within its mythology, but it’s unclear if that task force will be included in the animated series.

Energon Universe is just one of many projects that Hasbro has coming up on the film and TV side of things. Others include a Monopoly movie at Lionsgate, a live-action Magic: The Gathering film and TV universe with Legendary (plus an animated series at Netflix), and a Power Rangers TV reboot at Disney+. The Energon Universe comic book line has been a tremendous success since launching two years ago, selling over 7 million combined units worldwide.

We’ll keep you apprised on Energon Universe’s development as more updates come in. As for the Transformers/G.I. Joe movie, it was reported in June 2024 that Derek Connelly was writing the script, so it’d be nice to learn where things stand with that project more than a year later.

Nobody likes it when you’re on a theme park ride and something breaks down. Not only does it tend to ruin the fun, but it also breaks whatever immersion you’re experiencing by forcing you to come to terms with the fact that you are, in fact, only on a ride. However, I have to admit that, honestly, Transformers: The Ride might actually be a more thrilling experience when it breaks than when it’s working.

This revelation is brought to you by a post on X/Twitter, which included a video from Universal Studios Hollywood revealing what it looks like when you experience Transformers: The Ride breaking down. Not only did the attraction stop, but the lights came on, revealing something I had never actually seen before: the incredible drop that you’ll never notice during normal operation.

Transformers: The Ride has guests riding along with the Autobot Evac as you attempt to obtain the AllSpark, the MacGuffin from the first live-action Transformers movie. As such, the experience is mostly about creating the feeling of forward momentum as the car “drives” from one major set piece to another, through the use of a motion simulator, large video screens and various other effects.

Between the fact that much of the motion in the attraction is simulated, you don’t necessarily notice the points when you’re actually moving, so you might not even be aware that the Transformers ride has points at which it raises and lowers the ride vehicle. Even if you know the drop is there, as I did, I had never really thought about how big the drop actually was.

If you’ve ever been on Space Mountain or other attractions where you can’t see much, it’s not uncommon to be a little underwhelmed if you ever see the ride with the lights on. It’s not that the attractions are unimpressive, but they can never quite match up to your imagination. Transformers might be a rare case where seeing how the ride works honestly makes it all more exciting.

Transformers: The Ride is not my favorite ride at Universal Studios Florida or Hollywood. A big part of that is it never really felt like it had that much going on under the hood, with so much of the focus being on the transition from one screen to the next. It's nice to be reminded that sometimes the reason an attraction may come across as less than complex is actually because it's been deftly done.

Universal Studios Hollywood is expected to go through a lot of changes over the next few years, with a Fast & Furious roller coaster opening next year and rumors of the park's first resort hotel reportedly on the horizon. With so many new things planned and the future of the Transformers franchise in question, one wonders if Transformers: The Ride might be one of the next to be replaced.

It’s been a while since I’ve even ridden it, but now I’m actually curious to try it again, as knowing a bit more about what’s going on around me has me looking at the ride with new eyes.

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.

A common criticism thrown around when judging an actor’s performance is that they seem too “robotic,” while some roles, particularly in sci-fi movies and TV shows, actually require that sort of demeanor. Then again, the best robot portrayals usually come from performers who attempt to bring a sense of humanity to their mechanical characters. See for yourself by revisiting some of the most acclaimed, iconic, and even underrated robotic performances – including friendly robots and sinister machines alike – on the big and small screen.

Anthony Daniels - C-3PO (Star Wars)

I can understand why some fans of the Star Wars movies do not care much for C-3PO as a character, as I, too, feel annoyed by his constant complaints, especially in the 1977 original. However, his shortcomings are outweighed by the droid's heroic moments, and, not to mention, Anthony Daniels' commitment to the role (he even wears that visibly uncomfortable suit) is a highlight of the franchise.

Alicia Vikander - Ava (Ex Machina)

I consider Alex Garland's 2014 directorial debut, the classic A24 movie, Ex Machina, to be one of the most powerful cautionary statements on artificial intelligence, and the reason lies in Alicia Vikander's performance as Ava. The stunningly humanesque android convinces both programmer Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) and the audience that she is worth trusting before pulling the rug from underneath us in the shocking finale.

Rutger Hauer - Roy Batty (Blade Runner)

Fans of director Ridley Scott's Philip K. Dick adaptation, Blade Runner, would agree that the real hero of the 1982 film is not Harrison Ford's Rick Deckard, but Roy Batty. Rutger Hauer brings a refreshing aura of humanity to his performance as the Replicant, who wants nothing more for himself and other artificial beings like him but a chance to live a full and free life, which his programming and the laws of his dystopian society do not allow.

Brigitte Helm - Maschinenmensch (Metropolis)

One of the most essential silent era movies is director Fritz Lang's 1927 adaptation of Thea von Harbou's 1925 novel, Metropolis, which takes place in a seemingly utopian society that secretly relies on a secret underground of tireless workers to function. Brigitte Helm stars in the dual roles of a saintly figure named Maria and a mechanical being made in her likeness called Maschinenmensch – an iconic robot character that even those who have not seen the film should surely recognize.

Ian Holm - Ash (Alien)

In some movies, the goal of a robotic character is to blend in among its human peers, which Ash (Ian Holm) accomplishes for most of Alien. When his true identity is revealed, Holm brings out a chilling demeanor in his android character that almost makes you forget that there is a deadlier threat onboard the Nostromo, and one of the all-time scariest movie aliens, called a Xenomorph.

Vin Diesel - The Iron Giant (The Iron Giant)

Funny how most of Vin Diesel's more acclaimed performances have been voice acting roles, such as when he voiced the title role of 1999's The Iron Giant. The actor brings such a charming, childlike innocence to an otherwise physically intimidating character, who befriends young sci-fi fan Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) in Brad Bird's directorial debut, which could have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar had the category existed then.

Peter Weller - Alex Murphy (RoboCop)

There are some iconic movie robot characters who started off as humans before being rebuilt into something more, such as Alex Murphy in 1987's RoboCop. Peter Weller gives, arguably, his definitive and most heartfelt performance in director Paul Verhoeven's action-packed, cleverly satirical sci-fi classic as the brutally murdered police officer who is selected by a powerful corporation to become the ultimate crime-fighting machine.

Brent Spiner - Data (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Arguably, the heart and soul of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast and an essential reason why the Emmy-winning series is one of the most beloved iterations of the long-running franchise is Brent Spiner's performance as Data. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) sums up what makes the Soong-type android one-of-a-kind when he eulogizes him in Star Trek: Nemesis, referencing how he reflected the best of humanity by striving to be better than he was.

Peter Cullen - Optimus Prime (Transformers)

Some might say that Chris Hemsworth did an exceptional job voicing a young Optimus Prime in Transformers One, but the role will always belong to the actor who first brought the shapeshifting alien robot to life. Peter Cullen's portrayal of the Autobots' leader became so essential to the original beloved animated series that he readily accepted the chance to reprise the role in Michael Bay's 2007 live-action reboot.

Arnold Schwarzenegger - T-800 (The Terminator)

Playing an unstoppable, unfeeling killing machine from the future in 1984's The Terminator made Arnold Schwarzenegger a bona fide movie star. However, his arguably stronger performance in James Cameron's action-packed franchise of time travel movies comes from 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day as a T-800 reprogrammed to protect John Connor (Edward Furlong), to whom he becomes a much-needed father figure.

Haley Joel Osment - David (A.I.: Artificial Intelligence)

Steven Spielberg took over for Stanley Kubrick to direct A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, which is essentially a futuristic take on the story of Pinocchio. Haley Joel Osment gives one of the most profound and riveting performances of his early career as an android designed to both authentically resemble and act like an 11-year-old who, in order to please his new family, longs to become a real boy.

Sophie Thatcher - Iris (Companion)

SPOILER ALERT for anyone who has not seen one of the great horror movies of 2025, Companion: it is not until near the end of the first act when Iris (Sophie Thatcher), as well as the audience, discovers she is really a robot programmed with undying affection for her purchaser, in this case Josh (Jack Quaid). However, Josh turns out to be a really terrible "boyfriend," awakening a part of Iris that longs for independence, which Thatcher's commanding performance makes it easy to root for.

Kenny Baker - R2-D2 (Star Wars)

Have you ever considered the fact that Star Wars fans owe the entire franchise to none other than R2-D2? If the droid (played beautifully by the late Kenny Baker, who actually operated the character from within) had not successfully delivered Princess Leia's message to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Resistance might not have thrived in its war against the Empire.

Lupita Nyong’o - Roz (The Wild Robot)

The Wild Robot became an instant classic kids movie for the way it also appeals to adult viewers with a heartwarming commentary on the challenges of parenthood, as seen through the eyes of an unlikely character. Lupita Nyong'o is wonderful as the voice of a mechanical assistant that must alter her programming to take on the responsibility of raising an abandoned gosling and helping her other animal friends survive.

Ben Burtt - WALL-E (WALL-E)

You could easily cite Ben Burtt's enchanting vocal performance as a lonely robot tasked with cleaning up an abandoned Earth as to why WALL-E is one of the best Pixar movies, but that is the tip of the iceberg. The Oscar-winning animated sci-fi drama also offers a frighteningly plausible premonition of what humanity could become, not only if we are forced to leave our planet, but also if indolence is encouraged in favor of a fully automated lifestyle.

Paul Bettany - Vision (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

After years of lending his voice to Tony Stark's A.I. assistant Jarvis for years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Paul Bettany was given the chance to play an artificial being with a bit more personality named Vision, who debuted in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron. The English actor's performance as the unique superhero only became stronger with each subsequent appearance, especially at the moment of his death(s) in Avengers: Infinity War and his mysterious resurrection in the Disney+ series, WandaVision.

Alan Tudyk - K-2SO (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

Robots always seem to steal the show in the Star Wars franchise, especially if they have an exceptionally talented actor at the helm. Case in point, one of "Geek God" Alan Tudyk's best roles is the voice of K-2SO, an Imperial droid reprogrammed with an assignment to help the Resistance (and with an extra dose of snark) in the 2016 prequel film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Lance Henriksen - Bishop (Aliens)

One of the few trustworthy androids in the Alien movie franchise is Bishop, whom Ripley is understandably slow to warm to upon discovering he is not human in 1986's Aliens. Lance Henriksen would later appear in Alien 3 as the human who created Bishop, Michael Bishop of the Weyland-Yutani corporation.

Robert Patrick - T-1000 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

As a cyborg made of liquid metal, which makes it able to shapeshift, able to pass through small openings, and nearly impossible to kill, the T-1000 did not need a great performance to make it cool. Yet, Robert Patrick made the main antagonist of 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day a special kind of villain with his cold, fierce demeanor.

Joan Rivers - Dot Matrix (Spaceballs)

Just about every major character in the Star Wars universe is sent up with a parodic counterpart in Mel Brooks' hilarious spoof movie, 1997's Spaceballs. For instance, the mocking equivalent to C-3PO is Princess Vespa's droid, Dot Matrix, who is voiced by the incomparable Joan Rivers.

David Jonsson - Andy (Alien: Romulus)

Most critics and audiences would agree that the standout performance of Fede Alvarez's terrifying 2024 sequel, Alien: Romulus, is David Jonsson as Andy. The English actor stole the show with what technically counts as a dual role, initially introducing Andy as unassuming, innocent, and consistently loyal to Rain (Cailee Spaeny) until he is reprogrammed with a new directive that makes him a threat.

Bill Irwin - TARS (Interstellar)

One of the most entertaining characters in Christopher Nolan's acclaimed space movie, Interstellar, is not a human, but still highly relatable, especially for its spicy humor setting. Bill Irwin not only provided the voice for TARS, but also was involved with puppeteering the uniquely designed robot that accompanies Matthew McConaughey's Cooper and others on a mission to find a habitable replacement for Earth.

Ryan Gosling - K (Blade Runner 2049)

Ryan Gosling's penchant for stoicism serves him very well as the hero of Denis Villeneuve's 2017 Blade Runner sequel, Blade Runner 2049. He plays "K," a Replicant assigned to hunt other Replicants, who begins to question his job and his true identity after making a startling, conspiratorial discovery.

Scott Adsit - Baymax (Big Hero 6)

What makes Disney's Oscar-winning, animated 2014 comic book adaptation, Big Hero 6, an instant classic superhero movie is not just its spectacular action and heartwarming coming-of-age themes. The most charming element is Scott Adsit's hilarious performance as the voice of Hiro's (Ryan Potter) cuddly robot friend, Baymax.

Yul Brynner - The Gunslinger (Westworld)

Years after starring as a heroic gunslinger in the classic Western movie, The Magnificent Seven, Yul Brynner played a role that is the opposite in every way, from his sinister aura and mechanical infrastructure, in Westworld. Director Michael Crichton's 1973 sci-fi thriller later inspired an acclaimed HBO series of the same name.

Alan Rickman/Warwick Davis - Marvin (The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy)

Some might call 2005's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy an underrated adaptation of Douglas Adams' cult favorite sci-fi farce, especially for its portrayal of Marvin. Alan Rickman provides the voice, and Warwick Davis wears the suit of the android who is perpetually depressed for having no reason to apply his immense knowledge of the universe.

Alan Tudyk - Sonny (I, Robot)

Will Smith may receive top billing for 2004's futuristic detective story, I, Robot, but Sonny is its heart and soul. Alan Tudyk captures the "unique" machine's inner turmoil beautifully as he evolves from a confused murder suspect to a hero.

Paul Reubens - MAX (Flight Of The Navigator)

One of Paul Reubens' best roles outside of his time playing Pee-wee Herman comes from Disney's 1986 cult favorite sci-fi classic, Flight of the Navigator. The comedian voices MAX, which is the computer that powers an extraterrestrial vessel that young David Freeman (Joey Cramer) must help navigate.

Michael Fassbender - David (Prometheus)

It is never clear whether or not Michael Fassbender's David is an android worth trusting... at least in 2012's Prometheus. He is clearly revealed to be a malevolent presence in 2017's Alien: Covenant, in which the actor also plays a friendlier robot named Walter.

Summer Glau - Cameron (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles)

The underrated TV series, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, reinvents and continues the adventures of the titular hero (Lena Headey) and her son, John (Thomas Dekker). It also partners the mother-son duo with Summer Glau as Cameron, who is a cyborg unlike any previously seen in the franchise, equipped with an emotional core and the ability to feel sensations.

Robin Williams - Andrew (Bicentennial Man)

Robin Williams gives a heartfelt performance in director Chris Columbus' Bicentennial Man as a service android named Andrew, who longs to become human.

Various - Tom Servo And Crow T. Robot (Mystery Science Theater 3000)

The art of audibly poking fun at a cheesy movie is perfected in the long-running sci-fi comedy series, Mystery Science Theater 3000, which follows a human forced to watched low-grade flicks with his mechanical companions. Much like the rotating selection of human hosts, the actors known for playing the two main robot characters, Tom Servo and Crow, have changed over the years (such as Kevin Murphy and Baron Vaughn as Servo and Trace Beaulieu and Hampton Young as Crow, for instance), but the portrayers' hilarious improv skills have never faltered with each succession.

Animation is the one screen medium that allows an artist to unlock the most potential out of the story they want to tell, which begs the question of why anyone would want to bother trying to reinterpret a great animated movie or TV show for live-action?

Well, we cannot deny it is amusing to see classic animated TV shows and films recreated in a more realistic light, and many have pulled off the task to surprising esteem. The following are some of the most acclaimed and noteworthy examples and, as you might have guessed, there are a few live-action Disney animated movie remakes included.

The Jungle Book (2016)

OK, we realize that we are technically cheating by including director Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book because one of the few elements not created with CGI is Mowgli actor Neel Sethi. However, the film recreates Disney's 1967 adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's seminal stories with Academy Award-winning visual effects so astonishingly vivid that you would not be able to tell the difference.

Transformers (2007)

Released in tandem with Hasbro's popular toy line was the hit animated series Transformers, which was first spun off to the big screen in a 1986 feature starring Orson Welles. More than three decades later, director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg would help increase the shapeshifting robots' notoriety with a live-action blockbuster that spawned a long-running franchise.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird first introduced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1984 with their Mirage Studios comic book series that was later adapted into a toy line and tie-in animated series just three years later. Only three years after that, fans got to see what Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo would look like in the real world in a film that depicts the pizza-chomping urban warriors more accurately than the 2014 reboot.

Paddington 2 (2017)

Author Michael Bond's beloved adventures of a marmalade-slurping, Peruvian bear named after a London train station inspired a popular English animated series in the 1970s. While the character was first adapted for live-action cinema in 2014 with Paul King's well-received film, it is the first sequel, Paddington 2, that especially welcomed the bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) into the hearts of movie lovers of all ages.

The Little Mermaid (2023)

The most famous adaptation of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, The Little Mermaid, is Disney's acclaimed 1989 classic that many audiences thought should be left untouched. However, Halle Bailey's impassioned performance as Ariel and her unbelievable singing talent make director Rob Marshall's live-action take a must-see.

Attack On Titan (2015)

Hajime Isayama's manga depicting a war between humans and giant, man-eating humanoids was made into one of the most popular and acclaimed Japanese anime TV shows of its time, Attack on Titan. Toho would release a two-part feature adaptation that was criticized by fans for the way it deviated from the source material but impressed general film critics with its exciting B-movie-style action and bizarre creature designs.

101 Dalmatians (1996)

Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians was first adapted into an instant animated classic in 1961, featuring Betty Lou Gerson as the voice of Cruella de Vil – a villain who seemed too uproarious for a live-action setting. That was until Glenn Close stepped into the role, giving a pitch-perfect performance as the ruthless fashionista in director Steven Herek's fun reboot.

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)

When Pokémon: Detective Pikachu was first announced, fans of the trading card game/video game/animated TV show questioned why the franchise's first live-action installment, of all the potential choices, would be based on a game that makes the lightning-spewing creature a talking mystery solver. However, with Ryan Reynolds voicing the adorable title hero, an impressive Justice Smith as his human companion, and a witty script, Rob Letterman's film was heralded as one of the best video game movies ever made.

George Of The Jungle (1997)

A movie you might not have known was based on a TV show is George of the Jungle, which was originally an animated series that ran for only 17 episodes in 1967. Future Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser's performance in the title role would make Disney's hilariously meta live-action feature nearly as iconic as the character it was poking fun at: Tarzan.

Cinderella (2015)

Most audiences would immediately become convinced that Disney really was on to something when it released the live-action version of its animated, 1950 adaptation of the seminal fairytale, Cinderella. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and led by an extraordinary Lily James, the reinterpretation would redefine the titular princess as a strong, independent role model and the story itself as a touching romance worth buying into.

One Piece (2023)

Netflix has released live-action iterations of a few popular anime series and one of the more successful is developers Matt Owens and Steven Maeda's TV show, One Piece. Originally based on a manga by writer and illustrator Eiichiro Oda, the animated series adaptation premiered in 1999 and followed the adventures of a pirate crew searching for mystical treasure.

Scooby-Doo (2002)

There is probably not a single person who disagrees that none of the live-action adaptations of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? have surpassed the beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon. However, the generation that grew up with the James Gunn-penned reboot, simply titled Scooby-Doo, regards the film as a classic that boasts some spot-on casting for the Mystery Inc. crew, especially Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, even if Scooby's CGI animation is a little dated.

The Flintstones (1994)

Executive producer Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera favorite, The Flintstones, starring John Goodman as Fred and Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble, was not met with the most positive reviews, particularly for its tepid humor and adult-oriented storylines. However, the city of Bedrock reimagined for a live-action setting is truly a wonder to behold.

Office Space (1999)

There are two different types of fans of Mike Judge's filmography: those who love his animated efforts, such as Beavis and Butt-Head, and those who admire his live-action titles, such as Silicon Valley. Well, fans of Office Space might be surprised to learn that their love for the film, technically, makes them a fan of both since the cult-favorite corporate satire is based on a series of short films Judge created called Milton.

Mulan (2020)

Mulan is a modern Disney classic way ahead of its time that some might call a movie that did not need a reboot, especially with the exclusion of its famous musical numbers and the mystical lizard sidekick, Mushu (Eddie Murphy). However, Yifei Liu is wonderful in the title role of a Chinese woman posing as a male imperial soldier to save her father's life and the action is beautifully choreographed.

Speed Racer (2008)

Originally a Japanese manga that became an international pop culture phenomenon as an anime series, Speed Racer was later adapted by Lana and Lily Wachowski into a live-action film starring Emile Hirsch as the ambitious titular driver. The brightly colored, CGI-heavy film was divisive upon release, but has since been widely reevaluated as an underrated cult favorite.

Casper (1995)

Casper made his debut in a series of Paramount-produced animated shorts called The Friendly Ghost before the spirited spirit became an official property of Harvey Comics and went on to star in multiple hit animated series. He would return to cinema in a fun entry-level ghost story, starring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman, that became the first live-action film to feature a central character who is created entirely with CGI.

Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

Established Disney favorites Chip and Dale became the stars of their own adventure series, called Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers, in the late 1980s. The anthropomorphic chipmunks would later be voiced by Andy Samberg and John Mulaney in a feature film of the same name that premiered on Disney+ to wide acclaim from both critics and audiences.

Cruella (2021)

Disney had already released two live-action installments to the 101 Dalmatians franchise by the time the company announced director Craig Gillespie's spin-off, Cruella. However, it proved to be a worthy entry thanks to a lead performance by Academy Award winner Emma Stone that would forever change the way audiences saw the typically ruthless villain.

Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (2019)

Nick Jr. introduced a hero who would bring young viewers along with her on her many adventures in the animated series, Dora the Explorer, which originally premiered in 2000. Isabela Merced played a teenage version of the character in the theatrically released live-action feature, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, which also stars Danny Trejo as the voice of her monkey sidekick, Boots.

Looney Tunes: Back In Action (2005)

In 1996, Space Jam brought the real-life basketball champion Michael Jordan into the world of Bugs Bunny and his furry friends. Roughly a decade later, Joe Dante's spiritual sequel Looney Tunes: Back in Action – a globe-trotting espionage adventure with Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, and Steve Martin – would, instead, bring the iconic cartoon characters into our live-action world.

