Let’s be real: trying to map out all of the transformers movies in order is a total headache. It’s not just about when the movies hit theaters. You’ve got Michael Bay’s explosive era, then a sudden shift to 1980s prequels, and now an animated origin story that basically rewrites everything we thought we knew about Cybertron.
If you just watch them by release date, you’re going to be very confused. You'll see Optimus Prime die, come back, go to space, and then suddenly he’s a truck in the 80s again without explanation. It's a lot.
The franchise has split into two distinct flavors: the "Bayverse" (the first five movies) and the "Reboot/Prequel-verse" (the newer stuff). Honestly, even the producers seem a bit hazy on whether they’re all connected, but here is how the timeline actually sits as of 2026.
The Chronological Order: Starting from the Beginning
If you want the story to actually make sense from a narrative standpoint, you shouldn't start with Shia LaBeouf. You have to go back way further.
1. Transformers One (2024)
This is the true starting point. It’s set millions of years before Earth was even a thought. We see Orion Pax and D-16 before they became Optimus Prime and Megatron. It’s a tragic "friends-to-enemies" story. Even though it's animated, it's widely considered the best-written entry in the whole series.
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2. Bumblebee (2018)
Fast forward to 1987. This is the "soft reboot." It’s basically E.T. but with a giant yellow robot. Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) finds a beat-up VW Bug, and we find out why Bumblebee lost his voice. It’s smaller, sweeter, and way less noisy than the Michael Bay films.
3. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Set in 1994, this brings in the Maximals—the animal-themed robots from Beast Wars. It’s a direct sequel to Bumblebee. You get Unicron, a planet-eating god, and a massive battle in Peru. The ending also drops a huge bombshell about a crossover with G.I. Joe that has everyone talking.
4. Transformers (2007)
Now we hit the modern era. High schooler Sam Witwicky buys his first car, which happens to be Bumblebee. This is the movie that started the live-action craze. Linkin Park on the soundtrack, Megan Fox under the hood of a car—it’s peak 2000s nostalgia.
5. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
The one with the pyramids. Sam goes to college, gets "Cybertronian symbols" stuck in his head, and the Decepticons try to turn off the sun. It’s messy, it’s loud, and the critics hated it, but the forest fight scene is still arguably the best action sequence in the franchise.
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6. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
The Apollo 11 moon landing was actually a cover-up to investigate a crashed Cybertronian ship. That’s the pitch. It’s basically a massive war movie set in the streets of Chicago. This was the peak of the Bayverse's box office power, crossing $1 billion easily.
7. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Mark Wahlberg replaces Shia LaBeouf. Humanity has started hunting Transformers because we’re "done" with the alien wars. This one introduces the Dinobots and a new villain named Lockdown who is basically a bounty hunter with a gun for a face. It's very long—nearly three hours—so grab some popcorn.
8. Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
The timeline gets weird here. Apparently, Transformers were in King Arthur’s court and fought Nazis in WWII. Anthony Hopkins shows up to explain the lore, and Optimus Prime turns evil for a bit. This was the last "Bayverse" movie before the studio decided to pivot.
The Release Date Order: How We All Saw Them
Sometimes, you just want to experience the evolution of the CGI. Seeing the transformation effects get more complex from 2007 to 2024 is actually pretty cool.
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- 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)
- Transformers One (2024)
What’s Actually Happening Next?
Everyone is asking about the Transformers 8 release date or that G.I. Joe crossover. Here’s the deal: Paramount and Skydance are currently sorting out their merger, which has slowed things down.
While Transformers One was a massive hit with critics (it has a 98% audience score on some sites), its box office was a bit soft. Because of that, a direct sequel to the animated movie is currently on thin ice. However, the producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has been very vocal that the Transformers / G.I. Joe crossover is the next big priority. We’re likely looking at a 2026 or 2027 window for the next live-action spectacle.
There are also rumors about Michael Bay returning to "reboot" the series again, but honestly, that feels like fan speculation right now. Most signs point to the studio continuing the timeline started in Rise of the Beasts.
Actionable Tips for Your Rewatch
If you’re planning to dive into all of the transformers movies in order, here’s the best way to do it without burning out:
- Skip the fluff: If you're short on time, you can honestly skip The Last Knight. It doesn't connect much to the newer films.
- The "Prequel" Trilogy: Watch Transformers One, Bumblebee, and Rise of the Beasts back-to-back. They feel like a much more cohesive story than the original five.
- Check the 4K versions: The early Bay movies were shot on film and look incredible in 4K HDR. The visual effects from 2007 still hold up better than most Marvel movies today.
To get started, you can find most of these streaming on Paramount+ or available for rent on Amazon. If you want the most emotional experience, start with Transformers One—it’ll make the later rivalry between Optimus and Megatron feel way more personal.