Ranking Every Transformers Movie: Which Ones Are Actually Worth Watching With Your Kids?
Look, I get it. Your kid saw a clip of Optimus Prime on YouTube and now suddenly you're being asked to watch "all the Transformers movies." Before you commit to what could be a truly punishing marathon, let's talk about which of these films are actually watchable, which ones your kids can handle, and which ones you should skip entirely.
We're looking at the full theatrical Transformers franchise: the 1986 animated The Transformers: The Movie, the Michael Bay era (2007-2017), and the recent attempts to salvage the franchise with Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. That's nine movies total, and honestly? Only about three of them are worth your time.
1. The Transformers: The Movie (1986) - Ages 8+
This is the one. If your kid only watches ONE Transformers movie, make it this animated gem. Yes, it traumatized an entire generation by killing off Optimus Prime in the first act (parents in 1986 were NOT prepared), but it's genuinely good. The animation holds up, the voice acting is incredible (Orson Welles! Leonard Nimoy!), and the 80s rock soundtrack absolutely slaps.
The real talk: There's actual character death here, and it hits hard. Kids who can handle The Lion King can handle this, but younger viewers might need some processing time. The violence is cartoon-style but emotionally heavy.
2. Bumblebee (2018) - Ages 10+
Finally, a live-action Transformers movie with an actual plot and characters you care about. Set in 1987, this is essentially E.T. but with a giant robot. Hailee Steinfeld is great, the action is coherent (you can actually tell the robots apart!), and it has genuine heart.
Violence level: PG-13 for robot combat and some military action. Way less gratuitous than the Bay films. About 92% of families in our community use TV regularly, and this is the kind of movie that actually works for family movie night without anyone feeling punished.
3. Transformers (2007) - Ages 12+
The one that started it all. Michael Bay's first Transformers movie is... fine. It's the most restrained of his entries, which is like saying it's only moderately explosive. Shia LaBeouf is charming, the special effects were revolutionary for 2007, and there's enough story to keep things moving.
The catch: It's long (144 minutes), loud, and has some genuinely weird humor that hasn't aged well. There's also more military worship than actual plot in the second half.
4. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) - Ages 11+
The most recent attempt is... okay? It tries to course-correct from the Bay excess with a 90s setting and Beast Wars characters. The problem is it feels like a setup for sequels that may never come. If your kid is deep into the Transformers lore and wants to see Optimus Primal, go for it. Otherwise, skip it.
5. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) - Ages 13+
This is where Bay's formula starts wearing thin. It's nearly three hours long, the human characters are insufferable, and the Chicago destruction sequence goes on forever. That said, the space race conspiracy angle is kind of interesting, and the action is technically impressive.
Real talk: This is PG-13 but pushes it hard. There's implied human death on a massive scale and some genuinely intense sequences. Not for sensitive viewers.
6-9. The Bottom Tier (Skip These)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) - Incomprehensible plot, racist robot caricatures, and testicle jokes. Genuinely one of the worst blockbusters ever made. Ages: Never.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) - At 165 minutes, this is a war crime. Mark Wahlberg can't save this mess. The "Romeo and Juliet law" conversation is deeply uncomfortable. Ages: Also never.
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) - Bay's final entry is pure chaos. King Arthur? Robot knights? Anthony Hopkins clearly having fun while everyone else suffers? It's unwatchable. Ages: Not even for adults.
About 40% of families in our community let kids use Netflix independently, and another 40% use it regularly. Many of these Transformers films are rotating through streaming services, which means your kid can stumble onto them without you realizing what they're getting into.
The violence question: These movies are loud and destructive. Robot combat is constant, and the Bay films especially show a LOT of collateral damage. If your kid is sensitive to destruction or has anxiety about disasters, even the "good" ones might be too much.
The gender problem: The Bay films in particular have a serious issue with how they portray women. Megan Fox and subsequent female leads are shot like we're watching a different kind of movie entirely. It's uncomfortable, and it's worth discussing if you do watch these together.
Runtime reality: Most of these movies are 2.5+ hours. That's a serious time commitment. The 1986 animated film clocks in at a breezy 84 minutes and tells a complete story. Just saying.
If you want to introduce your kid to Transformers, start with the 1986 animated movie. It's the best one, full stop. If they need a live-action fix, Bumblebee is genuinely good. The first 2007 film is watchable if you fast-forward through some parts.
Everything else? Life is too short. There are so many better action movies you could watch together. The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, even Pacific Rim if they want giant robots fighting—all better uses of your family movie night.
Want to dig deeper? Ask our chatbot about age-appropriate action movies
or explore alternatives to Michael Bay's particular brand of chaos.
Already watched one? Use this as a conversation starter about special effects, storytelling, and what makes a movie actually good versus just loud. The difference between the 1986 film and the Bay sequels is a masterclass in how spectacle without story gets exhausting fast.
And hey—about 50% of families in our community watch Disney+ content together, which has some excellent animated options if the Transformers experiment doesn't go well. No judgment. We've all made optimistic movie choices we regretted 45 minutes in.