--- title: "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts" critics_score: 53 critics_reviews: 17 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): what the critics said Critics' score 53 from 17 reviews: 4 positive, 8 mixed, 5 negative. 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. ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2023. 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 the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-1235632703/) ## RogerEbert.com — Christy Lemire Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-movie-review-2023) ## Time Out — Olly Richards Rating 3/5. 7 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts) ## The AV Club — Brett Buckalew Rating C. 8 June 2023. The generic reboot prioritizes spectacle over character, leaving the human stars stranded despite some flair in the action scenes. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-movie-review-1850510946) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts/) ## Radio Times — Kevin Harley Rating 2/5. 8 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/5182829.article) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2023. 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 the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/transformers-rise-beasts-review-franchise-vulgar-reprehensible-michael-bay-bland-2391539) ## The New York Times — Amy Nicholson Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/movies/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-06-05/review-transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-anthony-ramos-dominique-fishback) ## IndieWire — Christian Zilko 6 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-1234871253/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 5 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/05/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-sequel) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck 5 June 2023. The film delivers spectacular action sequences and appealing human performances but fails to offer anything original in its story or approach. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-1235506416/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★☆☆☆☆. 6 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-did-robots-make-this-rusty-garbage-wznvst6wc) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri 9 June 2023. The film is thoroughly frivolous yet exhausting, achieving neither spectacular scale nor intimate emotional connection and feeling ready to be consumed and forgotten. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-is-just-kind-of-there.html) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.thewrap.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 3.5/5. 8 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-review-rise-of-the-beasts-michael-bay/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating C+. 7 June 2023. 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 the review](https://collider.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/) ## NME — James Mottram Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review-3452568) ## /Film — Jeremy Mathai Rating 5/10. 6 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1305351/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review/) ## Deadline — Valerie Complex Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2023. 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 the review](https://deadline.com/2023/06/transformers-rise-of-the-beast-review-exciting-action-sequences-and-generi-1235409327/) ## Paste — Kevin Fox Jr. Rating 6.9. 8 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/transformers/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review) --- © 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-rise-of-the-beasts.md