Transformers One is set to release on Paramount+ this week, in a surprise announcement that should get audiences excited about going back to Cybertron. Despite underperforming at the box office, the animated film has found a loyal fanbase and impressed critics with a Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score. Starring both Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry, the reboot followed the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron on their home planet before the creation of the Autobot and Decepticon factions.
The official social media account for Paramount+ announced that Transformers One will be heading to the streamer on Nov. 14, 2024. The film was previously released on Oct. 22 on PVOD platforms, but it will now form part of Paramount+’s library of content. For those who have yet to see the movie, now is a better time than ever before to catch up on one of the best animated projects of the year. It’s unclear how long it will stay on the streaming platform, but Paramount+ will house it for the indefinite future while it’s available to rent or buy digitally on Prime Video and Fandango, among others.
Despite rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, Transformers One failed to impress at the box office. The reboot made almost $130 million worldwide, well short of the many live-action films from the franchise. It’s unclear what exactly contributed to the disappointing returns, but many have speculated that the marketing, which portrayed the film as far more child-orientated than it was, played a big part. Yes, while it’s an animated film with plenty of lighthearted and comedic moments, it features by far the most personal storyline for Optimus Prime and Megatron on the big screen.
‘Transformers One’ Could Find New Life on Streaming
Transformers One has a chance to recoup some of the audience it failed to entice while playing in theaters. Sporting a near-perfect 98% Certified Hot Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes, there is plenty of evidence to conclude that the movie will eventually find success. For those who want a sequel, how Transformers One performs on streaming could very well dictate whether the animated franchise moves forward with a new installment. It’s unclear how much the film cost to make, and while most reports point to a $75 million budget, it could very well be significantly higher due to marketing.
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Go Behind the Scenes of Transformers One & Its Animation Process with New Release
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Transformers One producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura already teased to ScreenRant that they are keen on continuing the storyline, which will presumably remain on Cybertron. Of course, the one caveat is that the first movie has to be deemed “successful,” but what constitutes that is not clarified. However, it does seem that the future of Transformers One is alive as long as the audience wants it, and all evidence points to it finding new life on Paramount+. Bonaventura explains:
“Number one, if we’re successful with this [
Transformers
] movie, we’re going to do a sequel for this. And we already have, I think, the beginnings of a really interesting story for the second one, which is also character-based, the way the first [is].”
Transformers One is an animated action-adventure movie that marks the first animated feature-length film for the series in decades. The film will be a prequel to the franchise, and will tell the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron in their early years, how they met, and a closer look at the war on their home planet, Cybertron.
- Release Date
- September 20, 2024
- Cast
- Chris Hemsworth , Brian Tyree Henry , Scarlett Johansson , keegan-michael key , Steve Buscemi , Laurence Fishburne , Jon Hamm , Vanessa Liguori , Jon Bailey , Jason Konopisos-Alvarez , Evan Michael Lee , James Remar , Isaac C. Singleton Jr. , Steve Blum , Jinny Chung , Josh Cooley , Dillon Bryan
- Runtime
- 104 Minutes