The Ever-Expanding Universe of Transformers
From its origins as a popular Hasbro toy line in the 1980s, the Transformers franchise has grown into a vast multimedia empire. The eternal conflict between the noble Autobots, led by the valiant Optimus Prime, and the malevolent Decepticons, under the command of the tyrannical Megatron, has captivated audiences across generations.
This timeline chronicles the cinematic journey of the Transformers, detailing both the live-action and animated films, their respective places in the lore, and the iconic characters that define this epic saga of robots in disguise.
Chronology of the Transformer Films
| Title | Year | Timeline | Continuity | Director | 3 Main Leads | Plot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transformers One | 2024 | Ancient Cybertron | Animated Origin | Josh Cooley | Orion Pax, D-16, Elita-1 | The untold origin story of how two friends and brothers-in-arms, Orion Pax and D-16, became the sworn enemies known as Optimus Prime and Megatron. |
| Bumblebee | 2018 | 1987 | Reboot | Travis Knight | Bumblebee, Shatter, Dropkick | Finding refuge in a California junkyard, Bumblebee is revived by Charlie. She soon learns this is no ordinary VW bug as Decepticon hunters arrive. |
| Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | 2023 | 1994 | Reboot | Steven Caple Jr. | Optimus Prime, Scourge, Primal | In a 90s adventure, the Autobots team up with the Maximals to face the planet-devouring threat of Unicron and his herald, Scourge. |
| Transformers | 2007 | 2007 | Bayverse | Michael Bay | Optimus, Megatron, Bumblebee | Sam Witwicky gets caught in a galactic war when he buys his first car, secretly the Autobot scout Bumblebee. |
| Revenge of the Fallen | 2009 | 2009 | Bayverse | Michael Bay | Optimus, The Fallen, Megatron | The Fallen returns to harvest the sun's energy. The Autobots must race to stop him and a resurrected Megatron. |
| Dark of the Moon | 2011 | 2011 | Bayverse | Michael Bay | Optimus, Sentinel, Megatron | A crashed ship on the moon reveals a secret plan by the Decepticons and Sentinel Prime to enslave humanity. |
| Age of Extinction | 2014 | 2014 | Bayverse | Michael Bay | Optimus, Lockdown, Galvatron | A mechanic discovers Optimus Prime, putting him in the crosshairs of a paranoid government agency and Lockdown. |
| The Last Knight | 2017 | 2017 | Bayverse | Michael Bay | Optimus, Megatron, Bumblebee | The key to saving the future lies buried in the secret history of Transformers on Earth. |
| The Transformers: The Movie | 1986 | 2005 | G1 Animated | Nelson Shin | Rodimus, Galvatron, Unicron | The Autobots face their darkest hour as Unicron descends upon Cybertron. Hot Rod must rise to embrace his destiny. |
The cinematic lore of the Transformers is a tapestry woven from multiple continuities, each contributing to the saga's enduring appeal. From the tragic origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron in the animated features to the high-octane, world-saving battles of the live-action films, the franchise has consistently reinvented itself.
