Summary

• Low box office numbers aside, 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' is finally getting its due recognition on Netflix.
• Despite being the lowest-grossing live-action 'Transformers' movie, the film's quality shines on the streaming platform.
• Critical reception may not have been perfect, but 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' offers a more faithful adaptation for fans.

One Transformers movie that was an underrated $439 million release is now a Netflix hit, and I'm delighted at this news due to the film deserving better. Transformers movies have had a history of doing really well in theaters, as their broad appeal and overseas performance tends to make them pretty lucrative. However, the best Transformers movie in years was one of the few exceptions to this rule, but it is now getting a second wind on streaming.

The Transformers series has been going for years now, with Michael Bay bringing the franchise into live-action all the way back in 2007. However, Bay's Transformers series quickly veered away from positive critical reception, leading to Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts breaking from Michael Bay canon and acting as a soft reboot. However, these films haven't performed as well as their predecessors, which is truly a shame in my eyes.

Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts' Netflix Success Is Deserved - It's An Underrated Transformers Movie

$200 Million Budget & $439 Million Box Office

Despite its theatrical failure, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has found massive success on Netflix, something that is entirely deserved. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts had a budget of around $200 million and only made $439 million, with it being a financial disappointment. This means that Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the lowest-grossing live-action Transformers movie, continuing a disappointing Transformers box office trend.

Luckily, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has found a second life on Netflix, and I think it is well deserved. The film was #6 on Netflix’s weekly Top 10 English-language movies chart for the week of May 27-June 2, 2024, showing that it has now found an audience on streaming. This is good news, as the quality of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is far higher than some of the later Michael Bay Transformers movies, with it being a more faithful adaptation of the franchise that I love so dearly.

Why Did Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts Underperform At The Box Office & With Critics?

52% On Rotten Tomatoes

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' unexpectedly poor box office was a surprise to many, and here is why it failed. Sadly, interest in the Transformers live-action movies simply seems to have waned, as the last three Transformers movies have set new records for the lowest box office in the series. The film's break from the Michael Bay canon most likely made things worse, as it took away a reason for fans of the first live-action series to stay invested.

While the Rotten Tomatoes score of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is still better than most of the live-action movies, it still isn't great, with it only garnering a 52%. The film was criticized for mostly the same reasons that past films have been criticized, with flaws including poor acting, a lackluster story, and overbearing amounts of action and lore. However, I think the film improves in all of these categories when compared to past Transformers movies, even if Transformers: Rise of the Beasts still isn't perfect.