Popeye (1980)

Director Robert Altman could not have picked a better choice than Robin Williams to bring the beloved comic strip character, Popeye, to life in his live-action film, also starring Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. Williams heavily altered his voice to authentically match the voice of the spinach-chomping sailor, which was originated by voice actor Billy Costello for the character's original animated adaptations.

Christopher Robin (2018)

Author A. A. Milne's world-famous bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, actually made his television debut as a puppet in a live-action 1960 episode of Shirley Temple's Storybook before getting his own beloved animated series later that decade. He and the rest of the animals from the Hundred Acre Wood would return to the medium for Christopher Robin, in which Pooh's human friend (played by Ewan McGregor) grows up to become someone similar to Robin Williams' Peter Banning in Hook.

Ben 10: Race Against Time (2007)

The Cartoon Network original series Ben 10 is about a boy who discovers a device that, when placed on his wrist, can turn him into several different extra-terrestrial species. Two years after it premiered, the channel aired a live-action feature spin-off from director Alex Winter called Ben 10: Race Against Time, starring Graham Phillips in the title role. It was followed by 2009's Ben 10: Alien Swarm, which stars Ryan Kelley as an older Ben.

Aladdin (2019)

One of the most beloved animated movies from Disney's "Renaissance Era" in the '90s is Aladdin, which follows a poor, young Arab man (voiced by Scott Weinger) whose luck begins to change when he befriends a genie (voiced by Robin Williams). Guy Ritchie helmed a live-action retelling starring Mena Massoud in the title role and Naomi Scott as Jasmine, which proved to be a career milestone at the box office for Will Smith, who played Genie.

Madeline (1998)

The first adaptation of Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline books, which center on a witty, mischievous young girl at a Catholic boarding school in 1950s France, was in a 1960 episode of The Shirley Temple Show. After the books were adapted into a popular animated series in the late '80s and early '90s, a live-action feature was released to theaters, starring Hatty Jones in her debut role as the title character and Oscar winner Frances McDormand as Miss Clavel.

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's "tale as old as time" has been adapted and reinterpreted into countless variations, with few as famous and esteemed as 1991's Beauty and the Beast from Disney. The company would revive the Oscar winner with a live-action feature starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast.

Masters Of The Universe (1987)

Some audiences consider the live-action Masters of the Universe film, starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor, to be one of the worst movies based on a toy. However, it is a fun cult favorite in the eyes of those who grew up with the tie-in animated series about a prince using his mystical abilities to defend his kingdom.

Mr. Magoo (1997)

Mr. Magoo, an elderly millionaire who often finds himself in uproarious situations due to his extreme near-sightedness, entertained audiences with his animated short films and various iterations of his TV show for decades before Disney adapted the character for live-action. Admittedly, the best reason to check out the film is to watch the great Leslie Nielsen work his comedy magic.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

The original Sorcerer's Apprentice was a short film that appeared in Disney's 1940 animated anthology movie, Fantasia, in which Mickey Mouse's character uses his boss' mystical hat to create an army of sentient brooms. Director Jon Turtletaub expands upon the concept and redefines it as a Harry Potter-esque adventure starring Nicolas Cage as a wizard living in modern-day New York City who takes Jay Baruchel's character under his wing.

Dudley Do-Right (1999)

Dudley Do-Right first appeared as a segment on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show in the late 1950s before becoming the star of his own animated series the following decade. Brendan Fraser does his best to do for the heroic Canadian Mountie what he did for George of the Jungle in director Hugh Wilson's live-action feature.

Æon Flux (2005)

Director Karyn Kusama's Charlize Theron-led thriller, Æon Flux, is not a very beloved film by itself. However, seeing the eye-popping, dystopian visuals from the original MTV animated series brought to life for a live-action setting is quite remarkable.

Movies like The Terminator and TV shows like Black Mirror have taught us that we should be afraid of machines and, especially, the rise of artificial intelligence. However, there are quite a few classic sci-fi movies that offer a more optimistic perspective on technological progress by introducing a sentient mechanical organism with a kindly personality. These are a few examples of movies with robots that capture our hearts.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (C-3PO And R2-D2)

Going in order of release date, the Star Wars saga begins with C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) delivering Princess Leia's (Carrie Fisher) message to Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) on Tattooine. This heroic act from George Lucas' 1977 blockbuster was pivotal to the Rebels eventually overthrowing the Empire. Not to mention, the droids boast a politeness that not nearly enough humans possess in any galaxy.

Short Circuit (Johnny 5)

There are many perfectly understandable reasons why some might call 1986's Short Circuit a cult classic that actually sucks but we would not consider Johnny 5 to be one of them. An electrical accident causes the experimental robot to suddenly gain sentience and, with it, a positively charming personality.

I, Robot (Sonny)

One of Alan Tudyk's best roles is the voice of Sonny in 2004's I, Robot. While the loose Isaac Asimov adaptation shows that he is certainly capable of violence, he is only violent in service of mankind and is even the only robot who teams up with his enemy, Det. Del Spooner (Will Smith), to take on a malevolent A.I. known as VIKI.

The Iron Giant (The Iron Giant)

A film that easily could have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar had the category existed in 1999 is director Brad Bird's '50s sci-fi throwback, The Iron Giant. One might argue that Vin Diesel gives his best and most heartfelt performance in the title role – a sentient extraterrestrial weapon that befriends 10-year-old Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) when he crashlands on Earth and loses his memory.

Roz (The Wild Robot)

In DreamWorks Animation's 2024 adaptation of Peter Brown's novel, The Wild Robot, Roz (Lupita Nyong'o) is already programmed to be friendly, as part of her purpose as a robotic personal assistant. However, she is forced to alter her programming when an accident leaves her stranded in the wilderness where she finds herself caring for an orphaned gosling (voiced by Kit Connor).

Transformers (The Autobots)

Based on the popular toy line and tie-in animated series, the live-action Transformers movies follow two races of shape-shifting alien robots known as the Autobots and the Decepticons – the latter of which, as you can likely guess, are not too friendly. When their centuries-long conflict finds its way to Earth, Optimus Prime (Peter Weller) and the Autobots take it upon themselves to keep humanity safe.

The Day The Earth Stood Still (Gort)

The 1951 classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still, is unlike most alien invasion movies in that the otherworldly visitor, Klaatu (Michael Rennie), arrives to warn humanity of impending doom, not to bring it upon them. Assisting him is a robot named Gort (Lock Martin), who comes equipped with a special laser beam that he only uses to neutralize weaponry.

Big Hero 6 (Baymax)

Even if Disney's animated adaptation of the Marvel Comic, Big Hero 6, was not an Oscar-winning superhero movie, it would still be a beloved entry to the genre, especially because of Baymax. Scott Adsit voices the cuddly, inflatable healthcare robot invented by the late father of Hiro (Ryan Potter), with whom he teams up to create the eponymous crew of vigilantes.

T-800 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

The version of the unstoppable T-800 that Arnold Schwarzenegger plays in James Cameron's The Terminator is one of the most fearsome movie villains of the '80s. The version he plays in the 1991 sequel, thanks to some reprogramming, is a hero assigned to protect young John Connor (Eddie Furlong), to whom he becomes an unlikely father figure, with the caveat that the teen ends up helping the cyborg act more human.

Wall-E (Wall-E)

Disney introduced the world to one of the most adorable robots in cinematic history in the acclaimed Pixar movie, 2008's Wall-E. The eponymous machine (voiced by Ben Burtt) is not only environmentally friendly (having been tasked with cleaning up a desolate, uninhabitable Earth in the dystopian future) but also has the capacity for love, as seen when he meets a more advanced bot named EVE (Elissa Knight).

Companion (Iris)

Iris (Sophie Thatcher) does not even realize that she is a robot programmed to be head-over-heels in love with her purchaser until grim circumstances force Josh (Jack Quaid) to tell her the truth in Companion. Apparently, she was also programmed to have feelings (both in the emotional and physical sense), which is why she earns the audience's full sympathy as she struggles to escape from her nigh-sadistic "boyfriend" in one of the first great horror movies ("horror adjacent," more accurately) of 2025.

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (Goddard)

In 2001's Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and its Nicktoon spin-off, the titular young brainiac (Debi Derryberry) gave himself the most reliable dog imaginable by creating Goddard. The mechanical canine can do all the things a normal pet can do, including barking, fetching, and playing dead (by self-exploding, that is) but it also comes with a myriad of other cutting-edge tools.

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (David)

After Stanely Kubrick's passing, Steven Spielberg stepped in to complete A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, which does not shy away from sentient technology's potential troubles while also offering one of the most effective arguments in its favor. The 2001 futuristic fairy tale tells the story of David (Haley Joel Osment) – a robot made to resemble and act like a child who, after being adopted and later abandoned by a human family, wants nothing more than to be a "real boy."

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (Marvin)

There certainly are friendlier robots in pop culture history than the clinically depressed Marvin, who is portrayed on set by Warwick Davis and voiced by Alan Rickman in Disney's 2005 adaptation of Douglas Adams' absurdist sci-fi adventure, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. However, it is not the paranoid android's fault that he was embedded with astonishingly vast intelligence and never given a chance to apply it.

Finch (Jeff)

One of the most uplifting post-apocalyptic movies you will ever see is Miguel Sapochnik's Apple TV+ original dramedy, Finch, from 2021. Academy Award winner Tom Hanks stars as the title character – one of the few to survive the destruction of the ozone layer – who decides to build a robot he names Jeff (Caleb Landry Jones) so that his dog, Goodyear (Seamus), will have someone to look after him after his imminent death.

Interstellar (TARS And CASE)

Only in a Christopher Nolan movie could some of its most personable and endearing characters be machines who make up for their lack of humanity with a great deal of personality in the epic 2014 space movie, Interstellar. Josh Stewart provides the voice of the quieter CASE, who is puppeteered by Bill Irwin – the voice of TARS, who is often a little too indulgent with his humor setting but earns his place with selfless heroism.

Treasure Planet (B.E.N.)

In Robert Louis Stevenson's influential 1883 novel, Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins befriends a marooned member of Captain Flint's pirate crew named Ben Gunn. The character served as the inspiration for the amnesiac robot, B.E.N. (which stands for Bio-Electronic Navigator), who is voiced by Martin Short in Disney's cosmic reimagining of the story, 2002's Treasure Planet.

Earth To Echo (Echo)

If Steven Spielberg had shot E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in the style of a found footage movie and with a sentient alien robot instead of a living creature, the result might have looked something like Earth to Echo. The 2014 sci-fi family film follows a group of children who discover the eponymous, telekinetic android and offer to help it find its way back home.

Robots (Rodney Copperbottom)

As the title of the 2005 Blue Sky Studios animated movie suggests, every single character in the visually wondrous Robots is a sentient mechanical device, yet some are certainly nicer than others. For instance, the innovative lead protagonist Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) and his friends Cappy (Halle Berry) and Fender (Robin Williams) were built with much more favorable personalities than power-hungry business tycoon, Phineas T. Ratchet (Greg Kinnear).

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (K-2SO)

It has taken some Star Wars characters on the wrong side of history years to change their tune and fight against the Empire. In the case of the charming K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk) from 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, all it took was some simple reprogramming for the imperial droid to become one of the most trusted members of the Rebel Alliance.

Star Kid (Cy)

The extra-terrestrial mechanical device from the 1997 sci-fi family film Star Kid is not exactly a robot. It is actually an A.I.-powered exoskeleton or "cybersuit" (voiced by Arthur Burghardt and portrayed on set by Alex Daniels), which is why shy 13-year-old Spencer Griffith (Joseph Mazzello) gives it the nickname "Cy" when he discovers it in a junkyard and tries him on for size.

Batteries Not Included (The Fix-Its)

Most movies depict flying saucers as massive vessels that house extra-terrestrial visitors but 1987's Batteries Not Included flips the script by making the aliens themselves flying saucers of a much smaller stature. Frank (Hume Cronyn) and Faye Riley (Jessica Tandy) and the tenants of their Manhattan Apartment building nickname the otherwordly, mechanical couple the Fix-Its for their ability to repair things around the residence.

D.A.R.Y.L. (Daryl)

At first glance, Daryl (Barret Oliver, a child actor who later walked away from Hollywood) seems like an ordinary, albeit socially awkward, 10-year-old boy until his foster family notices his unusual genius intellect. It turns out that he is really a U.S. Government-issued "Data-Analyzing Robot Youth Lifeform," hence the title of the 1985 sci-fi film, D.A.R.Y.L.

Alita: Battle Angel (Alita)

One of the most underrated hero movies of its time is 2019's Alita: Battle Angel – producer James Cameron and director Robert Rodriguez's adaptation of Yukiton Kishiro's manga series. It stars Rosa Salazar in the title role of a cybernetic organism who tries to uncover the secrets of her past when she is reactivated by a professor (played by Christoph Waltz) who finds her remains in a junkyard.

Ron's Gone Wrong (Ron Bintscatsco)

In the 2021 animated flick Ron's Gone Wrong, Barney (Jack Dylan Grazer) longs to fit in with his classmates by getting the most popular digital device around called a B-bot. When he finally gets one of his own, which he names Ron (Zach Galifianakis), it is certainly as friendly as he hoped but also comes with a few bugs and glitches that make him trouble to have around.

The Creator (Alphie)

Co-writer and director Gareth Edwards' 2023 dystopian thriller, The Creator, stars John David Washington as a special forces agent tasked with locating and destroying an artificial intelligence weapon. However, when he discovers that the weapon is a cyborg resembling a young girl known as Alpha-O, whom he calls "Alphie" (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), he goes against his orders and becomes her protector.

Robot & Frank (Robot)

Few films have demonstrated a more optimistic purview of man's bond with machines like the 2012 sci-fi dramedy, Robot & Frank. It stars Frank Langella as a technophobic ex-con diagnosed with dementia who begins to warm to a robotic assistant (played on set by Rachael Ma and voiced by Peter Sarsgaard) that he reluctantly accepts from his son after it proves to be a helpful teammate in a jewelry heist operation.

I'm Your Man (Tom)

You might be convinced that you could fall in love with a robot after you see 2021's German sci-fi rom-com, I'm Your Man. English actor Dan Stevens brushed up on his German to play Tom, a robot designed to satisfy a woman's innermost desires whom scientist Alma Felser (Maren Eggert) agrees to live with for three weeks to fund her next project.

Bicentennial Man (Andrew)

Bicentennial Man, Chris Columbus' 1999 adaptation of Isaac Asimov's novelette of the same name, stars Robin Williams as a service android dubbed "Andrew" by the family that employs him. He later embarks on a quest to find other beings like him and, eventually, desires to become human.

Astro Boy (Astro Boy)

Based on the manga series of the same name, Astro Boy is the story of a robot (voiced by Freddie Highmore) programmed with the memories of Dr. Bill Tenma's (Nicolas Cage) late son. The child-like robot eventually goes off on his own and becomes a great hero.

Chappie (Chappie)

In Neill Blomkamp's 2015 sci-fi action flick Chappie, a gifted engineer (played by Dev Patel) discovers how to create a human-like artificial intelligence that, once uploaded into a robot body, must learn about life from scratch, much like a child. Said robot (voiced by Sharlto Copley) is given misguided life lessons by a pair of criminals (played by South African hip hop duo Die Antwoord).

And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird (Newman)

The 1991 comedy And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird is about two brothers (Joshua Miller and Edan Gross) who invent a sentient robot out of a vacuum cleaner that they call Newman. Much to their surprise, the machine soon becomes inhabited by the spirit of their late father (voiced by Alan Thicke).

Megan Fox has been laying pretty low since news broke that she and Machine Gun Kelly ended their relationship, with that announcement coming just a month after they announced she’s having a baby. Fox may be ducking the spotlight for now, but the star of one of the best sexy horror movies of all time must still be on the minds of many of her fans, because a throwback video from the set of 2007’s Transformers is going viral. More than 100,000 people have allowed themselves to be mesmerized by the actress’ slow walk and skimpy outfit, but I just can’t stop cracking up at the song.

I’m honestly not sure why this gem of a movie clip is circulating on this day, 19 years after Transformers was shot (as if one needs a reason to celebrate peak Megan Fox simply being peak Megan Fox), but here we are, 100K+ views on X (Twitter) later, watching Shia LaBeouf’s Sam roll up on Mikaela Banes:

As random as it may seem for this Megan Fox thirst trap video from the 2007 movie (which, if you’re ranking the Transformers movies, probably shows up in the middle) to be popping up on our social media feeds, nothing is more out of context in this clip than the song playing over it.

No, you haven’t stumbled into the club on ‘90s Flashback Night; that tune you hear is “Rhythm Is a Dancer” by none other than the German Eurodance group Snap! (The exclamation point is theirs, not mine.) The 1992 hit was a staple at dance parties throughout the decade, but I’ve got to admit it’s been a while since I’ve heard that one.

I can’t quite figure out the connection between the lyrics and the Michael Bay action flick either, which makes it all the more hilarious how many people are watching this 9-second video — probably over and over, too, as I have now admittedly done. Those two pop culture moments are not even of the same decade!

One has to wonder if looking back at her very, very ‘00s wardrobe from Transformers — one of Megan Fox’s coolest movies — would cause her to experience the same level of cringe that she did when revisiting an old interview from Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, but I have to say there are probably 100,000 or so people who don’t have any hangups with it.

We haven’t heard much from the actress lately, after news broke that she and Machine Gun Kelly had broken up following a fight they had while vacationing over the Thanksgiving holiday. Megan Fox supposedly found text messages from other women on MGK’s phone — a move that prompted Fox’s ex Brian Austin Green to say the rapper needed to “grow up” — which caused her to end the relationship, despite allegedly not being able to fathom the idea of this happening while she’s pregnant.

The mother-to-be has reportedly been getting support from Kourtney Kardashian during this tough time, and while we, as fans, can’t have soup cooked and delivered to Megan Fox as The Kardashians star supposedly is, we can continue to celebrate the actress and her rhythm. Because you know what they say: It’s a soul’s companion.

If I had to pick a single genre of film that I love above all else it would be science fiction. Whether it’s a story about aliens in outer space or simply the use of advanced technology, movies can bring all of these things that we can't imagine to life in a way that looks and feels real. And yet, it isn’t just about the spectacle of it all. Often the best science fiction movies are really just stories about humanity that use the fantastic as a way to teach us about ourselves.

Science fiction movies are often the home of the major franchises, but it has to be said that the franchise fair this year was quite solid, we saw the best Alien movie in years, and the best Transformers movie ever in 2024. Here’s a look at the best science fiction of the year and just why it was so great.

A Quiet Place: Day One

A Quiet Place: Day One may have been the third entry in the franchise but in many ways, it was entirely new. A new cast of characters in a new environment. The characters from the previous films had lived with the alien threat for a long time. Our new heroes had to figure everything out as they went along.

The tension was still there, and Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn gave very strong performances in a movie that was about two characters trying to stay alive, while also coming to terms with death.

Transformers One

If there’s one thing that shows what a wild year it was for science fiction it might be the simple fact that a Transformers movie was one of the best sci-fi movies of the year. But Transformers One wasn’t simply a good Transformers movie, it’s the best Transformers movie ever made.

It’s fun and funny, in a way that no other Transformers movie is, but it's never too silly. It has heart and action. It's about a heroic rise and dramatic fall from grace of Shakespearean proportions. It does everything, and it does it all remarkably well.

The Wild Robot

If I had a nickel for every time that an animated movie about a robot set in the post-apocalypse told a story about love and hope, I’d have two nickels... which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. The Wild Robot may have a couple of things in common with Pixar’s Wall-E, but the movie has an identity all its own.

It’s a beautifully told story, both visually and emotionally. Like another animated movie on this list, it's ultimately a story about parenthood, and about the mistakes that new parents make. It's a story about how anybody can "grow beyond their programming" if given enough of a reason to do so.

Ultraman: Rising

Ultraman as a character isn’t massively popular in the U.S. compared to Japan, but Ultraman: Rising is one of those movies that’s able to cross boundaries by telling a story that is focused on those things that all people have in common.

While Ultraman Rising does include plenty of massive kaiju battles, it’s ultimately a story about parenthood, making mistakes and learning lessons. Whether you're a parent or simply somebody who had them, the story of Ultraman: Rising has something to say to you.

Alien: Romulus

Following two Alien movies that are both seen as being among the best sci-fi movies ever made, the franchise has struggled to meet such a high bar. However, with Alien: Romulus, director Fede Alvarez proves that there is still horror to be found in the series.

In the same way that Dan Trachtenberg brought fresh life to the Predator franchise, Alvarez shows a clear understanding of what makes Alien tick. Even if you think Romulus is only the third-best Alien movie, that’s no longer the backhanded compliment it once was.

Dune: Part Two

Dune: Part Two had a lot to accomplish as the follow-up to Denis Villeneuve’s epic first part. The first movie won several Oscars, and based on the response to the sequel, the follow may do so again.

The movie completes the story of Paul Atreides in stunning fashion. While it has all the sci-fi spectacle we expect, Dune: Part Two is ultimately a character drama, one that uses the trappings of sci-fi to examine the human condition in a unique way, as all great science fiction does.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Furiosa may not quite reach the heights of Mad Max: Fury Road, but considering Fury Road was one of the best films of the last decade, getting close is good enough. Furiosa was the origin story that did that rare thing by adding layers to the character, and in doing so possibly making the original film even better.

Anya Taylor-Joy makes her mark as a real action hero and Chris Hemsworth plays an entertainingly awful villain. George Miller’s beautifully choreographed action is back here and it all makes the post-apocalypse look almost beautiful.

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes

Full disclosure, while I love sci-fi, I’ve never been a big Planet of the Apes fan. The original generation of the franchise always looked too corny to me growing up, and the more recent trilogy, while I always heard it was great, still never appealed to me. And yet, I still found myself engaged with this movie even outside of any other context.

Kingdom shows just how well done "CGI characters" can be when they're handled effectively, both in visual design and in characterization from the actors. The Planet of the Apes feels like a real place life that few other sci-fi locations do.

2024 was a good year but looking forward the science fiction genre is looking even better. 2025 will bring us the next entry in the Avatar and Jurassic Park franchises. We’ll also get the original science fiction story Frankenstein brought to life by the incomparable Guillermo del Toro. Science fiction fans have been very lucky of late, and the luck doesn’t look to be running out soon.

