---
title: "Bumblebee: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/bumblebee/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/bumblebee"
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 29
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Bumblebee (2018): what the critics said

Critics' score 72 from 29 reviews: 21 positive, 7 mixed, 1 negative.

Most critics welcome Bumblebee as a warmer, more coherent Transformers film, with praise centred on Hailee Steinfeld and Charlie’s friendship with the robot. The reviews repeatedly credit that relationship with giving the action emotional weight. Travis Knight’s direction, Bumblebee’s expressive animation and clearer action staging also earn approval, while the smaller-scale coming-of-age story offers a welcome break from the franchise’s usual excesses.

The reservations concern familiar plotting, uneven pacing and stretches where action or exposition interrupts the character work. The spread is wide, despite a clear positive majority: some find the simpler approach touching, others merely safe. The AV Club praises Steinfeld but finds the relationships rushed and the action muddled, directly challenging a common strength elsewhere. The New Yorker is more firmly opposed, finding the earnest approach short on style and missing the sensory thrills of earlier entries.

## Empire — James Dyer

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2018. 

Dyer finds the film a gleeful, heartfelt improvement that finally delivers a Transformers movie with real charm. He singles out Charlie and Bumblebee’s touching partnership, supported by Travis Knight’s expressive direction.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bumblebee-review/)

## IndieWire — Liz Shannon Miller

Rating B+. 8 December 2018. 

The review calls it the best Transformers film so far, praising its emotional focus and clear, enjoyable action despite some pacing problems. It especially singles out Hailee Steinfeld’s performance and the bond between Charlie and Bumblebee.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/bumblebee-review-transformers-hailee-steinfeld-john-cena-1202026649/)

## Little White Lies — Elena Lazic

Rating 3/4/4. 15 December 2018. 

Lazic finds the film a sweet, emotionally effective family adventure that improves on the franchise’s earlier entries. She praises Hailee Steinfeld’s performance and the more intimate, coherent action, which makes the robot battles hit harder.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/bumblebee)

## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2018. 

Chang praises the prequel as a charming, refreshingly intimate improvement on the earlier Transformers films. He singles out the delicate rapport between Steinfeld and Bumblebee, while noting that the plot is boilerplate and the ’80s references sometimes overdo it.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-bumblebee-review-20181208-story.html)

## Total Film — Kevin Harley

Rating 4/5. 9 December 2018. 

Harley finds the film a charming, breezy reinvention that brings welcome warmth and fun to the franchise. He particularly praises Hailee Steinfeld’s grounded, capable Charlie and her heartfelt bond with Bumblebee.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/bumblebee-review/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Justin Lowe

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2018. 

Lowe finds Bumblebee a charming and effective reinvention that improves on the franchise’s earlier excesses. He particularly praises its character-driven coming-of-age story and Hailee Steinfeld’s performance.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/bumblebee-review-1167776/)

## Sight and Sound — Anton Bitel

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 2018. 

The critic finds this prequel more focused and coherent than the earlier, bombastic Transformers films, while still enjoying its B-movie spirit. He singles out the tighter focus on the human characters and Bumblebee’s human qualities as a strength.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/bumblebee-review-transformers-are-better-without-bayhem)

## The Guardian — Phil Hoad

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2018. 

Hoad finds the film a snappy, wholesome improvement on the franchise, though its coming-of-age story feels too formulaic to deliver full emotional payoff. He especially praises the expressive, tactile character design and the film’s playful old-school spirit.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/dec/09/bumblebee-review-transformers-spinoff-that-dumps-bayhem-for-old-school-spirit)

## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2018. 

The review presents the spin-off as a warmly surprising entry in the franchise. It singles out the film’s unexpected amount of heart for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/bumblebee-review/5135143.article)

## Variety — Peter Debruge

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2018. 

Debruge finds the film a welcome, relatively enjoyable course correction for the Transformers franchise, though it still relies on recycled parts. He praises the more characterful animation of Bumblebee and the quieter, more coherent storytelling.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/bumblebee-review-transformers-1203085122/)

## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2018. 

Ebiri finds the film a refreshing, restrained change from the earlier Transformers movies, though he misses their gonzo bravado. He praises its attention to Charlie’s character and Hailee Steinfeld’s performance.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/bumblebee-review.html)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2018. 

The URL identifies this as a New York Times review of the 2018 film. The article text is inaccessible, so its verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be determined.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/movies/bumblebee-review.html)

## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger

Rating C+. 14 December 2018. 

