Michael Bay's five films (2007–2017) made Transformers a global movie brand: two of them — Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction — each grossed over a billion dollars. At the same time they're among the most divisive in the fandom.
What fans love
A scale the franchise never had: realistic giant robots, stunning effects and action, Steve Jablonsky's music. For millions of viewers these films were their first introduction to Transformers.
What they criticise
Classic fans often complain that the robots take a back seat to the human heroes. The designs are hard to read in fights, the plots are convoluted and the humour is crude at times. The further the series went, the longer and more chaotic the films became.
The middle ground
Many agree the 2007 film worked best, and Revenge of the Fallen and The Last Knight are the weakest. The reaction to these problems led to Bumblebee (2018) — a smaller, warmer film loved by critics and fans alike.
Summary
Bay's films are spectacle above all. If you come for that, they work. If you want a deep robot story, start with Bumblebee or Transformers One. Reviews of every film are in the Films & series section.
