The Transformers franchise gets a bad rap, but there are some genuine hidden gems scattered throughout each live-action movie that make the series worth watching in its own right. Ever since the release of the original Transformers in 2007, the franchise has gotten more negative publicity with each installment. While Bumblebee marked a positive change in the films’ public perception as the first project to be produced outside the scope of director Michael Bay, the standout scenes in all seven live-action Transformers movies deserve more recognition than they currently get.
It goes without saying that the fight scenes between Transformers are the biggest draw for the series, with the lovingly-rendered CGI set pieces of whirling steel never failing to gain a reaction. While many of the franchise’s best 60-second segments fall within this realm, there are some surprisingly serene moments that aren’t quite as violent the live-action films have done just as well. From indulgent fan service to unexpected reveals and pulse-pounding battles with Decepticons, each of the Transformers movies have their own moments to shine.
7 Optimus Prime’s Final Monologue
Transformers (2007)
The film that introduced theaters to the spectacle of live-action Transformers, the first film of the eponymous robots includes some gratuitous, yet gratifying action scenes worthy of Michael Bay’s name. However, one of the best scenes in the entire film is also the quietest, with the very last 60 seconds before the credits hit leaving a strong enough impression to leave fans hungry for more. After the day has been saved, the Autobots roll up alongside Sam and Mikaela to a scene view over a setting sun, as Optimus Prime monologizes, sending out a message for any remaining Autobots to convene on Earth.
Even if it is incredibly cheesy, there’s a certain earnestness to Optimus’ message, feeling at once nostalgic and somber as Optimus forsakes his quest for restoring Cybertron in favor of his hope for the Autobots’ future on Earth. His final words on humanity are downright inspirational, as Prime muses “I have witnessed their capacity for courage, and though we are worlds apart, like us, there’s more to them than meets the eye“. Set to the tune of Linkin Park’s What I’ve Done, this finale has become a legendary mid-2000s time capsule of the nascent series at its best.
6 The Forest Battle
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
transformers: revenge of the fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the second film in the Transformers franchise. It follows Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) as he continues to help the Autobots in their ongoing war against the evil Decepticons. Sam learns of an ancient Decepticon known as the Fallen, who plans to eradicate all human life using an energon source from the planet Cybertron.
- Release Date
- June 24, 2009
- Cast
- Isabel Lucas , Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Ramon Rodriguez , Josh Duhamel , John Turturro , Peter Cullen , Hugo Weaving , Tony Todd , Mark Ryan
The second installment of the Transformers saga somehow managed to up the ante on the franchise’s jaw-dropping fight scenes, introducing more Autobots, Decepticons, and grisly weapons into the fray. By far the strongest minute-long scene in the film is Optimus Prime’s final one-on-three battle in the forest as he protects Sam, proudly bellowing “I’ll take you all on!” nearly managing to solo the trio of Decepticons before Megatron shockingly takes him out with a brutal backstab. This excellently-choreographed battle displays Prime’s brutality, tearing apart Grindor’s face, and nobility, willing to lay down his life to protect Sam and the AllSpark.
5 The Final Bridge Battle
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Transformers Dark of the Moon
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is the third film in the Transformers series. It was released in 2011 and follows the story of Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeaouf) and his new girlfriend, Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whitely). The two work to defeat the evil Decepticons once again. Optimus Prime strongly believes that in order to win in this war, they must recruit the help of Sentinel Prime, the once-leader of the Autobots.
One of the most climactic minutes in the entire Transformers series, Dark of the Moon‘s final three-way bridge battle between the traitorous Sentinel Prime, Optimus, and Megatron needs to be seen to be believed. Beginning with a confrontation between the two Primes, Optimus takes his fury out on Sentinel after learning of his treachery, nearly being overwhelmed if it wasn’t for a surprise assist from Megatron. Sensing his former friend turning on him after their mutual enemy is disabled, Megatron defiantly calls Optimus out, asking him who he would be without Megatron as a foil.
Optimus’ cold response, “Time to find out“, is punctuated by him raising his iconic face shield, engaging his long-time rival for the last time. Not only does Optimus Prime kill Megatron with a brutal axe strike to the head, but he goes on to finish off the groveling Sentinel with Megatron’s shotgun. The most brutal scene from Optimus Prime, these 60 seconds of shocking back-to-back deaths and betrayals is perhaps the single most unbelievable and gripping series of events to unfold in short order in the entire Transformers universe.
