The Transformers franchise has always been popular, especially the live-action Michael Bay films, but they have never been critical darlings. Critics and audiences have rarely agreed on the quality of the movies, with the most recent installment, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts once again demonstrating the chasm between the two groups. This year, the series has decided to mix things up with its latest entry, Transformers One, by returning to animation. Led by a star-studded cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, and many others, it’s the first film in the franchise to have both a Certified Fresh from critics (88%) and a Verified Hot rating from audiences (98%) on Rotten Tomatoes.
No matter how you slice it, those are impressive numbers, but it’s also troubling. In many instances, you’d expect something that’s popular among critics and audiences to also be successful at the box office. However, Transformers One failed to secure the number one spot at the box office over its debut weekend, finishing in second behind Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Thankfully, it’s not yet the end of the world for the animated outing, as many films later find their footing at the box office. Last year’s Elemental was a similar example of underperforming during its opening weekend but eventually reaching a respectable gross. However, that could be difficult for Transformers One thanks to The Wild Robot looking to capture the same audience.
Transformers One Has a Tough Road Ahead
With an opening weekend of $25 million domestically, thanks to its estimated budget of at least $75 million, Transformers One has quite a way to go if it wants to become profitable in theaters. The good news is it now has good critical and audience scores, meaning word of mouth could positively affect the box office earnings. Dating all the way back to the mid-1980s, there’s no doubt the Transformers franchise is a popular one, and throughout its lifetime it has been able to capture audiences of all ages.
However, while the live-action films found a way to appeal to adults and kids alike, Transformers One appears to be targetting a more kid-centric audience. It’s also not tied to the live-action films in any way, although with it being a prequel, you can fit it into your headcanon if you’d like.
It was initially projected that Transformers One would earn between $30 and $40 million domestically in its opening weekend, meaing its $25 million takings sadly fell short of that goal. Fortunately, a lot of the money this franchise makes comes from toy sales, and a new movie means plenty of movie tie-ins can happen. Who knows, it could even go the way of the franchise’s original animated film, The Transformers: The Movie, a 1986 release that had a meager showing at the box office but went on to grab a much larger audience much later in its life.
Transformers One
is out now in theaters.