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Easter eggs
Hidden details in every movie and series: 94 in total. Tap a poster to see its eggs. Titles you haven't marked as seen stay locked so nothing gets spoiled.
- Referencenod to comics or other movies
- Cameoa familiar face shows up
- Setupplanted now, pays off later
- Behind the scenesproduction trivia
- Behind the scenesStoryboarded like a cartoon
Bumblebee was Travis Knight's first live-action film after a career in stop-motion animation. He storyboarded the robot scenes as if they were animated.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe look came from G1
Knight drew on the original Generation 1 designs and picked the 1980s setting because of the cartoon from that era. That's why the Cybertron robots look like the classic toys.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesMegatron got cut
Knight storyboarded Megatron into the Cybertron battle. He swapped in other characters to avoid contradicting the 2007 film.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesShot under the name Brighton Falls
The film shot under the working title Brighton Falls. Production wrapped on November 10, 2017, six days ahead of schedule.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe critics' favorite
It's the highest-rated Transformers film on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. It cost about $135 million and grossed $468 million worldwide.
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- ReferenceBeast Wars hits the big screen
Announced in 2019 as a Bumblebee sequel, it was revealed in 2021 as a Beast Wars-inspired film featuring the Maximals. Steven Caple Jr. directed.
source ↗ - CameoRon Perlman is the gorilla
Ron Perlman voices Optimus Primal. The gorilla design grew out of unused concept art from The Last Knight.
source ↗ - ReferenceA score that quotes 1986
Jongnic Bontemps's score nods to Steve Jablonsky's theme from the 2007 film and Vince DiCola's “Unicron Medley” from The Transformers: The Movie.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe real Machu Picchu
Part of the film was shot in Peru, at Machu Picchu, Cusco, Tarapoto and San Martín. The crew also filmed in Montreal, New Mexico, Iceland and Brooklyn.
source ↗ - CameoPeter Cullen's latest feature
Peter Cullen, Optimus's voice since 1984, returns to the role. It's his most recent feature film to date.
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- Behind the scenesIt was going to be G.I. Joe
Producer Don Murphy first planned a G.I. Joe film. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Hasbro suggested Transformers instead.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesSpielberg: a boy and his car
Steven Spielberg came aboard as executive producer in 2004 and read every draft. He suggested building the story around “a boy and his car.”
source ↗ - CameoOptimus's original voice
Peter Cullen, who voiced Optimus in the 1980s cartoon, returned to the role. Frank Welker, the cartoon's Megatron, was considered, but Hugo Weaving got the villain.
source ↗ - ReferenceWhy Bumblebee became a Camaro
In the 1984 cartoon, Bumblebee was a Volkswagen Beetle. Michael Bay's films made him a yellow Camaro because Volkswagen wouldn't allow its car.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesRecycled Pearl Harbor footage
The film reuses some footage from Michael Bay's own Pearl Harbor (2001). Bay also cut his fee by 30% to keep the shoot in Los Angeles.
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- Behind the scenesA script saved before the strike
The writers turned in a treatment just before the 2007–08 strike. Michael Bay expanded it into a 60-page scriptment.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesShot at the pyramids
The crew shot for three days at Giza and Luxor, with permission secured through Zahi Hawass. Four more days followed in Jordan, at Petra, Wadi Rum and Salt.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesDevastator ate ILM's render farm
Built from ten construction vehicles, Devastator took up more than 85% of ILM's render farm capacity.
source ↗ - CameoTony Todd is the Fallen
Tony Todd voices the Fallen, and Mark Ryan plays Jetfire. Frank Welker, the cartoon's Megatron, joins the films as Soundwave.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThree Razzies
It earned seven Razzie nominations and won three: Worst Picture, Worst Director and Worst Screenplay.