I'm a man who was born in 1983 (but consider myself a ‘90s kid), so I have to be a huge fan of Transformers, right? Well…not exactly.

Thundercats? You betcha. G.I. Joe? You know it! And don't even get me started on the Ninja Turtles, because I've probably written more about them than anything else on this website. But, when it comes to Transformers, I've never really been that big of a fan, even after seeing every single Transformers movie (which, now that I think about it, might be the reason why I'm not that big of a fan, given how the films have had such lopsided quality).

However, after recently watching Transformers One, I think they've finally made me into a bona fide believer, and I have a few reasons why.

Oh, and minor spoilers up ahead for Transformers One.

The Idea Of Transformers Not Being Able To Transform Strangely Humanized Them For Me

What do Transformers do? They transform! Duh. But, like, what if they didn’t? That’s the question posed in Transformers One, and it kind of blew my mind when I first learned that that’s where this movie was heading.

Because that’s what really jumpstarts the whole narrative. The bots are living underground on Cybertron, and they’re being fed false lies about their heroes. Not only that, but some of the bots can transform, while others – those who toil in the mines for Energon – can’t. This creates a tale about class hardships that I definitely wasn’t expecting from a Transformers story.

It’s also one of many reasons why this film is just as awesome for kids as it is for adults. The fact that this is a story about the haves and the have-nots (for at least a part of the movie, anyway) is beyond fascinating to me.

Personally, Transformers has always kind of just seemed like this dumb franchise that only existed to sell toys. And while yes, most cartoons from the ‘80s were created for that sole purpose, this seemed like the most (Optimus) prime example of that.

However, the idea of a segment of them being KEPT from transforming (on purpose!) just incredibly humanized them for me. So, when Orion Pax eventually becomes Optimus Prime, and D-16 becomes Megatron, it just hit differently this time around, and in the best sort of way!

Also, Making This A Story About A Friendship Falling Apart Was The Right Call

Forgive me if this is common knowledge, but were Megatron and Optimus Prime ever friends? Because that’s what we get here in this story, which I think is a good call.

Friends-to-enemies is a trope that I much prefer to enemies-to-friends, and I love that Megatron once had Optimus Prime’s back until he learned that he’d been duped by somebody that he once admired.

I love that about this movie. The most I’ve ever been invested in Transformers was with the bitching Beast Wars cartoon (which was partly the basis for the recent movie, Rise of the Beasts, which our very own Mike Reyes reviewed as being quite good). In that cartoon, Optimus Primal and Megatron were sworn enemies, and there was never the hint of any friendship involved.

In fact, if there’s anything I do know about these characters, it’s that Megatron hates Optimus Prime, and that Optimus leads the Autobots.

That said, we don’t really get that narrative here until about the last half hour or so. The rest of the film is primarily about the disintegration of Megatron’s friendship with Optimus, and how they’ve actually come to be those characters in the first place.

It’s a riveting story, and definitely one that felt unfamiliar to me as a 41-year-old man who has known Transformers for pretty much his entire life.

I Also Like That There Wasn't A Single Human In The Entire Story

I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t want to see any human characters anywhere near one of these movies ever again. That might be why I liked Beast Wars so much, since it was just the Transformers.

1986’s The Transformers: The Movie, is another good example. Yes, there were a few human characters in that animated film, but the primary characters were the ones in the title (not Megan Fox, and definitely not Shia LaBeouf).

Which is why I think I really loved Transformers One, since I believe human characters really sap the energy out of the other films. This is a story where we don't see a single human character for the entire 1 hour and 44 minute run-time, which is awesome.

Paradoxically, seeing humans interact with them has always made these narratives feel less realistic for me. But, with a story focused entirely on Transformers, I feel like I can finally be invested in these characters who, quite frankly, have always felt more fully-fleshed out than most of the human characters we've gotten thus far in the live-action films.

The Action Was Way More Exciting Than I've Ever Seen In A Transformers Story

Another thing that has kind of always bugged me about Transformers is the action. As massive robots, they've always seemed so clunky to me.

And, I’m a man who loves his Godzilla. I’ve also always loved when the Power Rangers would take down enemies in their Megazord. Not only that, but I'm also a pretty big fan of Voltron. All of this is to say that I like big monsters and big robots fighting each other, but I've never liked Transformers fighting each other. It's just never been satisfying for me.

That is, of course, untilTransformers One, where the action is intense and awesome. I think a huge part of that is just how they move in this movie, since they don’t feel heavy at all, but rather, sleek and mobile.

This might seem like a problem if you're used to the Transformers being these big, lumbering hunks of metal like in the live-action movies. But, I’ve never been fond of that, and I'm happy that they're able to really move and fight in this movie, as it makes everything look so much more epic. I just wish they always fought this way!

Lastly, It Makes Me Re-Evaluate Everything That I've Ever Known About The Transformers

You know what’s weird? I’ve felt like I’ve been on the fringes of knowing about the Transformers for pretty much my entire life. Sure, I’ve heard of things like Energon, or their home planet, Cybertron. I’ve known about characters like Starscream, Jazz, and Soundwave. All of this I know.

Yet, it wasn’t until I watched Transformers One that I felt like I really didn’t know anything at all. Because when I watched this movie, I finally learned that Cybertron is not only the Transformers home planet, but also the BODY of what is essentially their god, Primus. I also didn’t understand the lore behind any of these characters, or about the Matrix of Leadership before I saw this film.

In the 1986 movie, they kept talking about “The Matrix,” but I had no idea what they were talking about (to be fair, I was pretty young when I first watched it). Now, all of this seems a whole lot more interesting because of the way the characters in this film respond to these things.

In every way, Transformers One has gotten me to re-evaluate this universe as a whole, which is pretty unbelievable to me since I feel like I’ve been watching the characters my entire life and am now just starting to fully understand them. It only took a 2024 movie to get me to that place.

That’s why I now love the Transformers! Have you seen this movie yet? If you’re even casually into the brand, then you should definitely check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

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.

The Transformers franchise has had a lot of success on the big screen from the massively successful box office of the Michael Bay films to the current critical darling that is Transformers One. However, G.I. Joe, another Hasbro property, hasn’t fared nearly as well. The most recent live-action Transformers movie teased a crossover between the two sets of characters, and according to the producer, that movie is still planned down the road, though it sounds like it’s going to be a while before we see it.

The ending of Transformers: Rose of the Beasts revealed that the organization known as G.I. Joe exists in the same world as the live-action Transformers. Speaking with Collider, producer Lorenzro di Bonaventura, confirmed that a crossover is planned to be the next live-action film, whether or not Transformers One gets a sequel, though the movie is still very early in development. However, the producer indicates the next movie may have a significant shift in perspective. He said…

The live-action Transformers films have always been stories told from the perspective of humans who find themselves allied with the massive robots in disguise. This makes Transformers One not only a departure in that the movie is animated, but that the film is entirely about the robots themselves. It sounds like when the Transformers meet G.I. Joe, we’ll begin to get more of the story from the robots themselves.

Of course, this new movie will still have plenty of human characters in the form of whatever members of G.I. Joe are chosen to appear. Although, as Di Bonaventura points out, that presents its own issues, as the Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover will have to juggle a lot of characters in total. He continued…

It sounds like finding that balance between G.I. Joe and the Transformers is the thing that the project is currently working on. Assuming they find it, it’s nice to know the crossover idea isn’t going to be dragged out over multiple movies, but will instead just be the next entry in the series.

After spending the better part of the past 20 years cranking out live-action Transformers movies, the franchise has finally returned to its animated roots with the critically acclaimed Transformers One. The prequel, which explores the friends-to-enemies relationship shared by Optimus Prime and Megatron, is one of the most fun 2024 movie experiences I’ve had all year, and while watching it, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I really want to see an animated Beast Machines film.

For those who don’t remember, Beast Machines was a 1999 sequel series to the similarly titled 1996 animated show Beast Wars, and it further explorss the tireless battle between the Maximals (essentially animal forms of Autobots) and Predacons (descendants of the Decepticons). And while I would love to see a proper Beast Wars movie after Transformers: Rise of the Beasts left more to be desired, my thoughts just keep going back to Beast Machines and its wild story set in a deserted, desolate, and eerie Cybertron.

Don’t worry, I won’t be spoiling anything about Transformers One, but I will be going into the nitty gritty of this 25-year-old Saturday morning cartoon.

While Watching Transformers One, I Kept Thinking About Beast Machines' Version Of Cybertron

Beast Machines picks up after the events of Beast Wars in which the Maximals – Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Blackarachnia, and Rattrap – defeated Megatron and the Predacons... or so they think. Upon returning to Cybertron, the heroes discover that Megatron has somehow taken over their home planet, locked away all the transformers and stolen their sparks, and replaced them with mindless drones known as Vehicons. Oh, and the Maximals are stuck in their beast forms, which makes the situation all the more dire.

With its primitive and downright creepy animations, the show presented Cybertron as this deserted and eerie planet void of joy, life, and transformers that Optimus and his gang left long ago. And while watching Transformers One, with its incredible production value and animation, I just kept thinking about how cool Beast Machines’ version of the Transformers home planet would look with this much attention to detail and visual flair.

I Think A Further Exploration Of Optimus Primal And Megatron's Relationship Could Be Captivating

The friends-to-enemies relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron is the heart and soul (or spark) of Transformers One, and I think it would be awesome to see the rivalry between Optimus Primal and Megatron from Beast Machines explored in a similar capacity.

Much like other shows set in the Transformers universe, this short-lived animated series was built around its core hero and villain, with both characters pushing one another, either directly or indirectly. And to see how the two characters evolve throughout both their respective and collective journeys would be both fun and captivating for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

There Are So Many Other Great Beast Machines Characters That Have Never Gotten Their Due

But it isn’t just Optimus Primal or Megatron I’d love to see in a Beast Machines movie, as Beast Machines has many great characters on both sides of the fight for Cybertron. And while the likes of Cheetor and Rhinox popped up in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, that’s barely scratching the surface of the roster of Maximals, Predacons, and even Vehicons from the animated series.

I would give anything to see Rattrap, Blackarachnia, Nightscream, Jetstorm, Tankor, and others show up and introduce themselves to a new generation of Transformers fans. And with the way Transformers One breathed new life into legendary characters from the original series and toys, I honestly think it could be done, especially for those who never got their proper due in any previous movies.

Beast Machines Goes Heavy Into The Philosophical, And I Love To See Those Conversations In A Massive Movie

One thing I always loved about Beast Machines, especially when it came to Optimus Primal’s journey, was how the show didn’t shy away from tackling philosophical topics or discussions. Throughout the Maximal leader’s journey, Optimus undergoes a massive emotional change through his conversations with the Oracle, an ancient supercomputer with all kinds of powers. He even spends time in the afterlife where he enters a new and heightened state of consciousness, which does, admittedly, get pretty heady for a kid's show.

Though Transformers One doesn’t necessarily reach those levels in its retelling of Optimus Prime and Megatron’s friendship gone bad, the way the movie touches on topics like heroism, friendship, and false idols has me thinking about how Beast Machines took on those issues a quarter-century ago.

The Maximals Finally Receiving Their Upgrades Would Make For Such An Epic Big-Screen Moment

The moment the Maximals receive their upgrades in Beast Machines is honestly one of my favorite scenes from the show and one that I’ve revisited multiple times over the years. To see those epic transformations as Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Rattrap, and Blackarachnia are gifted their new and more powerful forms on the big screen would be epic. Similar to some of those great transformations from Transformers One (both those seen in the first trailer and then again in the final act of the film), these evolutions would look so awesome and would definitely have the audience clapping and cheering.

But I'm Not Going To Lie, I'd Love A Proper Beast Wars Movie As Well

Though critics called Transformers: Rise of the Beasts the best entry in the live-action franchise, and though I very much enjoyed the 2023 action spectacle, I wouldn’t be all that upset if we were to get a proper Beast Wars movie that was more faithful to the animated series. Don’t get me wrong: I want a Beast Machines movie more than anything, but why can’t we have both?

I’m sure Paramount Pictures has a whole animated franchise in the works after everything that goes down in the Transformers One end credits sequence, but maybe the movie will be a hit and show the studio that people want more animated Transformers movies, including Beast Machines and Beast Wars. I would be happy, my college roommate with whom I binged both series would be stoked, and I’m sure a lot of folks feel the same.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens with the Transformers franchise in the future. But while we wait, there are plenty of upcoming sci-fi films coming this year and on the 2025 movie schedule to hold us over.

With Halloween just around the corner, there are plenty of spooky flicks hitting the 2024 movie calendar right now, but families need not be concerned, because there are also plenty of upcoming kids movies. In fact, it looks like there might be some pretty good options headed our way, including Transformers One, which arrives in theaters September 20. First reactions to the animated action film starring Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry were overwhelmingly positive, and now critics have gotten to expound on those original thoughts.

From what we know about Transformers One, this prequel will show how Chris Hemsworth’s Orion Pax and Brian Tyree Henry’s D-16 go from being brothers to the archenemies we’ve come to know as Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gives it 3 out of 4 stars, saying that just like with Toy Story 4, director Josh Cooley finds new things to say about decades-old characters, bringing a freshness and innocence to characters who have historically not been known for their depth. The critic says:

Chris Bumbray of JoBlo declares Transformers One “the franchise’s best film to date (by a long shot),” praising the voice performances, a strong story and beautiful animation that all honor the works that came before it. Bumbray rates it a “Great” 8 out of 10, writing:

Kambole Campbell of Empire gives it 3 out of 5 stars, writing that the animation doesn’t completely work for him, but that Josh Cooley is successful in delivering some effective humor and making something new out of classic IP. Campbell continues:

Jeff Spry of Space, meanwhile, doesn’t take issue with the animation, calling the work done by Industrial Light & Magic, “a visual banquet of next-generation CGI.” Spry goes on to call Transformers One one of the best movies of the year, predicting that many fans will rank it as their favorite Transformers movie of all time. The critic says:

Not every critic is quite so high on the prequel. Tom Jorgensen of IGN gives the movie a “Mediocre” 5 out of 10. While Jorgensen enjoys the relationship between the central autobots — and particularly Brian Tyree Henry’s performance — the lackluster comedy and overall scale of the world don’t work, he says, writing:

The majority of critics seem to be excited about Transformers One, as it has garnered 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Will you be rolling out to see the friends-to-enemies lore of these robots in disguise? The movie will be on the big screen starting Friday, September 20, and there are several past Transformers projects available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

The famous Robots in Disguise are about to return by way of a new animated film called Transformers One. A major title on the 2024 movie schedule, the flick will explore the origins of beloved characters like Optimus Prime and Megatron. Unsurprisingly, a top-notch cast has been assembled for the production, and it includes Chris Hemsworth, Keegan-Michael Key, Brian Tyree Henry and more. Those castings alone are sweet, though I have to say what’s really cool is the sight of the three actors standing alongside their respective characters.

It was during a special fan screening of the upcoming movie that the trio of actors reunited alongside director Josh Cooley and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. At some point during the day, all five men joined together to take a photo on the Paramount Pictures Studios lot. But, as mentioned, this particular snapshot was made even cooler by the fact that the stars were surrounded by standees of the very characters they lent their vocals to. You can check out the image for yourself down below:

For an actor, I’d assume that it’s a major flex to be able to stand alongside a recreation of a character that you helped bring to life. There may be a particularly high amount of pride in that when the role is associated with such an iconic franchise. Imagine being Chris Hemsworth (who received an ovation after the screening) in that moment and not just saying that I voiced Optimus Prime but also pointing to the character right behind him. I could go on about how cool this is, but it’s so great that the Thor alum and his co-stars can now claim such a moment.

After seeing this photo, I’m actually even more intrigued to see just what each of the stars bring to their roles. While the Extraction star is voicing the eventual leader of the Autobots, Brian Tyree Henry portrays a young Megatron, who has yet to take his place as the ruler of the evil Decepticons. As the Transformers One trailer has teased, Optimus and Megatron (who are initially known as Orion Pax and D-16) start out as friends before their legendary rivalry is formed. On top of that, B-127 (who’s more commonly known as Bumblebee) is also in the mix and is voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. If you ask me, each of these stars was perfectly cast. And other A+ stars with roles in the movie Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Jon Hamm and Laurence Fishburne.

Reactions for Transformers One have surfaced since that previously mentioned screening, and it sounds like viewers are high on it. Many appear to be in agreement that the trailers don’t exactly do the movie justice. What I’m excited to see the most are fresh takes on the characters that fans have come to know and love. I’m particularly pumped to see a different side of Megatron and believe that Brian Tyree Henry more than has the chops to play him.

From this point on, Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Keegan-Michael Key and their co-stars are forever linked to this esteemed franchise. The cast will surely have more press to do and additional premieres to attend in the coming weeks. With that, I’d say it’s very likely that they’ll be in proximity to other recreations of their characters very soon. I’ll certainly be keeping my eyes peeled in case that happens!

Transformers One opens in theaters on September 20, so there’s still a little bit of time before fans can check out the movie. In the meantime, though, fans can use a Paramount+ subscription or a Prime Video subscription to stream the latest live-action installment in the franchise, Transformers Rise of the Beasts.

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.

When Transformers One hits the 2024 movie schedule in September, fans of the robots in disguise will see how Orion Pax and D-16 went from brothers-in-arms to the archenemies we know as Optimus Prime and Megatron. The prequel is the franchise’s first animated theatrical release since 1986, and while we still have a couple of months to wait — Transformers One’s release date is September 20 — the sci-fi action movie is already making quite a splash, as those who caught an early screening are taking to social media with their first reactions.

When it premiered at Annecy Film Festival in June, Transformers One earned a huge standing ovation for Chris Hemsworth and the rest of its star-studded cast, which includes Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key and Jon Hamm. The anticipation for this origin story is only going to get more intense after reading what others have to say, too, as Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier seems to have left his screening one happy Transformers fan. The critic posted:

The mere fact that Transformers One is being screened so far ahead of its release date speaks to the confidence Paramount Pictures has in what director Josh Cooley and his team have created. Steven Weintraub of Collider says as much, tweeting:

Liam Crowley of ComicBook.com agrees, praising the cast and assuring those who have complained about the franchise's movies spending “too much time with humans” won’t have to worry about that in this Autobot-centric story. Crowley continues:

While the above critic says Keegan-Michael Key steals the show as Bumblebee, for Perri Nemiroff, it’s Brian Tyree Henry who’s driving the story’s emotional beats. Nemiroff calls Transformers One a “winner,” lauding the animation style and writing:

Some fans were taken aback by the comedy in the trailer, and after director Josh Cooley promised there was “real danger” in the story, the early moviegoers seem to agree the trailer doesn’t quite capture everything that’s great about Transformers One. Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture says:

Brandon Slagle writes that his screening included cheers from the audience, and he is surprised by how much he likes this offering. Slagle continues:

DesiNerd’s expectations were also exceeded, with the critic writing that fans will happy with the love shown to the franchise:

We’ll have to wait until after its September 20 release date to see where Transformers One falls in the ranking of the Transformers movies, but the first reactions are pretty promising!

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. 

For years, there’s been talk about pairing the Transformers and G.I. Joe properties, both owned by Hasbro, on the big screen, and now it’s finally happening. Last year, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ ending revealed that G.I. Joe, the secret military organization, exists in this universe also populated by robots in disguise. This past April, the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie was finally confirmed to be moving forward at Paramount Pictures, and now that word’s come in that Chris Hemsworth is being lined up as the lead actor, I’m starting to rack my brain about his role.

Per Deadline, the Thor actor has is in talks to board this crossover movie, which hasn’t been officially titled yet. This news comes shortly after the release of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga on the 2024 movies schedule, which saw Hemsworth playing main antagonist Warlord Dementus. He also already has ties to the Transformers franchise, as he’s voicing Optimus Prime in the upcoming movie Transformers One, which dropped its first trailer in April.

Now, for anyone who’s concerned, it’s unlikely that Hemsworth will be voicing Optimus Prime in the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie, as Transformers One isn’t expecting to take place in the same continuity as the live-action movies highlighting the Autobots, Decepticons and everything in between. If Optimus Prime does appear in the crossover, it stands to reason that Peter Cullen will continue voicing him like he’s been doing with all the live-actions movies and the original Transformers animated series from the ‘80s. It could still be possible that Hemsworth will voice a different Transformer, but it’s surely better to bet on him playing one of the G.I. Joe operatives.

Assuming that the crossover is coming out sooner rather than later, this will be the tenth theatrical Transformers movie, as let’s not forget The Transformers: The Movie from 1986, and the fourth theatrical G.I. Joe movie. 2021 saw Paramount attempting to reboot the latter film series with Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, but it critically and commercially flopped. It’s unclear if the crossover will acknowledge Snake Eyes’ continuity or the one that The Rise of Cobra and Retaliation took place in, or if it’ll start fresh again. It also remains to be seen if the movie will take place shortly after Rise of the Beasts or perhaps jump to the present day instead.

In any case, if Chris Hemsworth is indeed playing one of the main G.I. Joe characters another reboot, this gives him another opportunity to show his action chops. In addition to his long run as Thor in the MCU and time on Furiosa, he also plays Tyler Rake in the Extraction movies, which can be streamed with a Netflix subscription, and also reunited with Ragnarok co-star Tessa Thompson in 2019 for Men in Black: International. He also previously played a soldier in 2018’s 12 Strong. Personally, if the reboot button is being pressed on the G.I. Joe side of things again, I could see Hemsworth taking over as Duke, whom Channing Tatum originally played. 

If/when it’s confirmed that Chris Hemsworth will appear in the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie, we’ll let you know about that, as well as who he’ll play. Meanwhile, feel free to revisit the previously-released movies from both of those franchises with a Paramount+ subscription.

Toy brands have had interesting relationships with the film and TV mediums over the last several decades. Many have served as the basis for some notable productions, each of which has found varying degrees of success. Some of those offerings are held in high regard by much of the public, like The Transformers, Clue and the critically acclaimed Barbie, which was even nominated for Best Picture. However, some of the projects that have been inspired by playthings are quite lackluster, even living in infamy in some circles, and we’re going to discuss a number of them.

