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.”
