---
title: "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts"
year: 2023
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts"
fi1m_id: "transformers-rise-of-the-beasts"
imdb_id: "tt5090568"
tmdb_id: 667538
wikidata_id: "Q107174193"
fi1m_score: 52
critics_score: 53
critics_reviews: 17
published: "2026-09-10"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:06.108697+00:00"
region: "EE"
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: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

Directed by Steven Caple Jr. · 2h 07m · Science Fiction, Adventure, Action

## Identity

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** transformers-rise-of-the-beasts
- **IMDb ID:** tt5090568
- **TMDB ID:** 667538
- **Wikidata ID:** Q107174193
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5090568/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/667538, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107174193

**Fi1m score: 52** · Critics 53 from 17 reviews

*In a sentence:* A robot gorilla, a talking Porsche and five screenwriters; the Porsche wins

> Steven Caple Jr. gives the machines a Brooklyn, a year and two humans worth watching, and for an hour this is the most likeable thing the series has done. Then the plot, the sky and the shouting arrive.

## Synopsis

Brooklyn, 1994. Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) agrees to steal a car for money. The car is Mirage (Pete Davidson), an Autobot who has been hiding in plain sight for years. Across the river, museum researcher Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback) is handed an artefact nobody can date. Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) wants the object for reasons of his own, and so does Scourge (Peter Dinklage), a hunter with a crew behind him. Ron Perlman voices Optimus Primal and Michelle Yeoh voices Airazor, machines shaped like animals rather than cars. Steven Caple Jr. directs from a screenplay credited to five writers.

## Review

Steven Caple Jr. has been given two jobs: make a Transformers film that people who are tired of Transformers films might sit through, and start another series inside it. He manages the first for about an hour. So, since you are deciding tonight: this is the most likeable the main series has been since it began, it has two human beings in it worth watching, and it still runs out of ideas at the halfway mark and replaces them with a hole in the sky. It lasts 127 minutes and the certificate is 12A.

The first hour earns its goodwill. Sean Haworth’s Brooklyn of 1994 is stoops, a hospital corridor and a chop shop, and Ciara Whaley dresses it in the baggy denim of the year without turning anyone into a costume party. Ramos plays Noah Diaz as a man who is good at things nobody will pay him for, and he keeps his voice down, which in this series counts as a novelty. Fishback gives Elena Wallace a researcher’s impatience with people who will not read the label. They are not given much to do together, and what they are given they do well.

Pete Davidson’s Mirage is the best thing in it. He is a silver Porsche who talks like someone who has spent years alone with a car radio, and the script, credited to five writers, is at its loosest and best whenever it lets him and Noah argue inside a moving vehicle. We laughed, properly, at the first chase through Brooklyn, Noah in the passenger seat of a car that will not stop talking and will not let him steer, because the joke was about who was in charge rather than about metal hitting metal. William Goldenberg and Joel Negron cut these scenes on Ramos’s face rather than on the car, and for a while the film has the rhythm of a buddy comedy that happens to weigh several tonnes.

Peter Cullen’s Optimus Prime is written, for once, with a fault: he wants to get his people home and does not much care what that costs the locals, and Cullen finds a tiredness in the voice that the earlier films never asked of him. Ron Perlman gives Optimus Primal a low, patient growl, and Michelle Yeoh’s Airazor is the one machine allowed a quiet scene. Peter Dinklage’s Scourge collects the badges of the machines he has killed and likes to say so. He is the right villain for a 12A: nasty in outline, never nasty in detail.

Then the plot takes over. Once everyone has been told what the artefact is for, the film stops being about anyone in particular and turns into a chase for it. Enrique Chediak shoots the Peruvian jungle in a bright, even green that never sits comfortably with the grey metal dropped into it. Jongnic Bontemps’s score brings in the choir on cue. Somewhere in the last forty minutes we realised we had stopped tracking which robot was which and, worse, had stopped minding. That is the feeling this series has spent sixteen years failing to cure, and a robot gorilla does not cure it either.

