History Film / Bumblebee

Originally a prequel film in the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'', the future of the series came into question after the box office underperformance of ''Film/TransformersTheLastKnight''. However, despite a significantly lower budget, ''Bumblebee'' ended up being a critical and commercial success, so much so that at Toy Fair 2019, [[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/02/16/transformers-brand-info-from-new-york-toy-fair-2019-fan-media-panel-hasbrotoyfair-383106#more-383106 Hasbro]] officially declared the movie the start of a "new storytelling universe", confirming its status as a ContinuityReboot, severing its ties to the earlier films. One such film, a sequel entitled ''Film/TransformersRiseOfTheBeasts'', was released on June 9, 2023, serving as a crossover with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''.

* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Played straight as usual with ''Transformers'', which doesn't even bother with a HandWave justification like in [[Film/{{Transformers}} the 2007 film]][[note]]There it was claimed the Autobots learned from the World Wide Web, which wouldn't have properly existed back in 1987 anyway[[/note]]. When Sector Seven establishes FirstContact with Shatter and Dropkick, the fact that they speak perfect English is never questioned nor addressed. Charlie also completely understands [[spoiler:Bumblebee's transmission from Optimus Prime.]]

* CallForward: The first trailer features the speech Bobby Bolivia (Creator/BernieMac) gives Sam just before Sam meets Bumblebee in the [[Film/{{Transformers}} original film]].
-->'''Bobby Bolivia:''' Let me tell you somethin': a driver don't pick the car, nuh-uh... the car picks the driver. It's a mystical bond between man and machine.

* PerspectiveFlip: Of ''Film/{{Transformers}}'', at least regarding the human protagonists. In ''Transformers'', the film followed the perspective of Sam Witwicky, an UnluckyEverydude with a crush on a WrenchWench, while in ''Bumblebee'', the story is from the POV of Charlie Watson, a WrenchWench herself, who is somewhat ObliviousToLove regarding the UnluckyEverydude's crush on her. In both cases, the WrenchWench is unaware of the UnluckyEverydude even existing until they meet, and she has unresolved familial issues relating to her father. The only difference in terms of their dynamic is Memo is a genuine NiceGuy who doesn't seem to objectify Charlie nearly as much as Sam did Mikaela.

* {{Retcon}}: [[AllThereInTheManual Movie-related fiction]] established Megatron was the one responsible for the loss of Bumblebee's voice, having destroyed his vocal processors centuries ago on Cybertron (something that was also adopted by other continuities like ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersCyberverse''). Here, [[spoiler:Bumblebee can still speak when he first arrives on Earth and Blitzwing is the one to do the deed.]]

* TranslationConvention: The scenes set on Cybertron are all voiced in English, with this installment, unlike [[Film/{{Transformers}} the 2007 movie]], not concerning itself with how Cybertronians know our language when they arrive, likely in favour of a simpler story.

* YourSizeMayVary: {{Downplayed|Trope}} -- while the shared maintenance of size and mass between robot and vehicle modes is fairly consistent (far better than usual for ''Transformers''), there's a specific bit of wonk surrounding Shatter and Dropkick: they initially arrive to Earth in customized muscle car alt-modes that scale reasonably well with their robot forms, but later they each gain a third mode in the form of different aircraft (a jet for Shatter and a helicopter for Dropkick). Once they gain these forms, they each subtly become upgraded with additional [[KibblesAndBits kibble]] along with their preexisting car parts, suggesting that their aerial forms are actually quite undersized, with the few shots of them transforming from aircraft to muscle cars showing them ''increasing'' in apparent mass.

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Decepticons Shatter and Dropkick trick the military into thinking they're the good guys and that [[HeroWithBadPublicity Bumblebee is an escaped criminal.]] Though Burns doesn’t buy it, even mentioning how they call themselves ''[[MeaningfulName Decept]]''icons. But this is ultimately averted since the military planned to eradicate the two 'Cons as soon as possible once Bumblebee was found.

The film was released on December 21st, 2018. [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bumblebee:_The_Movie Its TFwiki page tries to catalog new information as it is revealed.]] An Optimus Prime-centered spinoff is now in the works.

-->-- '''Bobby Bolivia''', ''Film/{{Transformers}}''

-->'''Shatter''': You're a brave warrior. [[HopeSpot You deserve a better death...]] Then again...

-->'''Shatter''': Ah, B-127, I ''almost'' forgot about you.\\

* NoNameGiven: Charlie's father is never explicitly named. However, she wears a lot of adult men's shirts that seem to have been his, including a mechanic's work-shirt that indicates his name was 'Dutch'.

Originally a prequel film in the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'', the future of the series came into question after the box office underperformance of ''Film/TransformersTheLastKnight''. However, despite a significantly lower budget, ''Bumblebee'' ended up being a critical and commercial success, so much so that at Toy Fair 2019, [[https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/02/16/transformers-brand-info-from-new-york-toy-fair-2019-fan-media-panel-hasbrotoyfair-383106#more-383106 Hasbro]] officially declared the movie the start of a "new storytelling universe", confirming its status as a ContinuityReboot, severing its ties to the earlier films. One such film, a sequel entitled ''Film/TransformersRiseOfTheBeasts'', is set for a 2023 release, serving as a crossover with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** The use of ''Decepticons'' as a faction name sounds similar to the word "deception", and would probably clue in third party members on exactly which side to join your war (read: against you).
** Everyone grieves at their own pace, and Charlie and her family are a prime example of this.
** The ending has Memo try to hold Charlie’s hand, but she gently brushes him off, stating “we’re not there yet.” Just because a girl and a boy go on one adventure together does not mean they're going to automatically be as close as boyfriend and girlfriend afterwards.
** The film answers the question of what happens if you threw something -- say, a chain -- between the moving parts of a mid-transformation Cybertronian. It's a hinderance at best, and [[spoiler:[[LudicriousGibs a messy death]] at worst, especially if the item is pulled out afterwards]].

* FakeActionOpening: We first see Burns and his soldiers in combat with another armed group. It turns out to be a training exercise with nonlethal ammunition.

* CoolOldGuy: Uncle Hank. He lets Charlie have an old beetle (Bumblebee) for her birthday, even after she offers to pay him back by working at his garage. Of course, he didn't actually pay for it.

* SoftReboot: Ultimately what the film ends up being. Though there are nods to the prior movies (Bumblebee's head design, Sector 7's existence, [[spoiler:Bumblebee becoming a Camero at the end]], and Megatron's absence from Cybertron), the film takes ''far'' more from [[TruerToTheText the original cartoon, comics, and other media]], and ultimately follows its own continuity of what lead the Autobots to earth. WordOfGod confirms they don't want to just ''outright'' reboot the live-action films, but that future installments will follow after ''Bumblebee'' rather than the prior movies. Later, they opted to declare the film officially a ContinuityReboot.

** A sheriff is played by Fred Dryer. So naturally, [[Series/{{Hunter}} his car gets trashed]].

* AssholeVictim: Roy, the hick who gets liquidated by Dropkick. He apparently attempted (and failed) to cheat on his wife Amber with her sister, spends his wife's money on a muscle car instead of a house like she wanted, and cares more about his car than he does the lives of anyone around him. His death is even played for a little bit of dark humor. Of course, it rather defeats the point of establishing a villain as evil by having them kill a victim who "deserves" it.

** Almost the entire soundtrack, which is entirely built-up of songs the characters themselves are listening to in-universe. Each song tends to either fit the scene, not unlike ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', or serve as foreshadowing for something about to happen soon. Special mention to: