History YMMV / TransformersFilmSeries

* AcceptableTargets: Skids and Mudflap are intended to mock [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy wiggers]]. Unfortunately, their nature as green and orange robot cars meant that people misinterpreted them as [[UnfortunateImplications mocking black people]].

** The Transformers' look changing for the 4th film from the visceral insectoid design to a much more human looking one. Some are happy with the change and feel it makes the bots more expressive and relatable. Others feel the "alien" look has been stripped away and the realistic faces fall into the InintentionalUncannyValley, or feel that the designs don't look like they can transform anymore. Then there's the groups that like or hate both designs.

** The quality of the films themselves has fans split into four groups. The first thinks that all of them are bad, the second group thinks that the [[FirstInstallmentWins first one was okay]], but everything afterwards sucks. A third thinks that the first three were good, but Age of Extinction and The Last Knight were bad. And a smaller fourth group that likes all of them.

** "[X] but if it came out in 2007" [[labelnote: Explanation]]In August 2022, the Internet [[https://twitter.com/blurayangel/status/1562511750355767301 rediscovered]] the movie's ending with the chorus of Music/LinkinPark's "What I've Done" hitting right as the credits role and have applied it to [[https://www.avclub.com/transformers-linkin-park-2007-michael-bay-the-godfather-1849462224 a number of other movies]] such as ''Film/TheGodfather'', ''Film/CitizenKane'', etc[[/labelnote]]

** "[X] but if it came out in 2007" [[labelnote: Explanation]]In August 2022, the Internet [[https://twitter.com/blurayangel/status/1562511750355767301 rediscovered]] the movie's ending with the chorus of Music/LinkinPark's "What I've Done" hitting right as the credits role and have applied it to a number of other movies such as ''Film/TheGodfather'', ''Film/2001ASpaceOdyssey'', etc[[/labelnote]]

** "[X] but if it came out in 2007" [[labelnote: Explanation]]In August 2022, the Internet [[https://twitter.com/blurayangel/status/1562511750355767301 rediscovered]] the movie's ending with the chorus of Music/LinkingPark's "What I've Done" hitting right as the credits role and have applied it to a number of other movies such as ''Film/TheGodfather'', ''Film/2001ASpaceOdyssey'', etc[[/labelnote]]

* ReplacementScrappy: Fans of Mikaela consider Carly to be this, and some critics claimed that her actress is [[UpToEleven an even worse actress than Megan Fox]].

** ''TLK'' took this [[UpToEleven to extreme levels]], with continuity errors not just with the previous films, ''but within itself'', and even more unlikeable characters. Even those who stand by the previous four films admit they hated this installment.

** On July 19, 2022, not long after the film's 15th anniversary, a big fire broke out at Hoover Dam (leading to no injuries, thankfully) that made many fans of the movie to think of Megatron breaking out of Sector 7. Funny enough by itself. The source of a fire turning out to be a burst ''transformer''? Hilarious.

** The Transformers' look changing for the 4th film from the visceral insectoid design to a much more human looking one. Some are happy with the change and feel it makes the bots more expressive and relatable. Others feel the "alien" look has been stripped away and the realistic faces fall into the UncannyValley, or feel that the designs don't look like they can transform anymore. Then there's the groups that like or hate both designs.

** Also, the designs. If people aren't criticizing them for looking so different from previous versions of the characters, then they are criticizing them for looking too cluttered (unfavorable comparisons to walking trash piles are common) or dipping into the UncannyValley.

* UncannyValley: Many of the Cybertronian facial designs feature strange alien features mixed with the features of human faces, all while being made up of lots of separate metal parts. The results are odd to say the least. It does seem to be intentional on the Decepticons' part as they are often given the more outlandish designs. The fourth film onward discarding the alien aspects in favor of distinctly human-like faces either makes this better or worse.