Pound Puppies (1986-1987)

In the ‘80s, Tonka’s Pound Puppies toy line was popular enough to spawn an animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera. The show, which has two seasons, centers around the adventures of a group of talking dogs, who lived at a pound and befriended a human girl. All in all, the stories are relatively basic, and the characters aren’t as endearing as others birthed by H-B Productions.

Rainbow Brite And The Star Stealer (1985)

Inspired by Mattel’s Rainbow Brite brand, The Star Stealer is a motion picture that in no way justifies its existence. The less-than-stellar animation and the somewhat choppy storytelling are just two reasons why this film is far from a must-see today. It doesn’t even surpass its TV show counterpart in terms of quality, which honestly isn’t saying much, as that isn’t a high bar to clear.

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

You really shouldn’t be surprised to see a ranking of the Transformers films and find Revenge of the Fallen at the bottom of it. The second installment in Michael Bay’s blockbuster franchise is a discombobulated piece of work that has an overstuffed story, underdeveloped characters, and countless clichés (even for a Bay production). The copious amount of Autobot and Decepticon fights can’t even redeem it.

Challenge Of The GoBots (1984-1985)

Challenge of the GoBots has a following, but it certainly hasn’t reached the pop culture heights that Tonka likely envisioned for it decades ago. It’s a mostly generic piece of work with by-the-book stories and stock characters and, back in the day, it was ultimately outdone by its direct competitor, The Transformers.

Battleship (2012)

Peter Berg’s box office bomb Battleship is an empty sort of blockbuster that doesn’t even provide a thrilling spectacle to make up for its lack of a compelling narrative. What’s unfortunate is that it doesn’t take a cerebral approach, which is what’s needed to play the Hasbro board game of the same name. This likely isn’t what fans were expecting for the toy property or Rihanna’s feature film debut.

Dungeons & Dragons (2000)

In the lead-up to Dungeons & Dragons’ release in 2000, fans had long hoped for a live-action film adaptation that captured the essence of the beloved role-playing game. That final product is a poorly written and cheap-looking film that’s mostly dull. You’re better off carving out some time and watching 2023’s critically beloved Honor Among Thieves.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

People may debate the merits of the G.I. Joe animated series inspired by Hasbro’s action figures, but it’s hard to argue against the notion that the first live-action film adaptation, The Rise of Cobra is weak. There are flashes of fun, but not even Channing Tatum can save it from being a nonsensical action flick.

C.O.P.S. (1988)

We’re not talking about the reality docuseries on Fox, but the ‘80s animated series C.O.P.S, which is based on Hasbro’s action figures of the same name. This program, set in the year 2020 and centered on law enforcement officials, simply lacks the fun, true thrills and endearing characters many of its peers possess. 

Masters of the Universe (1987)

He-Man, his cohorts and enemies feel like characters born to be on the big screen but, unfortunately, the live-action Masters of the Universe film doesn’t come close to doing them justice. This Dolph Lundgren-led action flick is hastily put together, poorly directed and fails to capture the energy and fun of the OG animated series.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

The moderate success of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in 2009 is what led to the sequel, Retaliation, in 2013. Led by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson this time around, the movie is somewhat more polished than its predecessor, but it’s even more ludicrously over the top.

The Glo Friends (1986-1987)

Few people probably remember The Glo Friends, an animated series born from segments on My Little Pony 'n Friends and adapted from Playskool’s IP of the same name. Centered on a group of small, glow-in-the-dark insects and their adventures, this short-lived, by-the-numbers show is a shining example of how not to adapt a toyline.

Playmobil: The Movie (2019)

One could certainly assume that Playmobil: The Movie was (at least partially) made to get in on the success of 2014’s The Lego Movie and other toy-based adaptations. Unfortunately, this flick isn’t nearly as well-written, beautifully animated or funny as Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s masterpiece.

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (2011)

While Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a step up from its 2009 predecessor, Revenge of the Fallen, the third installment in Michael Bay’s saga of massive robots still has its issues. Among them are a contrived screenplay, underdeveloped (new and returning) characters and a series of disorienting action sequences.

Bobbleheads: The Movie (2020)

You may find this hard to believe but, yes, Bobbleheads: The Movie does exist. And, yes, this poorly animated, generic film about a group of bobbleheads seeking to fend off human threats to their existence is just as bad as you’d imagine. After watching this flick, you’ll be left shaking your head just like the titular protagonists.

M.A.S.K. (1985-1986)

Syndicated ‘80s cartoon M.A.S.K. does have a solid following and has some appeal for younger viewers. However, getting older is realizing that beneath the Kenner toy-adapted show’s weapon-based action, there’s no true substance to the proceedings.

Ouija (2014)

The name Ouija is trademarked by Hasbro, and I’m not sure how they feel about the abysmal 2010s horror flick that bears that name. What can be said is that the production merely offers one-note characters, a tired story and a lack of strong scares. Those who would like a more entertaining offering from this franchise, though, can check out Mike Flanagan’s 2016 prequel, Origin of Evil.

Rubik, The Amazing Cube (1983)

A Rubik’s Cube is meant to serve as a way for young people to stimulate their minds in a creative way. On the other hand, ABC’s Rubik, the Amazing Cube – which is about kids who befriend the titular Rubik and help him fend off an evil magician – is mostly mind-numbing. The sole bright spot is that it was one of the first major animated series to feature Hispanic or Latino characters in mostly prominent roles.

My Little Pony: The Movie (1986)

My Little Pony: The Movie doesn’t hit the right notes like some of the other adaptations of Hasbro’s famous toyline. And even more disappointing than its less-than-spectacular animation and limited appeal is the fact that it’s so blatantly designed to sell products.

Sky Commanders (1987)

Running for only 13 episodes, Sky Commanders – which is inspired by Kenner’s toys of the same name – is a military action series that doesn’t quite stack up to some of its contemporaries. The main characters may be soldiers fighting an evil general but, given how basic it is, they might as well be civilians. 

Max Steel (2016)

The Max Steel franchise from Mattel was incredibly successful in the 2000s, thanks to the awesome toys and fun show on Kids’ WB. But the 2016 feature film adaptation, which melted at the box office, is a truly uninspired superhero tale that lacks the fun, excitement and adventurous spirit that's historically associated with the titular hero.

Robosapien: Rebooted (2013)

One certainly can’t forget that WowWee has also contributed its fair share of memorable toys, with one of those being the robot Robosapien. The live-action/CGI film, Rebooted, was released less than a decade after the toyline launched, and one can’t help but think that this idea needed more time to percolate. It’s a slow drama film that won’t delight young kids or intrigue adults in any way.

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)

Films based on card-based games can be very hit or miss, and The Garbage Pail Kids Movie very much falls into the latter category. It’s crude and unfunny in all the worst ways, and the puppetry utilized to create the eponymous bunch may give some kids nightmares.

Potato Head Kids (1986)

TV critics lament the existence of shows like The Flintstone Kids and Tom & Jerry Kids, but those shows and others don’t hold a candle to the misfire that is Potato Head Kids. It sees Mr. Potato Head serve as an adult-type mentor to a bunch of impressionable spuds. Narrative and animation-wise, there’s nothing truly spectacular about this production. You’re better off just watching Mr. and Mrs. P in the Toy Story films (which we’ve ranked).

Bratz (2007)

The live-action Bratz movie released in the 2000s ultimately underperformed, which may be surprising given how popular the brand was at the time. Those who’ve seen the film – and how it underserves its cast with a clichéd story with weak characters – you may understand why.  

Pound Puppies And The Legend Of Big Paw (1988)

Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw isn’t much of an improvement on the TV show on which it’s based, as it has many of the same flaws. Another attempt to capitalize on Tonka toys, this TriStar-distributed motion picture bombed.

G.I. Joe Extreme (1995-1997)

Of all the various entries in Hasbro’s military-based media franchise, G.I. Joe Extreme is probably one of the most easily forgotten, and that’s understandable. While it places the main heroes in the future and pits them against a new enemy, the S.K.A.R. organization, it doesn’t really add anything truly interesting to the lore.

The New Adventures Of He-Man (1990)

Mattel’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is arguably one of the greatest animated series ever to hit the small screen, and its impact on pop culture is immense. That’s why it’s so disappointing that its spiritual successor, The New Adventures of He-Man, only (and barely) improves upon it when it comes to animation style.

The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017)

The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie are strong feature film efforts, which blazed a solid trail for The Lego Ninjago Movie. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t feel nearly as inspired as its predecessors and can’t hold a candle to the action-packed and humorous energy of the Ninjago animated series.

Jem And The Holograms (2015)

The critically derided Jem and the Holograms strips away most of what made the Jem show of the ‘80s so endearing. Director John M. Chu trades out high-energy storytelling for a bland drama while also mostly ignoring the technological elements that made the series so inventive. And, above all else, the songs – unlike the ones on the show – are mostly forgettable.

Visionaries: Knights Of The Magical Light (1987)

A very short-lived TV program, Visionaries: Knights Of The Magical Light focuses on the Spectral Knights in their quest to fend off the evil Darkling Lords on a distant planet. This feels like an odd mixture of Dungeons & Dragons and Transformers. Unfortunately, it doesn’t possess the action and sense of wonder that those franchises offer.

Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

The critically panned Transformers: The Last Knight, Michael Bay’s fifth directorial effort in the franchise, sees the polarizing filmmaker give into all of his worst tendencies. There are one or two interesting ideas, such as Optimus Prime coming face to face with the extraterrestrial beings that actually brought the Autobots to life. However, the long-winded plot, which relies heavily on exposition, and repetitive action sequences leave much to be desired. 

Dino-Riders (1988)

Dino-Riders toys from Tyco may have seemed cool, but the cartoon created to promote them isn’t all that interesting. It offers a somewhat contrived concept about time-misplaced humanoid beings, who end up in the prehistoric era and forge telepathic bonds with dinosaurs to fight off enemies. It’s mostly generic – and not nearly as exciting as how the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers would command dino-inspired vehicles just five years later.

It should be said that these productions don’t truly represent the totality of toy adaptations movie and TV viewers have received over the years. As previously mentioned, there are plenty of excellent ones to check out. You can, however, still seek these out and watch in case you want to try to give them a chance.

For starters, I am not necessarily saying that any of these movie characters are outright “bad,” nor am I trying to make a case against any of the films they lead. However, I personally believe that these characters are deeply flawed for one reason or another — either because of the way they are written, the way their respective actors portray them, or even just their moral weaknesses — and what makes matters worse is that they are supposed to the protagonists of their stories. Please bear with me as I explain my reasoning for why these characters make the movies they lead just a bit more of a struggle to follow.

Rick Deckard (Blade Runner)

One of my all-time favorite actors is Harrison Ford who has played some of the most charming characters in cinematic history, but I do not believe Rick Deckard is one of them. Ford does not give a bad performance at all in Blade Runner, but his role — a cop assigned to “retire” artificial humans in a dystopian future — is the least interesting and likable character in Ridley Scott's 1982 film, the real hero of which is Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), if you ask me.

Rose (Titanic)

On The Ringer podcast, The Rewatchables, Bill Simmons and Van Lathan spend more than 10 minutes discussing why Rose (Kate Winslet) is the worst character from James Cameron's Titanic. The spoiled socialite's unimpressed reaction to first seeing the titular ship, her reluctance to immediately explain Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) saved her life as he is being arrested, and her hogging the makeshift lifeboat (a door) that likely could have prevented Jack's death are just a few reasons.

Scott Pilgrim (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World)

Michael Cera's title character from Edgar Wright's hilarious and visually stunning 2010 comic book movie is a smug, selfish, and lazy oaf whose troubles — notably having two unassuming girlfriends at once — are no one's fault but his own. I will say, however, that a main point of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is that the protagonist is deeply flawed and, through defeating Ramona's (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) evil exes, thankfully learns to be a better person.

Bella Swan (Twilight)

It is a shame that Kristen Stewart's stint in the Twilight movies cast cursed her with an undeserving reputation for wooden acting because, in retrospect, it was clearly not her fault. In fact, you could say the future Academy Award nominee's performance as the cinematic version of Bella Swan perfectly suits the role’s astonishing lack of personality and emotional depth in a romance about vampires.

Raleigh Beckett (Pacific Rim)

Charlie Hunnam has turned in many wonderful performances in his career, especially in the Sons of Anarchy cast as Jax Teller. Yet, he gives a decidedly one-note performance in 2013’s Pacific Rim as the hero of Guillermo del Toro’s monsters vs. machines epic, Raleigh Beckett, who certainly does not have his aggressively generic and unmemorable characterization.

Jupiter Jones (Jupiter Ascending)

There are many reasons why The Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending is one of their most infamous flops and among them is Mila Kunis' title role. The young house cleaner who discovers she is the heir to a royal, intergalactic kingdom is written as not much more than a disengaging damsel in distress.

Jake Sully (Avatar)

The reason why anybody went to see 2009's Avatar, or rewatches it to this day, and showed up for the 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, was to experience the wondrous world of Pandora. The groundbreaking success of James Cameron's franchise has absolutely nothing to do with its hero, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), whom many regard as one of the most generic action movie protagonists you could imagine.

Julianne Potter (My Best Friend's Wedding)

As the Queen of Rom-Coms, Julia Roberts has played many charming and lovable characters, but Julianne Potter is not quite one of them. The whole plot of My Best Friend's Wedding sees her conspire to ruin the impending nuptials of her lifelong buddy, Michael O'Neil (Dermot Mulroney), after realizing she wants to have him for herself.

Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: A New Hope)

I really, truly hate to include one of the most beloved heroes from George Lucas' galaxy far, far away on this list, but it is a decision that I believe many die-hard fans of the Star Wars movies might be able to understand. They may especially agree that Mark Hamill's performance as Luke Skywalker in the 1977 original is not exactly one of his best and the farmer-turned-resistance-fighter's characterization — specifically at that time — is a bit bland and, at times, annoying.

Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Is there a single character who represents the most egregious tropes associated with Disney Princesses more than Ariel in 1989’s The Little Mermaid? For one, she literally and willfully silences herself all for the chance to be with her crush, which is far from role-model behavior, as far as I am concerned.

Teth-Adam (Black Adam)

Let alone the fact that Teth-Adam was originally created for DC Comics as a Shazam villain, Dwayne Johnson gives a tonally uneven and one-dimensional portrayal of the extremely powerful Kahndaq "champion" whose verbal rejection of being called the hero of his story grows tiresome. Personally, I would have rather seen a movie that centers on the members of the Justice Society of America than what Black Adam turned out to be. 

Christine McPherson (Lady Bird)

Greta Gerwig's feature-length directorial debut, 2017's Lady Bird, is one of the sharpest coming-of-age dramedies of its time, anchored by a spellbinding, Oscar-nominated performance by Saoirse Ronan. Yet, even the acclaimed A24 movie's biggest fans agree that Ronan's title character (whose real name is Christine McPherson) is often too rude and self-absorbed to enjoy watching.

Bruce Wayne (Batman Forever)

When it comes to the best Batman actors, the bottom of the list, for me, is occupied by Val Kilmer. The normally charismatic and dynamic actor implants little to nothing of his signature talents in 1995's Batman Forever, resulting in one of the most bland and forgettable portrayals of the Dark Knight on record.

Cinderella (Cinderella)

I realize that Cinderella is, essentially, the ideal fairy tale character, and her age-old story inspires people to not give up on their dreams. However, her depiction in the 1950 classic does not have much of a distinct personality, causing it to be one of the few Disney animated movies that pales in comparison to its live-action remake, in my opinion. 

Sam Witwicky (Transformers)

To be fair, Shia LaBeouf really puts his heart and soul into playing Sam — an awkward, nervous teen caught up in a war between shape-shifting alien robots. However, the performance is just a little too convincing and often tends to distract from the true mechanical heroes of 2007's Transformers.

Evan Hansen (Dear Evan Hansen)

While the cinematic adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen certainly has its fans (many of whom already loved the original stage musical), its toughest critics agree the title role is a hard person to warm to by the end. The consensus has less to do with actor Ben Platt (reprising his Tony Award-winning role) being nearly twice Evan's age, and more with how he allows himself to benefit from a classmate's suicide after being mistaken for his friend.

Dante Hicks (Clerks)

I am sure there are many convenience store workers who strongly empathize with Dante (Brian O'Halloran), but his incessant whining and lack of gratitude for his girlfriend, Veronica (Marilyn Ghigliotti), kind of makes it hard to. Not to mention, in competition with Randal (Jeff Anderson), Jay (Jason Mewes), and Silent Bob (writer and director Kevin Smith), he is easily one of the least memorable characters from 1994's Clerks despite being the center of it all.

Sandy Olsson (Grease)

No one can deny that the late, great Olivia Newton-John is phenomenal in Grease, as both an actor and a musical performer. Yet, you could make the argument that her role, Sandy Olsson, is not a great character, especially for the way she submits to changing her personality to be more like her crush, Danny Zuko (John Travolta), while he gets to stay the same at the end.

Adam Jones (Burnt)

If not for a charismatic actor like Bradley Cooper in the lead role, the otherwise delicious food movie, Burnt, might not have been worth taking a bite out of. Cooper's character, a talented chef named Adam Jones, pretty much revels in treating people like scraps and boasts little to no redeeming qualities.  

Leo (Mute)

Duncan Jones, director of acclaimed sci-fi films Moon and Source Code, did not receive as much love in 2018 for his Netflix original futuristic noir, Mute. Much of the complaints were centered around Alexander Skarsgård's lead role, Leo, whose otherwise intriguing trait as a non-speaking character becomes a disadvantage as the role offers just about nothing else of interest to the table.

Steven (The Cable Guy)

Jim Carrey's demented performance is meant to convince you that his character is the "villain" of 1996's The Cable Guy. However, in retrospect, the pathetic, self-centered, hypocritical Steven (Matthew Broderick) is the one we should really be rooting against. 

Newt Scamander (Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them)

For a film in which the main draw is watching wondrous creatures run amok, it makes sense that the lead performance would be as understated as Eddie Redmayne's portrayal of Newt Scamander. Yet, even some major Harry Potter fans agree that the Magizoologist is, ultimately, too awkward and dull of a protagonist to carry Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Tom Hansen ((500) Days Of Summer)

To be clear, my main reason for including Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character from 2009's (500) Days of Summer in this list is because many often misinterpret the point of his arc in the modern romantic-comedy classic. Tom is so obsessed with living the perfect love story that he selfishly ignores Summer's (Zooey Deschanel) request to keep things casual and blames her for their breakup.

Ford Brody (Godzilla)

If I am being honest — and the same goes for many examples of disaster and/or monster movies, really — the human characters are easily the weakest part of 2014's Godzilla. However, the otherwise talented Aaron Taylor-Johnson's lead role as Lt. Ford Brody makes less of an impact on the story than anyone else. To be fair, though, I imagine it was hard to stand out amid Bryan Cranston's brief, but memorable, performance as his father.

Frodo Baggins (The Lord Of The Rings)

By the end of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) does achieve the end goal by destroying the One Ring, but is he really the true hero of this saga? When you look at how often Samwise (Sean Astin) came to his rescue and compare him to the fearless Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the hobbit really does come up short.

P.T. Barnum (The Greatest Showman)

Hugh Jackman's portrayal of P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman is, for the most part, extremely charming, and that is precisely the problem. The otherwise dazzling 2017 musical is not at all historically accurate, especially in the way it depicts the founder of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, who, in real life, was a greedy schemer known for exploiting an enslaved woman for his show.

Valerian (Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets)

Luc Besson's highly inventive, visually stunning, and admirably optimistic utopian adventure, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, could have gone down in history as a modern sci-fi classic. Unfortunately, the one-note, generic, frustratingly unimpressionable title hero, played by the otherwise very talented Dane DeHaan, resulted in an ultimately forgettable experience.

Albert Stark (A Million Ways To Die In The West)

Writer and director Seth MacFarlane also stars in 2014's A Million Ways to Die in the West as Albert Stark — an aimless, perpetually dissatisfied oaf whose main character trait is lengthy complaints. If the character was not just, essentially, a live-action, human version of one of MacFarlane's Family Guy roles, Brian Griffin, he might have been stronger protagonist for the Western-Comedy. 

Jack Burton (Big Trouble In Little China)

I can't deny that I have nothing but love for Kurt Russell's hilarious performance as California trucker Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China. Yet, did you ever notice just how imbecilic he is, not to mention, the fact that he achieves not a single heroic act until he kills Lo Pan (James Hong) at the end? His bumbling nature does give the many Asian cast members their chance to shine as the true heroes, but even that only further earns him a lower ranking among Russell’s best characters.

Howard Rattner (Uncut Gems)

Adam Sandler gives one of his most electric performances as Manhattan jeweler Howard Rattner in the Safdie Brothers' 2019 thriller, Uncut Gems. Honestly, if a less likable movie star had played the selfish, self-destructive gambling addict than the charismatic comedy icon, we would have no reason to root for him and the story could have suffered as a result.

Mimi (Psycho Goreman)

The ancient extraterrestrial warrior (voiced by Steven Vlahos and portrayed physically by Matthew Ninaber) may be the title character of Psycho Goreman, but the true protagonist is Mimi (Nita-Josée Hanna). However, as far as I am concerned, the 2020 horror-comedy would have been much more enjoyable if the young girl who awakens "PG" were not such a spoiled, rotten, loudmouthed bully.

Britt Reid (The Green Hornet)

Director Michel Gondry's 2011 reboot of The Green Hornet reimagines L.A. news publisher Britt Reid (producer Seth Rogen) as an absent-minded man-child whose vigilante aspirations seem completely out of place with his character. While this does work as a parodic commentary on Kato (played here by Jay Chou) always being the more obviously capable one in the 1960s series (which starred Bruce Lee in the role), it is a one-note joke that quickly loses steam.

I promise that my intention was not to ruin any of these main movie characters for you, but at least offer some additional perspective regarding how they fit into their stories.

Has a wave of missing persons occurred in your area? Have you noticed any unidentifiable objects flying in the sky above? Have you seen any odd creatures you have never seen before (or even look strangely like your loved one) recently?

