--- title: "Transformers One: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/transformers-one/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/transformers-one" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 9 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): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 9 reviews: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. 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. ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2024. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/oct/13/transformers-one-review-origin-story-josh-cooley-scarlett-johansson-chris-hemsworth) ## The Telegraph Rating 4/5. 10 October 2024. 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 the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/transformers-one-review/) ## The New York Times — Brandon Yu Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/19/movies/transformers-one-review.html) ## The AV Club — Leigh Monson Rating B-. 12 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.avclub.com/transformers-one-review) ## Radio Times — Kevin Harley Rating 3/5. 1 October 2024. 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 the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/transformers-one-review/) ## Time Out — Helen O’Hara Rating 3/5. 18 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/transformers-one-review-2024) ## Empire — Kambole Campbell 13 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/transformers-one/) ## IndieWire — Wilson Chapman 12 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/transformers-one-review-1235046736/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck 12 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/transformers-one-review-chris-hemsworth-brian-tyree-henry-1235996815/) ## The Times Rating ★★★☆☆. 11 October 2024. The critic finds the film surprisingly good with lovely stylistic touches and admirable politics, despite being loud and garish like other Transformers entries. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/transformers-one-review-strangely-this-is-quite-good-bp9tc5mzt) ## Total Film — Neil Smith 12 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/transformers-one-review/) ## /Film — Rafael Motamayor Rating 9/10. 12 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1660412/transformers-one-review-best-transformers-movie/) ## Polygon — Michael McWhertor Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.polygon.com/review/453823/transformers-one-movie-chris-hemsworth/) ## Collider — Jeff Ewing Rating 8/10. 12 September 2024. 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 the review](https://collider.com/transformers-one-review/) ## Deadline — Fred Topel 12 September 2024. 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 the review](https://deadline.com/2024/09/transformers-one-review-1236085952/) --- © 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/transformers-one.md