Hassenger finds Bumblebee an improvement over earlier Transformers films but ultimately careless and only mildly entertaining. He praises Hailee Steinfeld’s presence and her pairing with the robot, while faulting the rushed relationships and muddled action.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/bumblebee-may-be-the-best-transformers-movie-but-does-1831082330)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Rating 3/5. 20 December 2018. 

O’Sullivan finds the film a frustrating, overly long ride, though it improves in the second half. She praises the supporting family performances and notes that Charlie is never sexualised.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/bumblebee-review-a-frustrating-joy-ride-a4022471.html)

## Radio Times — Terry Staunton

Rating 3/5. 

The review finds the spin-off warmer and more family-friendly than earlier Transformers films. It praises the film for relying less on bangs and crashes.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-z5cdt4/bumblebee/)

## Time Out — Helen O’Hara

Rating 3/5. 13 December 2018. 

The critic finds the spin-off familiar but charming. They praise its simpler storytelling in place of the main series’ convoluted mythology.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bumblebee)

## Slant Magazine — Pat Brown

Rating 2/4. 18 December 2018. 

The critic finds Bumblebee more coherent and emotionally grounded than its predecessors, but ultimately tedious and not necessarily better. They praise its space for real human emotion while faulting corporate branding and the militaristic subplot.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/bumblebee/)

## The New Yorker — Richard Brody

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 29 December 2018. 

Brody finds Bumblebee consistently middling, preferring comforting moral lessons to the sensory thrills of earlier Transformers films. He praises the gruff warmth of Charlie’s friendship with the junk-yard owner, but faults the film’s earnest, style-free approach.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-superhero-movie-as-secular-religion-in-aquaman-bumblebee-and-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse)

## NME

Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic calls it the best Transformers film so far, praising its brisk, simple storytelling. They single out the lively action, whose creative zip and detailed humor outshine the earlier films’ colder spectacle.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/bumblebee-film-review-2419630)

## The Ringer — Miles Surrey

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2018. 

Surrey calls Bumblebee one of the year’s best blockbusters and says Travis Knight is a must-see director. He praises its intimate, earnest focus on the bond between a girl and the robot, along with the colorful, coherent action.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2018/12/23/movies/bumblebee-review-travis-knight-director)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2018. 

The critic calls it the best Transformers film and an effective, enjoyable course correction. They especially praise its expressive robot characters and clearly staged action.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/bumblebee-film-review-transformers-hailee-steinfeld/)

## Paste — Oktay Ege Kozak

Rating 8.0. 20 December 2018. 

Kozak calls the film a lovely, engaging sci-fi adventure and a welcome improvement over earlier Transformers movies. He praises the character development and the clear, inventive action choreography.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/bumblebee/bumblebee)

## Den of Geek — Duncan Bowles

Rating 4/5. 11 December 2018. 

The critic calls Bumblebee an emotional, exciting success and the best live-action Transformers film to date. He especially praises the heartfelt bond between Charlie and Bumblebee, which gives the film its emotional power.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/bumblebee-review-the-transformers-movie-fans-have-been-waiting-for/)

## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui

Rating 8/10. 9 December 2018. 

Bui finds Bumblebee a warm, entertaining return to the franchise’s heart. She especially praises Hailee Steinfeld’s performance and the film’s sincere coming-of-age spirit.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/562861/bumblebee-review/)

## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2018. 

Sandwell finds Bumblebee a refreshing and emotionally engaging revival of the franchise, despite a generic action-focused final third. He praises the bond between Charlie and Bumblebee, supported by Hailee Steinfeld’s performance.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a25452908/bumblebee-review-transformers/)

## Consequence — Clint Worthington

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2018. 

Worthington finds Bumblebee a refreshing, charming entry in the franchise, though its plot loses momentum when it turns to Decepticon-related exposition. He especially praises the sweet friendship between Charlie and Bee and the film’s effective use of its 1980s setting.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/12/film-review-bumblebee/)

## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2018. 

The review finds the film warmer and more delicate than expected, despite its familiar ingredients. It singles out Hailee Steinfeld’s courageous performance and the film’s Spielberg-like sentimentality.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/bumblebee-2018-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

## HeyUGuys

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds Bumblebee a welcome, heartfelt improvement over earlier Transformers films, though it falls short of greatness. They praise the chemistry and performances of Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena, while faulting the writing and generic climax.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/bumblebee-review/)

## The Playlist

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2018. 

The URL identifies a review, but the page content is blocked. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/bumblebee-review-20181211/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bumblebee.md