Against the series’ own standards this is a step up from the Michael Bay films, and Bay, still credited as a producer, will have to live with that. Against *Bumblebee* from 2018, which found a girl and a car and stayed with them, it is a retreat: that film trusted one relationship, this one juggles a dozen and drops most of them. Caple Jr. made *Creed II*, and the same instinct is here, to keep the camera on a man who needs a job. The trouble is that this is also a toy catalogue, and every page has to be turned.

The reviews split three ways, and we can see all three films from where we sat. Worth an evening if a talking Porsche and 1994 Brooklyn are your idea of one. At home you can stop at the hour and keep the goodwill; the second half will still be there if you want it.

*Fi1m score 52, published 10 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find this a mild improvement on the Michael Bay era and not a great deal more than that: the reviews lean mixed, with roughly as many outright pans as recommendations. Where praise gathers, it gathers on the humans. Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback are singled out repeatedly as likeable leads, and several reviews warm to the 1994 Brooklyn setting and its hip-hop soundtrack. Those who enjoy it credit the smaller scale and simpler plot, and Variety and The Wrap call it escapist fun that stands on its own.

The spread is wide. Reservations cluster on a derivative story, heavy exposition and a second half that gives way to the clattering robot action the series is known for, leaving the human cast stranded. The harshest verdicts come from the British press: The Times calls it the worst entry yet, and The Guardian finds it lifeless and half-finished. American trades are gentler, though even admirers concede the climax underwhelms.

## Straight answers

**Is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts worth watching?**

*Transformers: Rise of the Beasts* is worth an evening only if a talking Porsche and 1994 Brooklyn are your idea of one, and we scored it 52. The first hour is the most likeable the main series has managed, with Anthony Ramos and Pete Davidson arguing inside a moving car, but the second half turns into a chase for an artefact and a hole in the sky.

**How long is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and what is it rated?**

*Transformers: Rise of the Beasts* runs 2h 07m. It is a science fiction and adventure film.

**Where can I watch Transformers: Rise of the Beasts in Estonia?**

*Transformers: Rise of the Beasts* is not on any streaming or rental service in Estonia at the moment. It is available in 40 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and is it suitable for children?**

*Transformers: Rise of the Beasts* is a 12A, with fighting between large machines and a villain who is nasty in outline but never in detail. Peter Dinklage's Scourge collects the badges of the robots he has killed and says so, which is about as dark as it gets. Most children over ten should manage it; the squeamish have little to fear.

**How does Transformers: Rise of the Beasts compare to Pacific Rim?**

*Transformers: Rise of the Beasts* has the better humans and [*Pacific Rim*](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim) has the better fights. Guillermo del Toro stages his machines so you can always tell who is hitting whom, while here we lost track of which robot was which in the last forty minutes. Pick the Transformers film for Ramos and Davidson, and the del Toro film for the spectacle.

**What should I watch after Transformers: Rise of the Beasts?**

After *Transformers: Rise of the Beasts*, try [*Bumblebee*](https://film.one/film/bumblebee) (2018, Fi1m 78): The one entry in this series that trusted one girl, one car and a garage. Then [*Pacific Rim*](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim) (2013, Fi1m 70): Guillermo del Toro’s giant machines, staged so you can always tell who is hitting whom; and [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): A boy, a machine and the Cold War; everything this film wants, in far less time.

