Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Better-than-expected Transformers prequel is big on action.
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Why Age 11+?
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Bumblebee
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 37 parent reviews
Based on 68 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a delightful and action-filled adventure that balances heartwarming moments with fun, suitable for young viewers, especially fans of the franchise. While it contains mild violence between robots and occasional language, it is generally deemed more appropriate than previous installments, making it a family-friendly choice with nostalgic 80s music that parents may enjoy too.
- family-friendly
- nostalgic music
- mild violence
- relatable characters
- suitable for kids
- emotional themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
BUMBLEBEE starts during a civil war on the Transformers' home planet of Cybertron, where Autobot resistance leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) sends his young lieutenant, B-127 (Dylan O'Brien), on a mission to Earth to establish a base, protect the planet's inhabitants, and await their allies. But B-127 is followed by two Decepticons, who wound him and destroy his voice box. Later, in 1987 California, angsty Bay Area teen Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) finds an old yellow Volkswagen Beetle while scouring a junk yard on her 18th birthday. Charlie, who's still grieving her late father, fixes the rusty old VW, which quickly transforms back into a robot alien that Charlie names Bumblebee. As Charlie befriends Bumblebee and introduces him to her neighbor, Memo (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), two Decepticon enforcers land on Earth. Shatter (Angela Bassett) and Dropkick (Justin Theroux) convince government agents, including a reluctant John Cena and an awed John Ortiz, to collaborate in order to find the "dangerous" Bumblebee.
Is It Any Good?
The talented, expressive Steinfeld and a nuanced script elevate this prequel from "unnecessary" to "surprisingly poignant and entertaining." Comparisons between Bumblebee and E.T. are easy to draw, because Charlie nearly instantly connects with the voiceless, skittish alien. They bond over clips of '80s movies and music cassettes (he hilariously ejects The Smiths, one of her favorite, angsty bands, instead preferring radio jams that can speak for him). Charlie's sidekick is her adorkable neighbor, whom Lendeborg plays with sweet comedic sincerity. Their chemistry is cute, with only a hint of romance -- a much-needed change from the previous films.
Director Travis Knight, making his live-action debut and working from a script by Christina Hodson, helms the movie with a sensibility that mirrors the Laika films he's directed/produced (Kubo and The Boxtrolls): A lonely, grieving adolescent goes on an unexpected adventure, through which she learns about herself and her legacy. Knight might not have seemed like a natural fit for this live-action directing gig on the face of things, but it makes sense given his love of coming-of-age stories that feature particularly sensitive and brave young protagonists. Ultimately, there was no need for this prequel, but it's much better than expected, and the best (story wise) of the Transformers series to date.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Bumblebee. Is it more than, less than, or about what you expected? How does it compare to the violence in the other Transformers movies? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What are the other differences between this film and the other Transformers movies? What did you like about this installment? Do you want there to be more?
Do you consider any of the characters to be role models? What character strengths do they display? Why are teamwork and courage important?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 21, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : April 2, 2019
- Cast : Hailee Steinfeld , Martin Short , Pamela Adlon
- Director : Travis Knight
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Friendship , Robots
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 113 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of sci-fi action violence
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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