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- ReferenceSpock voices Sentinel Prime
Leonard Nimoy voices Sentinel, and the film quotes Star Trek with Spock's line “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” Nimoy had already played Galvatron in the 1986 animated movie.
source ↗ - CameoBuzz Aldrin meets Optimus
The Apollo 11 astronaut appears as himself, meeting Optimus Prime at NEST headquarters.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesJames Cameron's advice
Bay was reluctant about 3D. James Cameron told him to use it for “emotion and character” and offered technical crew from Avatar.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesChernobyl is in Indiana
The Chernobyl sequence, pitched by ILM's effects producers, was shot in Gary, Indiana, standing in for Ukraine.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe franchise's first billion
It crossed $1 billion on August 3, 2011, becoming the second Paramount film to do so, after Titanic.
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- Behind the scenesFirst with digital IMAX 3D cameras
It was the first feature shot with the smaller digital IMAX 3D cameras, mixed with many other formats.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesDetroit playing Hong Kong
Detroit doubled for Hong Kong, and Chicago's McCormick Place was dressed as a Chinese city. The crew also shot in the real Hong Kong.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesA record in China
It was China's top-grossing film of 2014 and the first to pass $300 million there. It was also the only 2014 release to top $1 billion worldwide.
source ↗ - CameoFrank Welker returns to villainy
Frank Welker, Megatron's voice in the 1984 cartoon, voices Galvatron.
source ↗ - ReferenceImagine Dragons in the final battle
The band wrote “Battle Cry,” heard in the final battle and over the credits. The song isn't on the soundtrack album.
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- CameoAnthony Hopkins among robots
Anthony Hopkins plays Sir Edmund Burton, an astronomer, historian and the last living member of the Order of Witwiccans.
source ↗ - CameoStanley Tucci returns as Merlin
Tucci, who was in Age of Extinction, comes back in a new role as Merlin. Liam Garrigan plays King Arthur, a part he'd already played on Once Upon a Time.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesFour aspect ratios
Because the production used many camera types, including an Alexa IMAX 3D rig, scenes appear in at least four different aspect ratios.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesA Razzie record
It received 10 Razzie nominations and won none, a record for most nominations without a win.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe weakest opening so far
Its $44.7 million opening weekend was the franchise's lowest at the time. It grossed $605.4 million but reportedly lost Paramount over $100 million.
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- CameoAn all-star voice cast
Chris Hemsworth is Orion Pax, Brian Tyree Henry is D-16 and Scarlett Johansson is Elita-1. Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm round it out.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesA chatty Bumblebee on purpose
Director Josh Cooley wanted a talkative Bumblebee like the original cartoon's. Keegan-Michael Key played him in his normal voice.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesAnimated again after almost 40 years
It's the franchise's first animated feature in about 40 years and its first fully computer-animated one. Industrial Light & Magic handled the animation.
source ↗ - ReferenceArt Deco meets Generation 1
The robot designs lean heavily on Generation 1, and Cybertron's production design is rooted in Art Deco.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe Prime composer returns
Brian Tyler, who scored Transformers: Prime, composed the music.
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- Behind the scenesOrson Welles's final role
Orson Welles voiced Unicron and died shortly after recording. His voice was weak, so it was run through a synthesizer and sped up by about 8%.
source ↗ - CameoSpock, Monty Python and a teen star
Leonard Nimoy voices Galvatron, Monty Python's Eric Idle plays Wreck-Gar, and Judd Nelson is Hot Rod.
source ↗ - Reference“The Touch” ended up in Boogie Nights
Stan Bush's song was first written for the film Cobra. Years later, Mark Wahlberg's Dirk Diggler sings it in Boogie Nights.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesKilled off to sell toys
Hasbro had several characters killed to make room for the 1986 toy line. Optimus's death left kids in tears and sparked a fan letter-writing campaign.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesCo-produced with Toei
The film was built to launch the 1986 toy line, with Japan's Toei Animation as a co-production company.
