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The Definitive Guide: All Transformers Movies In Order (Chronological & Release Date) And The TWO Timelines Explained

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Trying to watch the entire Transformers cinematic universe? You're not alone. The franchise's timeline has become notoriously complex, split across two distinct continuities—the original Michael Bay "Bayverse" and the newer, rebooted timeline—which makes finding the correct viewing order a challenge for both new fans and veteran collectors. With a brand-new animated film, Transformers One, set for release on September 20, 2024, and a major live-action crossover on the horizon, the timeline is more relevant and confusing than ever.

As of late December 2025, the current official film count stands at eight major theatrical releases, plus the upcoming animated prequel. This definitive guide breaks down every movie in two clear lists: the order they were released, and the chronological order for a seamless story experience, helping you navigate the decades-long war between the Autobots and Decepticons.

The Complete Transformers Cinematic Universe: Two Ways to Watch

The confusion stems from the 2018 film Bumblebee, which served as both a prequel to the 2007 film and a soft reboot of the entire series. The subsequent film, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, fully cemented this new continuity, effectively separating the franchise into two timelines. We will list all films, including the animated prequel, in both orders.

Viewing Order 1: By Release Date (The Traditional Way)

Watching the films in their release order is the classic way to experience the franchise, allowing you to see the evolution of the visual effects and storytelling, even if the timeline jumps around.

  1. Transformers (2007): The film that launched the live-action franchise, introducing Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and setting the foundation for the Michael Bay era.
  2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009): The sequel that further explores the ancient history of the Primes and introduces The Fallen.
  3. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011): The final film in the original trilogy, featuring the Apollo 11 mission and the treacherous Sentinel Prime.
  4. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014): A soft reboot within the Bayverse, introducing a new human cast led by Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) and the Dinobots.
  5. Transformers: The Last Knight (2017): The most complex and controversial film in the Bayverse, linking the Transformers' history to King Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table.
  6. Bumblebee (2018): The first film in the new continuity. It is a smaller, character-driven prequel set in 1987.
  7. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023): The second film in the new continuity, introducing the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons, and setting up a future crossover.
  8. Transformers One (2024): The fully CG-animated prequel that explores the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron on Cybertron.

Viewing Order 2: Chronological Timeline (The Story Order)

For fans who want to experience the story in the order it happens, starting with the origins of Cybertron and moving forward to the present day, this is the definitive list. This order merges the new continuity films with the original Bayverse films, assuming the new films are *prequels* that lead into the 2007 film, though this link is tenuous and often debated.

  1. Transformers One (2024): The absolute beginning, detailing the relationship between Orion Pax (Optimus Prime) and D-16 (Megatron) before the war.
  2. Bumblebee (2018): Set in 1987, this film shows Bumblebee's first arrival on Earth and his initial encounter with humanity.
  3. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023): Set in 1994, this film continues the new timeline, following Optimus Prime and the Autobots as they encounter the Maximals in New York.
  4. Transformers (2007): The start of the Bayverse. The film is set in 2007, roughly 13 years after Rise of the Beasts.
  5. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009): Two years after the first film.
  6. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011): The final chapter of the Sam Witwicky trilogy.
  7. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014): Set four years after the Battle of Chicago in Dark of the Moon.
  8. Transformers: The Last Knight (2017): The final film in the Bayverse, concluding the live-action story that began with Cade Yeager.

The Michael Bay "Bayverse" Era (2007–2017)

The first five films, directed by Michael Bay, are characterized by their massive scale, explosive action, and complex, often retconned, mythology. While critically divisive, they were a global box office phenomenon, establishing the live-action look and feel of the franchise.

Transformers (2007)

The original film introduced the concept of the AllSpark and the human protagonist, Sam Witwicky. It was a massive box office success, grossing over $709 million worldwide, and remains the highest-rated film of the Bay-directed series by critics.

  • Key Entities: Sam Witwicky, Mikaela Banes, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, AllSpark.
  • Plot Connection: Establishes the Autobots' presence on Earth and the search for the AllSpark.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

This sequel delved deeper into the Cybertronian past, introducing the concept of the Primes and the Sun Harvester. Despite receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews, it was a massive commercial hit, surpassing its predecessor's box office gross with $836.5 million worldwide.

