Transformers One’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Battles to Set Franchise Record

Transformers One has rolled out for the critics and the early reviews have propelled the animated adventure into a battle for the franchise’s best Rotten Tomatoes score. Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry’s upcoming origin story, which features the voice actors tackling young Optimus Prime (Orion Pax) and Megatron (D-16), respectively, registers 89% on the Tomatometer against 38 reviews, at the time of this writing. And that puts the new animated Transformers flick in a neck-and-neck race for the series’ highest RT rating ever.

Currently, the top spot is occupied by the 2018 live-action entry Bumblebee, which stars Hailee Steinfeld. The lovable yellow bug’s spin-off adventure registers 90% on the Tomatometer, against 252 reviews, and that gives the film a very tenuous lead against Transformers One. But once you get past those two films, Rotten Tomatoes hasn’t been exactly kind to the franchise. In fact, the Tomatometer dips almost 30 points between the No. 2 and No. 3 rankings on RT. Check out the series’ scores below:

Transformers Franchise’s All-Time Highest Tomatometer Ratings:

1. Bumblebee (90%)
2. Transformers One (89%)
3. The Transformers: The Movie (62%)
4. Transformers (57%)
5. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (52%)
6. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (35%)
7. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (20%)
8. Transformers: Age of Extinction (18%)
9. Transformers: The Last Knight (16%)

While Transformers One won’t officially open in theaters until next week, fans can check out the film during its special advance screenings on Saturday, September 14. And according to MovieWeb’s review by Julian Roman, there’s definitely reason to get excited about this new iteration that is joining the series. Roman succinctly says: “Raise your expectations for the best Transformers film.”

Critics Can See There’s More Than Meets the Eye

Transformers One is already eyeing massive box office returns over its opening weekend, in which the film’s forecast predicts a $40 million to $50 million premiere. And now, with the critics’ reviews comparing the new Transformers movie favorably to its own early reactions, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice might end up having a little more than the strange and unusual to deal with in cinemas. Todd Gilchrist of Variety writes:

“While still delivering the fun and excitement expected of Hasbro’s metamorphosizing robots, Transformers One approaches the well-known characters with a degree of nuance and complexity that marks the most sophisticated onscreen portrait of them to date.”

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter also sings Transformers One’s praises by writing:

The film’s crux lies with the relationship between young Orion Pax (Hemsworth) and D-16 (Henry), who will become bitter enemies, Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively. Mae Abdulbaki of Screen Rant says: “There’s a lot to love here — from the character dynamics to the thrilling action and gorgeous animation. It makes for an exciting origin story.” Jonathan Sim of ComingSoon.net unabashedly writes:

And, finally, Andrew J. Salazar of Discussing Film scores Transformers One a nearly perfect 4.5/5: “Transformers One is exactly what the franchise needs right now. Director Josh Cooley delivers a riveting original story told with great reverence and a level of maturity that will bring fans of all ages together.”

Special advance screenings of Transformers One drop on Saturday, September 14. Meanwhile, the rest of the fans can officially check out Chris Hemsworth’s praise-worthy performance alongside the voice talents of Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi — OMG, he’s playing Starscream — Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm when Transformers One officially begins its theatrical run on September 20.