### Reviews we read (23)

- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (75/100, inferred): A less bombastic and more relatable sequel shows there is still life in the machine, delivering escapist fun without a synthetic sugar headache. It singles out the grounded human story, sustained dialogue, and hip-hop-inflected 1994 setting for praise. [Read](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-1235632703/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Christy Lemire (70/100, inferred): The film improves on most prior entries in the franchise with better narrative focus and human characters, though it falls short of the 2018 Bumblebee. It singles out the relatable Brooklyn leads and their interactions with the robots for praise. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-movie-review-2023)
- **Time Out**, Olly Richards (3/5): The critic calls it one of the better Transformers entries for keeping things simple and delivering plenty of robot action without overcomplication. They single out the efficient direction, solid gags, and appealing human leads for making it modestly enjoyable. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts)
- **The AV Club**, Brett Buckalew (C): The generic reboot prioritizes spectacle over character, leaving the human stars stranded despite some flair in the action scenes. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-movie-review-1850510946)
- **Total Film**, Neil Smith (55/100, inferred): The critic notes that Caple Jr. aims for a middle ground between Bay's bombast and Bumblebee's smaller scale with fair-to-middling success; the first hour is appealingly human-scaled with strong bonds between characters like Noah and Mirage. It ultimately assaults viewers with energy-draining Bayhem and fails to make the cosmic stakes feel invested. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/)
- **Empire**, Dan Jolin (45/100, inferred): The critic finds the film affable enough with appealing human leads, a fun '90s hip-hop soundtrack, and some baseline fun, but criticizes its logical negligence, plot gaffes, lack of jeopardy, and derivative climax that evokes déjà vu rather than nostalgia. Fishback and Ramos are praised as the token humans while the overall effort is called silly. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts/)
- **Radio Times**, Kevin Harley (2/5): The critic finds the film heavy going and exhausting, with too much exposition and self-important action. They single out the appealing human performances from Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, along with the hip-hop soundtrack, for praise amid the metal-on-metal chaos. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/)
- **Screen Daily** (40/100, inferred): The critic notes the film fails to sufficiently differentiate itself and retains the franchise's clattering action and self-important tone despite some playfulness and emotion from the new director. They single out Anthony Ramos's charming performance as the best in the series but criticize the overinvestment in dull CGI characters. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/5182829.article)
- **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (40/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a mild improvement over Bay's vulgar entries—good-natured with effective action set-pieces in jungle settings and a diverse cast—but ultimately bland and anaesthetised, wasting talented actors like Ramos and Fishback on immature, forgettable material. It lacks the distinctiveness (even the hideousness) of prior films. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/transformers-rise-beasts-review-franchise-vulgar-reprehensible-michael-bay-bland-2391539)
- **The New York Times**, Amy Nicholson (40/100, inferred): The goofy installment rattles along until the wheels fall off, with frantic plot mechanics steering interest into a ditch. It singles out the charismatic human leads struggling to share scenes with the robots and the pointless stakes for complaint. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/movies/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh (30/100, inferred): The film marks a franchise in free fall, a lurching and sputtering vehicle that is both dull and disposable. It singles out the evocation of 1990s New York City and the hip-hop soundtrack for praise while criticizing the silly lore and uninspired action. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-06-05/review-transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-anthony-ramos-dominique-fishback)
- **IndieWire**, Christian Zilko: This 1990s-set prequel feels like a drag, with robot gorillas and the Hasbro Cinematic Universe off to a predictably rough and boring start. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-1234871253/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw: The critic calls the film a limp, lifeless robot sequel and a careless fumble assembled without effort or interest. The production values and storytelling are faulted for their half-finished quality and lack of personality or human touch. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/05/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-sequel)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck: The film delivers spectacular action sequences and appealing human performances but fails to offer anything original in its story or approach. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-1235506416/)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (★☆☆☆☆): The critic dismisses the film as rusty garbage and the worst entry yet in the franchise, loud and dull with no personality. Its brevity is noted as the sole minor positive amid chaotic, personality-free robot action. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-did-robots-make-this-rusty-garbage-wznvst6wc)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri: The film is thoroughly frivolous yet exhausting, achieving neither spectacular scale nor intimate emotional connection and feeling ready to be consumed and forgotten. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-is-just-kind-of-there.html)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a fresh, nostalgic chapter that stands on its own, delivering relatable human characters, engaging '90s references, and entertaining action without the bloat of prior entries. It highlights strong performances from the leads and a satisfying, witty close that leaves viewers entertained rather than exhausted. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (3.5/5): The critic calls it the best mainline Transformers film since the 2007 original, crediting a coherent plot, agency for human characters, and followable action sequences. Limitations of the toy-based franchise and a somewhat underwhelming climax are noted, but overall it succeeds as engaging summer spectacle. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-review-rise-of-the-beasts-michael-bay/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (C+): The film is a mixed step forward for the franchise, with stronger character development for the human leads and Optimus Prime than in prior entries. However, it falls back on generic MacGuffin plots and less compelling action sequences in the second half. [Read](https://collider.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/)
- **NME**, James Mottram (60/100, inferred): The review finds some enjoyable robot action and a likable lead performance but faults the script for feeling derivative and AI-written, while noting it improves on earlier entries in the series. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-3452568)
- **/Film**, Jeremy Mathai (5/10): The critic finds it the safest and funniest entry in the series but still disappointing due to franchise fatigue and uninspired action. Pete Davidson's voice performance as Mirage is singled out for injecting irreverent fun, comedy, and energy into the proceedings. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1305351/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/)
- **Deadline**, Valerie Complex (45/100, inferred): The critic views the film as a generic cash grab that fails to stand out, with predictable storytelling, exposition-heavy scenes, and convenient action sequences that disrupt narrative rhythm. The Maximals add some excitement and the film makes modest strides in inclusivity through its Peruvian setting and social commentary. [Read](https://deadline.com/2023/06/transformers-rise-of-the-beast-review-exciting-action-sequences-and-generi-1235409327/)
- **Paste**, Kevin Fox Jr. (6.9): It ranks among the better live-action Transformers films thanks to an emotional core, believable motivations, and more restraint than Michael Bay's entries. Still, the story remains formulaic and it lacks the intimacy of Bumblebee. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/transformers/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review)