Chances are, you could living in an alien invasion movie, which means the end could be near for you and everyone else living in your world. Luckily, having seen enough great sci-fi movies and plenty of classic horror movies, we may able to help you survive (or at least get through it all in a calm manner) by giving you a scoop on what to expect.

The Crazy Conspiracy Theorist Is The One Who Is Right

When irrefutable evidence of the alien invasion comes to light, you may find yourself thinking, Maybe I should have listened to the local “kook’s” warnings about the impending Martian attack. To be clear, in reality, we don’t like to give conspiracy theories much credence, but one of the genre’s most common tropes is seeing those kinds of people getting the validation they hoped for, like Independence Day cast member Judd Hirsch’s character, Julius Levinson.

Your Pet Might Detect Something Is Strange Before You Do

If no “local kook” in your area notices the invasion first, it might not even be a human who does. If you have a dog or a cat, have you caught them acting odd lately? You might want to pay close attention to whatever they could be reacting to.

You See Crop Circles, You’re In Trouble

Maybe you will end up being the first to notice that there is something otherworldly going on and the evidence might appear right outside your door, especially if you live on a farm. If you do and you find any distinct symbol appearing in your crops like in the 2002 M. Night Shyamalan movie, Signs, you should, indeed, take it as a sign.

Don’t Take Radio Interference Lightly

A surefire sign that outsiders are among us (in the movies, at least) is when your radio picks up a sound that defies explanation. This occurs during Roy Neary’s (Richard Dreyfuss) first close encounter in 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and is the way Everett (Jake Horowitz) and Fay (Sierra McCormick) first realize that they may not be alone in one of the best sci-fi movies of 2020, The Vast of Night.

Beware Of Flying Saucers

If a flying saucer appears above your head, run out of its way immediately because you do not want to get caught in its beam of light. That is how you get abducted and become the visitors’ experimental subject. Take it from Travis Walton, whose alleged experience inspired the 1993 movie, Fire in the Sky.

They Might Not Be From Space, But Another Dimension

Who says that our invaders always have to be extra-terrestrial? Instead of another planet, these creatures very likely could have originated from another corner of the Multiverse, much like the bugs from Frank Darabont’s 2007 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Mist.

Your Loved Ones Might Start Acting Out Of Character

The first sign of an invasion might be something that only you would have been able to notice, such as if your family member or best friend does not seem to be acting themselves. In fact, it might not even be themselves at all, but a perfect duplicate with an alien personality, like in the Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies.

The Invasion May Come In The Form Of A Parasitic/Bacterial Infection

If your loved one does begin acting like they are from another planet, it could be a symptom of a more non-violent and covert plan than lethal flying saucers. To bring up The Body Snatchers once again, the invasion in Jack Finney’s novel is brought on by an extra-terrestrial bacteria that latches on to human hosts and develops clones of them overnight.

The Infection May Cause A Horrifying Transformation

Extra-terrestrial bacteria can begat symptoms that go way beyond psychological manipulation, such as in Slither. In writer and director James Gunn’s feature-length debut, Grant Grant (Michael Rooker) transforms into a grotesque mutant creature who creates a zombie-like outbreak.

Your Loved One Might Be The Alien In Disguise

You may actually find it impossible to detect if someone you know has been possessed or replaced by an extra-terrestrial, just like the research crew from John Carpenter’s The Thing from 1982. Not only can the shape-shifting organism create a perfect visual imitation of those it consumes, but its keen sense of observation allows it to replicate human emotion convincingly. 

The Aliens May Take On A Very Attractive Disguise

There have actually been numerous cases in pop culture of an alien disguise that is not just meant to deceive, but to entice and prey on humans’ natural hormones. In fact, “aliens disguised as attractive people” has basically become its own subgenre with notable examples that include 1995’s Species with Natasha Henstridge and 2013’s Under the Skin with Scarlett Johansson.

The Aliens May Take On A Disguise With A Culturally Relevant Theme

Your alien enemy’s disguise might not be very effectively secretive and, in fact, is more of a stylistic choice. For instance, in 1988’s hilarious creature feature, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, the invaders adopt a wacky, circus-like aesthetic to their ship and their appearance that we suppose they found scary.

The Aliens May Have Already Been Here For A While

Whenever the invaders actually make themselves known, there is a chance that this will not actually be their first visit. For instance, in director Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, instead of the typical descent from the sky, the aliens’ killer tripod machines burst out from underground, meaning they had to be placed there before. In fact, it is possible that they have actually been hiding among us in plain sight for years.

The Aliens Could Be Kept Under Wraps By A Secret Organization

Perhaps, not only is this invasion Earth’s first publicly acknowledged visit by aliens, but previous visits have actually been regulated and closely monitored by a top-secret group that not even the government is aware of. How do we know that the stuff that goes on in the Men in Black movies is not actually happening right now?

They May Claim They Come In Peace

It’s natural for the human race to be alarmed by the appearance of visitors from another planet, but it might not actually be the disaster we expect. For instance, the aliens from Close Encounters meant no harm and, as the ending of 2016’s Arrival reveals, the Heptapods were actually trying to help prevent tragedy.

They Might Have Lied About Coming In Peace

While pop culture has shown us some exceptions, it might be ill-advised to immediately give in to a plea for civility from an extraterrestrial. There are even more pop culture examples — such as Mars Attacks! or the cult favorite V franchise — that prove they have an insidious hidden agenda.

Your Neighborhood Could Become A Warzone

When the invasion starts, get out of town as fast as you can. It probably will take no time at all before your home is no longer homely and serves as the site of conflict between our military and our new enemy. It’s not like they can negotiate a safe place to battle with creatures who have no interest in negotiating.

You Can Expect A Lot Of Traffic

Getting to a safe place might take longer than you may have hoped. With countless civilians seeking sanctuary at the same time, the roads are going to be overflowing with cars, making any potential seem even farther out of reach. Furthermore, this is only assuming that the aliens have not done something to make your vehicle immobile, like when they render all electricity obsolete in War of the Worlds.

The Aliens’ Plan Could Be Psychological

Maybe the visitors have no intention of hurting anybody and violence is beneath them. Perhaps their M.O. is creating a sense of paranoia that begins to consume the human race from the inside, like in one of the best The Twilight Zone episodes, “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.”

The Aliens May Be Manipulating You Subliminally

Paranoia is not the only psychological tool that extra-terrestrials may have at their disposal. In fact, they might have even managed to control you by planting hidden messages in the mass media you comfortably consume on a daily basis. Roddy Piper’s Nada makes that discovery with help from a special pair of glasses in John Carpenter’s They Live.

Humans Might Start Turning Against Each Other

Whether or not the aliens are intentionally trying to manipulate the human race, their presence could very likely have some damaging effects on our mental health. It becomes impossible for us to trust another stranger or even our own loved ones, fearing what nefarious agenda or reptilian features may be lurking underneath.

You May Become Obsessed With The Mystery Behind The Visitors

The psychological effects of the invasion could become a more personal matter. What if they really do come in peace, but you find yourself unable to accept that as the truth, causing you to lose yourself in your obsession with the visitors while the rest of the world lives in unprecedented harmony?

Your Obsession With The Visitors Will Cost You A Few Relationships

Whatever the true intentions of the aliens are (or whether or not their presence is even confirmed fact), if you find yourself obsessed with them for one reason or another, it could still have drastic effects on your life. For instance, in Close Encounters, Roy Neary’s wife, Ronnie (Teri Garr), and two sons leave him out of fear that he is dangerously unstable.

You Might Meet At Least One Friendly Visitor

Even if it is clear that the visitors, indeed, do not come in peace, that does not mean all of them are evil. The V franchise actually includes one of the most classic examples of an alien who defies its race’s oppressive plans and opts to help human beings resist — namely Robert Englund giving one of his best performances as Willie.

The Friendly Visitor Might Just Be Lost

Maybe you are not facing an invasion after all, but the strange activity you have encountered is due to just one harmless alien who merely lost their way. All the titular creature from 1982’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial wants to do is “phone home” and Vin Diesel’s role in 1999’s The Iron Giant is kind of like a little kid in a huge robot’s body.

The Visitor May Form A Bond With A Child

You may discover that all these aliens really need is a friend and no one is better at making friends than children, whether it turns out to be your own or someone else’s. To bring up E.T. and The Iron Giant once again, the central otherworldly characters from both of those classic family movies prove they have some humanity in them when they make a connection with a young human.

You Or Someone You Know Could Find Love With A Visitor

Perhaps it is not just a friendly connection that these creatures are seeking, but a romantic connection, and they could happen to find it with a human, whether they suspect it or not. Interspecies romance is actually a theme of several sci-fi films, both earnest (such as Starman) or comedic (Earth Girls Are Easy or My Stepmother is an Alien).

The Key To Defeating Them Might Be Robots

If they originate from another planet or dimension, we can probably count kaiju as aliens. In the case that they are the invading creature, what better way is there to stop them than by attacking with a gargantuan beast of our own design, just like the “monsters vs. robots” action of Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim?

The Aliens Might Be Robots

Not all extra-terrestrials are made of organic matter, as the warring natives of Cybertron from the Transformers movies have certainly proven. All we can say about that is we hope there is one group of alien robots on your side to defeat the evil side of that war. Otherwise, we hope you can get your hands on a Jaeger from Pacific Rim.

The Key To Defeating Them Might Be Harnessing Their Power

Sometimes, when attempting to figure out how to stop the aliens, the best question to ask is what they are capable of and how it can be used against them. In all honesty, you might need to discover that on accident, much like how Tom Cruise’s character in Edge of Tomorrow becomes imbued with his alien enemies’ ability to relive the same day on repeat.

It Might Prompt A Superhero Team-Up

Hopefully, you won’t need to be the one who takes matters into your own hands to save the planet because there may already exist a group of powerful individuals who just need a reason to come together. When Loki (Tom Hiddleston) caused an invasion of the Chitauri’s attack on New York, it essentially created the MCU’s interpretation of The Avengers.

The Key To Defeating The Aliens Might Be Ridiculously Simple

Do you, by any chance, have a copy of Slim Whitman’s “Indian Love Call”? If so, we recommend playing the song on the loudest speaker possible and seeing if that makes a difference, because that is all it took to defeat the invaders from 1996’s Mars Attacks! If that does not work, maybe just wait a few more days and see how the aliens’ health looks because, as newcomers to this planet, they may not have immunity to even our most common germs and could succumb to a mere cold pretty quickly, just like in War of the Worlds.

If none of these tips prove effective in your war against another world, well, good luck.

As the excitement of CinemaCon continues to deliver teases of what’s to come in the future of the movies, a lot of flashy reveals have been present to keep cinema fanatics well fed. However, today’s presentation from Paramount Pictures delivered something I wasn’t sure was ever going to happen, despite Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ massive cliffhanger setting it up. 

Folks, it looks like it’s time to Go Joe, as G.I. Joe is officially going to have a crossover movie with Optimus Prime and company. While there isn’t too much more to discuss with this freshly committed project, CinemaBlend was on hand to witness the Paramount presentation that made its presence known. 

The untitled Transformers/G.I. Joe film is intended to arrive on its production slate staked out for the next two years, but that’s all one can really say at this point. Which is still exciting, considering what other commitments have come down from Tinseltown’s mythic mountain. 

Further along in Paramount’s presentation, some more interesting news came out pertaining to projects that have been in development for quite some time. For instance, the audience at hand was reminded that yes, Liam Neeson’s reboot of The Naked Gun is indeed happening; and still on track for its 2025 release date. Which is encouraging, because I can only wonder how many more times the former Taken star can watch Airplane! in preparation before he goes mad.

Also, for those of you who have been following the progress on Edgar Wright’s new adaptation of The Running Man, that project apparently has its lead. The man who will be running for his life in this new interpretation of one of Stephen King’s books under the Richard Bachman pseudonym is none other than Twisters star Glen Powell.

Which will more than likely cause the internet to explode in happiness any moment now. Doubly so if the oh so flattering jumpsuits from the Arnold Schwarzenegger original somehow make a comeback. Expect fan art before the week is out, folks!

With all of these visions, plus a new movie continuing the saga of Avatar: The Last Airbender on the docket, one wouldn’t be mistaken to think that the Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover wasn’t a priority. Thankfully, Paramount has proven that concern to be incorrect, and I certainly can’t wait to see what happens next; in addition to all of the amazing announcements that rolled out alongside this news.

Franchise fans shouldn’t despair though, as the Transformers One cast will be keeping the spark of the Primes lit later this year with its September 13th release date. And for those of you who want to catch up with or revisit Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, you can stream that film through access to a Paramount+ subscription, at the time of publication.

Binary sunsets, endless oceans, futuristic worlds beyond our comprehension, and all other manners of planets have helped make some of the best sci-fi movies of all time so iconic. And while we’ll never get to travel to these beautiful and oftentimes dangerous locations except for in our imaginations (or video game versions of these films), we can still dream about them, right?

Well, here are 32 planets from sci-fi movies I want to visit, even if it means I would risk life and limb to do so. But if I were to meet my end, it would be such a glorious way to go out.

Krypton (Superman: The Movie)

Visiting Krypton would be tricky for a variety of reasons, the biggest being that it is swallowed by its exploding red supergiant sun in the opening act of Superman: The Movie. However, if I could get there before the planet’s destruction, walk around its terrain, and learn its peoples’ ways, it would be an incredibly enlightening and memorable experience.

Caladan (Dune)

Like other great sci-fi film franchises, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies are filled with an assortment of unforgettable planets. Caladan, the homeworld of House Atreides, looks like one of the safer and milder planets in the galaxy with its seemingly endless seas, towering bluffs, and seemingly mild weather. That being said, it wouldn’t be a bad place to prop up your feet and learn about its history with the help of a mentat.

Planet 0259-S (The Avengers Movies)

After Thanos wiped out half of all living things in the universe in Avengers: Infinity War he retired to Planet 0259-S, a peaceful world where he didn’t plan his next attack, but instead became a simple farmer to live out the rest of his days. I’m not saying I would carry out Thanos’ plan, but having a little planet of my own to get some rest and relaxation while farming some alien fruit honestly sounds pretty nice.

Arrakis (Dune)

Arrakis, aka Dune, is probably one of the most inhospitable worlds in all of sci-fi thanks to its endless deserts, soaring temperatures, and those earth-shaking sandworms beneath its surface, but there’s no denying it’s a beautiful place. Sure, it might be the spice talking, but those sunsets on the primary location of Dune look magical.

Pandora (The Avatar Franchise)

I know Pandora is a moon and not a planet, but I’m going to let it slide because this world from the Avatar movies is one of the most beautiful locations in all of sci-fi. Sure, I’d have to wear an oxygen mask or get an avatar of my own to survive my trip, and I’d have to learn to fight off some terrifying creatures, but it’d so be worth it. 

Genesis (Star Trek III: The Search For Spock)

If I could get to Genesis before its destruction in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, I think I’d have a good and memorable time. With all kinds of alien flora, fauna, and those awesome Klingons, a short stint on this planet would be a great trip away from the doldrums of modern suburban life.

Naboo (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace)

“But Naboo looks just like Earth?” Oh, boo hoo, cry me a river. This planet first seen in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace looks like a paradise, and unlike a lot of other sci-fi worlds, it looks like I could survive without supplemental oxygen. On my hypothetical trip, I would visit those underwater civilizations, the rolling hills that look like a Windows XP background, and pay my respects to the fallen Qui-Gon Jinn.

Ego (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2)

The Guardians of the Galaxy movies were full of exotic and alien planets that look cooler than anything we’ll ever have on Earth, and that includes Ego, the Living Planet. Visiting this god/planet would be a trip of a lifetime with its outrageous scenery, stunning architecture, and Kurt Russell. I would just avoid taking a trip below the surface though. No one’s trying to see all those bones.

Solaris (Solaris)

Okay, Solaris is pretty much a giant brain in the shape of a planet, but that could make for a unique vacation that’s off the beaten path. The hallucinations and dreams and inevitable damage to my psyche would be a tough pill to swallow, but I’m down to try almost anything once. 

Cybertron (The Transformers Movies)

Cybertron, the home world of the Autobots and Decepticons in the Transformers movie franchise, doesn’t look like the most peaceful vacation destination and is lacking when it comes to lush forests, beaches, and nature in general. However, waking up to witness a civil war between two rival factions of machines that can turn into cars or animals would make for a great story when I got back to work.

LV-426 (The Alien Franchise)

LV-426, which is technically a moon and not a planet, is a location that comes up multiple times in the Alien cinematic universe. It’s dark, it’s wet, it’s deadly, and full of an army of xenomorphs, but visiting the terraformed rock would be an exciting adventure like no other. I would just have to watch out for those face-huggers popping out of giant eggs.

Kashyyyk (Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith)

There are so many cool planets to check out in the Star Wars galaxy, including Kahsyyyk, the homeworld of the Wookiees. Hanging out with Chewbacca’s family, shooting crossbows, and fighting off clone troopers would be an adventurous vacation. I just need to see about booking some time in a bacta tank at the hotel.

Fhloston (The Fifth Element)

Fhloston from The Fifth Element would be a great way to spend a few days, or weeks, resting and relaxing from traveling through the cosmos. This paradise planet, with its resorts, opera singers, and all kinds of alien creatures, is perfect for a more low-key stay.

Vogsphere (The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy)

Though not one of the most exotic, colorful, or evolved planets in all of sci-fi, Vogsphere from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy would still be fun to visit, even if just for a short while. If I were looking for somewhere I didn’t need to be creative, come up with complex ideas, or use my brain for more than simple motor skills, this would be the place to go.

Mars (Total Recall)

Will I ever get to go to Mars? No, probably not. But if I could, I would want it to be the version of the red planet from Total Recall. This wild world from the classic Arnold Schwarzenegger movie is something else with its deadly terrain, bizarre humanoids, and sinister plots. I would just need to make sure I didn’t walk the surface without my spacesuit.

Asgard (The Thor Movies)

Asgard is more of a realm than a planet, but it’s my vacation and I can go where I want. That being said, hanging out with Thor, Loki, and those actors from the play in Thor: Ragnarok would be pretty, pretty good. Also, Asgard has the Bifröst, which would make for some cool excursions during my stay.

Altair IV (Forbidden Planet)

Altair IV, the rocky world from Forbidden Planet is pretty limited when it comes to scenery, but being a great distance from Earth could make it a nice escape from life for a while. Plus, the planet has an almost turquoise sky, which would probably make for some majestic sunsets, or Altair-sets, if we’re being precise.

Kaitain (Dune: Part Two)

The home planet of Emperor Shaddam IV in Dune: Part Two, Katain would be a nice vacation destination in Denis Villeneuve’s film franchise. Sure, I’d have to watch out for politicians and other unsavory characters, but there aren’t any sandworms or seas of sand.

Abydos (Stargate)

Abydos is essentially the alien version of ancient Egypt in Stargate but with just even more great technology. As a kid, I was always drawn to the planet and its intricate structures and culture. Would it be hot, strange, and dangerous? Yeah, but I’d have a killer time.

Xandar (Guardians Of The Galaxy)

As long as I could get there before Thanos destroyed the planet to get the power stone before Avengers: Infinity War, a visit to Xandar would be a nice place to spend a few days. But since the Nova Corps isn’t too fond of criminals, or really anyone who goes against the grain, I would need to be on my best behavior. I’m not trying to spend my vacation in the Kyln.

Coruscant (Star Wars)

Coruscant, which has popped up in various Star Wars movies and TV shows over the years, is essentially one giant city in the shape of a planet. Though I’m not too fond of crowds, traffic, or politicians, witnessing the controlled chaos of the capital city-planet would be something to see.

Mongo (Flash Gordon)

Mongo, the home of Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon, seems like a cool place to visit despite not having the chill factor most seek out when planning a vacation. But this technicolor and dangerous alien world has a certain charm like the cheap end of the Vegas strip that could make it a bargain.

Miller's Planet (Interstellar)

I would need to get a surfboard and a supply of Dramamine before setting my sights on this water world, but Miller’s Planet from Interstellar would be a unique vacation spot if I’m on that side of the wormhole. And knowing that those aren’t actually mountains but giant waves, I think I could manage.

Tatooine (Star Wars)

A holiday in the vast deserts of Tatooine probably doesn’t seem like the ideal space vacation, but this planet on the outer rim of the galaxy has a lot going for it. The party scene in Mos Eisley is raging, the binary sunsets are something to see, and you never know who or what you’ll see on your travels.

Giedi Prime (Dune: Part Two)

Giedi Prime, the homeworld of House Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two, probably isn’t the best place to go for someone who’s susceptible to sunburns, but the way in which the closest star turns everything to black and white is something I’d love to see. It’d be a short trip, but I’d be down to hang out with the Harkonnen.

Titan (Avengers: Infinity War)

If I could be a fly on the wall when Earth’s Mightiest Heroes confronted Thanos on Titan in Avengers: Infinity War, I would be there in a minute. However, I’d prefer to go to the Mad Titan’s home planet before its overpopulation and limited resources led to its demise.

Vulcan (Star Trek)

Spock’s homeworld gets taken out in spectacular fashion in the 2009 Star Trek movie, but if I could somehow go back in time and visit before its annihilation, it could be a great trip with the family. Learning more about the Vulcan culture and hanging out with Spock’s family and friends would definitely be an enlightening experience.

Counter-Earth (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3)

Counter-Earth in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a place that I’d love to visit, but only if the timing was right. It’d be like going to Canada in the sense that there are some cultural differences but there are enough similarities to figure out what’s going on.

LV-223 (Prometheus)

LV-223, as seen in the opening of Prometheus, seems like a great vacation destination, especially if I’m not trying to hang out with a lot of people. Sure, I’d have to avoid the Engineer if I wanted to keep my head on my shoulders, but I’m pretty good at avoiding people here on Earth.

Helion Prime (The Chronicles Of Riddick) 

Helion Prime from The Chronicles of Riddick probably isn’t the safest place to visit on my annual family vacation, but life’s about living, right? It’s kind of drab and the locals are kind of stuffy, but it could be one of those sneaky-good holidays that catch you by surprise.

Magrathea (The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has some nifty worlds that are as cool as they are exotic, including Magrathea. If I could get a tour of the planet and find the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, this could be a memorable and powerful retreat from society.