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- Behind the scenesThe voice came from a Marine
Peter Cullen based the voice on his older brother Larry, a Marine captain and Vietnam veteran. Larry's advice: “Don't be a Hollywood hero, be a real hero.”
source ↗ - Behind the scenesFrank Welker, half the cast
Frank Welker voiced Megatron, Soundwave, Skywarp, Rumble, Frenzy and Ravage. On the Autobot side, he did Mirage and Trailbreaker.
source ↗ - ReferenceOptimus started as a Japanese truck
The Optimus toy came from Takara's Diaclone line, where it was Battle Convoy and had a human pilot. Dennis O'Neil came up with the name Optimus Prime for Marvel's comics.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe Dinobots arrive early
“S.O.S. Dinobots” (S1, ep. 4, not counting the premiere miniseries) introduced the Dinobots on October 27, 1984.
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- ReferenceOrion Pax before Optimus
In “War Dawn” (S2, ep. 44), aired on Christmas Day 1985, the Aerialbots travel back in time and meet Orion Pax, a gentle robot from Cybertron's past.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe first female Transformers
“The Search for Alpha Trion” (S2, ep. 32) introduces Alpha Trion and the show's first female Transformers.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesSkyfire vanished over legal issues
Skyfire was phased out early in the season because of legal complications with Bandai.
source ↗ - Behind the scenes49 episodes in under 4 months
The season aired from September 23, 1985, to January 9, 1986. “Dinobot Island” introduces much of the 1985 toy line.
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- ReferenceThe makers of the Transformers
The season opens with the five-part “Five Faces of Darkness,” which introduces the Quintessons as the Transformers' creators.
source ↗ - ReferenceStarscream the ghost
In “Ghost in the Machine” (S3, ep. 17), Starscream returns as a ghost.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe fans brought Optimus back
Outrage over Optimus's death in the 1986 movie became a letter-writing campaign. Hasbro gave in and revived him in “The Return of Optimus Prime” (S3, eps. 29 and 30).
source ↗ - Behind the scenesGalvatron gets a new voice
Leonard Nimoy voiced Galvatron only in the movie. On the show, Frank Welker, the original Megatron, takes over.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesA different look
Toei scaled back, and AKOM, founded by supervising producer Nelson Shin, animated about half the season.
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- Behind the scenesA three-episode season
“The Rebirth,” written by David Wise, aired November 9–11, 1987, and ended the show in the United States.
source ↗ - ReferenceHeadmasters and Targetmasters
Autobots and Decepticons bond with the Nebulans to become Headmasters and Targetmasters, the 1987 toy line. Spike ends up operating Fortress Maximus.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesJapan took another road
Japan never aired “The Rebirth.” Instead, it continued the story with its own shows, starting with Transformers: The Headmasters (1987).
source ↗ - Behind the scenesAll AKOM
AKOM animated all three episodes, with no Toei involvement.
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- Behind the scenesA CGI pioneer
Made by Mainframe Entertainment in Vancouver, it was one of the first fully CGI TV series. Production designer Clyde Klotz won a Daytime Emmy in 1997.
source ↗ - ReferenceMegatron by tribute
This Megatron is a different robot. He took his name from the original Decepticon commander.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe Golden Disk
The Golden Disk the Predacons steal is tied to the Voyager Golden Record.
source ↗ - ReferenceStarscream's ghost
In “Possession” (S1, ep. 21), the ghost of Starscream from the 1984 show possesses Waspinator and leads an attack on the Axalon.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesScott McNeil, many voices
Scott McNeil voices Rattrap, Dinobot and Waspinator, among others. Garry Chalk plays Optimus Primal and David Kaye is Megatron.
