Let’s be real for a second. When you hear the words "Transformers movie," your brain probably goes to one of two places: massive, lens-flare-heavy explosions from the Michael Bay era or that weirdly emotional 80s nostalgia trip with the yellow Beetle. But Transformers Rise of the Beasts is kind of its own weird, gritty animal. Literally.
It’s been a minute since it hit theaters in 2023, and honestly, the conversation around it hasn't stopped. People are still arguing about where it fits in the timeline. Is it a prequel? A reboot? A fever dream? Most folks get the timeline totally wrong because Paramount likes to play it fast and loose with "continuity."
The Continuity Headache Everyone Argues About
Here is the thing. Director Steven Caple Jr. has been pretty vocal about trying to "protect" the 2007 movie’s timeline, but let’s look at the facts. In Transformers Rise of the Beasts, we’re in 1994. We’ve got Unicron—a planet-sized god of death—trying to eat Earth. If a giant metal planet almost swallowed the world in the 90s, don't you think Shia LaBeouf might have mentioned it in 2007?
Exactly.
Basically, the movie follows the "soft reboot" path started by Bumblebee. It’s a sequel to that 2018 film, but it largely ignores the specific lore established in the five Michael Bay films. It’s a fresh start. You’ve got Anthony Ramos playing Noah Diaz, a Brooklyn guy just trying to pay his brother’s medical bills, who gets sucked into a war between alien robots. It’s a much more "human" story than the later Bay films, which kinda just became a blur of spinning metal and military recruitment ads.
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Bringing the Beast Wars to Life (Finally)
For those of us who grew up in the 90s, the inclusion of the Maximals was the biggest draw. Seeing Optimus Primal—voiced by the legendary Ron Perlman—on the big screen was a core memory moment. But don't confuse the movie Maximals with the ones from the old CGI cartoon.
In the original Beast Wars show, the Maximals were from the far future and traveled back to prehistoric Earth. In this movie? They’re an ancient race from another planet that has been hiding in the Peruvian jungle for centuries. They aren't just robots in disguise; they are the "beasts" that local legends were built on.
The production actually went to Peru. They filmed in Cusco and at Machu Picchu. No, seriously. They were the first major production allowed to film at the actual archaeological site. They even had a shaman perform a ceremony before they started shooting to respect the land. That's a level of grit and reality you don't usually see in a movie about giant transforming gorillas.
Why the Villains Felt Different
We need to talk about Scourge. He isn't a Decepticon. He’s a Terrorcon.
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- Scourge: Voiced by Peter Dinklage, he’s basically a cosmic trophy hunter.
- The Faction: They serve Unicron, not Megatron.
- The Vibe: They don't want to rule the world; they just want to feed it to their master.
This shifted the stakes. It wasn't about a civil war between two robot factions anymore. It was about pure survival against an eldritch horror from space.
The Numbers and the Future
Looking back from 2026, the box office of Transformers Rise of the Beasts is an interesting case study. It pulled in about $441 million worldwide. In the world of billion-dollar blockbusters, some called that a "disappointment," but you have to look at the context. It was fighting for air in a crowded summer against Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and The Flash.
It did well enough to greenlight a sequel, which brings us to that ending.
The G.I. Joe crossover.
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That wasn't just a throwaway gag. Paramount is officially building a Hasbro Cinematic Universe. While some fans are worried about "franchise fatigue," the plan is to merge the two worlds in a massive crossover film. Recent updates from early 2026 suggest that while the animated Transformers One took a detour into Cybertron’s past, the next live-action entry will lean heavily into the military tech of the Joes meeting the alien tech of the Autobots.
What You Should Actually Take Away
If you’re looking to rewatch or dive in for the first time, don't worry about the 2007-2017 movies. You don't need them.
Watch Bumblebee first, then jump into Transformers Rise of the Beasts.
Pay attention to the smaller details, like how Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson) interacts with Noah. It’s the first time since the original 2007 film that the human-robot bond actually feels earned instead of forced.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Timeline Check: Treat this as "Universe B." It starts with Bumblebee and continues here.
- The Soundtrack: It’s a 90s hip-hop goldmine. If you like Wu-Tang Clan and Notorious B.I.G., keep your ears open.
- Location Spotting: The scenes in Peru aren't just green screen. That’s the real Andes, and it looks spectacular in 4K.
The franchise is moving away from mindless carnage and trying to find its heart again. It’s not perfect—some of the CGI in the final "brown field" battle gets a bit muddy—but as a bridge to a new era of Hasbro storytelling, it’s a solid foundation.
Keep an eye out for news on the G.I. Joe crossover, as casting rumors for the new Joe team are expected to drop later this year.