Bumblebee

Name: Bumblebee
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Released: December 21, 2018
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Abby Quinn, Angela Bassett, Christian Hutcherson, Dylan O'Brien, Gail Gamble

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 595 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 595 Ratings

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Bumblebee

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 21, 2018 | PG-13

Starring: Abby Quinn, Angela Bassett, Christian Hutcherson, Dylan O'Brien, Gail Gamble, Glynn Turman, Gracie Dzienny, Grey DeLisle, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Ian Drucker, Jess Harnell, John Cena, John Ortiz, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Justin Theroux, Kenneth Choi, Kevin Kent, Len Cariou, Marcella Bragio, Martin Short, Megyn Price, Nina Cheek, Pamela Adlon, Peter Cullen, Rachel Crow, Ricardo Hoyos, Stephen Schneider, Teresa Navarro, Vanessa Ross

Summary: On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), 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. [Paramount Pictures]

Director: Travis Knight

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 114 min

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Critic Reviews

Leah Greenblatt

Dec 17, 2018

John Cena is top billed, and though his brick-jawed military man doesn’t actually get many scenes, he does get a disproportionate share of the script’s best lines. He gives good muscle, but Bumblebee brings something even more important — and actually transforming — to the series: a sense of humor, and a heart. Read full review

Mike Ryan

Dec 9, 2018

Bumblebee is a total delight. Read full review

Oktay Ege Kozak

Dec 20, 2018

It’s hard enough to have a fully CG character as your co-star, and it’s even tougher when an actor is tasked with creating a deep emotional bond with something she can’t even see during production. Steinfeld is up to the challenge, making us believe in Bumblebee’s existence almost as much as the animators who worked on bringing him to life. Read full review

Justin Chang

Dec 9, 2018

The ending packs a lovely surprise, not because you don’t see it coming, but because for once you’re not simply grateful that it’s arrived. Read full review

Barbara VanDenburgh

Dec 19, 2018

To put it in terms Charlie would dig, “Bumblebee” is like an 80s mixtape that’s all hits, no deep cuts. Nothing here surprises save the perspective. But that’s enough to save it. Read full review

Matt Singer

Dec 19, 2018

The whole production just works. Steinfeld, Lendeborg, and Cena are extremely likable leads, and there’s a soul and an innocence to Bumblebee that was never present in any of the previous Transformers. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Simon Abrams

Dec 21, 2018

There's not only nothing new here, there's nothing convincing either. And if I'm supposed to judge Bumblebee based on how well it succeeds at what it tries to do (rather than what came before it), it's still not very good. Read full review

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User Reviews

ELITEFCX1

Dec 21, 2018

Bumblebee does the Transformers license a great justice as it brings the series back in a very different light, yet doesn't completely close itself off from creating an epic set of sequels to come. This was the perfect way for Knight to test the waters and sample this new look and feel toBumblebee does the Transformers license a great justice as it brings the series back in a very different light, yet doesn't completely close itself off from creating an epic set of sequels to come. This was the perfect way for Knight to test the waters and sample this new look and feel to transformers and leaves all doors open for however they would wish to continue this series. It was a more personal story than any of the other movies in the series, but doesn't tie itself down with that. These producers and writers could even take the franchise in a more Marvel direction and make more films centered around one character, and bring them together in a major film, and based on the way that this film was presented, that style of presentation could really work for this franchise. Overall, Bumblebee does everything that this series needed and tells a more down to earth story, while still carrying the epic proportions that Transformers always has. This may not be the most epic film in the series, but it is definitely the best and if they continue to run the series like this, Transformers fans have a lot of great films to look forward to.… Expand

27 of 38 users found this helpful2711

Bumbfuzzle

Nov 7, 2021

Don’t listen to bad reviews this movie is a 80s movie and I loved everything about it. Raised my expectations for the sequel and is a perfect example of what a live action adaptation should be and look like.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JinxterMeta

Mar 12, 2019

Travis Knight saves the Transformer from Michael Bays butchery.
Finally, iconic transformers are on the big screen and they look outstanding.
Looking forward to more Transformers from under Knights flag.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

mrmonster

Apr 14, 2019

This is definitely the best of the Transformers franchise. This is the first Transformers movie to really have the heart that a Transformers movie should have. I'd definitely recommend it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Dec 26, 2018

The first Transformers film never stopped being the best one in the franchise. And it's not that it was a great film but it was fun and entertaining although hardly memorable.

Surprisingly the franchise decided to look back with a prequel, they also got rid of Michael Bay and his overloadedThe first Transformers film never stopped being the best one in the franchise. And it's not that it was a great film but it was fun and entertaining although hardly memorable.

Surprisingly the franchise decided to look back with a prequel, they also got rid of Michael Bay and his overloaded style and they actually gave more substance to a story that had missed its mark and guidence in recent years.

Bumblebee, it turns out it's truly the best film of the franchise but only because the quality that it had to overcome wasn't so high in the first place.
However that doesn't mean that I'm minimizing its achievements, I'm just simply putting them in perspective.

It's a fun flick but I did hate Hailee Steinfeld's intervention since her character is simply an emotional anchor and the truth is that the story of the robots is 100% more interesting than hers.

Beyond that and although I wasn't expect anything from it, Bumblebee is a pleasant surprise and a good option for this end of the year.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

Popcorn55

Jan 28, 2019

Reminds us that yellow cars are the best cars, and that 80s music is the best music. The gag at the end is a great ending, lol.

Other than that... pretty silly stuff! As an adult I really shouldn't be wasting my time. A kids movie.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Sweeney-Todd

Feb 13, 2021

nobody asked for this. I stopped watching the transformers series for obvious reasons, and I was hoping this soft reboot would reignite my love for the franchise... it did not

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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