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- ReferenceThe planet is Earth
In “Coming of the Fuzors, Part 1” (S2, ep. 2), Waspinator works out that the planet is prehistoric Earth and that the disks hold information about the future.
source ↗ - ReferenceDinobot's sacrifice
In “Code of Hero” (S2, ep. 9), Dinobot gives his life to destroy the Golden Disk and defend the valley of humanity's ancestors.
source ↗ - CameoRavage, a G1 Decepticon
In “The Agenda, Part 1” (S2, ep. 11), Ravage, a former Decepticon, arrives to arrest Megatron.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe Ark from the 1984 show
At the end of the season, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt find the Ark, the original show's Autobot and Decepticon ship, crashed on the planet.
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- Behind the scenesFor many, the best season
Reviewers praised its faster pace and darker tone, and one called it arguably the show's best season.
source ↗ - ReferenceOptimal Optimus
In “Optimal Situation” (S3, ep. 1), Optimus Primal holds Optimus Prime's spark inside himself and becomes the giant Optimal Optimus.
source ↗ - ReferenceDinobot II, the clone
In “Feral Scream, Part 1” (S3, ep. 5), Megatron creates Dinobot II, a clone of Dinobot.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe aliens get a name
The mysterious aliens from S1 are only named, the Vok, in “Other Victories” (S3, ep. 11), the Tigerhawk episode.
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- Behind the scenesPlanned start to finish
It was the only North American Transformers series completely conceptualized and outlined in advance.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesOriginally called Beast Hunters
The show was first titled Beast Hunters. Jetstorm was originally Skybolt, and the first five episodes were filed under that name before editing.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesWriters on the message board
The head writers answered fan questions on a message board called Bottalk.
source ↗ - CameoBeast Wars voices return
Garry Chalk returns as Optimus Primal and David Kaye as Megatron, who also voices Savage/Noble.
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- Behind the scenesFrom the 2007 film's writers
Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, co-writers of Transformers and Revenge of the Fallen, created the show with Duane Capizzi and Jeff Kline.
source ↗ - CameoThe classic voices return
Peter Cullen returns as Optimus and Frank Welker as Megatron and Soundwave. Jeffrey Combs voices Ratchet and Steve Blum plays Starscream.
source ↗ - ReferenceA mute Bumblebee, like the films
As in the live-action films, Prime's Bumblebee can't speak and communicates in beeps.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesAn Emmy nod for Optimus
Peter Cullen's Optimus in Prime earned him a 2011 Daytime Emmy nomination.
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- ReferenceBack to Orion Pax
The season opens with the three-part “Orion Pax.” It's Optimus's name from before the war, the same one used in the 1984 show's episode “War Dawn.”
source ↗ - Behind the scenesAn Emmy win
In 2012, Transformers: Prime won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program.
source ↗ - CameoShockwave and Smokescreen debut
Shockwave first appears in “Out of the Past” (S2, ep. 17), and Smokescreen in the next episode, “New Recruit.”
source ↗ - Behind the scenesA live orchestra
Brian Tyler composed the score and theme, recording with live orchestras.
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- Behind the scenesThe subtitled season
The third season was branded Beast Hunters and runs just 13 episodes, half the length of the earlier ones.
source ↗ - CameoUltra Magnus arrives
Ultra Magnus debuts in “Scattered” (S3, ep. 2) and reaches Earth in the next episode, “Prey.”
source ↗ - ReferenceShockwave's Predacons
Shockwave creates the Predacons, starting with Predaking, who debuts in “Scattered.”
source ↗ - ReferenceBumblebee gets his voice back
In the finale, “Deadlock” (S3, ep. 13), the Omega Lock's Cyber Matter restores Bumblebee's voice after years of beeps.
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- Behind the scenesFree on YouTube
On November 29, 2023, the Transformers Official channel uploaded the whole movie to YouTube.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThree directors
Vinton Heuck, Scooter Tidwell and Todd Waterman directed, from a script by Duane Capizzi, Marsha Griffin and Steven Melching.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesOn disc four days later
It premiered on the Hub on October 4, 2013, and Shout! Factory released it on DVD and Blu-ray on October 8.
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