** ''Film/{{Bumblebee}}'' is clearly trying to be one, with the change of director, a lighter tone and more G1-accurate character designs. See it's own page for details. Critically, it has paid off big time.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Blackout and Barricade are fairly well-liked, even among TF fans who dislike the films. Blackout for his OneSceneWonder introduction and Barricade for the EvilIsCool factor of a Decepticon cop car along with also surviving all five movies. Both would gain CanonImmigrant status and pop up in other TF media, based off their appearances here, such as ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/TransformersWarForCybertronTrilogy War For Cybertron]]''

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: Yes, works from the ''Transformers'' franchise are generally aimed at children ([[WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie although]] some [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars works]] stretch [[WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated the]] line [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime kind]] of thin), but Michael Bay has stated that he intends on having the films appeal to teenagers and adults, hence all of the violence and swearing. Reportedly, Simon Furman (writer of [[Comicbook/TheTransformers the original Transformers comic]]) said that although he isn't a fan of the films, he believes that they are great for "the intended audience" of young kids. That's kind of worrying.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: A funny moment happens in which When Sam's dog Mojo pees on Ironhide in the first film he worries about rusting. Cut to two films later in DOTM, [[spoiler: and it's not so funny anymore when he rusts to death after being shot by Sentinel Prime, during the horrifying and jarring scene of the latter revealing his betrayal.]]
* HarsherInHindsight: The blatant sexualization of Michaela has become extremely uncomfortable to watch once awareness increased of what Megan Fox had to put up with when working with Michael Bay; having been previously a FanserviceExtra at only fifteen in ''Film/BadBoysII'', her 'audition' for ''Transformers'' was basically washing the director's car, and she had to gain weight for the second film because he "doesn't like skinny girls".

* HarsherInHindsight:
The blatant sexualization of Michaela has become extremely uncomfortable to watch once awareness increased of what Megan Fox had to put up with when working with Michael Bay; having been previously a FanserviceExtra at only fifteen in ''Film/BadBoysII'', her 'audition' for ''Transformers'' was basically washing the director's car, and she had to gain weight for the second film because he "doesn't like skinny girls".

* {{Fanon}}: The fact that the planes that attack Megatron in Mission City happen to be identical to Starscream's alt-mode has resulted in the idea that the latter [[PragmaticVillainy blended in with them to take some shots at his boss]]. Nothing in the film ever suggests this, nor is it particularly fitting to Bayverse Starscream's character, but the idea persists.

* MagnificentBastard: [[BigGood Optimus Prime]], leader of the [[Characters/TransformersFilmSeriesAutobots Autobots]] and a believer that freedom is the right of all beings, arrives on earth to lead the battle against the wicked [[Characters/TransformersFilmSeriesDecepticons Decepticons]]. Forming a plan to keep any objects of power from Megatron, even if it means his life, Optimus is able to direct the defeat of the evil Fallen. Upon his old mentor Sentinel Prime turning on the Autobots, Optimus agrees to leave the planet with the others, but [[FakingTheDead fakes his and the Autobots' deaths]], knowing that the Decepticons will prove they cannot be trusted and kill many humans. Leading the charge now that the humans know the Autobots are needed, Optimus demonstrates no restraint at brutally killing his enemies, even when they are defeated, [[GoodIsNotNice showing no mercy]] even for the helpless and bested Sentinel Prime.

* "FunnyAneurysm"Moment: a funny moment happens in which When Sam's dog Mojo pees on Ironhide in the first film he worries about rusting. Cut to two films later in DOTM, [[spoiler: and it's not so funny anymore when he rusts to death after being shot by Sentinel Prime, during the horrifying and jarring scene of the latter revealing his betrayal.]]

** When Sam's dog Mojo pees on Ironhide in the first film he worries about rusting. Cut to two films later in DOTM, [[spoiler: this is what happens to him as he dies after being shot by Sentinel Prime.]]
** The blatant sexualization of Michaela has become extremely uncomfortable to watch once awareness increased of what Megan Fox had to put up with when working with Michael Bay; having been previously a FanserviceExtra at only fifteen in ''Film/BadBoysII'', her 'audition' for ''Transformers'' was basically washing the director's car, and she had to gain weight for the second film because he "doesn't like skinny girls".

** The AmericaSavesTheDay aspect where Decepticons are shown being damaged and outright killed by human military forces. Some argue that this helps give the human characters a role beyond reacting to the Autobots and Decepticons fighting, while others feel that the Decepticons being vulnerable to human weaponry severely diminishes their threat and takes value away from the Autobots.

** Agent Simmons was not well liked in the first movie, largely due to being a SmugSnake and ObstructiveBureaucrat. In ''Revenge of the Fallen'' he becomes a helpful and heroic (if still crazy) character who manages to get things done. He gets ''even better'' in the third movie, where he jumps completely into CrazyAwesome.