The Transformers - The Movie (1986)

Featured Audience Ratings

• John M

  
  A classic 80's cartoon brought to the big screen in a fun way. Loved this back in the day.

• Conner R

  
  Now I'm sure an animated movie of The Transformers from the 80s might not mean much to most people, it's one of the most nostalgic childhood experiences. To me, this encapsulates everything that made The Transformers such a cool show and every time I see it, it brings me… More
  Now I'm sure an animated movie of The Transformers from the 80s might not mean much to most people, it's one of the most nostalgic childhood experiences. To me, this encapsulates everything that made The Transformers such a cool show and every time I see it, it brings me back. While it does kill almost everyone off from the original series, it does so with such style and respect that it almost doesn't even matter. If you're going to kill Optimus Prime, it's fitting that he does so in a blaze of glory with "You've got the Touch" playing in the background and one liners spewing out left and right. They also picked a formidable replacement; the Judd Nelson robot known as Hot Rod. I mean this movie really has it all: Robo-violence galore, a flawless soundtrack, a villain without rival, Spockbot, and dialogue that is larger than life. The plot here is such a mammoth beast. The show always had doomsday type scenarios, but never in the form of a planet eating Orson Welles. It also dares to question who is fit to lead in a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons. What they did with this movie was raise the stakes, made the animation 10x better, and made the idea all the more timeless and undeniably awesome. I don't think The Transformers would have as lasting of an effect as it does today if there hadn't been this slice of brilliance included.

• AJ V

  
  I could understand young kids thinking that this is a cool movie for a while, and maybe the show would have helped me understand the background of the story better, but I think Weird Al's song sums up my feelings on this film perfectly: "Dare to be stupid". The… More
  I could understand young kids thinking that this is a cool movie for a while, and maybe the show would have helped me understand the background of the story better, but I think Weird Al's song sums up my feelings on this film perfectly: "Dare to be stupid". The characters, although voiced by talented actors, have either horrible one liner jokes or corny cliched phrases for every line. Plus it was hard to get used to the way some of the characters talked. The story was hard to follow as well. They seemed to change locations at will without letting the audience know. Plus, the overall plot has been used in countless children's films already, so it's nothing new. I did enjoy the soundtrack, though, the songs were awesome. Overall, this movie is just okay. If you're not a fan, I'd say stay away from it.

• Anthony L

  
  If I had reviewed this film based on memory I would have probably said it was great back then but it is pretty awful now and I would have been wrong. I watched this last night and the truth of the matter is that is is brilliant. However, this is mainly due to nostalgia and the fact it… More
  If I had reviewed this film based on memory I would have probably said it was great back then but it is pretty awful now and I would have been wrong. I watched this last night and the truth of the matter is that is is brilliant. However, this is mainly due to nostalgia and the fact it is so bad, it's good, although that maybe a little unfair as some of it genuinely is really good. Basically, it's classic 80's. It has a great voice cast, the animation switches from 'Classic Manga' to 'Rushed doodles', the script is hilarious and the cheesy '80s Rock' soundtrack is awesome. A single star film that is a four star film (in disguise). Whether you like it or not, it's a hell of a lot of fun to re-watch now.

• Tim S

  
  When people tell me "Oh I love the Transformers movie" this is the movie that I'd like to believe they're talking about. This had a great cast and barrels along quickly, making for a fast-paced adventure. I enjoy getting it out from time to time.

• James A

  
  The moment Optimus Prime is murdered I remember my childhood dying and only caring about Orel Hershizer and Romone Martinez bringing the Dodgers another World Series title. So much DEATH!!!

• Chris W

  
  Since I was only a few months old when this was in theaters, and never saw it in its entirety until recently, the nostalgia factor is rather small for me. I recall watching the show some when I was little, and I did have some of the toys, but I was never a die hard fan. Negative… More
  Since I was only a few months old when this was in theaters, and never saw it in its entirety until recently, the nostalgia factor is rather small for me. I recall watching the show some when I was little, and I did have some of the toys, but I was never a die hard fan. Negative things first: tons of continuity errors throughout, some scenes feel very rushed and confused, and this doesn't have much mass appeal. This would make for awesome viewing at a midnight screening alongside other cult classics. Good things: awesome voice cast, with lots of notable voices. I know that Welles dismissed this movie, but his voice fits Unicron perfectly. To have this film be the final one for both him and Scatman Crothers is a good thing I think-not a bad way to go out. I liked the references and parallels to Star Wars (intentional or otherwise). There's lots of action, which is good, but the best part is the risk taking: some swearing ("oh shit" is removed from most versions of the film, but it's still fnny to think that it was in the original, then later reinstated), but most of all, the decision to kill off many of the establishd (and beloved) characters. I knew going into it that Optimus was gonna die, so the emotional impact wasn't there, but it's still a ballsy move. The music is also really good. I'm not really into 80s hair metal, but it goes petyy well with the material. "The Touch" is a guilty pleasure I can't help but enjoy, and the random inclusion of "Dare to be Stupid" really amuses me. This is probably a good "trip" movie, as some of the visuals look awesome. So, despite it's flaws, this is still a highly entertaining and enjoyable film, evenif you come to it without the nostalgia factor.

• Phil H

  
  This is much better than the live action flick. All you want is here plus lots of deaths and shocks. A real battle royale with all the transformers, Topps.

• Luke B

  
  This film is hard arse bollocks. It takes it's shiny metallic boot and makes you suck it because you are just a puny human. It starts with a massive planet eating another planet, oh yeah this is BIG. Turns out the planet eating planet, or Unicron as he is known to his friends… More
  This film is hard arse bollocks. It takes it's shiny metallic boot and makes you suck it because you are just a puny human. It starts with a massive planet eating another planet, oh yeah this is BIG. Turns out the planet eating planet, or Unicron as he is known to his friends (which he has none of because he is so fucking badass BITCH!) is also voiced by Orson Welles, he made some film called Citizen Kane which is apparently pretty good, so you know this guy has taste. It's like if Terence Malick directed porn, it automatically becomes art. So it isn't long before a massive battle is going on. It's great main characters are being massacred left, right, centre and on top of your head. Megatron calls Starscream an idiot, and later when he's down Starscream kicks him in the ribs. It's funny as hell. We then get a glimpse into a beautiful relationship forming between Megatron and Soundwave, because he wont leave his master to die. I cried a little. remember the stand off in the live action film between Prime and Megatron? Well that stand off takes place within 20 minutes here. This film means business. So the film kicks off and it keeps on going. The soundtrack is gorgeous, even finding time to shove in some Weird Al Yankovich. Weird Al Yankovich AND Orson Welles involved in the same film? That's the creative Gods forgetting to take their sanity pills and all I can say is it works out for the best. There's the wonderfully hilarious retarded Dinobot Grimlock. Everything he says is iconic and profound. Blur is a fast and frantic mess, but again he's effing hilarious. Plus there's some little dude who turns into a microscope. Guess he was at the back of the line when being handed out disguises. Still it only makes him more sympathetic. I loved this film and you will to because it's a nostalgic slice of everything it is to be young and human. The voice acting is terrific, one point some guy was gonna be dropped in acid and I could FEEL his fear. This same guy also says the word SHIT. Every bit as exciting as the live-action version.

• Chris G

  
  Come on. People honestly don't have a problem with Optimus Prime being replaced by a cocky transformer named Rodimus Prime voiced by Judd Nelson. I thought that was hokey when I was 10. Transformers: The Movie is essentially a 90 minute advetisment for a new toy line. The only… More
  Come on. People honestly don't have a problem with Optimus Prime being replaced by a cocky transformer named Rodimus Prime voiced by Judd Nelson. I thought that was hokey when I was 10. Transformers: The Movie is essentially a 90 minute advetisment for a new toy line. The only reason this thing gets 2 stars is because of Orson Welles and Eric Idle. There! I admit it! This ones for kids and hardcore fans only.

• David S

  
  I'm going to start off by saying I never saw the film until a couple of years ago and I was already well aware of the fate of Optimus Prime so it didn't affect me as much as it would have to anyone who watched the show every time it was on. That being said, the other deaths… More
  I'm going to start off by saying I never saw the film until a couple of years ago and I was already well aware of the fate of Optimus Prime so it didn't affect me as much as it would have to anyone who watched the show every time it was on. That being said, the other deaths and character removals shocked me (and the biggest one to me was the loss of Bombshell, a character I always enjoyed watching once I finally picked up the DVD's of the series) Despite the negative aspects of the movie (deaths of old favorite characters, some of the new characters severely lacking a personality, the presence of Daniel Witwicky and worst of all, the introduction of Wheelie), the good aspects are enough for me to count it among some of the better animated films I've seen in my life. Choosing to continue the series through the film and the seasons beyond is a nice change to a movie revamp of the original concept or a movie which is not referenced once the series returns. The movie shows a turning of tides in the favor of the villains (another great aspect, for it is rare for villains to have any long standing victory in animated shows of the 80's) and even proceeds to introduce a bigger threat to the Transformers universe with Unicron. The film also delivers what a lot of us had been waiting on for a long time: a no-holds barred beat down between noble Optimus Prime and sinister Megatron. What makes this battle different to those done before it was that the damage inflicted upon the two actually showed up on their bodies and made it look really intense. Perhaps the best thing of the movie is the soundtrack. Excellent songs in the right places (the aforementioned battle has The Touch by Stan Bush which is just so in sync with the events taking place it's just an ideal match of the two) leaves many a viewer with a good feeling and the urge to sing along. A triumph of animation for doing what little animated projects had done at that point: openly kill off their characters. The resulting backlash may have revived Optimus Prime (for which I have no problems with) but it's still a good move in my eyes.

• Jason S

  
  Excellent. Great for Transformers fans and for those who like 80's movies that were basically giant music videos. The voice cast alone is awesome.

• Daniel J D

  
  Orson Welles, Leonard Nimoy, Peter Cullen, Chris Latta. You couldn't ask for a better team of voice actors, and since Latta's death a few years back, you can't get them all back together again anyway. The fight sequence between Optimus and the decepticons has never been… More
  Orson Welles, Leonard Nimoy, Peter Cullen, Chris Latta. You couldn't ask for a better team of voice actors, and since Latta's death a few years back, you can't get them all back together again anyway. The fight sequence between Optimus and the decepticons has never been matched in the animated world, and surely not by its weakass, digitized counterpart. Yes, there was camp appeal, but it worked here. And few movies rival the drama of this movie either, animated or otherwise.

• Matthew C

  
  Any kids movie with a primarily heavy metal soundtrack is cool in my book. That, and it just rocks. 80s at its FINEST!

• Michael G

  
  I saw it a million times a million years ago. I saw it recently and it's not as good as I remember. As entertaining as it sometimes was, all Transformers: The Movie really was is a commercial for another wave of toys. You see all your favorite characters get brutally killed and… More
  I saw it a million times a million years ago. I saw it recently and it's not as good as I remember. As entertaining as it sometimes was, all Transformers: The Movie really was is a commercial for another wave of toys. You see all your favorite characters get brutally killed and you're left traumatized in the process. After the shock wears off you realize you're watching a fossilized turd with a horrible soundtrack. But if nothing else you'll get a laugh out of the nostalgia and the fact that Orson Welles played a planet... A PLANET!!!

• danny d

  
  fun flick if youre into the cartoon. optimus dying sucks because it took them too long to bring him back, and it was hard to keep track of who lived, who died, and whether the rest of the autobots cared one way or the other, but this movie did create some major points of transformer… More
  fun flick if youre into the cartoon. optimus dying sucks because it took them too long to bring him back, and it was hard to keep track of who lived, who died, and whether the rest of the autobots cared one way or the other, but this movie did create some major points of transformer mythology. must watch only if youre a fan.

• Aaron N

  
  Arcee: Did we have to let 'em detonate three quarters of the ship? Springer: Seeing as how they would have detonated *four* quarters, I think it was a good choice. They are more than meets the eye, they are the Freakin' transformers. Mass armies of robots that can transform… More
  Arcee: Did we have to let 'em detonate three quarters of the ship? Springer: Seeing as how they would have detonated *four* quarters, I think it was a good choice. They are more than meets the eye, they are the Freakin' transformers. Mass armies of robots that can transform into different vehicles, animals, or objects fight in epic battles fueled by pump me up 80s music. What's not to like. Well, a few things, but that doesn't stop this from being enjoyable, it moves quickly enough with lasers blasting every couple of seconds. I can't wait to see what the live action movie has in store for me. Hopefully more lovable one-liners. Optimus Prime: Megatron must be stopped... no matter the cost.

• Dean !

  
  The best cartoon film around when I was growing up, great cartoon on a massive scale.

• Tim B

  
  More violence and swearing than your typical kids movie. Pure awesomeness!

• Khris N

  
  Classic!! Transformers ruled when i was kid - the movie did too!

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