Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
    Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 2 But Why Tho 10

    Spider-Man Is Coming To Magic And It’s Just Like The Comics

    08/29/2025
    Star Wars Visions Volume 3 Black

    ‘Black’ Sets The Tone For A Bold New Mixtape In ‘Star Wars Visions: Volume 3’

    08/28/2025
    Olivia Colman in The Roses

    ‘The Roses’ Is A Reimagining, Not A Remake, And That’s Why It Works So Well

    08/27/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » REVIEW: ‘Bumblebee’ Re-Energizes the Transformers Franchise

REVIEW: ‘Bumblebee’ Re-Energizes the Transformers Franchise

Collier "CJ" JenningsBy Collier "CJ" Jennings12/23/20183 Mins ReadUpdated:03/23/2025
Bumblebee
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email
Bumblebee (2018) is directed by Travis Knight and is the sixth installment of the Transformers movie Franchise.

Every so often, an ongoing film franchise will get an entry that not only re-energizes it as a whole but reminds you why you fell in love with it in the first place. For Star Wars it was The Force Awakens. For DC films it was Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Now, the Transformers franchise has Bumblebee.

Taking place in 1987, Bumblebee finds our titular character rocketing to Earth after the fall of Cybertron. After a fight with a Decepticon leaves him speechless (literally) and his memories damaged, the young Autobot ends up taking the form of a yellow VW Beetle. It is here that he runs into Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), a teenager who is feeling lost after the death of her father.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Charlie and Bumblebee become fast friends but soon have to deal with the threat of the Decepticon Triple Changers, Shatter and Dropkick (Angela Bassett and Justin Theroux respectively) who convince the agents of Sector Seven, led by no-nonsense Agent Burns (John Cena) that Bumblebee is a war criminal.

From the start, Bumblebee is easily leaps and bounds above the previous Transformers movies. Much of this is due to director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) who not only understands the Transformers mythos far better than Michael Bay ever did but also manages to inject the film with heart, especially when it comes to the relationship between Charlie and Bumblebee.

From the start, Bumblebee (2018) is easily leaps and bounds above the previous Transformers movies.

The two constantly learn from each other-he learns how to “speak” when she fixes his radio, and she finds the walls she’s put up crashing down. Steinfeld continues to prove that she is one of the most underrated young actresses out there-she can go from angry to ecstatic to heartbroken on the flip of a dime and she sells it.

The rest of the supporting cast fares well; John Cena is a surprisingly gifted comic performer (the film’s best line has him asking if robots named “Decepticons” are really trustworthy) and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. is wonderfully charming as Charlie’s neighbor Memo. While Theroux taps into his inner sadist as Dropkick, Bassett’s Shatter is hypnotically sinister, she could give Megatron a run for his money.

The film also manages to be a treat both for fans of the Transformers universe, as the Cybertron scenes feel like an episode of the Generation One cartoon sprung to life. While Bumblebee and the Triple Changers have the lion’s share of focus, Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) has quite a few epic moments and plays a major role in the plot. Fans should also keep their eyes peeled for a number of familiar Autobots and Decepticons along the way.

The film is juggling a lot of balls; not only is it the sixth Transformers film, but it must also act as a prequel to the first film and a soft reboot for the franchise in general. It succeeds due to a talented director who loves the source material, a well-rounded cast, and an abundance of heart. If you love Transformers, this is the film for you.

Bumblebee (2018) is available for streaming on Paramount Plus, Hulu, Prime Video, and others.

Bumblebee
  • 10/10
    Rating - 10/10
10/10

TL;DR

Bumblebee is juggling a lot of balls; not only is it the sixth Transformers film, but it must also act as a prequel to the first film and a soft reboot for the franchise in general. It succeeds due to a talented director who loves the source material, a well-rounded cast, and an abundance of heart. If you love Transformers, this is the film for you.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticlePottersville is Your New Favorite Christmas Movie
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Voltron: Legendary Defender,’ Season 8
Collier "CJ" Jennings
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)

Born and raised in Texas, Collier “CJ” Jennings was introduced to geekdom at an early age by his father, who showed him Ultraman and Star Trek: The Next Generation. On his thirteenth birthday, he received a copy of Giant Size X-Men #1 and dove head first into the realm of pop culture, never looking back. His hobbies include: writing screenplays and essays, watching movies and television, card games/RPG’s, and cooking. He currently resides in Seattle.

Related Posts

Choi Gyu-ri, Shin Eun-Soo in Love Untangled
7.5

REVIEW: ‘Love Untangled’ Is Just Adorable

08/31/2025
Austin Butler in Caught Stealing
8.5

REVIEW: ‘Caught Stealing’ Marks An Exciting Pivot for Darren Aronofsky

08/27/2025
Margaret Qualley stars as Honey O' Donahue in the film Honey Don't
8.5

REVIEW: ‘Honey Don’t!’ Is A Genius Work Of Subversion And Fantasy Fulfillment

08/25/2025
Benedict Cumberbatch in The Roses But Why Tho
5.0

 REVIEW: ‘The Roses’ Lacks A Thorny Edge

08/25/2025
Mert Ramazan Demir in Abandoned Man
6.5

REVIEW: ‘Abandoned Man’ Lacks Depth In Its Take On Betrayal

08/22/2025
Ne Zha 2 promotional still from a24
10.0

REVIEW: ‘Ne Zha 2’ Is One Of The Most Epic Feats Of Animation

08/21/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Cosmic Spider-Man card details Features

[EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

By Kate Sánchez09/02/2025Updated:09/02/2025

An exclusive look at a new 5-Color Spider entering Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set, and Cosmic Spider-Man is going to be a tough one to take on.

Hololive EN at Radio City Music Hall Events

Hololive EN At Radio City Music Hall Was A Pure Expression Of Fandom

By Adrian Ruiz08/31/2025Updated:09/03/2025

Hololive EN turned Radio City in New York City into the pure expression of fandom: chants, penlights, and community in perfect sync.

Karl Anthony Towns in NBA 2k26 But Why Tho
8.5
PS5

REVIEW: ‘NBA 2K26’ Brings Basketball To Life

By Kyle Foley09/03/2025

NBA 2K26 combines improved visuals with some important tweaks to keep the series feeling fresh in the latest yearly release.

Cronos: The New Dawn Nest
8.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Cronos: The New Dawn’ Does Post-Apocalyptic Psychological Horror Right

By Mick Abrahamson09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

While not particularly sacry, Cronos: The New Dawn is a lot of fun as a survival horror that puts you in the futuristic armor of the Traveler.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here