If you’re a fan of the Transformers movie franchise, you’re probably craving more epic robot action, intense battles, and jaw-dropping visual effects. Luckily, there are plenty of other great films that deliver a similar vibe and viewing experience. Here are the 18 best movies like Transformers to add to your watchlist.
1. Bumblebee (2018)
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
Bumblebee is a Transformers prequel film that focuses on the lovable Autobot scout as he arrives on Earth in the 1980s and befriends a teenage girl named Charlie. With a charming coming-of-age story at its core, Bumblebee has more heart than other Transformers movies while still delivering awesome robot fights. It’s a fresh take on the franchise that will appeal to hardcore fans and casual viewers alike.
Why It’s Like Transformers: As a prequel, Bumblebee provides backstory for a fan-favorite Autobot character. It has a good mix of robot action and human drama with a fun 1980s setting.
2. Pacific Rim (2013)
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
From visionary director Guillermo del Toro, Pacific Rim is an epic sci-fi action film about giant robots called Jaegers battling huge monster aliens known as Kaiju. The story focuses on the pilots controlling the Jaegers, including a washed-up veteran and an untested trainee, as they make a last stand to save humanity. With stunning visual effects and thrilling fight scenes, Pacific Rim is a must-watch for fans of giant robots.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Giant robots fighting giant monsters – need we say more? Pacific Rim delivers epic battles on a massive scale with amazing special effects. The Jaegers are like super-sized Autobots.
3. Real Steel (2011)
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 60%
Real Steel is a sci-fi sports drama set in a near future where human boxers have been replaced by fighting robots. Hugh Jackman stars as Charlie Kenton, a former boxer turned small-time robot fight promoter who unexpectedly bonds with his estranged son Max over training a unique robot named Atom. While it has less action than Transformers, Real Steel still features cool robot designs and fight scenes mixed with feel-good family drama.
Why It’s Like Transformers: The fighting robot concept is similar to Transformers, though on a smaller scale. Real Steel focuses more on the human story and father-son relationship amid the robot boxing spectacle.
4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 35%
The third film in the live-action Transformers series, Dark of the Moon raises the stakes as the Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon and race to reach it before the Decepticons. With an all-star cast including Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, and Frances McDormand, plus bigger and better special effects, this is Transformers turned up to 11.
Why It’s Like Transformers: It’s a direct sequel continuing the story and featuring many of the same human and robot characters. Dark of the Moon amps up the action and spectacle even further.
5. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 18%
Age of Extinction acts as a soft reboot for the Transformers film series, introducing new human characters led by Mark Wahlberg and a new cast of robots including the Dinobots. Set a few years after the events of Dark of the Moon, the story sees the Autobots facing new threats from both human agencies and a resurrected Megatron. It’s a globe-trotting adventure packed with explosive action.
Why It’s Like Transformers: It continues the franchise under director Michael Bay with a new cast and characters but delivers the same mix of robot battles, chases, and military action. The Dinobots add a new twist.
6. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
The culmination of Legendary’s MonsterVerse, Godzilla vs. Kong finally brings together two of cinema’s most iconic giant monsters for a battle for the ages. When Godzilla starts attacking cities for unknown reasons, humanity turns to King Kong as its last hope to stop him. With nearly non-stop monster action, Godzilla vs. Kong is a fun and thrilling ride.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Giant CGI creatures battling it out and causing massive destruction – that’s the core appeal of both Transformers and Godzilla vs. Kong. Instead of robots it’s monsters, but the spectacle and adrenaline rush is very similar.
7. Power Rangers (2017)
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%
A modern update of the classic kids TV series, Power Rangers follows five misfit teenagers who discover ancient alien artifacts that give them superhuman abilities and access to giant robotic vehicles called Zords. Under the guidance of Zordon, they must train to become the Power Rangers and protect Earth from the evil Rita Repulsa. It’s a fun, colorful action flick that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Why It’s Like Transformers: The Power Rangers pilot giant combining robots called Zords to battle monsters attacking Earth. The robot vs monster action has a very Transformers-esque feel. It’s lighter and more kid-friendly overall though.
8. Battleship (2012)
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 34%
Loosely based on the classic board game, Battleship is a sci-fi action movie about an international naval fleet that encounters an armada of alien ships crash-landed in the ocean. Taylor Kitsch stars as a brash young officer who must step up and lead the human resistance against the extraterrestrial invaders and their advanced weapons. It’s a big, loud, patriotic blockbuster very much in the vein of Transformers.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Battleship features a heavy military focus with the navy battling alien robots, similar to how human soldiers fight alongside the Autobots. It has the same type of explosive action and epic set pieces director Michael Bay is known for.
9. Independence Day (1996)
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
An iconic 90s blockbuster, Independence Day sees Earth facing a devastating alien invasion as giant spaceships arrive and begin destroying major cities. It’s up to a ragtag group of survivors, including a cocky fighter pilot, a satellite technician, and the President himself to lead a desperate last stand to save humanity. With groundbreaking visual effects and a rousing finale, Independence Day is peak 90s action cinema.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Aliens invading Earth, humans fighting back with military might, epic destruction on a global scale – Independence Day set the template for this type of action blockbuster that the Transformers movies follow. The dogfighting between human and alien ships is especially reminiscent of some Transformers action scenes.
10. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
Edge of Tomorrow stars Tom Cruise as a military PR officer who gets caught up in an alien invasion of Europe. Killed in battle, he finds himself stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day and brutal fight over and over again. He must team up with a skilled warrior, played by Emily Blunt, to try to win the battle and break the loop. It’s a smart, exciting sci-fi action flick with a clever premise.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Edge of Tomorrow features futuristic battles between human soldiers in mech suits and alien creatures. The fast-paced, hard-hitting action feels very much like a Transformers movie at times. The time loop element also lets them keep upping the stakes and scale of the battles.
11. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
In this blockbuster sequel, a young John Connor is targeted for termination by a shape-shifting liquid metal robot sent from the future. His only hope is the reprogrammed T-800 Terminator sent back in time to protect him. Together they must evade the relentless T-1000 and try to prevent the rise of the machine intelligence Skynet. With groundbreaking CGI effects and thrilling action, T2 is a sci-fi action classic.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Killer robots, spectacular chases and shoot-outs, a time travel plot – Terminator 2 helped write the blueprint for movies like Transformers. The T-1000 is a chillingly formidable villain not unlike the Decepticons.
12. Avatar (2009)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
James Cameron’s sci-fi epic is set on the alien moon of Pandora, where human colonists are attempting to mine a valuable mineral. They use genetically engineered Na’vi-human hybrids called “avatars” to explore the moon’s surface. One avatar operator, Jake Sully, finds himself torn between the human military and the native Na’vi as conflict erupts. With stunning visuals and 3D effects, Avatar is a technical marvel.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Avatar features futuristic military hardware, intense battle scenes between humans and aliens, and revolutionary CGI on a huge scale – all elements it shares with the Transformers films. The themes of a soldier divided between two sides also mirrors the Autobot/Decepticon dynamic.
13. Starship Troopers (1997)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 65%
Based on the classic sci-fi novel by Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico as he enlists in the military to battle against the “Bugs”, a hostile alien insectoid species. What follows is an action-packed interstellar war with huge set piece battles and gory creature effects. It’s a satirical take on fascism and the military industrial complex wrapped up in a blockbuster bug hunt.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Starship Troopers has a similar military sci-fi action vibe to Transformers, with soldiers in mech suits battling giant alien bugs. The over-the-top action and tongue-in-cheek humor also feel like a Transformers movie at times.
14. Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
The feature film conclusion to the hugely influential anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, The End of Evangelion picks up right where the show’s controversial final episodes left off. Teenage mech pilots Shinji, Asuka and Rei continue to battle the monstrous Angels in their giant Evangelion robots as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. It’s a mind-bending, action-packed finale that pushes the characters to their psychological and physical limits.
Why It’s Like Transformers: The Evangelion robots are very much like the Autobots in their design and human pilots. The Angel monsters also make great stand-ins for the Decepticons. The End of Evangelion delivers epic robot vs monster action on a huge scale.
15. Godzilla (2014)
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%
This American reboot of the Japanese monster movie icon sees the towering radioactive lizard Godzilla battling two giant insectoid creatures known as MUTOs that threaten to destroy San Francisco. With spectacular disaster movie visuals and creature effects, Godzilla delivers a satisfying monster mash. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Taylor-Johnson star as a father and son caught up in the mayhem.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Giant monsters stomping cities and causing massive destruction in fights with each other and the military – Godzilla scratches the same itch as Transformers for epic creature action. The human military’s efforts to stop the monsters also mirrors the soldiers vs Decepticons dynamic.
16. Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 61%
Based on the popular manga series, Alita: Battle Angel is set in a post-apocalyptic future where a cyborg girl named Alita is found in a scrapyard by a kindly doctor. As she learns about her past and incredible abilities, Alita becomes a fierce hunter-warrior determined to take down the corrupt forces controlling the city. With eye-popping visuals and slick cyborg action, Alita is a sci-fi spectacle.
Why It’s Like Transformers: Alita is essentially a cyborg Transformer, with a human mind in a powerful robotic body. The movie’s many cyborg battle scenes deliver the same kind of fast-paced mechanical action Transformers is known for. The post-apocalyptic setting also feels similar to Cybertron.
17. Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016-2018)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
A reboot of the classic 80s animated series, Voltron: Legendary Defender follows five space pilots who discover they have been chosen to command five robotic lions. When combined, the lions form the mighty robot warrior Voltron, the only thing that can stop the evil Galra Empire from conquering the universe. With exciting mech action, fun characters, and an engaging serialized story, Voltron is a great animated series for Transformers fans.
Why It’s Like Transformers: The robot lions of Voltron are very similar to the Autobots, with their animal-inspired designs and ability to combine into a humanoid robot. The series has the same mix of sci-fi world-building, character-driven stories, and epic robot battles as Transformers.
18. Gundam Wing (1995-1996)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
One of the most popular entries in the long-running Gundam anime franchise, Gundam Wing is set in a future where Earth has colonized space and the colonies are fighting for independence. Five young pilots are sent to Earth in powerful Gundam mobile suits to wage guerrilla war against the oppressive Earth government. With complex political intrigue, memorable characters, and spectacular mech battles, Gundam Wing is an anime classic.
Why It’s Like Transformers: The Gundams are very much like Transformers – giant robots piloted by humans in a war for the fate of Earth and space. Gundam Wing has the same mix of political allegory, character drama, and robot action that defines the Transformers series. The Gundams’ ability to transform into vehicles is also directly analogous to the Autobots and Decepticons.
So there you have it – 18 great movies and TV series to watch if you love Transformers. From alien invasions to giant monsters to anime robot action, there’s something for every flavor of sci-fi action fan. So grab some popcorn, strap in, and get ready for more robot mayhem!
