Bumblebee
Movie, 2018, Prequels, Set in 1987
Bumblebee is #7 of 9 in release order and #1 of 9 in chronological order in the Transformers.
The story
On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie, on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary yellow VW bug.
Bumblebee recap
With the Autobots losing the war on Cybertron, Optimus Prime sends B-127 to Earth to set up a base. In 1987 California he crash-lands, fights a Decepticon and the military agent Jack Burns, and loses his voice box and memory. He hides as a Volkswagen Beetle in a scrapyard, where Charlie Watson, a grieving teenager who wants her own car, finds him and names him Bumblebee. Charlie and her neighbor Memo hide him and grow attached. Two Decepticons, Shatter and Dropkick, trick the US government into helping them by promising to help hunt the Autobots, and use a satellite link to send a call for Megatron. They capture Bumblebee and learn about Optimus's plan for Earth.
Bumblebee ending explained
Charlie rescues Bumblebee, and his memory returns, including Optimus's message. At the dock, Bumblebee kills Dropkick and destroys Shatter, stopping the signal, and saves Charlie from drowning. Agent Burns lets him go. Bumblebee leaves Charlie, taking the form of a Chevrolet Camaro, and meets Optimus as more Autobots land on Earth. Charlie, who has repaired her late father's car, drives it with Memo.
Post-credits scenes
Early in the credits, Optimus arrives on Earth and Charlie says goodbye to Bumblebee as he turns into the Camaro, leading toward the 2007 film. There is no scene after the credits.
Where to watch Bumblebee
Bumblebee is streaming on Paramount+, Kanopy, and YouTube (free) in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 91%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Transformers: The Last Knight, before Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
- Chronological order: first, before Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
What to watch before Bumblebee
In release order, the essentials before Bumblebee (2018) are Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).
Cast
- Dylan O'Brien as B-127 / Bumblebee (voice)
- Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie Watson
- John Cena as Jack Burns
- Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Memo Gutierrez
- John Ortiz as Dr. Powell
- Stephen Schneider as Ron
- Jason Ian Drucker as Otis Watson
- Pamela Adlon as Sally Watson
- Len Cariou as Hank
- Glynn Turman as General Whalen
- Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime (voice)
- Angela Bassett as Shatter (voice)
Directed by Travis Knight.