While Transformers is arguably one of the most well-known franchises in Hollywood, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' underwhelming box office returns confirms the series hasn't learned the right lessons from the success of Bumblebee. Bumblebee grossed $468 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $135 million (via Box Office Mojo), while Transformers: Rise of the Beasts grossed $439 million dollars against a $200 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Even though the long-running franchise has received a plethora of criticism over its 16-year history, previous entries have proven to be big moneymakers, thus making Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' lackluster performance really stand out.

The producers of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts heeded the complaints about Bumblebee, especially those addressing its lack of action scenes and heavy character focus. Nevertheless, one of the biggest criticisms about Rise of the Beasts was that it felt like a return to form in the worst ways possible. The movie featured a lot of hectic action and uninteresting protagonists, making it the opposite of Bumblebee in many ways. Although the producers were right to take negative feedback into account, it seems they might have learned the wrong lessons from Bumblebee. That doesn't bode well for the Transformers franchise's future.

Transformers Needed Fewer Explosions & Action Scenes, Not More, After Michael Bay

Character-driven and Transformers aren't typically synonymous, but Bumblebee's positive reception proved that character-centric stories might be exactly what the franchise needs. While Bumblebee's box office performance wasn't insanely impressive considering the franchise's track record, it undoubtedly received more critical praise than Rise of the Beasts. Bumblebee currently boasts a "fresh" 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, while Transformers: Rise of the Beasts sits at a "rotten" 52% on the site. This difference in reception might be due to Bumblebee's emphasis on developing its characters rather than adding bigger and better explosions.

While former Transformers director Michael Bay certainly had a strong command over sweeping action scenes and aesthetically pleasing explosions, his signature style has run thin with longtime viewers. Bumblebee focusing less on the bombastic aspects of the franchise in favor of making the audience connect with the characters was not only a necessary tonal shift, but it breathed new life into a franchise that was otherwise on life support. If the producers behind Transformers want to ensure the series' successful future, it might be wise to balance upcoming projects with a little more character development. Doing so worked for Bumblebee, and it can work for future installments as well.

Bumblebee's Intimate Story Is Exactly Why The Movie Worked

Something that would have significantly improved Bay's Transformers movies is more fleshed-out human characters and a greater focus on crafting meaningful relationships between them and the Autobots. While previous human characters gave audiences some hilarious moments, they ultimately felt hollow and bogged the story down. Bumblebee, on the other hand, took a risk by making its human protagonist more relatable outside the high school/college kid who's a fish out of water archetype. It also created a bond between Bumblebee and Charlie that made viewers root for the pair.

Bumblebee's human protagonist, Charlie, is a young woman who's still coming to terms with her father's recent passing by the time she's introduced to viewers. Despite her best efforts to be accepting of her mother's new boyfriend, she still hasn't =moved on emotionally. Charlie's grief ends up being the source of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' best conflicts. While there are action scenes, explosions, and other spectacles, Bumblebee saved the Transformers movies precisely because it presented themes and issues that are relatable to audiences rather than focusing solely on another high-stakes, end-of-the-world plot.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Struggled To Balance Characters & Action

Considering Bumblebee's impressive 91% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one could fairly assume that the future movies would continue in a similar direction, replicating the same success over and over. However, with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the franchise got a taste of its usual critical underperformance. While ratings aren't necessarily the be-all end-all when discussing a movie's value, they do give audiences an idea of what to expect — and in the case of Transformers, where the franchise might be headed. With Rise of the Beasts faring less well critically than Bumblebee, concerns about Transformers' future are warranted.

Related: Transformers Is Finally Using A Key Autobot Michael Bay's Franchise Never Included

Instead of either sticking to a character-driven narrative or an action-adventure spectacle, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts attempted to marry the two styles. Noble as it may have been, this approach was difficult to nail, and it made the movie feel unbalanced. Furthermore, it swiftly lost the attention of both those wanting to see more character-driven material, like in Bumblebee, and those who wanted to see more explosions. This is troubling for Transformers' future, as it suggests that the creators are just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. Instead, they should be taking their time with each subsequent release to make the best movie possible.

Transformers Movies Needing More Action Is Bad For Future Movies

While it's safe to say that most people don't consider the Transformers movies to be critical darlings or cinematic masterpieces, it's also fair to assume that audiences expect movie studios to put their best foot forward when it comes to upcoming releases. Bay's style and vision made the first Transformers feel unique and fun way back in 2007, but with each new entry in the franchise, the bar felt like it was steadily lowered in terms of what the studios deemed acceptable. Bumblebee looked to set a new standard, but before everyone knew it, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts proved this notion wrong and moved the franchise backwards.

They say less is more, and when it comes to Transformers, that expression couldn't be more accurate. Subsequent Transformers movies don't need to be devoid of action, but they would certainly benefit from writing more compelling characters to balance out the spectacle. With Scarlett Johansson, Brian Tyree Henry, and Chris Hemsworth cast in 2024's Transformers One, fans of the long-running franchise will have to cross their fingers and hope the producers involved in the upcoming project learn more from Bumblebee than the creators of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts did. The future of the Transformers franchise really does depend on it.

Source: Box Office Mojo, Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes