Transformers One first reactions say it "honors the legacy of the franchise" and is "one of the genuine surprises of the year"

Transformers One
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

First reactions for Transformers One are in, and although the trailer left fans feeling a little underwhelmed, early viewers are blown away by the finished product, with some calling it the best film in the franchise yet. 

"I almost cannot believe I’m saying this, but Transformers One is by far and away the best Transformers film to date. The trailers don’t do this justice," says Matt Neglia from Next Best Picture. "One of the genuine surprises of the year for me."

Similarly, Brandon Slagle pointed out the difference from the trailer, Tweeting: "I can't believe I'm writing this after how much I didn't care for the trailer, but it's remarkably good. People cheered Endgame style numerous times. I really hope this overcomes the undeniable Transformers franchise fatigue."

Many critics have been celebrating the film’s honoring of the franchise so far and what fans really value about Transformer, as  Germain Lussier from Gizmodo writes, "Wow. Transformers One is FREAKING AWESOME. Totally honors the legacy of the franchise while also expanding and elevating it. A powerful story of friendship gone wrong with Easter Eggs galore. This Transformers fan is very very happy."

And Liam Crowley from ComicBook sums it up nicely with, "Engaging story, stunning visuals, legit laughs, AND some tear-jerking gravity? Come on. The best Transformers theatrical experience I’ve had. Massive W." Check out more reactions below. 

Transformers One takes fans back in time and visits our favorite Autobots before we knew them as the formidable machines in the original movies. As per the official synopsis, the movie "is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever." But it’s not just the plot that makes this one special, as Transformers One is the first fully CG-animated Transformers movie ever to be made.

Directed by Toy Story 4’s Josh Cooley, Transformers One features a star-studded voice cast including Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime, Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, Scarlett Johansson as Elita, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, and Steve Buscemi with Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion and Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime.

Transformers One is set for release on September 20 in the US and October 11 in the UK. For more, keep up to date with upcoming movies.

Editorial Associate, GamesRadar+

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.  

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