Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun (if unnecessary) reboot has heart, explosive action.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Parents say that the movie features new robots, epic battles, and an engaging storyline, appealing to both fans and casual viewers. However, some express concerns about its suitability for younger audiences due to violent moments and troubling representation, while others appreciate its fun, action-packed nature and inclusion of positive messages about teamwork and diversity.
- action-packed
- positive messages
- mixed representation
- not for young kids
- fun tone
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 11 kid reviews
What's the Story?
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS begins with a prologue introducing how the Primals (animal-like Transformers) defeated the evil, plant-devouring Unicron (voiced by Colman Domingo), abandoned their planet, and settled on Earth in ancient times. Millennia later, in 1994 New York City, 20-something Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) needs to find a job to support his little brother, Kris (Dean Scott Vazquez), who has sickle-cell anemia. Desperate, Noah agrees to steal a Porsche during a gala—only to discover that the sports car is a self-driving Transformer named Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson). Meanwhile, Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback) makes an interesting discovery as an intern with the New York Archeology Museum on Ellis Island. It turns out to be an ancient beacon that can summon Transformers, including Unicron's loyal servants, led by Scourge (voiced by Peter Dinklage). Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) and the Autobots want the beacon key to get back to their home planet, Cybertron, but with Scourge and his associates ready to turn the key into a portal for Unicron to destroy Earth, the Autobots, humans, and Primals must work together to stop the villain.
Is It Any Good?
Better than many of its crass, overly sexualized predecessors, this installment in the franchise has a top-notch 1990s hip-hop soundtrack, likable leads, and no cringe-inducing characters. Forget the exposition about Transformers lore—only devoted fans of the animated shows will truly care about that. Ultimately, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a formulaic (except for the lack of romance, which is a nice change) action film featuring an angstier Optimus Prime and yet another seemingly indestructible Transformers supervillain. (Unicron is pure evil, ravenous for yet another planet to consume.) Domingo and Dinklage do an admirable job with their deep, sinister character voices, and Cullen is, as always, the one true voice of Optimus Prime. Ron Perlman gets to be a good guy for a change as the gorilla-like Optimus Primal, and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh lends her gravitas to the character Airazor. Ted Lasso fans will instantly recognize the voice of VW bus Wheeljack (Cristo Fernandez, aka Dani Rojas). Ramos and Fishback have a sweet platonic chemistry as two Brooklyn-raised young adults who've been thrown together under ludicrous and dangerous circumstances, and the well-cast Davidson provides much-needed comic relief as the jokey, conceited Mirage.
There are moments that seem lifted straight out of Iron Man, Pacific Rim, Godzilla, or any of a dozen other (usually better) action movies, but there's no denying that audiences will have fun while they watch this story unfold. The human drama feels authentic, thanks to Noah's relationship with his baby bro, Kris. But there's not really enough time to dwell on family dynamics. In fact, Elena doesn't even get a family; her entire backstory is limited to reminiscing about her late father. On the alien machine side, Optimus' devotion to Bumblebee (and vice versa) is genuinely touching. Director Steven Caple Jr. isn't reinventing the wheel with this movie, but he is keeping with the vibe of Bumblebee: nostalgic and family friendly, with lots of action sequences. It's unclear what else needs to be explored in the Transformers universe, but this entry has enough heart to be crowd pleasing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Is it realistic and frightening, or does it have less impact because Transformers don't really exist? Does watching Transformer-on-Transformer violence feel different from watching violence involving humans?
How do you think this installment compares to the previous Transformers movies and franchises?
Previous Transformers films have been criticized for their depiction of women and people of color. How does this installment take a different approach? In what ways do the characters demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork?
Discuss the time period and setting. How does the movie make it clear that it's set in 1994 New York City?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 9, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : July 11, 2023
- Cast : Anthony Ramos , Dominique Fishback , Tobe Nwigwe
- Director : Steven Caple Jr.
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , Robots
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 117 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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