Do You Have To Watch Every Transformers Movie Before Rise Of The Beasts?

"Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" is finally upon us, officially ending the longest dry spell in the blockbuster franchise's history. The Autobots were last seen on the big screen in 2018 when "Bumblebee" threw Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena into the fold. Now, starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, and featuring the vocal talent of Peter Cullen (whose iconic voice still gives fans goosebumps whenever they hear it), Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, Cristo Fernández, and John DiMaggio, this latest installment takes place in the 1990s and sees the heroic robots in disguise join forces with the Maximals, a group of animal-themed Autobots, to combat the Terrorcons (zombie-themed Decepticons), the Predacons (animals-themed Decepticons), and Unicron, (imminent galactic threat and devourer of worlds).

Fans of Hasbro's classic toy line and its many subsequent animated incarnations will likely view "Rise of the Beasts" as a feast for the soul. After all, in terms of its character roster, the film displays almost all of Transformers' heaviest hitters. But for more casual fans, and especially for potential newcomers, "Rise of the Beasts" might seem daunting, like stumbling into "Endgame" without having ever watched anything set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So the question must be asked – do you have to watch every "Transformers" film to fully appreciate "Rise of the Beast?" The simple answer is no, of course not. Entertainment does not require homework, not unless you want it to.

But for those who might enjoy a little extra context and content, we've got some suggestions to make "Rise of the Beasts" more interesting.

Technically speaking, the first five "Transformer" films, ("Transformers," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," "Transformers: Age of Extinction," and "Transformers: The Last Knight") are in their own realm of canon because "Bumblebee" rebooted the franchise in 2018. During the 2019 New York Toy Fair, Hasbro claimed that the film was the beginning of a "new storytelling universe." What that means for Hollywood is that it can continue making new movies without having to concern itself with the narrative implications of the previous ones, but what that means for the viewership is that nothing that came before officially matters anymore. And "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" is set within this new timeline, so the only truly connected film is "Bumblebee."

Here's where it gets a little confusing. "Bumblebee" doesn't do too much to distance itself from the original chronology. Yes, there are notable changes to the backstory but most of the visuals, like how Bumblebee transforms into a striking yellow Camaro, are left unaltered. It's the same but it isn't the same. And that half-distinction seems to continue through "Rise of the Beasts," too, with several pre-established characters showing up in familiar forms. So, if you're exclusively interested in the official canon, take a crack at "Bumblebee" before hunkering down to enjoy Optimus Prime tag team a space kaiju with a robo-gorilla. But if you're interested in some broader context, the kind that both universes share, then there are two more movies you should watch before "Rise of the Beasts."

Since "Bumblebee" and "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" are clearly using the visual framework of the original timeline for ease of accessibility, why not access the backlog a little bit? There are two films in the Michael Bay run that could ready fans for a better "Rise of the Beast" viewing experience – The inaugural picture, "Transformers," and the fourth installment, "Transformers: Age of Extinction." As for the first film, "Transformers," it doesn't need all that much explanation. It sets up most of the broader context that the "Transformers" narrative relies upon. Sure, some of the finer points were erased by "Bumblebee," but enough of it translates to "Rise of the Beasts" to make it worth another viewing.

And then there's "Age of Extinction." The film might not have as much critical or impactful lore to share but it does have the Dinobots. This suggestion might need even less explanation than the last one – giant, transforming reptiles would be a great jumping point for "Rise of the Beasts."

"Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" releases in theaters on June 9, 2023.