(Pocket-lint) – The Transformers have their own cinematic universe. It includes six live-action movies that have grossed over $4.8 billion worldwide.
The Transformers franchise is based on a highly successful line of Transformer toys released by Hasbro in 1984. It has spawned several animated series and movies, but this guide focuses only on modern live-action movies. They follow the story of toys, animated series and comics, focusing on two groups of robots – the Autobots and the Decepticons – who arrive on Earth after the destruction of their home planet, Cybertron.
The Transformers universe is set to expand once again, with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which will debut in 2023. It will star Ron Perlman as Optimus Primal, a Transformer who turns into a guerrilla instead of a car. Before watching the new movie, it’s worth catching up on previous Transformers movies. It is important to note that they are not in chronological order. The most recent film in the series, 2018’s Bumblebee, is actually the first film chronologically.
We’ve organized the Transformers movies in the order of events that occur – rather than by release date. But if you want to watch the movies as they hit theaters, we’ve included that too.
How to watch the Transformers movies in chronological order
THERE MAY BE SPOILERS BELOW. Skip to the bottom of this guide for the bulleted, at-a-glance, spoiler-free version.
Bumblebee (2018)
- Director: Travis Knight
- Script: Christina Hodson
- With : Hailey Steinfeld, John Cena
- Based on: Transformers by Hasbro
- Production company: Allspark Pictures
- Distributer: Paramount Pictures
- Operating time: 114 minutes
- Box office: $468 million
- Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
The latest Transformers movie is the first you should watch in the series, as it explains the Transformers’ arrival on Earth – and, more specifically, it serves as an origin story for Bumblebee. It is the only film in the Transformers film series not directed by Michael Bay, although he served as a producer.
Set in 1987, Bumblebee stars Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie, a teenage girl dealing with the death of her father. She discovers a battered yellow Volkswagen Beetle in a junkyard and soon learns that the old car is actually a damaged yellow Transformer called Bumblebee (Dylan Brien).
Transformers (2007)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman
- With : Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox
- Based on: Transformers by Hasbro
- Production company: Images DreamWorks, Hasbro
- Distributer: Paramount Pictures
- Operating time: 143 minutes
- Box office:$709 million
- Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Transformers is the first film to be released in the series, but it’s set in modern times (2007) and stars Shia Lebouf as Sam Witwicky. He is a teenager looking for his first car. Luckily for him, an old Camaro he buys is a Transformer known as Bumblebee, and Bumblebee helps Sam find the girl he’s always wanted. It’s Mikaela Banes, played by Megan Fox.
The three are caught up in a war over an object known as All Spark. The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, want the All Spark to rebuild their home planet of Cybertron. Meanwhile, the Decepticons are archenemies of the Autobots, and they want to use the All Spark to create a new army of Transformers from Earth’s machines to defeat the Autobots.
The first Transformers movie was directed by Michael Bay. He would go on to direct the next four Transformers movies. Another interesting note: Peter Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime in the Transformers animated series, has returned to voice Optimus Prime for the live-action movies.
Transformers: Revenge of the Dead (2009)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci
- With : Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox
- Based on: Transformers by Hasbro
- Production company: Images DreamWorks, Hasbro
- Distributer: Paramount Pictures
- Operating time: 149 minutes
- Box office: $836 million
- Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Shia Lebouf and Megan Fox reprized their roles and returned to star in a sequel Transformers movie directed by Michael Bay. It takes place two years after the original. Sam has had visions since holding a fragment of All Spark in the last film. Meanwhile, the original Decepticon – the Fallen – thinks Sams could be leading the way in finding a whole new power source.
Transformers: Dark Moon (2011)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Ehren Kruger
- With : Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel
- Based on: Transformers by Hasbro
- Production company: Hasbro
- Distributer: Paramount Pictures
- Operating time: 154 minutes
- Box office: $1.1 billion
- Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Dark of the Moon takes place four years after the Autobots defeat the Fallen. He sees Sam Witwicky no longer working with the Autobots and struggling to find work, while the Optimus and the rest of the gang work with the US government to stop the Decepticon attacks.
But when the Autobots learn that a Cybertron ship crash-landed on the moon in the early 1960s, it’s up to Sam to alert them to the truth (essentially, before the Decepticons can launch a devastating assault on Earth) .
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Ehren Kruger
- With : Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci
- Based on: Transformers by Hasbro
- Production company: Hasbro
- Distributer: Paramount Pictures
- Operating time: 165 minutes
- Box office: $1.1 billion
- Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Age of Extinction kicks off with the Transformers living as outlaws – following the events of Dark of the Moon. Optimus Prime is extremely damaged and lives in Mexico City, where he is discovered by Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) and his daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz).
When Cade and his daughter are nearly murdered for helping Optimus, they have no choice but to help the Autobots unravel a mystery that dates back to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Art Marcum
- With : Mark Wahlberg Josh Duhamel
- Based on: Transformers by Hasbro
- Production company: Paramount Pictures, Hasbro
- Distributer: Paramount Pictures
- Operating time: 149 minutes
- Box office:$605 million
- Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Given that previous movies touched on the Transformers’ involvement in the pyramids, the moon landing, and the extinction of the dinosaurs, you might be wondering where this next movie is going. Well, next up is Stonehenge and King Arthur’s court.
The US government is after the Autobots, going so far as to have a special task force to hunt them down. Cade Yeager hides a lot in his junkyard. Soon he discovers that in the distant past a group of Transformers gave Merlin a staff in order to help King Arthur. This staff can drain the Earth of its energy via Stonehenge. Now Cade must work with the remaining Autobots in order to track down these personnel before the government or Megatron does.
Where does the new Transformers movie fit in that order?
There are rumors that the next film will be set in the 90s – so check back here after it’s released to see where it stacks up with the rest of the films.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
- Director: Steven Caple Jr.
- Script: Joby Harold
- With : Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Ron Perlman
- Based on: Transformers by Hasbro
- Production company: Paramount Pictures
- Distributer: Paramount Pictures
- Where to stream: Expected release in 2023
The next film in the Transformers universe is due out next year, and fans of the Beast Wars: Transformers series from the late 1990s should be thrilled. That’s because the movie should include the Transformers turning into animals instead of cars and planes.
That being said, both Optimus Prime and Megatron are set to return for the film. Ron Perlman will join the cast as Optimus Primal, the leader of the Maximals who transforms into a gorilla.
Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback are also set to star in the upcoming film. Steven Caple Jr is set to direct.
Spoiler-free version: The Transformers movies in order
Transformers movies in chronological order
OK, so here’s the at-a-glance version of the guide above. It’s spoiler-free.
- Bumblebee (2018)
- Transformers (2007)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Dead (2009)
- Transformers: Dark Moon (2011)
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
Not yet available:
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Transformers movies in order of theatrical release dates
And here’s an at-a-glance list of all the movies ordered by theatrical release date.
- Transformers (2007)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Dead (2009)
- Transformers: Dark Moon (2011)
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
- Bumblebee (2018)
Not yet available:
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
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Written by Maggie Tillman.