In the 1980s, the mega-popular Transformers toy line by Hasbro spawned an animated series, an animated movie, and a run in Marvel comics. The saga continued throughout the '90s and '00s with new cartoons but it wasn't until 2007 that these robots in disguise got the live-action film treatment.
Michael Bay's live-action Transformers movie took audiences by storm, showcasing top-of-the-line special effects and thrilling action. And in the years since this blockbuster first spectacle, the franchise has unleashed five more live-action movies — with its next installment, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts no available in theaters.
So what order do these films go in? Are you looking to watch them as they were released or has 2018's prequel, Bumblebee, inspired you to do a chronological binge? Whatever the case, you'll find both Transformers in Order lists below.
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How Many Transformers Movies Are There?
There is currently a total of seven feature-length Transformers movies. An animated film, Transformers One, will release in September, 2024. However, even more films may follow: Rise of the Beasts is planned as the start of a new trilogy, according to Deadline, while THR reports Paramount is working on a separate Transformers project written by Marco Ramirez (Netflix’s The Defenders) and directed by Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings).
See our guide on where to stream every Transformers movie for a list of where to watch each of the films.
Transformers Movies in Chronological Order
1. Bumblebee (2018)
The first movie, chronologically, is 2018's prequel Bumblebee, starring Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie, a teen reeling from the death of her father, who discovers an Autobot, Bumblebee, hiding on Earth. Even though the film was eventually declared as a reboot of the franchise, it still takes place before everything else, back in 1987, giving fans actual Transformers in the decade these giant robots first made their appearance.
Read our review of Bumblebee.
2. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Billed as a sequel/follow up to Bumblebee (again, if we're treating this all as a rebooted timeline), Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is said to take place in 1994 and involve a pair of archaeologists from Brooklyn who come into an ancient conflict through an adventure that ties in with three factions of Transformers: the Maximals, the Predacons and the Terrorcons. Rise of the Beasts will be the first Transformers live-action movie to be inspired by the Beast Wars cartoon. Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback are set to star, with Peter Cullen voicing Optimus Prime and Ron Perlman voicing Optimus Primal.
Read our review of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts or checkout our guide to showtimes.
3. Transformers (2007)
The massive movie that started it all, Michael Bay's Transformers brought the Autobots vs. Decepticons war to Earth in a wicked way, putting Shia LaBeouf's Sam, Megan Fox's Mikaela, and the U.S. Armed Forces in the middle of an ancient galactic conflict that traces all the way back to the Transformers' home planet Cybertron. For the first time, Transformers fans got to see favorites Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Megatron, Starscream, and more interact with human stars and battle through real explosions.
Read our review of Transformers.
4. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
The franchise's first sequel, Revenge of the Fallen, brought back Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, and Tyrese Gibson while introducing Tony Todd as The Fallen, Megatron's master and founder of the Decepticons. As the Autobots work with a secret military organization and try to make a home for themselves on Earth, The Fallen returns to wreak havoc, calling on the Constructicons to combine and form gigantic foe Devastator.
Read our review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
5. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Megan Fox was out and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was in as Shia LeBeouf's new girlfriend, in Michael Bay's third Transformers flick, Dark of the Moon, which operated under the premise that America's space program was developed to investigate a crash on the moon — the site of a downed spacecraft, the Ark, from Cybertron. A new evil plot involving Decepticons and the previous Autobot leader, Sentinel Prime (voiced by Leonard Nimoy), is hatched and it's once again up to Optimus Prime and his team to save the day and stop Cybertron itself from being wormhole'd into our own solar system.
Read our review of Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
6. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Mark Wahlberg joined the Transformers franchise in Age of Extinction, as Cade Yeager, a father and struggling inventor swept up in the latest feud between Autobots and Decepticons. Dinobots were introduced for the first time, as well as a reincarnation of Megatron, known as Galvatron. Cade and his daughter help Optimus Prime protect Earth from both an ancient and powerful menace and a new shadowy group determined to conquer the world.
Read our review of Transformers: Age of Extinction.
7. Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
Michael Bay was still on board for the fifth Transformers film, which marked the last live-action chapter in this particular timeline run. The Last Knight saw Mark Wahlberg return from Age of Extinction and join Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, and Glenn Morshower, who all came back from the first three movies. A brainwashed Optimus Prime, renamed Nemesis Prime, was sent back to Earth to retrieve Merlin's staff, which could absorb Earth's energy and restore Cybertron. Oh, and who better to join the saga for its final Bay-helmed installment than...Sir Anthony Hopkins!
Read our review of Transformers: The Last Knight.
How to Watch the Transformers Movies by Release Date
If you're looking to watch all the movies in theatrical release order, the correct list is below:
- 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)
Upcoming Transformers Movies
Transformers One, the first animated Transformers to be released in theaters since 1986, is coming out on September 20, 2024. After the trailer released, director Josh Cooley sat down with IGN to discuss the origin stories of Megatron and Optimus Prime, as well as the approach to a new animated project. The film's producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, has expressed aspirations for the animated film to start a new trilogy.
Otherwise, Transformers fans can look forward to a G.I. Joe crossover, as well as the next two additions to the Rise of the Beasts trilogy. Release dates for these projects have yet to be announced.
Matt Fowler is a freelance entertainment writer/critic, covering TV news, reviews, interviews and features on IGN for 13+ years.