## Details

- **Director:** Steven Caple Jr.
- **Director:** Steven Caple Jr.
- **Screenplay:** Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber, Joby Harold
- **Story:** Joby Harold
- **Cinematography:** Enrique Chediak
- **Editor:** William Goldenberg, Joel Negron
- **Music:** Jongnic Bontemps
- **Production design:** Sean Haworth
- **Costume design:** Ciara Whaley
- **Producer:** Mark Vahradian, Duncan Henderson, Michael Bay
- **Cast:** Anthony Ramos as Noah Diaz; Dominique Fishback as Elena Wallace; Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime (voice); Ron Perlman as Optimus Primal (voice); Peter Dinklage as Scourge (voice); Michelle Yeoh as Airazor (voice); Pete Davidson as Mirage (voice); Liza Koshy as Arcee (voice)
- **Runtime:** 2h 07m
- **First release (Singapore):** 27 May 2023
- **Genres:** Science Fiction, Adventure, Action
- **Budget:** $195 million
- **Box office:** $441 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtuFgnxQMrA

## Where to watch in Estonia

Not streaming, renting or buying in Estonia at the last check.

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HU, ID, IE, IN, IT, JP, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, TH, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 2024: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Bumblebee* (2018), Fi1m 78: The one entry in this series that trusted one girl, one car and a garage. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/bumblebee.md)
- *Pacific Rim* (2013), Fi1m 70: Guillermo del Toro’s giant machines, staged so you can always tell who is hitting whom. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim.md)
- *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: A boy, a machine and the Cold War; everything this film wants, in far less time. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md)
- *Attack the Block* (2011), Fi1m 84: Aliens land on a south London estate and the kids are funnier than any robot. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/attack-the-block.md)
- *Godzilla Minus One* (2023), Fi1m 81: Postwar Tokyo, one enormous lizard, and human stakes that are actually earned. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-minus-one.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-rise-of-the-beasts