Since jumping into live-action, theTransformersfranchise has spawned seven live-action movies, with director Michael Bay’s ability to showcase action propping up five of them, not including 2018’sBumblebee. However, outside the fighting,Bay’sTransformersmovies have issues with the human plots, making their characters feel less important and uninteresting. Through the good and the bad, theTransformersfranchise was launched to new heights, depicting the 1980s heroes on the big screen in a new form and reaching a wider audience.
Unfortunately for Bay, critics and fans alike were divided on his movies, with few becoming “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. Last year’srelease ofTransformers One,an animated origin story for Optimus Prime and Megatron, was only the secondTransformersmovie to receive the Certified Fresh label, with the first beingBumblebee.Grabbing a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie gave Bumblebee the spotlight, showcasing one of the live-action movies' best charactersas he hadn’t been before.
Bumblebee Is Transformers' Coolest Autobot
Michael Bay Changed Bumblebee For The Better
When theTransformersfranchise launched in the ’80s, Bumblebee was more of a spy, using his smaller stature to go on missions others couldn’t accomplish. As time went on, he became more of a trusted lieutenant for Optimus Prime, butMichael Bay changed Bumblebee forever with 2007’sTransformers.In Bay’s movies,Bumblebee is unable to speak, utilizing his radio and different sounds to explain his emotions.This made Bumblebee a more unique character, standing out from the crowd and becoming more of a fan favorite as the movies continued.
Bumblebee’s live-action appearances made him feel like an entirely fresh character, changing who the Autobot was in the comics into something brand new.
One constant in all the live-action films is Bumblebee’s ability to bring levity to certain situations, as his sound effects can provide comic relief in heavier moments. Bumblebee’s live-action appearances made him feel like an entirely fresh character, changing who the Autobot was in the comics into something brand new.Bumblebee’s unique style of emotional expression helps drive narratives forward and allows his character to steal every scene he is a part of,eventually leading to his solo spinoff movie.
The Bumblebee Movie’s Focus Is One Reason It Has Transformers' Highest RT Score
Bumblebee Finally Got The Spotlight He Deserved
Bumblebee, which was the highest-ratedTransformersmovie on Rotten Tomatoes by nearly 30% beforeTransformers One, is the franchise’s only spinoff movie, giving the spotlight to the black and yellow Autobot. Adding in the star power of Hailee Steinfeld,Bumblebeeis one of the rare live-actionTransformersmovies to have a solid human storyline.After starting with the war on Cybertron and giving Bumblebee’s lack of voice an origin, the focus shifts to the bond between Steinfeld’s Charlie and Bumblebee. The movie succeeds at showing the emotions on both sides, something the other live-action films consistently lack.
2007
57%
2009
19%
2011
35%
2014
18%
2017
16%
2018
91%
2023
51%
2024
89%
Bumblebeealso acted as a reboot for the franchise, but the ending setting up Bay’s first movie before the post-credits scene somewhat contradicts that idea. However,Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,a soft sequel toBumblebee, seemingly confirms as much, with the movie launchinga newTransformerstrilogy.Rise of the Beastscontinues to put Bumblebee front and center, showing that his solo outing wouldn’t be his only time in the spotlight. Now pushed into a more central role, Bumblebee continues to stand out and remains one of the movie’s best characters.
Why A Bumblebee Sequel Hasn’t Happened (Will It Ever?)
No Official Announcement Has Been Made
Despite aParamount executive callingBumblebee"solidly profitable", there has been no official news on a direct sequel. At the time,Bumblebeewas the franchise’s lowest-grossing live-action movie at the box office, even though it received the best reviews. The lukewarm box office reception could be a reason, butRise of the Beastsearned less and has two sequels lined up.With the franchise’s soft reboot, a Bumblebee sequel could bring Hailee Steinfeld back into the fold, or tell an entirely new story without the previously established canon.
8 Reasons Bumblebee 2 Still Needs To Happen 6 Years After The Original Movie
It’s been nearly 6 years since Travis Knight’s Bumblebee hit the big screens, but there are 10 solid reasons why its sequel, Bumblebee 2, must happen.
However, after its critical success,Bumblebeedeserves a proper sequel, giving Charlie and Bumblebee a well-deserved reunion. With additionalTransformersmovies coming, including aTransformers/G.I. Joecrossover, there’s still room for Charlie’s story to continue without a direct sequel. After its critical success andRise of the Beast’s box office failure, it would be a shock if aBumblebee 2wasn’t in the cards at some point.
Bumblebee
Cast
The sixth installment in the Transformers movie franchise, Bumblebee acts as both a spin-off and prequel to the series. Set in 1987, Bumblebee follows Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) after she discovers the injured Autobot scout, B-127. Nicknaming him Bumblebee, Charlie helps the iconic yellow Transformer to evade both the evil Decepticons and the efforts of Colonel Jack Burns (John Cena) to capture him.