Earth (The Blade Runner Movies)

Though the Blade Runner movies technically take place on Earth, the real-life version of the planet is nowhere as cool as seen in this classic sci-fi franchise. Ridley Scott’s vision of the future in the form of Los Angeles in 2019 is so rad. The same goes for Denis Villeneuve’s design in Blade Runner 2049. 

If anyone knows of a good travel agent who can get me to places like Pandora, Arrakis, Titan, or Coruscant please let me know because now I really want to visit these iconic sci-fi planets.

You know a movie is doing something right when it elicits a truly emotional reaction from you. Often that might be tears welling in your eyes. Sometimes it’s a feeling of elation when a hero succeeds. And sometimes it’s the desire to punch somebody right in the face. You’re supposed to hate the bad guys and want them to get defeated, but sometimes the person who needs a smack is the hero.

A thread on Reddit recently asked fans what protagonist they would most like to punch in the face, either because they were whiney, generally annoying, or just an actual terrible person. And there are some choice answers here. It turns out that a fair number of heroes need a decent smack.

There are plenty of characters in the Harry Potter cast worthy of a smack, but one is one of the main three heroes. Harry's buddy Ron Weasley is a popular choice for a human punching bag that people who want to just beat the hell out of. A lot of people think that, especially in the later films, he ends up perpetually stupid and jealous and he just needs to get over himself. It doesn’t make him a good friend to the people he’s supposed to be friends with.

Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky in the Transformers movies is another popular choice. Maybe it was the fact that the movies focused so much on his character, while most people watching the movies just wanted to see the giant robots, that made him so completely annoying. Maybe that's why the Transformers franchise seemingly killed him off. It's certainly true that the best Transformers movies are generally the ones he's not in.

One choice that is perhaps controversial is Ferris Bueller. While Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is an incredibly popular comedy, there is a contingent of people who see Ferris as a spoiled, entitled ass, and think that maybe what Ferris needs is a good ass-kicking. While I don’t necessarily agree, I can see why some people feel that way. 

There are some cases where even though a movie character is ostensibly the protagonist of a film, you’re not necessarily supposed to like them. Adam Sandler’s character in Uncut Gems comes up in the discussion. He certainly has a pretty bad life for the duration of the film. Of course, that’s all because of the choices that he makes, which makes you want to wring his neck. This is by design, but that doesn’t make it any less true. 

If a movie makes you want to punch the hero in the face, there’s an argument that the movie still works, that you’re invested enough in the story for the character’s actions to make you want to smack them. In many cases, this does mean that a character you were supposed to like is one you don’t, but as long as you weren’t bored, I guess that’s something. 

It’s likely that, at some point or another, many of us enjoyed Saturday morning cartoons as kids (and or even as teens and young adults). In decades past, there were plenty of excellent shows that definitely made getting out of bed early worth it, and a select number of those small-screen offerings have truly managed to stand the test of time. Even some dating back to the ‘60s and ‘70s still have their charms and could surely air today.

On that note, we’ve compiled 15 animated weekend TV treats that still hold up. So sit back, relax and breathe in the nostalgia as we take a stroll down memory lane. 

Jonny Quest (1964)

At the time of its debut, Jonny Quest was a bit of a change of pace for Hanna-Barbera, which was known for fare like The Flintstones and Top Cat at that point. The sci-fi series provided plenty of action and intrigue through the stories centered around its young, globe-trotting protagonist. WIth memorable characters like Hadji and Race Bannon (which is still an awesome name) and fun stories, this show is a classic. It may have only lasted a single season on ABC, but its enduring popularity through reruns are what earned it two revival series and multiple TV films. This one could still entertain the masses today.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969)

Easily another one of Hanna-Barbera’s most iconic shows, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! practically took the TV world by storm when it premiered on CBS in the late ‘60s. Since then, Scooby and the meddling kids that make up Mystery Inc. have been valiantly (and humorously) solving cases and unmasking bad guys dressed as ghouls. Of course, the three-season show launched a media empire that included various small-screen offshoots and a plethora of theatrical and direct-to-video Doo movies (which you can watch). The beloved talking dog is still a pop culture staple, and his inaugural series has aged well.

Josie And The Pussycats (1970)

Josie and the Pussycats also featured a group of young people that found themselves in kooky situations, though their adventures were more music-based. This H-B production bopped its way onto CBS in 1970 and was a fun adaptation of the Archie Comics book of the same name. The exploits of Josie, Valerie, Melody and the gang are vibrant, upbeat and endlessly rewatchable. Two seasons would be produced before this program’s cancellation in 1972. However, its legacy would live on, thanks to syndication and reimaginings of the characters on other shows, as well as that 2001 live-action film. Yet the OG show series still stands above them all.

Pac-Man (1982)

Before Sonic the Hedgehog and The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! made their way to TV, there was Pac-Man. This take on Namco’s famous ghost gobbler was the first cartoon to be based on a video game, and it managed to rake in huge ratings for ABC upon its debut. Not only did it maintain many of the franchise’s sensibilities, but it also fleshed out its protagonist, as well as his family and other residents of Pac-Land. The original game is still enjoyed in arcades now, and I have no doubt that kids (and adults) would still eat up this two-season now.

Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends (1983)

Remember that time Marvel’s famous Web-Slinger regularly fought alongside two members of the X-Men? I sure do. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends teamed Peter Parker with Bobby Drake (Iceman) and Angelica Jones (Firestar). This Saturday morning delight was filled with all sorts of comic book goodness, but it was truly the camaraderie between the three heroes that made it so entertaining. While plenty of great Spidey cartoons would air in the years after its three-season run ended, this NBC production is still solid and isn’t collecting cobwebs. That is, aside from the ones its main hero produces.

Alvin And The Chipmunks (1983)

How can we not acknowledge the staying power of the world’s most famous trio of chipmunks, who first sang their way into the public’s hearts in the ‘50s? 1983’s Alvin and the Chipmunks managed to make a far bigger impression than its predecessor, 1962’s The Alvin Show. This weekend morning offering provided some fun music-infused adventures featuring the lovable band of rodents – as well as Dave, the Chippettes and the flamboyant Miss Miller. This is a piece of timeless work, which not only features humorous stories that are still chuckleworthy, but can also perfectly stand alongside musical kids shows that air these days. 

The Transformers (1984)

I’m sure you’re familiar with the Michael Bay-produced and directed Transformers movies (which we’ve ranked). But you can’t forget that The Transformers was the first piece of media based on Hasbro’s famous toyline. While it eventually became a weekday staple, this show started as a Saturday morning toon, which entertained viewers with the exploits of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron and more. To put it mildly, it’s one of the greatest cartoons ever created – and one of the most influential. Many still enjoy the “Robots in Disguise” in many forms today, and I’m confident that if faced with this series, today’s youngsters would still see that it possesses more than meets the eye.

The Real Ghostbusters (1986)

It’s weird to think that The Real Ghostbusters is one of those children’s TV shows that are rarely discussed nowadays. That may be due to the fact that as popular as it was with kids of the ‘80s, its legacy is still overshadowed by the live-action films. The Ghostbusters movies have good and bad attributes, but the show is arguably very consistent quality-wise. Aside from the paranormal action and top-notch voice-acting, the producers simply managed to seamlessly build on the lore established in Ivan Reitman’s 1984 blockbuster. In recent years, we’ve seen several spooky, fun and weird animated offerings hit it big, and TRG could fight right in with that pack. 

DuckTales (1987)

Few TV shows – animated or live-action – can exude a sense of adventure like Disney’s DuckTales. At the time, the series expanded upon some classic characters from the House of Mouse, including Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck and Huey, Dewey and Louie. It also brought some other memorable heroes and villains into the fold, like Webby Vanderquack, Launchpad McQuack, Flintheart Glomgold and Magica De Spell. This production is the true embodiment of the kind of fun that can emanate from a Saturday morning cartoon. Its format and themes are ageless, which is surely why an impeccable reboot (which saw Don Cheadle briefly voice Donald) was produced in the 2010s.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hit Saturday morning TV in the late ‘80s, and the world hasn’t been the same since. Adapted from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s classic comic books, the show put a lighter spin on the characters that quickly became a smash hit. It’s not hard to understand why, considering how lovable the four kung-fu-fighting, pizza-eating teenage reptiles are. Not to mention the fact that the sci-fi storytelling was sometimes straight-up bonkers in the best possible way. Amid the ‘90s, the only action show that could probably match TMNT was Power Rangers. This animated series is the stuff cartoon dreams are made of, and that’s why the franchise continues to hold up.

Garfield And Friends (1988)

Jim Davis’ famous orange cat hates Mondays, and he’s also the reason that so many children of the ‘80s and ‘90s love Saturdays. Garfield and Friends aired during the early hours of that day for six years and amassed a firm following in the process. It not only served as a fun adaptation of the eponymous character, but it employed a sense of nuttiness that was as endearing as it was funny. Watching Garfield, Odie, John Arbuckle and co. today is still fun, and the animation is still as vibrant as ever.

Bobby’s World (1990)

Another gem that’s not discussed all that often now is Bobby’s World, which was one of the earliest titles to hit the now-defunct Fox Kids programming block. Created by Howie Mandel (yes, THAT Howie Mandel), it followed the adventures of a highly imaginative boy named Bobby Generic. The diminutive character’s creativity would result in some funny and sweet stories, and the writing staff deserve a lot of credit for their work. In hindsight, the show was a precursor to more recent productions like Phineas & Ferb, Craig of the Creek and Bluey. It was reported several years ago that a revival of this Saturday morning favorite was on the way. But honestly, I think the show we have is still very effective.

The Tick (1994)

In a superhero cartoon landscape that included the likes of Batman: The Animated Series and Spider-Man, there was The Tick (which actually aired on Fox Kids alongside those two toons). This three-season production saw the eponymous vigilante battling crime alongside his sidekick, Arthur, in The City, resulting in some odd and humorous situations. What made this classic ahead of the curve was its impressive deconstruction of the superhero genre. One could say that this one walked so the likes of Harley Quinn and The Boys could run, which is a testament to how much it holds up.

Pokémon (1997)

Pokémon is definitely not on the list of Saturday morning cartoons that are barely talked about anymore. The TV franchise started in the ‘90s with Ash Ketchum, who sought to be the best Pokémon master in the world, with the help of his friends Misty, Brock and the ever-adorable Pikachu. After the show started being syndicated on Kids’ WB!, it became massively popular in the states, spawning countless spinoffs and a host of movies. Considering the fact that the franchise is still going strong, it’s pretty obvious that this title has staying power. Still, the OG still stands above the rest due to its lovable characters, lighthearted tone and adventurous spirit.

Recess (1997)

Disney’s One Saturday Morning produced a plethora of excellent programs, like The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Pepper Ann. Though one could argue that Recess is one of the greatest productions the block ever birthed. It’s honestly hard to top the exploits of T.J. Detweiler and his friends from Third Street Elementary School. This six-season ensemble comedy is a masterpiece, delivering all of the laughs, as well as plenty of heart. Actual recess may look a lot different in schools in this day and age, but this series could still entertain today’s youth due to its nuanced and relatable stories.

When it comes to cartoons that famously aired on weekend mornings, it’s hard to top the ones that we’ve discussed. Each one played an important role in the history of this medium, and I’m hopeful that they will not be completely forgotten as time goes on.

Just as we could easily count numerous movies that performed modestly (or even poorly) at the box office among some of the best movies of the 2000s, not all of the movies that scored the biggest box office hauls during the 2000s were a hit with the critics. And that's exactly what we're here to explore. Up ahead, you'll find some of the biggest box office winners of the first decade of the century, as well as whether or not the critics liked them. 

For the box office totals, we're focusing on the worldwide box office total for films released between 2000 and 2009 (based on Box Office Mojo's numbers), and the review scores included for each film, as listed by Rotten Tomatoes. Here are 30+ box office winners from the 2000s (in no particular order).

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Following up on the first two Pirates of the Caribbean films, At World’s End was one of the biggest box office winners of the 2000s, grossing more than $960 million worldwide. Alas, the critics weren’t so fond of it. While the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes has managed to squeak past 70%, the review score for the film is a rotten 44%. 

Avatar (2009)

It should come as no surprise that Avatar was among the top grossing films of the 2000s. As the decade drew to a close, James Cameron’s sci-fi epic starring Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington arrived and has amassed a global box office close to $3 billion (BoM has its worldwide box office at just over $2.9 billion). And in this case, the critics seemed to be mostly on board with the film, with a Rotten Tomatoes review score of 81%. 

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

As popular as the Harry Potter books were in 2001, the Wizarding World fandom was really only just starting to build steam when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (aka Philosopher’s Stone) arrived in theaters. The first movie in the 8-film franchise would go on to surpass a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Critics were, for the most part, happy with the adaptation as well, as the movie holds an 81% review score at Rotten Tomatoes. 

The Dark Knight (2008)

Why so serious? Perhaps it’s because the worldwide box office total for The Dark Knight is no joke. The second movie in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy has surpassed a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. This one was undoubtedly a hit with critics as well, as The Dark Knight earned itself a 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter fans were still showing up for the film adaptations as the 2000s drew to a close, as evidenced by the sixth movie in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,  which brought in just over $934 million at the worldwide box office. As for whether or not the critics liked it, with a review score on Rotten Tomatoes of 84%, it’s safe to say that most of them did. 

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Following up on the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Gore Verbinksi’s sequel, Dead Man’s Chest, brought Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow back for another adventure with Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner and Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann. The payoff for the film was a worldwide box office total that surpassed a billion dollars. Critics weren’t quite so into it, however, as the RT review score has it at a rotten 52%. 

The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Those who were among the movie-going public in the early ‘00s surely remember what a huge deal it was when a new installment of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy arrived in theaters. So it should come as no surprise that the second film, The Two Towers, earned over $948 million at the worldwide box office. And the majority of critics gave it a thumbs up, as Rotten Tomatoes has the review score set at a fresh 95%. 

Shrek 2 (2004)

In 2004, Shrek returned and the audience showed up for it. The Mike Myers animated sequel from Dreamworks earned over $928 million at the global box office. 2004’s Shrek 2 was also popular among critics, as it holds a Rotten Tomato review rating of 89%.

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

While Michael Bay’s 2009 Transformers sequel, Revenge of the Fallen scored big at the box office, earning more than $836 million worldwide, the film wasn’t nearly as successful at winning over the critics. Rotten Tomatoes has the review score for the Shia LaBeouf movie at 20%. If it’s any consolation, movie-goers are a bit more fond of it than critics were, as the audience score is 57%.

Spider-Man (2002)

The early 2000s were a fun time for superhero fans, thanks in large part to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man swinging into theaters and introducing us to a live-action Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire). Fans were there to watch the webslinger’s origin story, as the 2002 movie brought in over $825 million at theaters around the world. And critics were clearly on board as well, as the movie has a RT review score of 90%!

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (2005)

Mike Newell’s adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire arrived in theaters in 2005, and fans of the boy who lived headed to theaters to see Harry face the Triwizard Tournament during his fourth year at Hogwarts. This Wizarding World movie brought in just under $900 million worldwide, and earned mostly positive reviews, with a respectable 88% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

2012 (2009)

The 2009 movie 2012 saw John Cusack’s character racing around the world in various vehicles averting a myriad of catastrophes while trying to secure safety for himself and his family during a world-ending event. 2012 is among the highest box office winners of the 2000s, thanks in large part to the international box office, which according to Box Office Mojo, accounts for 79% of its box office total. The Rolland Emmerich disaster film earned a total of more than $791 million worldwide. Alas, the review score on Rotten Tomatoes is rotten at 39%. 

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

While most probably wouldn’t call Spider-Man 3 the best Spider-Man movie of the Sam Raimi films, fans of Peter Parker did show up to see Tobey Maguire’s return to the franchise in 2007. Spider-Man 3 earned over $894 million at the worldwide box office. Based on its 63% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, it seems critics weren’t entirely in agreement about whether or not this one worked. 

Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (2009)

The Ice Age movies were still going strong at the box office by the end of the 2000s. The third movie – Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs – arrived in theaters in 2009 and earned a worldwide box office total of $886 million. Based on the Rotten Tomatoes review score for the movie, however, critics weren’t all in love with this one, as it’s set at a rotten 46%. 

The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)

The first film in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy made a splash among fans and at the box office, with a worldwide gross of just under $900 million. It also started things off well in the reviews, as the 2001 movie holds a fresh 91% review score at Rotten Tomatoes. 

Shrek The Third (2007)

While the third movie in the Shrek franchise can celebrate having brought in just over $813 million at the worldwide box office, critics weren’t quite as enthusiastic about it in the reviews. The 2007 Dreamworks movie holds a rotten review score of 42% at Rotten Tomatoes (and the audience score isn’t much higher). 

Finding Nemo (2003)

Pixar’s Finding Nemo undoubtedly had cause to celebrate when it arrived in theaters in 2003. For one thing, the beloved movie earned over $941 million at the worldwide box office. What’s more, Finding Nemo was reviewed positively by almost all of the critics who rated it, at least based on its Rotten Tomatoes score, which is sitting at 99% fresh. 

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

The third film among the Star Wars prequels arrived in theaters in 2005, and fans were there to see how Anakin Skywalker’s story left off. Revenge of the Sith took in more than $868 million at the worldwide box office. Its score on Rotten Tomatoes among reviewers is mostly positive, with a fresh rating of 79%. 

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)

In 2002, Harry Potter returned to Hogwarts for his second year, and fans of the Wizarding World showed up to watch. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets brought in over $926 million at the worldwide box office. Meanwhile the majority of critics were in agreement about the Chris Columbus movie working, as its Rotten Tomatoes score is a fresh 82%. 

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Given the popularity of Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, at the time, it’s no surprise that Ron Howard’s adaptation starring Tom Hanks would be among the decade’s box office winners. The 2006 movie earned more than $760 million worldwide. However, critics weren’t feeling especially positive about it, as it holds a rotten score of 25% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Transformers (2007)

Michael Bay wowed audiences in 2007 when he brought the Transformers to the big screen with a live-action film. The Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox franchise-starter earned over $709 million worldwide. The critical reaction was a bit mixed on the film, however, as it holds a rotten score of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. (The audience score is much higher, at 85%). 

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

In 2004, the third Harry Potter movie arrived in theaters, and unsurprisingly won big at the box office, bringing in more than $807 million worldwide. While many – myself included – consider Alfonso Cuarón’s film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, to be the best of the Harry Potter adaptations, the critics were also mostly in agreement that the movie worked, as it holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90%. 

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)

The tail end of the 2000s saw the rise of the Twilight movies, and while the first film in the vampire franchise performed well it didn’t earn enough worldwide to warrant a spot on this list. The feature adaptation of New Moon, however, earned more than $711 million worldwide at the box office. While that’s a big win for the Twilight Saga, the review score, however, is a rotten 29% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)

In 2008, Harrison Ford returned to the role of Indiana Jones for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Fans were eager to see the Steven Spielberg movie, and it showed in the worldwide box office, with a total of $790 million. Critics were also mostly positive on this one, with a Rotten Tomatoes review score of 77%. The audience score isn’t quite so high. 

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007)

The fifth film in the Harry Potter franchise continued the trend of box office success, earning over $939 million worldwide. And while Order of the Phoenix doesn’t hold one of the highest review scores among the Harry Potter movies on Rotten Tomatoes – the top honor there goes to 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 at 96% – the fifth movie did fairly well among critics, with a 78% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. 

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Keanu Reeves returned to the role of Neo in The Matrix Reloaded, the Wachowski’s sequel to the popular 1999 sci-fi action film, The Matrix. The action-packed followup brought in over $741 million at the worldwide box office, and earned a fresh review score of 74%. 

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones (2002)

In 2002, the second of the three Star Wars prequels arrived in theaters, earning more than $653 million at the worldwide box office. While critics weren’t in total agreement about Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the movie does hold a 65% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

It should come as no surprise to see Spider-Man 2 on this list. The second of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies was a hit at the worldwide box office, bringing in more than $788 million. And the critics were mostly in agreement about the movie wording, as it holds a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2005)

Andrew Adamson’s 2005 adaptation of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was one of the big releases in 2005. The Chronicles of Narnia took in over $745 million at the worldwide box office. The critics, for the most part, appreciated the fantasy movie, as it has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 75%. 

Hancock (2008)

Will Smith took the lead in Peter Berg’s 2008 superhero drama Hancock, which brought in just over $629 million at the box office. Though the movie had potential, critics were mixed on whether or not it worked, which resulted in its rotten score of 42% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Up (2009)

Toward the end of the decade, Pixar had us all in tears in those first few minutes of Up. The animated film earned more than $735 million at the worldwide box office when all was said and done. And critics were into it as well, as the movie holds an impressive 98% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Ratatouille (2007)

In 2007, Pixar’s Ratatouille arrived in theaters and charmed audiences with its story of a rat with a gift for the culinary arts and the aspiring chef he befriends. Not only did the film win big with a worldwide box office total that surpassed $623 million, it also satisfied the taste buds of most critics, as it holds a 96% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. 

As we said, not all box office winners are a hit with the critics, but these movies certainly left an impression, for better or worse. And by the numbers, there's no denying that people showed up at the theaters in the U.S. and across the world to see them.

It’s almost hard to believe it, but the live-action Transformers franchise has been around for a decade and change. The latest installment of the sci-fi property is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which just arrived on Blu-ray. The 1994-set blockbuster broke new ground by bringing in the Maximals from the Beast Wars animated series. I like Rise of the Beasts, but as a Beast Wars fan one thing drove me crazy. Autobots, transform and roll out!

Full disclosure: I’m really not that huge of a Transformers aficionado. But as a ‘90s kid I ended up really loving Beasts Wars, collecting the action figures and watching the animated series religiously. So when I learned they were making their way to live-action, I was definitely excited. But there was something missing: the Maximals just didn’t actually transform all that much.

I mean, the franchise as a whole is titled Transformers for a reason, right? But for the majority of the runtime for Rise of the Beasts, Maximals like Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman) and Airazor (Michelle Yeoh) and Cheetor (Tongayhi Chirisa) stayed in their animal forms. It wasn’t until the final battle with the Terrorcons that we finally see them take their robot fighter form and get into the action in that way. And it just feels like a missed opportunity in my opinion.

