--- title: "Transformers One" year: 2024 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/transformers-one" fi1m_id: "transformers-one" imdb_id: "tt8864596" tmdb_id: 698687 wikidata_id: "Q116638627" fi1m_score: 70 critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 9 published: "2026-09-09" updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:59.533798+00:00" region: "EC" 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." --- # Transformers One (2024) Directed by Josh Cooley · 1h 44m · Animation, Science Fiction, Adventure, Family ## Identity Transformers One - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/transformers-one - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** transformers-one - **IMDb ID:** tt8864596 - **TMDB ID:** 698687 - **Wikidata ID:** Q116638627 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8864596/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/698687, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116638627 **Fi1m score: 70** · Critics 75 from 9 reviews *In a sentence:* The first Transformers film where you can tell the robots apart, right up until the last battle starts > Josh Cooley’s animated prequel gives Optimus Prime and Megatron a shared youth as miners and a friendship worth caring about, and it is funnier and clearer than anything the live-action films managed. The plot goes where you know it will, and the last act is mostly noise. ## Synopsis Cybertron, long before the war. Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) are miners beneath the city of Iacon, digging Energon for the robots above who can transform and for the ruler, Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), who spends his days searching the surface for the lost Matrix of Leadership. Orion and D-16 were built without transformation cogs and are not supposed to leave the tunnels. Orion, who breaks rules because he is bored, drags his friend into a race he has no business entering, and then up onto the planet’s surface, with their supervisor Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) and a chatty outcast called B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key). What they find there is not what they were told. Josh Cooley directs; Laurence Fishburne and Steve Buscemi are also among the voices. ## Review *Transformers One* goes back further than most prequels dare: to Cybertron before the war, when Optimus Prime was a miner called Orion Pax, Megatron was his best friend, D-16, and neither could turn into anything at all. Josh Cooley, who directed *Toy Story 4*, has made an animated film about two friends who want the same thing and choose different ways of getting it. It is the best story the series has told, which is not saying much, and it is told with some care. It is also predictable from early on, and the last act is deafening. If you have ever cared about these robots, or have a child who does, it is worth your evening. The set-up is a class system with a mechanical excuse. Orion (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) were built without the cog that lets a Cybertronian transform, so they dig Energon underground while the robots who can change shape live in the light above. Jason William Scheier’s production design stacks the planet in layers: gold and chrome towers for Iacon, blue-lit tunnels for the mines, a rusted plain under a grey sky for the surface. Christopher Batty’s virtual camera is at its best in the first act, in a race through the city that Orion has no business entering. Lynn Hobson cuts it fast, and we always knew where the two of them were. In the films Michael Bay directed, and produces here, we rarely knew anything of the sort. The voices are well chosen. Hemsworth’s Orion is pleased with himself and quick to grin, which suits a robot who breaks rules because he is bored. Henry is the reason to watch. His D-16 is careful, loyal and a little slow to laugh at his friend’s jokes, and Henry lets you hear the pride under the caution. Scarlett Johansson’s Elita-1, their supervisor, is brisk and ambitious and given less to do than she deserves. Keegan-Michael Key’s B-127, an outcast who has been alone so long he holds conversations with scrap, wore us out for ten minutes and then, to our surprise, made us laugh. Jon Hamm gives Sentinel Prime a salesman’s warmth, Steve Buscemi turns up as Starscream and shrieks, and Laurence Fishburne’s Alpha Trion is as solemn as the name suggests. The film’s real subject is how a friendship goes wrong, and it handles the turn better than we expected. In one second-half scene, which we will not describe, D-16 stops arguing with Orion and simply looks at him, and Henry brings his voice down to almost nothing while the animators let the face go still. We were moved, in a PG film about toys, and slightly annoyed with ourselves for it. It is the quietest moment in the film and the one we remember. The problems are real. Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari and Eric Pearson’s screenplay signals every turn a scene ahead, and you will spend stretches of it waiting for the film to catch up. The look never quite settles either. Scheier’s environments are glossy and dense with detail, while the characters are blocky and toy-like, and in wide shots the two do not sit in the same world. Brian Tyler’s score, heavy on brass and synthesiser, is loud when the scene is loud and louder when it is not. And the last twenty minutes, which turn on a large battle, lose the clarity the race had. Hobson can no longer keep the bodies apart, and the film becomes what the series has always been: metal hitting metal, at volume. At 104 minutes it is short, and the friendship gets most of the time; whole factions arrive and are dealt with in a scene. It stands comfortably above the live-action films, which were longer, louder and far less interested in the people inside the machines. The film does what the title promises, without contempt for its audience. Take a child who likes robots, or the adult who used to be one. Sit towards the back. The last act is loud enough to feel in your teeth, and the film is better before it gets there. *Fi1m score 70, published 9 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics agree that going back to Cybertron and telling the story of two friends before they become enemies was the right decision, and the praise clusters there: the friendship between Orion Pax and D-16 is described as heartfelt, funny and, for some, quietly sad. The voice cast comes in for consistent credit, with Empire singling out Hemsworth, and the animation is generally admired, though Empire also finds the glossy realistic surfaces sit awkwardly against the blocky, toy-like character designs. The reservations gather around predictability. The AV Club, IndieWire and Radio Times all find the friends-to-enemies arc too familiar to surprise anyone, and Time Out notes some of the action is hard to follow. /Film, otherwise enthusiastic, thinks the runtime is too short for the worldbuilding it attempts. The spread is narrow: nobody dislikes it, the two mixed reviews are mild, and the warmest notices call it the strongest the franchise has produced in years. ## Straight answers **Is Transformers One worth watching?** *Transformers One* is worth watching for children who like robots and adults who used to be one, and we scored it 70. Josh Cooley's animated prequel gives Optimus Prime and Megatron a friendship worth caring about, and it is clearer and funnier than the live-action films. The plot is predictable and the last twenty minutes are mostly noise. **How long is Transformers One, and what is it rated?** *Transformers One* runs 1h 44m. It is an animation and science fiction film. **Where can I watch Transformers One in Ecuador?** *Transformers One* is streaming on Paramount+ in Ecuador. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does Transformers One compare to The Iron Giant?** *Transformers One* is the louder and busier of the two, and [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) is the better film. Brad Bird's hand-drawn story of a boy and a robot in a small town is quieter, sadder and takes its young audience more seriously. Cooley's prequel has a friendship worth following and a clear first-act race, but it ends in the metal-on-metal battle its series has never escaped. **What should I watch after Transformers One?** After *Transformers One*, try [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): A boy, a robot and a small town, drawn by hand and quietly sad. Then [*Robot Dreams*](https://film.one/film/robot-dreams) (2023, Fi1m 84): A dog and a robot in eighties New York, wordless, and about friendship lost; and [*Castle in the Sky*](https://film.one/film/castle-in-the-sky) (1986, Fi1m 82): Miyazaki’s flying city and its gentle guardian robots; the standard for metal with feelings. ### Reviews we read (15) - **The Guardian**, Wendy Ide (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a refreshingly smart and energetic origin story with sharp wit and strong voice performances, while delivering the expected metal-smashing action. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/oct/13/transformers-one-review-origin-story-josh-cooley-scarlett-johansson-chris-hemsworth) - **The Telegraph** (4/5): The review highlights the film's visual pizzazz, stop-motion-like tactility and energetic action sequences in an animated adventure that feels like pure pop spectacle. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/transformers-one-review/) - **The New York Times**, Brandon Yu (75/100, inferred): The critic sees the film as an effective animated origin story that returns to the Transformers' roots on Cybertron, focusing on the friendship between young Optimus Prime and Megatron before their rivalry. It singles out the heartfelt love for the universe and the thrilling, punchy action sequences toward the end for praise. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/19/movies/transformers-one-review.html) - **The AV Club**, Leigh Monson (B-): The film is serviceable and well-executed in its character-driven origin story and visuals but feels overly familiar and predictable, succeeding mainly as a kid-oriented entry rather than reinventing the franchise. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/transformers-one-review) - **Radio Times**, Kevin Harley (3/5): The critic finds it an earnestly enjoyable animated prequel that strips back the characters and rebuilds them, praising the likeable voice cast and clear action while noting predictable plot turns. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/transformers-one-review/) - **Time Out**, Helen O’Hara (3/5): It is consistently pretty entertaining with good voice work and character development, though some action is hard to follow; likeable enough to win over a new generation. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/transformers-one-review-2024) - **Empire**, Kambole Campbell: Praises the film's ideas about Cybertron's social structure and class warfare parable, along with effective comic timing and Hemsworth's voice work. Complains that the glossy realistic animation clashes with the blocky toy-like character designs, holding it back from greatness. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/transformers-one/) - **IndieWire**, Wilson Chapman: The review finds the animated prequel rusty around the edges, noting it follows familiar friends-to-enemies tropes without much innovation despite solid voice work and animation. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/transformers-one-review-1235046736/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck: The critic calls it a thoroughly entertaining origin story that even non-fans can enjoy, with witty jokes, genuine emotion, strong visuals, and a well-crafted story that revitalizes the franchise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/transformers-one-review-chris-hemsworth-brian-tyree-henry-1235996815/) - **The Times** (★★★☆☆): The critic finds the film surprisingly good with lovely stylistic touches and admirable politics, despite being loud and garish like other Transformers entries. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/transformers-one-review-strangely-this-is-quite-good-bp9tc5mzt) - **Total Film**, Neil Smith: Finds the film a cut above most predecessors in the franchise. Highlights its fresh take and engaging elements while noting it stands out positively from prior entries. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/transformers-one-review/) - **/Film**, Rafael Motamayor (9/10): The critic calls it the best Transformers movie in decades for its effective brothers-to-enemies origin story and stunning ILM animation. The main complaint is that the 104-minute runtime cannot fully accommodate the ambitious plot and worldbuilding. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1660412/transformers-one-review-best-transformers-movie/) - **Polygon**, Michael McWhertor (90/100, inferred): Transformers One is the best and most fun Transformers movie in ages: funny, sometimes sweet, occasionally heartbreaking, and utterly convincing in telling an origin story for friends turned foes Optimus Prime and Megatron. The action scenes greatly benefit from the chunky, brightly colored look of the characters, and the film is inclusive, charming, and hopeful. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/review/453823/transformers-one-movie-chris-hemsworth/) - **Collider**, Jeff Ewing (8/10): It's a strong and engaging film with excellent vocal talent, a breezy pace, action and comedy that largely lands, and great contributions to franchise lore. The animation style is beautiful, adding new details to the characters and a great look at Cybertron. [Read](https://collider.com/transformers-one-review/) - **Deadline**, Fred Topel: The critic finds the animated prequel a genuinely moving robot tragedy that succeeds as an origin story by showing the deep friendship between Orion Pax and D-16 before they become enemies. The review singles out the emotional depth and operatic tragedy of Megatron for praise, along with the expressive character animation. [Read](https://deadline.com/2024/09/transformers-one-review-1236085952/) ## Details - **Director:** Josh Cooley - **Director:** Josh Cooley - **Screenplay:** Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari, Eric Pearson - **Story:** Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari - **Cinematography:** Christopher Batty - **Editor:** Lynn Hobson - **Music:** Brian Tyler - **Production design:** Jason William Scheier - **Producer:** Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Michael Bay - **Cast:** Chris Hemsworth as Orion Pax / Optimus Prime (voice); Brian Tyree Henry as D-16 / Megatron (voice); Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1 (voice); Keegan-Michael Key as B-127 (voice); Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime (voice); Steve Buscemi as Starscream (voice); Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion (voice); Vanessa Liguori as Airachnid (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 44m - **First release (Italy):** 24 July 2024 - **Genres:** Animation, Science Fiction, Adventure, Family - **Budget:** $75 million - **Box office:** $129 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaVcDaozGgc ## Where to watch in Ecuador - Paramount+: streaming, hd *Checked 2026-09-10.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2025: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated) ## If you liked this - *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: A boy, a robot and a small town, drawn by hand and quietly sad. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md) - *Robot Dreams* (2023), Fi1m 84: A dog and a robot in eighties New York, wordless, and about friendship lost. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/robot-dreams.md) - *Castle in the Sky* (1986), Fi1m 82: Miyazaki’s flying city and its gentle guardian robots; the standard for metal with feelings. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/castle-in-the-sky.md) - *The Transformers: The Movie* (1986): The cartoon feature that made a generation of children cry; louder, odder and braver. - *Bumblebee* (2018), Fi1m 78: The live-action series’ one small, warm film, with Hailee Steinfeld and a yellow Beetle. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/bumblebee.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/transformers-one