Synopsis:
During the ’90s, a new faction of Transformers—the Maximals—join the Autobots as allies in the battle for Earth.
Cast: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Vélez, Dean Scott Vazquez, Tobe Nwigwe, Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, Michael Jae Rodriguez, Colman Domingo, Dristo Fernandez, Tongayi Chirisa
Director: Steven Caple Jr.
Writers: Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber
Cinematography: Enrique Chediak
Editing: William Goldenberg, Joel Negron
Music: Jongnic Bontemps
It’s been fifteen-some years since Michael Bay ignited the live-action Transformers saga with
a young Shia LaBeouf and three explosive adventures—momentum that led to Bumblebee (directed by
Travis Knight). Mark Wahlberg then fronted another pair under Bay. In 2023, Bay passes the directing torch to
Steven Caple Jr. (while remaining a producer).
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts returns to a familiar blueprint: an unlikely hero, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos),
stumbles into the war between Autobots and planet-eating threat Unicron. Set in 1994—after the events of
Bumblebee—the film aims to lift the franchise out of its recent lull and into something fresher.
Down on his luck and desperate to help his family, Noah agrees to steal a high-end car—only to discover it’s Mirage
(voiced by Pete Davidson). The Autobots need Noah’s help to secure the Transwarp Key before Scourge can deliver it to
Unicron, spelling doom for Earth.
Hesitant but pragmatic, Optimus agrees to involve Noah in a museum heist of sorts—only to cross paths with Elena
(Dominique Fishback), a brilliant researcher who’s already located the artifact without grasping its power. When
Scourge gets the upper hand, the chase shifts to Peru, setting the stage for a globe-trotting scramble to prevent
annihilation.
Ramos brings a grounded charm that recalls LaBeouf’s early energy while feeling more contemporary. He’s not alone:
Davidson’s quippy Mirage lands laughs without derailing tone; Michelle Yeoh lends gravitas as Airazor; Cristo
Fernández energizes Wheeljack; and Peter Dinklage’s Scourge is an imposing foil. Visually, it’s hard to fault—the VFX
dazzle against real-world splendor (hello, Machu Picchu), making the travelogue backdrops part of the fun.
You’ll get the expected metal-on-metal mayhem, but there’s a neat twist that gives the human protagonist a
transformer-adjacent role—opening intriguing doors for future installments (no spoilers here).
Rise of the Beasts is the most purely enjoyable Transformers entry since the original trilogy:
brisk, bright, and big-hearted. Despite its ’90s setting, it nudges the series toward a modernized, character-forward
direction—one that balances spectacle with just enough soul.