  • Key Entities: The Fallen, Jetfire, Devastator, Matrix of Leadership.
  • Plot Connection: Reveals the ancient history of the Autobots' war on Earth.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

The third film introduced Sentinel Prime and the pillars that allow for Cybertronian teleportation. It was the highest-grossing film of the Bayverse, earning over $1.124 billion globally, despite mixed to negative reviews.

  • Key Entities: Sentinel Prime, Shockwave, Soundwave, Ironhide, Cybertron.
  • Plot Connection: Culminates in the Battle of Chicago, a massive conflict that turns humanity against the Transformers.

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

This film initiated a soft reboot by replacing the human cast with Cade Yeager and introducing the Dinobots. It was another billion-dollar success, grossing $1.105 billion worldwide, but continued the trend of poor critical reception.

  • Key Entities: Cade Yeager, Tessa Yeager, Galvatron, Lockdown, Dinobots.
  • Plot Connection: Explores the Creators and introduces a new threat: the bounty hunter Lockdown.

Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

The final film in the Bayverse connected the Transformers to human history, including World War II and the Arthurian legend. It was the lowest-grossing film of the Bay era, ending the original continuity with a worldwide gross of $605.4 million and generally negative reviews.

  • Key Entities: Quintessa, Unicron (teased), Hot Rod, Cogman, Dragonstorm.
  • Plot Connection: Focuses on the search for Merlin's staff and the threat of Cybertron merging with Earth.

The New Continuity and Future of the Franchise

Following the decline of the Bayverse, Paramount opted for a soft reboot, focusing on a more character-driven story and a visual style that pays homage to the original Generation 1 (G1) cartoon designs. This new continuity has a much clearer, linear timeline.

Bumblebee (2018)

Set in 1987, this film is widely considered the best-reviewed live-action Transformers movie. It focuses on the relationship between a young girl named Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) and the titular Autobot. The film was a modest box office success, turning a profit and setting the stage for the new timeline.

  • Key Entities: Charlie Watson, Sector 7, Shatter, Dropkick, Cliffjumper.
  • Plot Connection: Provides Bumblebee's origin story on Earth and re-establishes the Autobot/Decepticon conflict with G1 designs.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

The sequel to Bumblebee, set seven years later in 1994, introduced fan-favorite characters from the Beast Wars cartoon, including the Maximals. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it is the lowest-grossing film of the live-action franchise, concluding its run with a global take of $436.7 million.

  • Key Entities: Noah Diaz, Elena Wallace, Maximals (Optimus Primal), Terrorcons (Scourge), Unicron.
  • Plot Connection: Centers on the search for the Transwarp Key and features a major tease for a future G.I. Joe crossover.

Transformers One (2024)

Scheduled for release on September 20, 2024, this fully CG-animated film is the true chronological starting point. It features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth as Orion Pax and Brian Tyree Henry as D-16, exploring how they went from brothers-in-arms to bitter enemies: Optimus Prime and Megatron.

  • Key Entities: Orion Pax (Optimus Prime), D-16 (Megatron), Elita-1, Sentinel Prime (voice cast).
  • Plot Connection: The definitive origin story of the Cybertronian Civil War.

The Next Era: The Transformers and G.I. Joe Crossover

The future of the live-action franchise is officially moving beyond a direct sequel to Rise of the Beasts and into a massive shared universe. Following the major cameo tease at the end of the 2023 film, Paramount officially confirmed at CinemaCon 2024 that the next live-action film will be a Transformers and G.I. Joe Crossover Movie.

This announcement signals a major shift, aiming to create a Hasbro cinematic universe. While a release date is not yet set, the film is expected to follow the new continuity established by Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts. This move is a clear attempt to capitalize on the nostalgia of the 1980s cartoons and bring two of Hasbro's biggest properties together on the big screen, potentially setting up a new multi-film saga.

Fans are eagerly awaiting details on which G.I. Joe characters will appear and how the two worlds will merge, but the confirmation of this crossover proves that the Transformers universe is not only continuing but actively expanding into a much larger, interconnected narrative.

The Definitive Guide: All Transformers Movies in Order (Chronological & Release Date) and the TWO Timelines Explained
transformers all movies in order
transformers all movies in order

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