All 9 Transformers Movies: The Complete Guide To Every Film, Timeline, And Future Plans (Updated 2024)

The question of "how many Transformers movies are there" is more complex than a simple number, as the franchise spans multiple timelines and continuities. As of the current date, December 18, 2025, there are nine major theatrical and animated films in the Transformers cinematic universe, with the most recent addition being the critically acclaimed animated origin story, Transformers One (2024). This guide breaks down the full list of films, separates the two main timelines, and reveals the confirmed future of the franchise, including the highly anticipated next live-action sequel.

The total count of nine films includes the original 1986 classic, the five-film Michael Bay 'Bayverse' saga, and the new continuity established by Bumblebee (2018) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023). Understanding the split between these timelines—the original continuity and the rebooted universe—is key to watching the films in the correct chronological order, especially with the 2024 animated prequel fundamentally changing the Cybertronian lore.

The Definitive List of All 9 Transformers Movies by Release Date

The Transformers film franchise, primarily produced by Paramount Pictures and Hasbro, has evolved significantly since its debut. While the Michael Bay films from 2007 to 2017 formed the first major cinematic universe, the 2018 soft-reboot paved the way for a fresh new continuity. Here is the complete list of all nine major films, ordered by their theatrical release date.

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• The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
• 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)

1. The Michael Bay 'Bayverse' Continuity (2007–2017)

This is the original live-action series, directed primarily by Michael Bay and known for its massive scale, explosive action, and focus on human protagonists like Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg). This continuity established the core conflict between the Autobots and the Decepticons on Earth, often involving ancient Cybertronian artifacts like the Allspark and the Matrix of Leadership.

The Michael Bay era was a massive commercial success, with both Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction crossing the coveted $1 billion worldwide box office mark. However, the franchise was effectively rebooted after the diminishing returns of The Last Knight, leading to a new, more character-driven approach with Bumblebee.

2. The New Live-Action Continuity (The Rebooted Universe)

The new continuity began with Bumblebee, which serves as a prequel to the entire live-action saga but establishes a new, streamlined timeline distinct from the Michael Bay films. This universe focuses on a closer adaptation of the Generation 1 (G1) aesthetic and lore, featuring classic characters like Optimus Prime and Megatron with updated designs. This timeline is often preferred by long-time fans for its faithfulness to the original source material.

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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts introduced the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons, bringing in elements of the beloved Beast Wars storyline and setting the stage for a new trilogy. The film’s climactic ending also teased a massive crossover, hinting at a shared universe with another iconic Hasbro property.

3. The Animated Theatrical Films (1986 & 2024)

Two major animated films have received theatrical releases, acting as foundational pillars of the franchise's lore. They stand largely separate from the live-action continuities but offer crucial origin stories for the main characters.

The Transformers: The Movie (1986) is a dark, pivotal film in the original G1 canon, notably featuring the death of Optimus Prime and the introduction of Unicron and the Matrix of Leadership. It was a box office disappointment at the time but gained cult status.

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Transformers One (2024) is a fully animated prequel that explores the untold origin story of Orion Pax (who becomes Optimus Prime) and D-16 (who becomes Megatron) on Cybertron. The film, directed by Josh Cooley, is a key piece of modern lore, detailing their friendship before the Great War and the formation of the Autobots and Decepticons.

The Future of the Transformers Cinematic Universe: What’s Next?

Following the success of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and the 2024 animated film, Paramount and Hasbro have laid out a clear path for the franchise's future, centered on the new continuity.

The Confirmed New Live-Action Trilogy

Rise of the Beasts was explicitly designed to be the first installment of a new live-action trilogy. The next film, tentatively referred to as Transformers 8 (or the sequel to Rise of the Beasts), is currently in active development. While a locked-in release date is not yet public, fans can expect the film to continue the story threads left open in the 2023 movie, particularly the growing threat of Unicron and the further development of the Maximals and Terrorcons factions.

The G.I. Joe Crossover

The most significant and exciting development for the franchise's future is the confirmed plan for a crossover movie with the G.I. Joe franchise. The ending of Rise of the Beasts featured a major surprise reveal that directly sets up this shared universe, a concept that has been in discussion for years. This crossover is expected to be the next major live-action installment after the immediate Rise of the Beasts sequel, expanding the scope of the new continuity to a massive scale involving both the Autobots and human military forces like the G.I. Joes.

The focus on building a cohesive, interconnected universe, featuring beloved entities like Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and the Beast Wars characters, demonstrates a commitment to topical authority and a long-term strategy for the franchise.