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The Definitive Transformers Movie Order: Why The Chronological Timeline Has Completely Changed

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Are you confused about the true chronological order of the Transformers movie universe? You are not alone. The franchise has undergone a massive timeline shift in recent years, making the old release order obsolete for anyone who wants to follow the story of Optimus Prime and the Autobots from the very beginning. As of this current date in December 2025, the definitive timeline is no longer a simple list of Michael Bay films.

The entire cinematic universe is now defined by a new continuity, which starts with a shocking origin story on Cybertron and sets the stage for a massive crossover event. This updated guide cuts through the confusion, presenting the essential viewing order for the new timeline, alongside the classic "Bayverse" films for completionists, ensuring you are fully prepared for the future of the franchise, including the highly anticipated G.I. Joe crossover.

The New Chronological Viewing Order (The Core Continuity)

The official new continuity, which began with 2018's Bumblebee, has established a clear, distinct timeline separate from the original five Michael Bay films. This is the essential order for following the modern story arc, which focuses on the Maximals, the Terrorcons, and the looming threat of Unicron.

  1. Transformers One (2024) - The Origin Story
  2. Bumblebee (2018) - The 1980s Prequel
  3. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) - The 1990s Sequel & Crossover Setup

1. Transformers One (2024)

The absolute starting point of the new continuity is the fully CG-animated prequel, Transformers One. Set entirely on the planet Cybertron, this movie is an origin story that explores the complex, fraternal relationship between two iconic figures before they became mortal enemies: Optimus Prime and Megatron.

  • Setting: Cybertron, billions of years before the events on Earth.
  • Key Plot: It details how the close friends Orion Pax (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry) go from being co-workers to the leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons, respectively.
  • Voice Cast: Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime), Brian Tyree Henry (D-16/Megatron), Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1), and Keegan-Michael Key (Bumblebee).
  • Significance: This film establishes the foundational lore of the new timeline, explaining the fall of Cybertron and the birth of the Autobot-Decepticon war.

2. Bumblebee (2018)

After the Cybertronian civil war is established, the action moves to Earth in 1987. Bumblebee serves as a soft reboot and a direct prequel to Rise of the Beasts, focusing on the titular Autobot's first mission on our planet.

  • Setting: 1987, California.
  • Key Plot: Bumblebee, sent to Earth by Optimus Prime, takes refuge as a yellow Volkswagen Beetle. He is discovered and repaired by teenager Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld). The film also introduces Sector 7, a secret government agency tracking Cybertronian activity.
  • Critical Reception: Critically acclaimed, this film was praised for its focus on character and heart, earning a "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a stark contrast to the previous entries.
  • Significance: It successfully reset the franchise's tone, establishing the new continuity's visual style and character dynamics, and directly contradicts some events from the original 2007 film.

3. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

The next chapter in the new continuity jumps ahead to the 1990s, continuing the story of the Autobots on Earth and introducing three new factions: the Maximals, the Predacons, and the Terrorcons.

  • Setting: 1994, Brooklyn, New York, and Peru.
  • Key Plot: The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, team up with the Maximals (led by Optimus Primal) to prevent the Terrorcon leader Scourge from acquiring the Transwarp Key, which would allow his master, the planet-eater Unicron, to travel to and consume Earth.
  • Box Office & Critical Response: While a box-office disappointment globally, the film maintained a better critical rating (52% on Rotten Tomatoes) than most of the Michael Bay films, continuing the trend set by Bumblebee.
  • The G.I. Joe Crossover: The film's ending features a massive reveal: Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) is recruited by Agent Burke of the organization G.I. Joe, officially setting up a shared cinematic universe between the two Hasbro properties. This is the direct setup for the next live-action film.

The Original Michael Bay "Bayverse" Timeline

For fans who grew up with the original films and wish to watch them in release order, or for those who want to understand the older, separate continuity (often called the "Bayverse"), this list remains the definitive viewing path. These five films, directed by Michael Bay, form a self-contained saga that is now largely considered non-canon to the new continuity.

1. Transformers (2007)

The film that launched the franchise, introducing Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), the Autobots, and the concept of the AllSpark. This movie is the foundation of the original timeline, where Bumblebee arrives on Earth in 2007, directly contradicting the 1987 setting of the new continuity.

2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

The Autobots and Sam Witwicky face the threat of The Fallen, an ancient Decepticon, and the return of Megatron. The film delves deeper into the Cybertronian history on Earth.

3. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

The discovery of a long-lost Autobot ship on the Moon reveals a secret history involving Sentinel Prime and a plan to use Earth to rebuild Cybertron. This film is often cited as the end of the original trilogy.

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. It deals with the aftermath of the Battle of Chicago and a new threat from the human-made Transformer, Galvatron.

5. Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

The final film in the Bayverse continuity, which retcons the history of Transformers on Earth to include King Arthur, Merlin, and a massive Cybertronian device hidden on Earth. The complex lore and narrative of this film led directly to the franchise's decision to reboot the timeline with Bumblebee.

Understanding the Continuity Conflict

The biggest source of confusion for watching the Transformers movies in order is the existence of two distinct timelines. This is a common practice in modern cinematic universes to "reset" a franchise without erasing the older films entirely.

  • The Bayverse Timeline: Runs from Transformers (2007) to The Last Knight (2017). It is a self-contained story that ends ambiguously.
  • The New Continuity: Runs from Transformers One (2024) to Rise of the Beasts (2023) and beyond. This timeline is characterized by its more G1-inspired character designs, a tighter focus on the core characters like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, and the introduction of the Maximals and the G.I. Joe universe.

For the best viewing experience, start with the New Continuity. It offers a clearer, more consistent narrative path, beginning with the origin of Optimus Prime and Megatron on Cybertron and leading directly into the highly anticipated G.I. Joe crossover movie.

The Definitive Transformers Movie Order: Why the Chronological Timeline Has Completely Changed
transformers movies in order
transformers movies in order

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