Entertainment
10 Best Transformers Movie Character Entrances, Ranked
It’s hard not to love the Transformers franchise. These robots in disguise are beloved all across the world; almost every character is someone’s favorite. These robotic heroes and villains from Cybertron have been present in film for decades, and this means that every character has had the chance to get a great entrance in one of these many movies.
Cool character entrances in film can be essential to making a scene feel intense and epic, and/or creating a character moment that can do wonders for an arc. The Transformers movies aren’t always amazing—often getting flak for not being much in terms of depth or plot—but they have always been and always will be some epic flicks, and part of that comes from scenes like these character entrances.
10
The Attack on Chernobyl: ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ (2011)
The most popular movies of the Transformers franchise are the first trilogy directed by Michael Bay, which ended with 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon. This trilogy-capper is filled to the brim with spectacle and thrilling action, and that is established early in the attack by Shockwave (Frank Welker) at Chernobyl at the beginning of the movie. This character is unlike any other Autobot or Decepticon in that he has a gigantic worm-like device known as Driller.
So, when he decides to attack the United States government—accompanied by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen (rest in piece)) as they find alien technology in Chernobyl—it is large and destructive. Taking place about sixteen minutes into the movie, this not only introduces Shockwave but also throws the Autobots’ leader into the action, as well. This is a massively devastating scene that immediately establishes just a fraction of the kind of terrifying power the heroes are going to have to go up against in this third flick.
9
The War on Cybertron: ‘Bumblebee’ (2018)
One of the most beloved Transformers movies and often considered one of the highest in quality, is Travis Knight‘s Bumblebee. This 2018 flick serves as a soft reboot of sorts and manages to be a grounded, down-to-earth Transformers movie that people genuinely adore. This is an origin story of sorts for the young Autobot, and they really set the bar for the future of the franchise with the opening of the film, which takes place amidst the legendary war on Cybertron.
This battle sequence shows off massive love for the classic 80s series and movie, with character designs that are abundantly similar to said series/movie, and that immediately had fans of Transformers falling in love. Both Optimus and the leading bot, Bumblebee (Dylan O’Brien), get awesome introductions here as they fight the war against the Decepticons (who also have their classic designs).
8
The Dinobots Rise: ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ (2014)
While the first trilogy is the best part of the Michael Bay-directed Transformers films, he had two that came after that are universally agreed to be horrific—even in comparison to the less-than-high-quality first three films, because at least those were fun. However, Transformers: Age of Extinction does have some great character entrances, especially when it comes to the highlight of the movie, the Dinobots.
In the third act, when the chips are down, Optimus Prime decides to awaken the Dinobots for help. To do so, though, he must take on the legendary Grimlock. When he takes him on, however, the other bot transforms into his most badass form… his Tyrannosaurus Rex transformation that all Transformers fans know and love. He gets this bone-chilling moment in which he transforms into his dino form and spews a bout of fire from his mouth.
7
Don’t Call it a Comeback: ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ (2023)
After Bumblebee, the studios decided to continue the period-piece direction of the Transformers series with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. This movie introduces classic Transformers characters, the Maximals. The best introduction of the movie, though, comes in the form of Bumblebee in the final fight. Why? Because at the beginning of the movie, when the Autobots meet the menacing villain, Scourge (Peter Dinklage), he is killed by the nasty bot.
Bumblebee is the fan favorite, though, so it was obvious they were never going to truly kill him. Which, in a way, makes the effectiveness of this reintroduction so impressive. Everyone knew he was coming back, but the how of it all made it cheer-worthy. With him playing “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J as he jumps from a plane towards the battlefield, firing on all cylinders.
6
Enter Lockdown: ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ (2014)
Next to the Dinobots, one of the only other highlights of Transformers: Age of Extinction is the villain of the flick, Lockdown (Mark Ryan)—a brutal assassin sent to, well, assassinate the leader of the Autobots. As Optimus Prime fights the newly-formed Galvatron (Frank Welker), he’s shot multiple times by a hidden force who walks through the smoke to reveal himself, radiating aura.
Optimus Prime can often feel like an unstoppable force in the Transformers series, especially because of how often he’s beaten death. So, when he can be seen getting brutally hurt, it makes whoever is doing the damage all the more powerful-looking. Lockdown is established here to be a genuine threat to the hero.
5
Devastator Against the Pyramids: ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ (2009)
While Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen often gets flak for being the weakest of the first trilogy, it has some extremely epic moments. One of which comes when the Constructicons all join forces in the desert to become the huge beast known as Devastator (Frank Welker). This monstrous beast is one of the most devastating Transformers out there, and it’s more than proven here.
Devastator begins its rampage here, and it’s bone-chilling. This mouth is like a black hole as it sucks in everything in its path and quickly makes its way to the Pyramids. The size of Devastator is unlike anything seen in the Transformers movie franchise and immediately sets the stakes for the team moving into the final battle of the movie.
4
Return of the Autobots: ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ (2011)
The third act of Transformers: Dark of the Moon is one of the best in the franchise. It’s essentially one giant war movie within a Transformers movie. People don’t come out to these movies for Shakespeare-level storytelling; they come out to see giant robots beat the crap out of each other, and that’s the entirety of this third act.
After the Autobots get sent off Earth and seemingly die, the Decepticons take over all of Chicago and cause mass destruction. Just as Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and his friends from the military are about to ride into it to certain death, the Autobots make their triumphant return to fight off the Decepticon threat to an incredible score by composer Steve Jablonsky.
3
Shanghai Skirmish: ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ (2009)
The opening of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is genuinely iconic. Set in the streets of Shanghai, China, the military task force known as NEST and the Autobots hunt down rogue Decepticons, Demolishor and Sideways. While the Autobots and the two Decepticons get some pretty cool entrances here (Sideswipe (André Sogliuzzo) specifically), it’s Optimus Prime who takes home the award for best introduction.
The leader of the Autobot forces literally drives out of a cargo plane, transforming midair, and taking down Demolishor, despite him being so much bigger than the hero. This is an incredible way to introduce the main team, and the leader in specific. This was borderline the perfect way to introduce the sequel film.
2
Sam Meets Bumblebee: ‘Transformers’ (2007)
Sam Witwicky and Bumblebee’s relationship is one of the main highlights and hearts at the core of the original Transformers trilogy and, therefore, their first introduction to each other—true introduction in Bee’s true form—is absolutely iconic. Rather than being an epic battle moment, it feels like a momentous occasion with depth.
After saving Sam and Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) from a Decepticon, the yellow-clad Autobot walks with a nice backlight behind him as he fully shows his true form to the two teenagers. It’s an incredible moment that cemented one of the best, if not the best, friendships in the entire series to this very day.
1
Autobots Assemble: ‘Transformers’ (2007)
While Bumblebee’s first introduction to Sam and Mikaela is great, nothing will ever beat the first time they met all the Autobots as one, because it’s the first time audiences get to truly meet them as well. The reveal of Optimus Prime for the first time is legendary and one of the most memorable moments in a Transformers project.
The first Transformers movie is all-around unforgettable, and it’s because of moments like this one. It shows that the Transformers franchise can make “epic” moments out of things other than big battles and spectacle. Not to mention the score track playing over it by Steve Jablonsky defines it as something truly amazing.
Transformers
- Release Date
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July 3, 2007
- Runtime
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144 minutes
- Writers
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Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, John Rogers
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Mark Ryan
Bumblebee (Voice)
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Peter Cullen
Optimus Prime (voice)
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