Part of the reason why the live-action franchise became such a sensation was because of the visual effects and Bayhem involved in the Transformers action. Seeing the transformations play out, complete with complex visuals and interconned machinery, was thrilling. So why wouldn’t we want to see the Maximals do the same, just as they did throughout the Beast Wars franchise.

It should be interesting to see if the Maximals end up returning to the big screen, allowing for more actual transformations in the process. The twist ending of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts revealed a connection to G.I. Joe, seemingly setting up a crossover in the making. Whether or not that forthcoming narrative includes the Beast Wars characters remains to be seen, but the door was definitely left open narratively. That is, if more ‘90s-set stories are coming down the line.

If we get more Maximals in the Transformers franchise, it would also open the door for more characters from Beast Wars to get in on the explosive Bayhem. Anthony Ramos’ character Noah Diaz is seemingly going to serve as the link between the Transformers and G.I. Joe. Although technically there’s been no announcements from the studio about another live-action movie. 

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is streaming now on Paramount+ and the Blu-ray is available now. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Earlier this year, the Transformers film series resumed with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which followed five years after Bumblebee. However, aside from the mere inclusion of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, along with an indirect mention of Hailee Steinfeld’s Charlie Watson, Rise of the Beasts wasn’t connected to the 2018 spinoff; one could walk into this 2023 new movie release and easily follow along without knowing anything about the yellow Autobot’s adventure with Charlie in 1987. So will Bumblebee ever get a proper sequel? Steinfeld offered her thoughts on the subject.

The actress, who’s other major credits include True Grit, The Edge of Seventeen, Hawkeye and Dickinson, briefly discussed Bumblebee while chatting with THR about her newest movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which sees her reprising Gwen Stacy, the Spider-Woman of Earth-65. When Steinfeld was asked if she was surprised that a direct sequel wasn’t made for Bumblebee considering it’s the best-reviewed movie in the Transformers franchise, she answered:

Shortly after Bumblebee’s release, director Travis Knight shared that he had ideas for a sequel if he was able to make it, and in late January 2019, Bumblebee 2 was reported to be in development. Hailee Steinfeld also said earlier that same month that she’d be game to do another Bumblebee movie since she felt that Charlie “got so much to say, a lot more to learn and a long way to go.” But as she laid out with this latest statement, it’s not as though Steinfeld was expecting to work on Bumblebee 2, because with the way she works, she prefers to live in the moment rather than dedicate a lot of thought to upcoming/prospective projects.

Ultimately Paramount Pictures deciding to resume the main Transformers film series after Bumblebee rather than continue that spinoff’s story, although rather than returning to the present day, i.e. post-The Last Knight, Rise of the Beasts was set in 1994. At this point, it seems unlikely that Bumblebee 2 will ever get off the ground, but that’s not to say that Steinfeld couldn’t still reprise Charlie Watson someday. If the next live-action Transformers movie is set post-Rise of the Beasts, but pre-2007’s Transformers, perhaps that could be a platform to see how a Charlie in her late 20s or early 30s is doing.

In addition to Paramount announcing back in early 2022 that Transformers: Rise of the Beasts would be the first of three new installments in the franchise, the ending laid the groundwork for a crossover with G.I. Joe. That said, it hasn’t been officially clarified yet what’s up next on the live-action Transformers front. Instead, this continuity is pivoting to animation with Transformers: One, which will explore the origins of the robots in disguise, including Optimus Prime and Megatron’s relationship, on Cybertron.

If you missed seeing Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in theaters, it, along with Bumblebee and the other live-action movies, can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription. Transformers: One is slated on the 2024 movie release schedule for September 13.

When fans think about the Transformers character Optimus Prime, what comes part and parcel with the whole "truck becomes a robot" thing is the voice of Peter Cullen. The actor has been playing the beloved extraterrestrial hero since the mid-1980s on the Transformers cartoon, and his personal possession of the character was reinforced when he was cast for Michael Bay's live-action movies. That being recognized, Chris Hemsworth is going to face a great deal of scrutiny for his performance as Optimus in the upcoming animated feature Transformers One – but the Thor star has a plan and a mindset to properly honor the pop culture icon.

Hemsworth was recently asked by Collider about his upcoming performance as Optimus Prime, and it was when asked if he was going to be using his natural Australian accent that he explained his approach to the character. According to Hemsworth, the reason that the Transformer will sound different in Transformers One is because he is far younger than the version we already know. The Extraction actor explains,

With Chris Hemsworth replacing Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime for Transformers One, one can't help but be instantly reminded of Chris Pratt being cast as Mario instead of Charles Martinet for the Super Mario Bros Movie. That decision continued to be seen as a controversial one up through the theatrical release of the film this past March... though one can imagine that fan complaints were drowned out by the $1.3 billion that the animated hit made at the box office. 

The official title of Transformers One was confirmed by Paramount Pictures this past spring during CinemaCon 2023, and it was simultaneously announced that the voice cast would include Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime, Scarlett Johansson as Elita, Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime and Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion. The film is being directed by Josh Cooley, who made his feature directorial debut in 2019 with Pixar's Toy Story 4, and a release date has already been set for next summer.

Discussing why he decided to sign on for Transformers One, Chris Hemsworth explained that he had some reservations about doing a voice role, but he was convinced to be a part of the production because of two things: the strength of the script and the enthusiasm of his children. Said Hemsworth,

Transformers One will be in theaters on July 19, 2024, and if you're looking for a more immediate Transformers fix, you can check out Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts, which is now playing in theaters everywhere. You can also dig further into the franchise with our reflection on the best explosions in the Transformers movies, and check out our ranking of all the films.

With the release of Transformers One steadily approaching, I must say, I think that the future of the Transformers movies is looking brighter than ever. Not only was the most recent live-action installment — a ’90s set prequel called Transformers: Rise of the Beasts — met with decent reviews and satisfying returns at the box office, but the newest upcoming addition appears to have a lightheartedness that the franchise could use. 

This latest theatrically released entry in the long-running saga of robots from another planet smashing into each other — and causing some pretty epic explosions in the process — is also going to change things up a bit by releasing the franchise’s first animated big-screen adventure in decades. There is more to learn regarding how Transformers One is promising to stand out among the rest and all the other basic facts about the upcoming 2024 movie in our breakdown below, starting with when the film is expected to roll out.

What Is The Transformers One Release Date?

Transformers One is currently set to hit theaters on Friday, September 20, 2024. Paramount Pictures had previously scheduled this latest film about alien robots that can disguise themselves as common, earthly machines to come out in July. However, despite the release date push back, the movie is only coming out a little more than a year after fans saw the Autobots team up with the Maximals in 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. 

We have not seen a gap between installments in this franchise that narrow since 2018’s Bumblebee followed 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight. On the other hand, it has been nearly 40 years since we last saw an animated, feature-length entry hit the big screen.

The Second Transformers One Trailer Is Funny, Visually Amusing, And Action-Packed

The second official trailer for Transformers One should especially satisfy any fans looking forward to seeing more robot-smashing action. It also digs deeper into the origins of former friends Optimus Prime and Megatron's brewing conflict. See how by watching the clip here:

The first Transformers One trailer (which made its debut from outer space) certainly had the look and feel of a Transformers movie, but also with many surprising moments of family-friendly humor and an amusing needle drop of Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up.” It also previously explained how the average worker robots were granted the ability to alter their appearance and showed us a glimpse at the beautifully animated Cybertron, which seems to take inspiration from the world of Blade Runner in some respects. 

What Transformers One Is About

For more than a decade, the Transformers franchise has stuck to making its theatrically released movies in live-action, while keeping its animated entertainment exclusively to the small screen. However, the very first feature-length adaptation of the popular Hasbro toy line (and still the best in some fans’ eyes) was animated and famously featured Citizen Kane’s star and director, Orson Welles, in his final performance as the voice of Unicron. Luckily, 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie will no longer be the saga’s only big screen, animated adventure after Transformers One is released.

Whether or not this new film is intended to exist in the same continuity as the original Transformers TV series and movie has not been confirmed. Yet, we do know from a Deadline article published in April 2020 that this will have no connection to the live-action movies’ timeline. However, the upcoming flick likely could have existed in either continuity given its plans to go all the way back to the beginning.

The Prequel Chronicles Optimus Prime And Megatron's Transition From Friends To Enemies

Along with the confirmation that Transformers One will have no direct ties to the live-action franchise also came the reveal that it will serve as a prequel to the story of the Autobots and Decepticons’ conflict. In April 2023, Collider published an exclusive report featuring insight from producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura into how it will serve as an “origin story of all Transformers,” which explains the numeric title. However, the main plot will focus on the relationship between the leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime (when he was named Orion Pax), and Decepticon leader Megatron (when he known as D-16), at a time when they were still friends, and trace the evolution of their violent rivalry. 

The movie will also take place entirely on the Transformers’ home planet, Cybertron, and depict its ultimate collapse, which Di Bonaventura compared to the destruction of Krypton before Kal-El (Superman) was sent to Earth. As evident from the trailer and footage shown during Paramount’s panel at CinemaCon 2024, Transformers One is also taking the franchise in a different direction tonally. The animated film will be more of a family comedy, showing a more affable side of the alien robots as they are just beginning to learn how to “more than meets the eye.”

Chris Hemsworth Leads The Star-Studded Voice Cast

The most famous name associated with the character of Optimus Prime is Peter Cullen, who has voiced the Autobots’ leader in every one of the big screen adventures so far. However, the Transformers One voice cast is bringing in someone new to play the Autobots’ leader in his “youth.” Take a look at who else is joining him in the animated movie’s ensemble one by one below.

Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax)

Succeeding the role of Optimus Prime (but as a younger robot when he was known as “Orion Pax”) in Transformers One is Chris Hemsworth. This marks the Australian actor’s first major voice acting gig — unless you count him reprising his MCU character, Thor, on Disney+’s animated anthology series, What If…? 

Brian Tyree Henry (D-16)

Filling in as Megatron this time (but known as “D-16” at the time the prequel is set) is Academy Award nominee (for Causeway) Brian Tyree Henry of Atlanta fame. The actor recently lent his voice to the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse cast as Miles Morales’ dad, Jefferson, once again.

Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1)

Chris Hemsworth is not the only MCU veteran in the Transformers One cast, as Scarlett Johansson is starring as a devoted warrior named Elita-1. The two-time Oscar nominee’s own most notable voice acting roles include Mindy in The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie, Ash from the Sing and Sing 2 voice cast, and Samantha – an A.I. whom Joaquin Phoenix’s Theodore falls in love with in Her.   

Laurence Fishburne (Alpha Trion)

The Transformers One cast also includes a veteran of the MCU (specifically Ant-Man and the Wasp) and the DC Extended Universe (as Perry White): Laurence Fishburne. The Oscar nominee (for What’s Love Got to Do with It) and star of the Matrix and John Wick movies seems like a perfect choice to play one of the oldest known Transformers, Alpha Trion. 

Jon Hamm (Sentinel Prime)

Optimus Prime’s predecessor as Autobots’ leader, Sentinel Prime – who was portrayed by Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy in Transformers: Dark of the Moon — is voiced by Jon Hamm. The Emmy winner has numerous voice acting credits – including Herb Overkill in 2015’s Minions, Iron Man in Hulu’s Marvel-inspired series M.O.D.O.K., and a parody of his Mad Men cast role named Don Grouper on SpongeBob Squarepants.

Keegan-Michael Key (B-127)

Bumblebee normally speaks through his car radio in the live-action movies, but his younger counterpart, B-127, will be given a voice that sounds much like Keegan-Michael Key's natural voice, as the comedian told Collider. The Emmy winner has already led a very successful voice acting career that includes two roles alongside his former sketch comedy partner, Jordan Peele – namely in 2019’s Toy Story 4 and Netflix’s Wendell & Wild – and his completely unrecognizable performance in 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie voice cast as Toad.

Steve Buscemi (TBA)

Also part of the Transformers One voice cast in a currently undisclosed role is Steve Buscemi, who is already part of the Transformers franchise, having voiced Daytrader in Transformers: The Last Knight. He also previously lent his unmistakable voice to animated favorites like Pixar’s Monsters Inc. and its prequel, Monsters University, and the Hotel Transylvania movies. Some of his most notable live-action credits include Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, and the HBO series, Boardwalk Empire.

The Toy Story 4 Director Helms Transformers One

The same Deadline article that revealed this movie will exist outside the Bay-verse timeline also named Josh Cooley as the director. Not long before he was chosen for the job in 2020, the Pixar animator earned the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for his feature-length directorial debut, the aforementioned Toy Story 4.

Following Bumblebee (which was helmed by Travis Knight) and director Steven Caple Jr.’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, this will be the third movie in the franchise not directed by Michael Bay, whose filmography consists of a good chunk of fighting robot movies. However, he does have a producer’s credit, alongside Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Mark Vahradian, and the aforementioned Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Fellow franchise veteran Steven Spielberg returns as executive producer, which he shares with Brian Goldner, Brian Oliver, Bradley J. Fischer, and Valerii An.

Ant-Man Scribes Wrote Transformers One

A Deadline exclusive from 2015 names Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari — who wrote that year’s Ant-Man — as Paramount’s hires to pen the origin story. Also credited with writing the film — according to the same Deadline article that confirmed the September release date — are Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman.  The duo is best known at the moment for their work on the screenplay for M. Night Shyamalan’s adaptation of the horror novel, Knock at the Cabin.

For anyone wondering, there are more live-action Transformers movies to come -- namely a crossover with G.I. Joe that was teased at the end of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. However, I do think it's about time that this franchise puts out a movie that focuses entirely on the titular robots and I suppose there would be no better way to tell that story than through animation. In that respect, consider me primed for the release of Transformers One.

While the small screen has seen its fair share of animated Transformers escapades, the big screen has been dominated by live-action spectacles since they rolled out onto the big screen back in 2007, most recently in Transformers: Rise of Beasts. But fear not, my fellow Autobot enthusiasts, for change is on the horizon. A new animated film, titled Transformers: One, has been announced, and it's set to dive into the origins of the iconic metal warriors, the Autobots and Decepticons, and take place on their home planet of Cybertron. One of the star-studded cast members, Scarlett Johansson, says the movie will be “different” than other installments in the toy-turned-movie franchise, and her goal was to pump fans up. Well, it worked!

The Black Widow actress sat down with Collider during a press junket for her 2023 upcoming movie release Asteroid City, where she discussed her reaction to the forthcoming Transformers One. She confirmed that she would play the character Elita and collaborate with writer-director Josh Cooley, for whom she expressed deep admiration. Johansson emphasized the unique nature of this particular installment, saying: 

Longtime series fans will know Elita, also known as Elita-One or Elita-1, is an unwavering Autobot warrior who fearlessly confronts enemies while showing compassion to those in need. Originally a laborer named Ariel, she rose to become a prominent leader of the Autobot resistance, serving as a formidable counterpart to Optimus Prime. With Scarlett Johansson's undeniable charisma and gravitas, she is poised to bring this powerful character to life in an extraordinary way.

The upcoming flick will mark the first animated Transformers movie to hit theaters since 1986’s Transformers: The Movie, which is still the best. Transformers One will directly link to the ongoing cinematic saga that has captivated audiences for over 15 years. While the animated feature has been in the works for years, Paramount Pictures officially dropped the bombshell during CinemaCon, unveiling the film's official title and the stellar cast. Along with Chris Hemsworth channeling his inner Optimus Prime, Johansson is joined by Brian Tyree Henry as the formidable Megatron, Keegan-Michael Key as the lovable Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as the majestic Sentinel Prime, and Laurence Fishburne as the wise Alpha Trion. Buckle up, folks; this is going to be one epic ride!

If Johansson’s interview and the cast roster didn’t excite you, how about the fact that industry titan Industrial Light and Magic, the CGI masterminds behind Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be taking charge of the animation, as shared by Collider? This marks their return to the animated realm since the delightful 2011 gem Rango, which you can stream with a Paramount+ subscription. This Autobot outing is definitely shaping up to be more than meets the eye. 

Fans of Scarlett Johansson can see her in Asteroid City, which has now been widely released. For those more interested in robots in disguise, you’ll have to wait until Transformers One hits the 2024 movie schedule, rolling into theaters on July 19 of that year.

Buckle up Transformers fans because, after seven lore-connecting installments of the action-packed saga, there are no signs of it slowing down. In an exciting new development, director Steven Caple Jr., the mastermind behind Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, is already revving up for a potential sequel. He revealed in a recent podcast appearance that he is in discussions with Paramount Pictures to bring us another round of Robots in Disguise goodness, and it couldn't come at a better time as the current flick topped Spider-Man at the box office this past weekend.

The Creed II filmmaker let the shape-shifting alien machine news out of the bag while appearing on a recent episode of Deadline’s Crew Call Podcast. It was there that he revealed his desire to further explore the explosive revelations that unfold in the film's climactic final scene. The director intentionally planted various Easter eggs throughout the movie, strategically paving the way for an expansive universe of future films and spin-offs. In terms of just how far along discussions are, he told the hosts:

When it comes to delving into the mind-blowing tease ending, which they shot two versions of, the Creed II director buzzes with excitement regarding the potential for the franchise moving forward. In the same podcast interview, He shared his enthusiasm, saying, "I have some ideas on how to branch out that part of the IP…”. With the movie maker's creative energy brimming and his willingness to take the franchise to new heights, it's impossible not to get caught up in the anticipation for a possible eighth installment helmed by him. And the potential for a long overdue crossover has me even more pumped about the future of the series.

Fans eagerly packed theaters to watch Steven Caple's first TF adventure, likely drawn in by the star power of Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback. And of course, there's the film's MVP, the cheeky Autobot Mirage voiced by Pete Davidson. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the allure of the Bumblebee sequel seemingly proved irresistible for a sum of general viewers. While opinions varied, it was widely agreed that the film represented a significant improvement for the series as a whole. 

In fact, CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes hailed it as the franchise's "best of the bunch" in an enthusiastic review. According to the Rotten Tomatoes reviews, audiences were far more enamored with the film than the critics, awarding it an impressive 91% audience score compared to a more modest 52% from the pundit's camp. Clearly, the film struck a chord with fans, reaffirming that sometimes the true measure of a movie's worth lies in the hearts of its audience.

With Rise of the Beasts, it’s clear that the future of the Autobots and Decepticons (alongside the newly introduced Maximals and Predacons) is brimming with potential. If Steven Caple Jr. returns for a follow-up, I'm confident he'll hit it out of the park.

Don't miss out on Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which is currently playing in theaters. Be sure to check your local listings and our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to stay up-to-date with all the cinematic offerings hitting the big screen.

Very light spoilers for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts lie ahead.

Pete Davidson has been making a splash in the entertainment industry since leaving SNL last year. The comedian has his own sitcom, Bupkis (which is streamable with a Peacock subscription), had a memorable role in 2022’s Bodies Bodies Bodies and starred alongside Kaley Cuoco in Meet Cute. However, nobody may have seen his hilarious role in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts coming. Davidson is getting tons of buzz for his role as Mirage, and the creative team behind the film apparently let him improvise some of his lines. However, one joke the actor made was nearly deleted from the film after Paramount executives thought it was too racy.

When director Steven Caple Jr. cast the comic in the latest Transformers movie, he probably should’ve known what he was getting. The star is known for his irreverent sense of humor and often crass approach to comedy. The filmmaker truly got the full “Pete Davidson Experience” when he started improvising while recording his lines for the movie, during which he made that racy joke. Caple revealed to USA Today that the quip was originally quite different, saying:

Said remark comes into play early on in the film when Anthony Ramos' Noah Diaz attempts to downplay his relationship with Pete Davidson's wise-cracking autobot. What Mirage is referring to in that moment is the fact that Diaz had been in the driver's seat while the bot was in his vehicle mode.

While the joke may have been a tad spicy for a Transformers movie, it's still incredibly clever and impressive that Davidson was able to come up with something so funny on the spot. It's further evidence of just why the 29-year-old comedian has emerged as a true talent. Still, given the wide appeal of the franchise, one can see why Paramount execs wouldn't have been so happy upon hearing it. While the joke was nearly cut, Steven Caple Jr. says that one thing saved it: 

People have mixed feelings about test screenings, but they seemed to be invaluable in this case. While the joke may have made movie head honchos blush, general audiences thought it was hilarious, proving the Suicide Squad alum had the right instincts. And let's be honest, there's a long history of adult-leaning jokes being dropped into movies that appeal to kids. So if Shrek can have adult content, it’s probably okay for Transformers to push the envelope a little. (Plus, the OG Michael Bay films certainly had their share of racy gags.)

Some comedians have historically loved getting in a recording booth and riffing, so it's unsurprising that the King of Staten Island star would have fun with the experience. Robin Williams famously ad libbed many of his lines when recording for his role as the Genie in Aladdin. Josh Gad also revealed he did some improvisation when in the studio for Frozen II. Sometimes the best stuff comes from trying a bunch of ideas and seeing what sticks, and this definitely seems to have paid off for Pete Davidson.

You can see his hilarious performance in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which is currently in theaters nationwide. For more information on other films headed to cinemas and streaming services later this year, make sure to consult our schedule of 2023 new movie releases.

Warning: Major spoilers for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ ending are in play. If you don’t want anything spoiled, you’ve officially been warned. 

Another round of intergalactic carnage is now upon us, thanks to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts bringing the action. And by the time it's done, new doors are left opened for the franchise as a result of this sci-fi movie’s ending, especially with one big reveal setting the stage for a pretty huge potential team-up. That wasn’t always the case though, as a very different result could've played out. Here now is the story of why the creative team chose that seriously surprising name-drop that could define the future -- and it involved shooting two different endings and a two-year chain of approvals. Consider this your last call to maximize your chances of avoiding spoilers.

Why Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts Shot Two Endings For Its Big Tease

In short, the ending of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts sees hero Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) being recruited by the enigmatic Agent Burke (Michael Kelly) for a pretty sweet gig. As it turns out, this man is part of the organization know as “G.I. Joe” and, apparently, Noah’s exploits with his “friends” have convinced them to recruit him into their ranks. 