4 Optimus Unites The Autobots And The Dinobots
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Transformers: Age of Extinction
The fourth installment in the Transformers movie franchise, Transformers: Age of Extinction introduces a new cast of human characters alongside its returning Autobots and Decepticons. Years after humanity has ceased all cooperation with the Autobots, a badly-damaged Optimus Prime is discovered by inventor Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg). Caught in the middle of the ancient plans of the alien race known as the Creators, Cade has no choice but to help Optimus Prime in order to save the Earth from total destruction.
- Cast
- Mark Wahlberg , Stanley Tucci , Bingbing Li , T.J. Miller , Kelsey Grammer , Jack Reynor , Peter Cullen , Nicola Peltz
The build-up to Optimus Prime riding into battle on Grimlock’s back was the main draw to Transformers: Age of Extinction, and the moment of payoff made the film’s lengthy run time more than worth the wait. Holding his own against the Dinobots’ leader in ritual combat to prove his worthiness of their leadership, fellow Autobots Drift and Crosshairs can only watch in awe as Optimus demonstrates yet again why he deserves the title of Prime. As Prime finally mounts the Cybertronian T. rex, leading the charge into battle, Crosshairs puts it best — “You just want to die for the guy“.
3 Bumblebee’s World War II Flashback
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
Transformers: The Last Knight
Humans are at war with the Transformers, and Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving the future lies buried in the secrets of the past and the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Now, it’s up to the unlikely alliance of single father Cade Yeager, Autobot Bumblebee, an English lord, and an Oxford professor to save the world from the Decepticons.
- Cast
- Peter Cullen , Allen Phoenix , Mark Wahlberg , Jerrod Carmichael , Isabela Moner , Anthony Hopkins , Josh Duhamel
Transformers: The Last Knight has a lot of moving pieces, but its best scene is a flashback courtesy of Anthony Hopkins’ Sir Edmund Burton, who explains Bumblebee’s lesser-known past to a stunned Cade Yaeger. In the brief sequence, Burton explains how Bumblebee was once a secret weapon of the Allies fighting Nazis in World War II, and the glimpse of the action is more compelling than anything else in the movie. Even if it muddies up the already confusing Transformers movie timeline, Bumblebee as a brutal Nazi-hunting soldier is too fascinating a premise to ignore, deserving of its own film.
2 The Cybertron Sequence
Bumblebee (2018)
Bumblebee
The sixth installment in the Transformers movie franchise, Bumblebee acts as both a spin-off and prequel to the series. Set in 1987, Bumblebee follows Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) after she discovers the injured Autobot scout, B-127. Nicknaming him Bumblebee, Charlie helps the iconic yellow Transformer to evade both the evil Decepticons and the efforts of Colonel Jack Burns (John Cena) to capture him.
- Cast
- Rachel Crow , Abby Quinn , Gracie Dzienny , Jason Drucker , John Cena , Ricardo Hoyos , Hailee Steinfeld , Jorge Lendeborg Jr.
The opening moments of Bumblebee includes some of the most stunningly-animated Transformers moments around, giving audiences a window into the planet of Cybertron at the height of its civil war. From the dazzling arcs of laser fire streaking through the air to the panic and desperation of the Autobots in their last stand on the planet, this single scene was compelling enough to inspire an entire film set on Cybertron, Transformers One. The cherry on top is the appearance of Decepticons Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave, with astonishing designs evoking their looks in the original 80s cartoon.
1 Bumblebee’s Return
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a sci-fi action movie set after the events of 2018’s Bumblebee as a series reboot of sorts and is heavily inspired by the Beast Wars series. The film follows two archaeologists who find themselves following the heroic Autobots as they come face to face with several other tribes of intergalactic transformers.
- Cast
- Anthony Ramos , Dominique Fishback , Domenic Di Rosa
Even if Bumblebee’s revival wasn’t a shocker, there’s no denying that the scene featuring his triumphant return is the best in the film. Skydiving out of Stratosphere to the tune of LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out, Bumblebee returns with a vengeance, gunning down Terrorcons on his way down. He even manages to defeat Nightbird, who flies to meet him in mid-air, punctuating his arrival by the hapless Terrorcon’s limbs falling down around him. The pint-sized Transformer punctuates the scene with his radio, clipping the phrase “I have come here to kick a**“.
