Transformers movie order: How to watch chronologically
(Pocket-lint) – The Transformers have their own cinematic universe. It includes six live-action films that have grossed over $4.8 billion worldwide.
The Transformers franchise is based on a highly successful line of transforming toys launched by Hasbro in 1984. She spawned several animated series and films, but this guide focuses solely on the modern live-action films. Following the lore behind the toys, animated series and comics, they focus 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 expands once again with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which will debut in 2023. Ron Perlman plays Optimus Primal, a Transformer who transforms into a guerrilla instead of a car. Before you watch the new film, it’s worth catching up on the previous Transformers films. 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 arranged the Transformers movies in the order of events that happen – not by release date. But if you want to watch the movies when they hit theaters, we’ve got that covered too.
How to watch the Transformers movies in chronological order
BELOW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. Skip to the bottom of this guide for the bulleted, spoiler-free version at a glance.
Bumblebee (2018)
- Director: Travis Knight
- Script: Christine Hodson
- With: Hailey Steinfeld, John Cena
- Related to: Hasbro transformers
- production company: Allspark images
- Distributor: Paramount Pictures
- Duration: 114 minutes
- Box office: $468 million
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
The latest Transformers film is the first in the series to watch, as it explains the arrival of the Transformers on Earth – and specifically serves as the origin story for Bumblebee. This is the only film in the Transformers franchise not directed by Michael Bay, although he served as producer.
Set in 1987, Bumblebee stars Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie, a teenager struggling 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 named Bumblebee (Dylan Brien).
Transformers (2007)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
- With: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox
- Related to: Hasbro transformers
- production company: DreamWorks Images, Hasbro
- Distributor: Paramount Pictures
- Duration: 143 minutes
- Box office:$709 million
- Stream Where: 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’s a teenager looking for his first car. Luckily for him, he buys an old Camaro, a Transformer named Bumblebee, and Bumblebee helps Sam find the girl he’s always wanted. This is Mikaela Banes played by Megan Fox.
The three get into a war over an object called the All Spark. The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, want the All Spark to rebuild their home planet, Cybertron. Meanwhile, the Decepticons are the Autobots’ sworn enemies, and they plan to use the All Spark to create a new army of Transformers from Earth’s machines to defeat the Autobots.
The first Transformers film was directed by Michael Bay. He would direct the next four Transformers films. Another interesting note: Peter Cullen, who provided the voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers animated series, returned as the voice of Optimus Prime for the live-action films.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Ehren Krueger, Roberto Orci
- With: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox
- Related to: Hasbro transformers
- production company: DreamWorks Images, Hasbro
- Distributor: Paramount Pictures
- Duration: 149 minutes
- Box office: $836 million
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
Shia Lebouf and Megan Fox reprized their roles and returned to star in a sequel to the Transformers film, directed by Michael Bay. It takes place two years after the original. Sam has had visions ever since he held a shard of the All Spark in the last film. Meanwhile, the original Decepticon – The Fallen – believes Sams could lead the way to finding an entirely new source of energy.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Honor Krueger
- With: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel
- Related to: Hasbro transformers
- production company: Hasbro
- Distributor: Paramount Pictures
- Duration: 154 minutes
- Box office: $1.1 billion
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
Dark of the Moon takes place four years after the Autobots defeated the Fallen. Sam Witwicky no longer works with the Autobots and struggles to find work while Optimus and the rest of the gang work with the US government to stop Decepticon attacks.
But when the Autobots learn of a Cybertron ship that crashed on the moon in the early 1960s, it’s up to Sam to inform them of the truth (which is crucial before the Decepticons can launch a devastating attack on Earth). .
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Honor Krueger
- With: Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci
- Related to: Hasbro transformers
- production company: Hasbro
- Distributor: Paramount Pictures
- Duration: 165 minutes
- Box office: $1.1 billion
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
Age of Extinction begins with the Transformers living as outlaws – after the events of Dark of the Moon. Badly damaged, Optimus Prime 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 solve a mystery stretching back to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Script: Art Marcum
- With: Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel
- Related to: Hasbro transformers
- production company: Paramount Pictures, Hasbro
- Distributor: Paramount Pictures
- Duration: 149 minutes
- Box office:$605 million
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
Since the previous films touched on the Transformers’ role in the pyramids, the moon landing and the dinosaur extinction, you may be wondering where this next film is headed. Well, next up is Stonehenge and King Arthur’s court.
The US government is after Autobots, going so far as to set up a special task force to hunt them down. Cade Yeager hides many of these in his junkyard. He soon discovers that in the distant past, a group of Transformers gave Merlin a staff to aid King Arthur. This staff can drain the earth’s energy via Stonehenge. Now Cade must work with the remaining Autobots to track down these personnel before the government or Megatron do.
Where does the new Transformers movie fit in this order?
The next film is rumored to be set in the ’90s – so check back here once it’s released to see where it fits in with the other films.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
- Director: Steven Caple Jr
- Script: Joby Harald
- With: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Ron Perlman
- Related to: Hasbro transformers
- production company: Paramount Pictures
- Distributor: Paramount Pictures
- Stream Where: Should be released in 2023
The next film in the Transformers universe is slated for release next year, and fans of the Beast Wars: Transformers series from the late 1990s should be excited. That’s because the movie is supposed to feature the Transformers turning into animals instead of cars and planes.
That being said, Optimus Prime and Megatron are both 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 is spoiler free.
- Bumblebee (2018)
- Transformers (2007)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
Not yet available:
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Transformers movies in release date order
And here is an overview of all films, sorted by theatrical release.
- 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)
Not yet available:
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Do you want that?
Then you might like our instructions for ordering films:
We also have these rumor rounds up on upcoming movies:
Written by Maggie Tillman.