Cue the moment that blows up the minds of everyone in the audience, which is when Anthony Ramos’ character flips over that business card to reveal the insignia of the famed military toy line’s cinematic incarnation. I couldn’t resist asking for more details on how this ending came to be. So during my time at the movie's press day, I asked both producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and director Steven Caple Jr. about their recollections on the matter.

While the bad news is there’s no script or idea in the works just yet, the producer did give some further details into why that scene came to pass. Here’s what he told CinemaBlend: 

I’ll be honest, while watching that entire final scene of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, I was expecting a big reveal. However, knowing that this movie does connect with Michael Bay’s Transformers entries, I was fully banking on business card to read either “NEST” or “Sector 7” once it was flipped. As it turns out, my assumption wasn’t totally incorrect.

While Lorenzo di Bonaventura continued on with our interview , he revealed that a Sector 7 reveal was shot. So Noah Diaz was always going to get the job of a lifetime, it just depended which on made more sense. With both options in hand, di Bonaventura acknowledged one final detail about of his end of the process that led to the team deciding to finally Go Joe: 

That tingle may not be connected to the still in-development G.I. Joe 3, which has been on the table since 2017, but it’s a start. And that start came from another beginning, which saw the notion of the Joes and Optimus Prime teaming up originating on paper. Just as Lorenzo di Bonaventura was looking for this angle that'd make it all work, apparently Steven Caple Jr. helped find it. 

How Steven Caple Jr. Pitched That G.I. Joe Ending To His Transformers Bosses

With the idea of G.I. Joe and Transformers crossing paths in the air, all it took was screening both endings of Rise of the Beasts to make the decision. However, there was the fact that the idea needed to be approved by all the relevant parties. Di Steven Caple Jr. was on hand to discuss with CinemaBlend his piece of the puzzle, beginning with how the picture’s producers reacted when they read the first draft to integrate the Joes: 

When all was said and done, it took a line of approvals similar to the process that landed Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers’ cameos. It was worth it though, as Transformers fan Steven Caple Jr. knew the easter eggs die hard fans would love; including this G.I. Joe tease. 

Further exhibiting the handle he has on the material, the filmmaker capped off this story with yet another Hasbro/Paramount reference that could mean quite a bit. Provided, of course, that Transformers: Rise of the Beasts rises to the occasion at this weekend’s box office.

That is, of course, your cue to see Transformers: Rise of the Beasts at a theater near you! And if you haven't already, you can start piecing together all of the connections between the past and the present, as select previous installments are currently streaming for Paramount+ subscription holders. Though for the record, you may only need to watch Bumblebee to get the full picture.

The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

The Transformers franchise was a billion-dollar box office juggernaut under director Michael Bay but ever since he left the series has been trying to find its footing. Bumblebee was a modest success despite being the best-reviewed in the series to date. Now Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is here, introducing a whole new collection of giant robot aliens.

While Rise of the Beasts follows directly from the events of Bumblebee, the movie feels very much like it is also an attempt to relaunch the franchise, bringing together favorites like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee and introducing the popular Transformers: Beast Wars characters as well. But then, as the movie comes to a close, we learn that this franchise has an even bigger target than simply future Transformers movies in line. Here's what happened during the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts ending.

How Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts Ends

Rise of the Beasts culminates in a massive battle in Peru, with the Autobots and Maximals on one side, and the servants of Unicron on the other. Unicron wants to use the Trans Warp Key to cross over from his part of the galaxy so that he can consume Earth. In the end, with the help of humans Noah (Anthony Ramos) and Elena (Dominque Fishback), the heroes prevail and Unicron is prevented from crossing over. However, it is made clear that Unicron is still very much alive, and still very much a threat. 

The final scene sees Noah back where he started, simply trying to find a job. He has an interview with somebody, but it’s never made entirely clear who. While waiting, he happens to see Elena on the news. She’s being interviewed about her new archeological discovery connected to the events of the film. She has clearly moved up in the world as a result of everything, but Noah, not so much.

However, we learn fairly quickly that this job interview is...more than meets the eye. The interviewer, Burke (Michael Kelly), reveals that he knows exactly what Noah has been doing, and who his “big friends” are. He tells Noah that he’d like the young man to come to work with them, a nameless secret government organization, and throws in that they'll help cover the medical bills for Noah's sick brother. Burke opens a wall to reveal a secret hanger full of futuristic-looking technology. Noah glances at the business card he was handed to see just who it is that wants him. The name of the organization is…G.I. Joe.

The Hasbro Cinematic Universe That Could Be 

All the way back in 2007 when the first Transformers movie came out, and several of the human characters were members of the military, fans wondered if this might be a step to bring together the giant robots and Hasbro’s other big toy line, that also became a popular 1980s cartoon series, G.I. Joe. While G.I. Joe movies were also produced no Transformers crossover ever came about. 

It's been clear from plans at Paramount and Hasbro that a cinematic universe has been something they want to create. Writers have been brought together for this specific purpose before, but thus far nothing has come of it. 

Now, however, it looks like we’re being told that a crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe isn’t simply possible, it’s the plan. We’re specifically being told that G.I. Joe and the Transformers exist in the same universe, so this could be the beginning of a new attempt at a cinematic universe. While G.I. Joe could certainly turn up in the next Transformers movie, this ending could just as easily be setting up the next G.I. Joe movie. Of course, either way, we have to ask: just what does this mean for the future of G. I. Joe on the big screen?

What Does This Mean For The Existing G.I. Joe Movies? 

While Transformers has been a successful movie franchise from the beginning, G.I. Joe hasn’t been so lucky. The first film, 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was successful enough to get a sequel (2013’s Retaliation) but neither movie was really a big hit. 2021’s Snake Eyes was an origin story for one particular member of the G.I. Joe universe, but it also included a few other G.I. Joe characters and thus was clearly meant to retcon the franchise.

But, Snake Eyes wasn’t a big hit, either, and while some of that can certainly be chalked up to pandemic-era box office syndrome, nobody is really calling for sequels to that one. So if G.I. Joe is going to be back on the big screen, either in a future Transformers film, or their own, just what G.I. Joe are we going to get?

We hadn’t seen a character played by Michael Kelly in any of the previous G.I. Joe movies, so he’s not playing somebody that we knew from either the original movies or Snake Eyes. That doesn’t mean the Transformers-connected G.I. Joe won’t include characters we know, but the door is certainly open to just rebooting the franchise for a third time in a decade and a half if that’s the plan.

On the one hand, cutting bait on Snake Eyes only two years after it came out seems awfully fast, even if the movie didn’t perform as hoped, but there had been plans for more G.I. Joe movies after Snake Eyes, and they no longer seem to be on the books. Perhaps there’s a chance to see Henry Golding return as Snake Eyes as part of an ensemble of G.I. Joe characters.

Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that a studio has attempted to copy the successful MCU formula and build a cinematic universe of its own. The fact is, though, that it doesn’t always work. 

Universal’s Dark Universe wasn’t that long ago. The Mummy was supposed to launch a new franchise of cinematic monster movies, but that first film failed to find an audience, and the entire thing fell apart. A lot of the potential of this ending is riding on Transformers: Rise of the Beasts being a success. If it’s not, then this finale could just end up being a cute reference that never goes anywhere. 

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! 

Summer is here, and audiences expecting to see a number of big movies hit the theaters before Labor Day won’t be disappointed. After Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse enjoyed box office success, this weekend will bring even more popcorn-popping fun with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback are the two human stars in the franchise’s seventh live-action film, and the reviews are here to give fans an idea of whether or not this will be where they spend their movie ticket money this weekend. 

Rise of the Beasts is set in the ‘90s and introduces some fan favorite characters with the Maximals from Beast Wars. Pete Davidson also joins the universe as the Autobot Mirage, and critics’ first reactions were calling Davidson the scene-stealing MVP of the movie. Now we can dive a little deeper into what they think of the movie, and we’ll start with CinemaBlend’s review of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Our own Mike Reyes rates the film 3.5 stars out of 5, calling it the best of the series, though he says the Maximals don’t get as much screen time as you’d expect. He continues: 

Jonathan Sim of ComingSoon.net rates Rise of the Beasts 6 out of 10, admitting that it’s an entertaining film and one of the strongest in the franchise. That’s not saying much, though, as the director struggles to find his voice, the critic writes: 

Siddhant Adlakha of Polygon says the inclusion of the Maximals gave Steven Caple Jr. the opportunity to bring something new to the franchise; however, the critic says the beasts don’t factor into the film as much as one would hope from a movie with this title. The review concludes: 

Jeremy Mathai of SlashFilm feels the movie was merely trying to justify its existence, but Pete Davidson is a breath of fresh air. The critic rates it 5 out of 10 stars, saying: 

Christian Zilko of IndieWire also expresses disappointment in the movie, noting that the titular beasts don’t have much of an impact on the movie that lacks a plot that audiences can invest in. The critic grades the movie a D and says: 

It sounds like critics have some gripes where the plot of the movie is concerned, but ultimately many of them agree it offers some of the nostalgia, robotic battles and big explosions that fans of the franchise have come to expect. If you want to check this one out for yourself, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts opens in theaters on Friday, June 9. Special screenings are also being held that will allow ticket-holders to see the movie a couple of days earlier on June 7. 

Be sure to check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what other flicks are headed our way soon, including many family-friendly options this summer. 

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.

Director Steven Caple Jr. has been hard at work on the highly anticipated seventh installment of the beloved Transformers franchise. When Rise of the Beasts hits the 2023 new movie release schedule, it will feature a variety of new robots in disguise, including the first big screen appearance of live-action versions of characters from the classic 90s television show Beast Wars. However, bringing these bots to life on the big screen requires a lot of skill and coordination, especially when it comes to fighting scenes. Luckily, Caple had some experience with that sort of thing. With that, the filmmaker explained how directing the exhilarating and well-reviewed Creed II was “super helpful” for his turn with the Autobots. 

On the surface, the Rocky spinoff and Transformers flick couldn't seem anymore different. However, Steven Caple Jr. was able to meld the two experiences from a behind-the-scenes standpoint. He spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and explained that directing the boxing matches between Creed and Drago was helpful when conceptualizing fights between the metal titans. While the scraps between the two warring factions of aliens have been enjoyed by movie lovers for years now, Caple had a specific goal in mind for this flick. When talking about how the sports movie impacted things, he said:

The director faced a significant hurdle in producing authentic fights in Rise of the Beasts, considering that the fighters were massive robots. However, he was fortunate enough to have something that he did have when he worked on the Michael B. Jordan-led movie -- characters comprised of CGI: 

Impactful fight scenes weren’t the only challenge he faced while taking on the Transformers franchise. He recently spoke about the difficulties of bringing the universe to life on the big screen and diving into an effects-heavy movie for the first time. Luckily, he had OG series director Michael Bay, whom he turned to for advice.

In terms of what we know about Rise of Beasts, the film is set in 1994, seven years after the events of Bumblebee, and features the Autobots teaming up with new allies, the Maximals, to battle the Terrorcons and their leader -- the planet-eating Unicron. Steven Caple Jr.'s goal is to create an emotional connection between the audience and both new and familiar franchise characters. He's eager for fans to see the film, which he hopes will lay a strong foundation for the future of the franchise. Here's hoping it's thrilling and provides fight sequences that match the intensity of Creed II's.

Get ready to “roll out” your calendars and mark June 7, 2023, because that’s when Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will finally hit theaters! Brace yourself for some serious action, mind-blowing excitement, and of course, giant robots. But hey, if you can’t wait until then to get your Autobot fix, check out Bumblebee, the 2018 blockbuster that’s currently streaming if you have a Paramount+ subscription. It’s the perfect way to get your gears turning while you wait for the next chapter of the blockbuster saga.

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.  

The Transformers franchise under Michael Bay produced some of the highest-grossing movies of all time, and while the film series has had some difficulty figuring itself out since Bay left, fans are certainly looking forward to this summer’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. And the most serious fans are in luck because Paramount Pictures will be giving those people the chance to check the movie out a little bit early.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts opens in theaters on June 9 but tickets are on sale now for special screenings on June 7 in select theaters. Not only will fans be able to see the movie early, but some of the screenings will be in premium formats like IMAX, so fans will be able to see it on the biggest available screens.  Fan screenings will also include special bonus content and will get limited edition collectibles.

On the one hand, doing an early screening for the public is possibly a good sign. Social media will likely light up with Transformers hashtags after the movie as those in attendance say what they think, and those early responses from fans could possibly sway audiences that are on the fence about going opening weekend. This fact might indicate Paramount thinks those early responses will all be good news.

At the same time, anybody interested in going to a special fan event for are probably part of an audience predisposed to like what they see. If somebody saw the trailer for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and immediately thought this was the movie for them, they're likely already looking for exactly what this film will almost certainly provide.  so there’s a good chance that the audience response from that night will be quite good no matter how anybody else might feel.

Michael Bay’s Transformers movies were some of those movies that were seen as “review proof.” Critics almost universally panned the films, but that never stopped or even seem to slow the box office take. The Transformers franchise has made billions of dollars since the first film.

Having said that, the last Transformers movie was the exact opposite. Bumblebee was embraced by critics much more than the previous entries, and while its box office take wasn’t terrible, it was significantly less than what the franchise had been doing previously.

Based on everything we know about Transformers: Rise of the Beasts follows the events of Bumblebee, but many years later, so the two movies are not directly connected. In a new video that introduces the characters played by the live-action and voice cast of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, director Steven Caple Jr. and the cast talk about who everybody is and just how they’ll fit together in the new story.

It's been five years since the last Transformers movie and that's quite a long time in the life of a franchise these days. Just how Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will do in theaters will be a big question. How quickly these fan screenings fill up may be a big part of the answer.

Although there hasn’t been a lack of animated Transformers adventures on TV over the years, movie-wise, it’s all been live-action offerings since the main Transformers film series kicked off in 2007. That will soon change though, as there’s an animated movie on the way that will explore the origins of the Autobots and Decepticons on the planet Cybertron. As of today, not only do we know what this upcoming movie is officially called, its main cast has been revealed too, with Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson among the actors who are ready to roll out.

This news comes straight from Paramount Pictures’ presentation at CinemaCon, with the first big reveal being that this movie will be called Transformers One. Hemsworth will voice Optimus Prime in the prequel, and Johansson will voice Elita. Their castmates include Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime and Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion. Ramsey Naito, president of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, had this to say about the project in an official statement:

While this will actually be the second animated Transformers movie to be released in theaters since there was 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie, Transformers One is directly tied to the cinematic Transformers continuity that’s been going for more than a decade and a half now. Transformers One marks Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson’s first time working together outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where they respectively played Thor and Black Widow. All these actors have prior voice acting experience, including Keegan-Michael Key being most recently heard as Toad in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Now we’ll get to hear these six actors’ takes on some of the popular robots in disguise.

Behind the scenes, Toy Story 4’s Josh Cooley is directing Transformers One off a script written by Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari. The title and casting news comes just hours after the next Transformers movie, Rise of the Beasts, dropped a new trailer. While there are other movies in development for the franchise, this animated flick will allow moviegoers to venture further into the past then ever before and see what life on Cybertron was like before war broke out and its robotic denizens came to Earth, be it to simply find a new home or conquer humanity.

Transformers One arrives in theaters on July 19, 2024. While we wait for more updates about what to expect from it, keep track of this year’s theatrical entertainment with our guide of 2023 new movie releases. You can also stream the last Transformers movie, Bumblebee, with a Paramount+ subscription.

Five years have passed since the Transformers movies have had a presence in theaters. While 2018’s Bumblebee made quite the impression on audiences and critics all over, the decision was made to instead make Transformers: Rise of the Beasts the next stepping stone to continue the franchise’s lifespan. Director Steven Caple Jr.’s entry on the schedule of 2023’s new movie releases has already shown some of the reasons why it was the smart move, and now thanks to the second trailer, we have some prime Pete Davidson wisecracks and amazing action on our plates.

Paramount released this next look at Optimus Prime’s quest to spare the human world from the evil Decepticons, as part of the studio’s fanfare surrounding CinemaCon. As you can see, the Anthony Ramos/Dominique Fishback-led adventure, the cinematic age of Beast Wars are upon us. The wait, it seems, has been well worth it too, as some of the battle shots towards the end of this footage are incredibly impressive. 

Watching Optimus Primal, voiced by Ron Perlman himself, swinging on giant structures and taking out robotic scorpions is basically the bedrock of what Transformers was built on. That, and getting to hear Autobots like Pete Davidson's Mirage joke about how Unicron is big enough to eat a literal planet. There really is more than meets the eye to these bots.

You read that right readers, Unicron is coming to Earth, and our collective fate is in the balance. Although the more planet-bound threat of Scourge, voiced by Peter Dinklage, is another formidable foe that human and Autobot are going to have to square off against. As was the case with the installments that came before it, what we know about Transformers: Rise of the Beasts includes one hell of a voice cast.

On top of those actors previously mentioned, Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh is also part of Rise of the Beasts' roster, and we finally get to hear her first lines as well. Voicing the Maximal known as Airazor, it's been an eventful 24 hours for the beloved actor as she also appeared in yesterday's A Haunting in Venice teaser. Action, danger, and an acclaimed voice cast. Yep, this is indeed a Transformers movie we've got under the hood! 

The first Transformers: Rise of the Beasts trailer showed the world its first glimpse at beloved Beast Wars characters like Optimus Primal in action, and that was enough to get the motors started. That sort of hype has suggested that fans of the ‘80s/’90s era of Autobot action should get pumped. As if the 1994 setting and sick needle drops weren't enough to back that claim, the fun we're seeing in this reel is something that only bolsters those statements. 

Kids, and kids at heart, are going to be in for a treat when Transformers: Rise of the Beasts rolls out into theaters on June 9, 2023. While that’s not too far into the future, there’s still an opportunity to catch most of the other entries in the series, as almost all of the Transformers movies are currently streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Devon resident Taylor Ryan kept getting told she looked like Megan Fox. So she leaned into it a little, learned how to do the winged eye makeup the actress has favored and picked up on some of her wardrobe habits. Five years ago, Ryan made the transition from retail and barista to OnlyFans, where she fully embraces emulating Fox anytime her clients want. That is, as long as they are willing to shell out cash.  

While Fox has worked to shed her sexy Transformers image, the subscription platform persona says Megan Fox requests come in a lot. In fact, she even gets requests for cosplaying, with one of the most frequent being that scene from Transformers when Fox is wearing an orange crop top and showing off her knowledge of cars to Shia LaBeouf’s character while checking the distributor cap and more under the hood. Her character, Mikaela, tells LaBeouf’s Sam guys don’t like it when she knows a lot about cars, to which he responds, ‘I’m cool with females working on my engine. I prefer it.” 

Apparently, this scene has revved the engines of customers on OnlyFans, to the point where Ryan, 25, told The Daily Mail she charges $300 bucks for a glimpse of her in the scene. Overall, the OF star says she’s pulling in over $30K a month – with most of that money coming thanks to “one time requests” like the Megan Fox car scene.

Fox isn’t the only cosplay Taylor Ryan does, as the content creator has also dressed as Velma from Scooby Doo and as Wonder Woman for Halloween last year. 

But Fox is where her bread and butter is, although if you were to ask Ryan, she’s flattered but maybe a little surprised people would think they look super alike. 

She also picked up on wearing leather, a fashion look the Transformers and Good Mourning actress has also favored over the years: leather. (In fact, she was wearing leather on an early date with MGK before the drama surrounding Fox and Kelly's relationship started and her deletion of her social media posts.) 

A lot of content creators and even reality TV personalities have figured out how to make a living on OnlyFans, and some of the more famous names have said they prefer the platform. It gives them control over their careers, their time and their money. For example, Baywatch star Carmen Electra has mentioned she likes OF because she can be her “own boss” and have her own “creative vision.” 

Taylor Ryan is a little more candid about the downsides, noting, “The late nights, they suck.” She’s often up until the early hours of the morning working and she feels she does “have to be on it” when it comes to her page. Ultimately, however, she went from barista to making six figures a year, and she has Megan Fox to thank. 

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.

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.

If Tom Holland is King of the Box Office after having both Spider-Man: No Way Home and Uncharted as consecutive theatrical hits, his co-star Mark Wahlberg is Prince. Wahlberg has dominated the box office before with his lead in the later Transformers films and as the best friend of the titular teddy bear Ted. In reference to whether or not his current box office hit Uncharted will potentially get a sequel, Wahlberg compares it to his highest grossing films.

In an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, Mark Wahlberg is asked if he would be open to appearing in a sequel to Uncharted, and his answer might make a lot of fans happy. Apparently Wahlberg isn’t “in the sequel business”, but that doesn’t mean that Uncharted 2 is out of the question.

Mark Wahlberg apparently will give the people what they want if the numbers are there. He compares the future to Uncharted to that of Transformers and Ted, saying:

It sounds like the main reason Mark Wahlberg was down for two Transformers films was because it was written into his contract. Ted had a pretty heavy cult following when it first came out, so it totally made sense that he would have been down for a sequel to the comedy, even if the sequel didn’t do nearly as well.

The fact that sequels usually are a little less prestigious than the original and frequently do less numbers at the box office, in a phenomenon called “The Sequel Paradox”, may have something to do with why Mark Wahlberg tends to steer clear of them. Honestly, it’s a pretty smart move.

Even so, Wahlberg had been trying to get Uncharted made for quite some time. Originally, Mark Wahlberg was supposed to play Tom Holland’s character Nathan Drake. But since it’s been a pretty long process, he became perfect for the older character of Sully. Wahlberg’s connection to the film paired with its success right out of the gate makes a sequel pretty promising, especially if fans make the desire known. 

Uncharted is currently killing it at the box offices and can possibly be considered one of the best video game to movie adaptations, like, ever. If you haven’t already, you can judge it for yourself, as Uncharted is in theaters now. If you’ve already seen Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland paired up in the film, Walhberg’s upcoming Me Time is among a number of other new release films set for 2022 and will see him opposite Kevin Hart. 

If Uncharted doesn’t get another sequel out of Mark “not really in the sequel business” Wahlberg, maybe Kevin Hart can.