Every Transformers Movie, Ranked by Box Office

Every Transformers Movie, Ranked by Box Office

As a child of the ’80s, I vividly remember the excitement that the Transformers franchise brought to my young life. The cartoons, the toys, and the comics all fueled my imagination and sparked a lifelong love for these transforming robots from another world.


As a die-hard fan, I’ve always been captivated by the Transformers series, which consistently proves that there’s more than meets the eye with these robots in disguise. Whether it’s through animated spin-offs or live-action blockbusters, this franchise has been an cherished and exhilarating part of the global movie landscape for fans like me. But I often wonder, how much revenue has each Transformers movie generated over the years?

It’s always interesting to learn of the highest-grossing Transformers movies, as audiences might learn a thing or two about the movie that they love, or love not so much. Every Transformers movie has an interesting story to tell, and a box office gross that may just make or break the desire for a sequel.

8 Transformers One

Worldwide Gross: $119,034,862

DirectorJosh Cooley
Release Date20 September 2024
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score89%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score98%

Note: Transformers One is still in theaters as of 22 October 2024

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my admiration for the captivating narrative of “Transformers One.” This tale isn’t just about gigantic robots battling it out; it’s a heartfelt exploration of friendship and sorrow. The story delves into the untold past of Optimus Prime, once Orion Pax, and Megatron, initially known as D-16.

Among the Transformers films, “Transformers One” stands out as one of the best, showcasing exceptional animation that truly captures the creativity and design of the franchise. The action is thrilling, the actors deliver impressive performances, and the tale of Optimus Prime and Megatron’s bond is both heart-wrenching and humorous. Unfortunately, “Transformers One” isn’t performing well at the box office. This could be due to intense competition from other films and perhaps insufficient marketing that may have given the impression that “Transformers One” is overly childish.

7 Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Worldwide Gross: $441,381,193

DirectorSteven Caple Jr.
Release Date9 June 2023
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score51%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score91%

In a fresh chapter for the Transformers series, characters reappear in live-action, set within a new storyline. Optimus Prime and his Autobot comrades, now on Earth, yearn to depart for Cybertron, but their attempts are hindered by Scourge, a terrifying figure acting as the messenger of Unicron, intent on annihilating Earth. Joining forces with the Maximals, the Autobots remain resolute in their mission: unity for all.

The film “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” seemed to hearken back to traditional animated series with a realistic twist, and the joy of watching Optimus Prime and Bumblebee never fades. However, “Rise of the Beasts” underperformed even compared to the spin-off featuring Bumblebee, and maybe being the 7th live-action movie in the “Transformers” series left some viewers feeling uninterested about what was coming next.

6 Bumblebee

Worldwide Gross: $467,989,645

DirectorTravis Knight
Release Date26 December 2018
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score91%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score75%

In a standalone film distinct from the Michael Bay series, Bumblebee takes center stage. This movie delves deeper into classic G1 elements and emotional depth. The story follows B-127, an Autobot scout who crash-lands on Earth with a damaged voice box. Struggling to adapt to this strange world, Bumblebee encounters Charlie Watson while Decepticons stir up trouble, seeking the hidden Autobot and causing havoc among the populace.

The film “Bumblebee” had modest success at the cinema, earning nearly half a billion dollars. Although its earnings were considerably lower than those of the Michael Bay “Transformers” movies, it was a cherished story about our favorite striped yellow and black robot, and deserved recognition beyond the explosive action scenes that are typical of Bay’s films.

5 Transformers: The Last Knight

Worldwide Gross: $605,425,157

DirectorMichael Bay
Release Date22 June 2017
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score16%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score43%

In an unanticipated twist for Michael Bay’s run with the Transformers series, the film The Last Knight aimed to offer a fresh take on the protagonist Optimus Prime, making him a character manipulated into acting as a villain. Essentially, in Transformers: The Last Knight, Optimus is controlled and directed by his creator to set in motion a plot that ultimately aims to destroy Earth, while also uncovering secrets hidden deep within its history.

The Last Knight” earned less than any other Transformers film directed by Michael Bay, which is unexpected given their past successes. Although it wasn’t an outright failure, it grossed only around half as much as its most profitable movie. This may have been because the movie introduced conflicting storylines, such as Autobots fighting Nazis and Earth being Unicron itself, which complicated the continuity and made it difficult for viewers to engage with the story if they found the film confusing.

4 Transformers

Worldwide Gross: $709,709,780

DirectorMichael Bay
Release Date27 July 2007
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score57%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score85%

After being a beloved cartoon for many years, Transformers now graces the big screen for the first time, boasting stunning CGI, sound effects, and action sequences. The movie reveals that there’s more than meets the eye in the ongoing conflict between Cybertron, as Optimus Prime and Megatron battle it out to either save or destroy humanity and their home planet Earth.

In 2007, the Transformers movie proved to be a remarkable hit, introducing the beloved robots in disguise on the big screen and highlighting Peter Cullen’s exceptional performance as Optimus Prime. Although Michael Bay’s film was perhaps more action-oriented and raw compared to the cartoons, it undeniably resonated with audiences and garnered its fair share of supporters.

3 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Worldwide Gross: $836,303,693

DirectorMichael Bay
Release Date19 June 2009
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score20%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score57%

Following Megatron’s demise, the Autobots embark on a mission to track down and eliminate the remaining Decepticons, ensuring Earth remains free from oppressive rule. However, the ominous Decepticon leader, known as the Fallen, covets Earth, aiming to engulf it in darkness once the last Prime is slain.

In “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” the prophecy that some would rise while others would fall played a significant role. It was hard to resist the allure of watching Optimus Prime in cinemas, even if it meant witnessing his heart-wrenching demise. The theme of death and rebirth has always been highly anticipated, and “Revenge of the Fallen” surpassed its predecessor financially due to the buzz surrounding its intense action sequences and emphasis on Optimus’ downfall.

2 Transformers: Age of Extinction

Worldwide Gross: $1,105,261,713

DirectorMichael Bay
Release Date5 July 2014
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score18%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score50%

Following the culmination of Dark of the Moon, it was thought that the Transformers series would wind down, but surprisingly, this wasn’t so when Michael Bay entered the picture, introducing a Cybertronian bounty hunter intent on eliminating any remaining Cybertron refugees and Autobots seeking a home on Earth.

In a twist that some weren’t anticipating, Michael Bay once more dives back into the Transformers universe with a fourth film. Given the incredible success of the franchise and the fervor surrounding each new installment, it comes as no shock that Age of Extinction surpassed the billion-dollar threshold, especially since this is another Transformers adventure where Optimus Prime leads the Dinobots.

1 Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Worldwide Gross: $1,123,794,079

DirectorMichael Bay
Release Date29 June 2011
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score35%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score55%

In the final chapter of the legendary Transformers trilogy, Optimus Prime stumbles upon Sentinel Prime’s dormant form on the Moon. However, the revival of Sentinel sets off a direct invasion of Earth from Cybertron, escalating the conflict and posing fresh dangers to both humans and Autobots in this thrilling finale filled with non-stop action.

wrapping up a trilogy is often an exciting accomplishment that sparks conversation, so it’s no wonder that Michael Bay’s third Transformers movie garnered as much attention as it did. The events were setting up to be the end of the Autobots vs Decepticons war that devastated Earth, and the possibility of a farewell to Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and other mainstays of the live-action series had fans flocking to cinemas.

Read More

2024-10-23 09:34