With an impressive score of 90% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, Transformers one is all set to become one of the most highly acclaimed installments in the overarching franchise. This proves that, even though many previous life-struggle Transformers Movies were commercially successful, the franchise needed to change in three significant ways. Only time will tell if these changes will finally be implemented. But, from the looks of it, the Transformers Franchisees can greatly benefit from learning three lessons from Transformers ones critical acclaim.
Instead of unfolding as another all-out war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Transformers one Goes back in time and focuses on Optimus Prime and Megatron’s Cybertronian origin stories. It highlights how the two were friends before things got ugly between them. Despite being a far cry from the franchise’s live-action movies, Transformers one has received largely positive reviews from critics, which underscores what the franchise desperately needs to change going forward.
The critical success of Transformers One proves that the franchise needs fewer human characters
The animated film has no human characters
When Steven Spielberg first envisioned a Transformers Live-action movie, he wanted it to be about the relationship between a boy and his car. However, the live action movies are in a completely different direction. Instead of humanizing the titular Transformers characters, the movies focused more on humans and the consequences of their encounters with the Cybertronians. Recent live-action movies, vi Bumblebee And Transformers: Rise of the Beastshave tried to change this trend by focusing more on the relationships between humans and transformers.
Movie |
Rotten Tomatoes critics score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
Transformers (2007) |
57% |
85% |
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) |
20% |
57% |
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) |
35% |
55% |
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) |
18% |
50% |
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) |
16% |
43% |
Bumblebee (2018) |
90% |
75% |
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) |
52% |
91% |
Transformers One (2024) |
90% |
— |
However, unlike the original animated series, which unfolded several stories focusing primarily on the Transformers characters, none of the live-action films risked eradicating human characters from their narrative. Given the cost of CGI to have all Cybertronian characters in one movie would be monumentally highIt is understandable why human stories are emphasized in all live-action films. But the critical success of Transformers One and Bumblebee proves that the live-action Transformers Movies need to be less about humans and more about the central alien beings.
The positive reception of Transformers one confirms the franchise must target younger audience
The movie benefits from its PG rating
All live-action movies in the Transformers franchises have a PG-13 rating, making them less suitable for the younger audience the original animated series targeted. Instead of treading the same path as the live action movies, Transformers one is changing the franchise trend with his PG rating. This is a significant change in the franchise as it aims to recapture the original essence of the franchise. Since Transformers oneIt’s critically performing well, it proves that the franchise doesn’t have to portray too much violence or profanity to be successful.
Transformers oneIts PG rating allows the franchise to move in a new direction where it not only makes it more appealing to a wider audience but also allows it to gain a whole new younger generation of fans.
Transformers one Underlines that the franchise has the potential to succeed even if it is created to be more family-friendly. Initially, the Transformers Live-action movies are immensely successful. However, with each new installment, the films offered diminishing returns, proving that the franchise’s narrative formula is gradually stagnating. Transformers oneIts PG rating allows the franchise to move in a new direction, not only making it more appealing to a wider audience but also allowing it to capture the attention of a whole new younger generation of fans.
Transformers One establishes the franchise action should unfold beyond Earth
Transformers One takes place on Cybertron
All Transformers live-action movies have unfolded on Earth. Transformers: Rise of the Beast Takes things a little beyond the planet by introducing the planet-eating Unicron but avoids stepping too far from the familiar setting. Transformers one Dare to change this too by unraveling his entire history on Cybertron. While there is nothing wrong with a movie that presents an Earth-centric narrative, the Transformers The original lore of the franchise is too vast and dense to be confined to just the human planet.
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While the live-action movies have only introduced Cybertron and Earth so far, There are more than 80 planets in the original lore of the franchise. Each planet has its own unique characteristics and history, contributing to the wider tapestry of Transformers‘ universe in one way or another. Due to their limited runtime, the movies, of course, cannot accommodate all the planets in their stories. But, still Transformers ones success, the live action films can finally take a leap of faith and present storylines that take place far beyond Earth.
What future live action Transformers movies can learn from Transformers One
Transformers One paves the way for some changes in the franchise
Since A Transformers / GI Joe Live-action crossover is already in the talks, future movies can’t completely avoid human characters. But, now that Transformers one established that the franchise can also be driven purely by the titular robotic beings, the Transformers / GI Joe Crossover must focus on striking a balance between developing its GI Joe and Transformers characters. Unlike the Michael Bay movies, the crossover Should avoid using the Transformers as mere narrative devices to highlight human heroes or their stories.
Since Transformers One has already taken the first step to make the overarching franchise more family-friendly, future live-action movies can follow his lead and try to achieve a PG rating. While movie franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe have recently benefited from pushing boundaries with their R-rated content, the Transformers Movies would be better off sticking to PG or PG-13 ratings since the franchise’s original stories and toys are always meant for younger audiences.
Since Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Having already introduced the possibility of inter-planetary and interdimensional travel through the Transwarp Key, future movies could capitalize on this by expanding their scope far beyond Earth.
Besides striving for a PG rating and focusing more on the titular characters, future live-action films in the Transformers Franchises should also finally look beyond the Earth’s exosphere and provide intergalactic stories. Since Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Having already introduced the possibility of inter-planetary and interdimensional travel through the Transwarp Key, future movies could capitalize on this by expanding their scope far beyond Earth. Hopefully, the upcoming live action films in the franchise will learn from Transformers one‘s critical success and embrace the elements that have made it successful.