The 2010s Sci-Fi Prequel That Won Fans Over Is Free To Watch Soon

5 days ago 11

John Cena looking serious in the mountains in Bumblebee (2018)

Published Feb 22, 2026, 9:20 AM EST

Chris is a Senior News Writer for Collider. He can be found in an IMAX screen, with his eyes watering and his ears bleeding for his own pleasure. He joined the news team in 2022 and accidentally fell upwards into a senior position despite his best efforts.

For reasons unknown, he enjoys analyzing box office receipts, giant sharks, and has become known as the go-to man for all things Bosch, Mission: Impossible and Christopher Nolan in Collider's news division. Recently, he found himself yeehawing along to the Dutton saga on the Yellowstone Ranch.

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Remember when everybody hated the Transformers franchise? We do. And then one man came along and saved the day. Now we can all enjoy his work, for free! That work is Bumblebee, the 2018 sci-fi prequel that quietly revived the Autobots’ reputation. Directed by Travis Knight, the film dials back the explosive chaos of earlier installments and tells a more intimate story. Set in 1987, it follows teenage mechanic Charlie as she discovers the battle-scarred Autobot hiding in a California junkyard.

The cast includes Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., and Pamela Adlon. What made Bumblebee stand out wasn’t just the polished action, it was the emotional core at the heart of it. The bond between Charlie and the silent-but-expressive Autobot felt genuine, grounding the larger alien war in something personal. The ‘80s soundtrack and nostalgic tone also helped the film carve out its own identity rather than feel like more of the same.

Critically, it became the best-reviewed live-action Transformers movie to date. Commercially, it performed solidly, but its real legacy was restoring faith in the franchise and paving the way for its continued evolution.

How Good Is 'Bumblebee'?

Collider’s review stated that Bumblebee was a refreshing, heartfelt reinvention of the Transformers franchise — proof that the robots were never the problem, just the direction steering them. After five Michael Bay-directed installments (with only the first being remotely watchable), Paramount finally handed the keys to Knight, and the difference was immediate. The review emphasized how shocking it was to see coherent action, clear shot geography, and — most importantly — actual character development. Conflicts had weight. People changed. You could tell what was happening onscreen without squinting through a blur of metal and explosions.

"The biggest fault of Bumblebee is how it shows the series could have been so much better if Paramount had moved on from Bay sooner and brought in someone who cared about characters and story. I’ve seen the previous five Transformers movies, and I could not tell you what happened in any of them. They’re instantly disposable at best. But Bumblebee feels like the first time that care and attention has been paid to this series, and it shows that Transformers were not the problem. It’s fun to watch alien robots punch each other and have Autobots bond with humans. Making a good Transformers movie wasn’t an impossible task; Bumblebee shows they just needed a better director behind the wheel."

Bumblebee will stream for free on Kanopy next month.

Release Date December 15, 2018

Runtime 114 Minutes

Writers Christina Hodson

Producers Chris Brigham, Don Murphy, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Bay, Stephen Davis, Steven Spielberg, Tom DeSanto, Brian Goldner, Mark Vahradian