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One of the Most Expensive Franchise Killers in Sci-Fi History Is Streaming for Free
"Transformers: Rise of the Beasts", the seventh instalment in the long-running sci-fi franchise that began in 2007, has topped Pluto TV's free domestic streaming chart despite being widely regarded as one of the most expensive misfires in the series. Its resurgence in popularity highlights how unpredictable box-office and streaming performance has become for major franchises, with some heavily marketed blockbusters underperforming while older titles find new audiences on free platforms.
The Transformers series was driven for nearly a decade by director Michael Bay, who later admitted he may have stayed with it too long. After the fifth film disappointed critically and commercially, Paramount rebooted the franchise in 2018 with "Bumblebee", directed by Travis Knight, which earned a "Certified Fresh" 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed over $480 million worldwide on roughly half the budget of Bay's films. However, rather than build on Bumblebee's leaner, more acclaimed approach, Paramount reverted to the costlier, Bay-style excess for subsequent instalments, a decision the article frames as contributing to the franchise's struggles.
In short
- "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" now streaming free on Pluto TV
- It tops Pluto TV's chart despite being a costly franchise misstep
- Paramount abandoned the cheaper, acclaimed "Bumblebee" approach afterwards
Explained simply
The Transformers franchise has been a major film series since 2007, based on a toy line and featuring giant robots that transform between vehicle and robot forms. For nearly a decade, director Michael Bay shaped the films' distinctive style, known for expansive action sequences and significant production budgets, though he later acknowledged that he may have remained with the series too long.
The franchise experienced declining critical and commercial performance in recent years. After its fifth instalment disappointed audiences and critics, Paramount attempted to reset the series in 2018 with "Bumblebee", directed by Travis Knight, which adopted a leaner, more character-focused approach. That film proved successful both critically and commercially, earning over $480 million worldwide on a substantially smaller budget than Bay's previous films.
Following Bumblebee's success, Paramount chose to revert to the costlier, Bay-influenced formula for subsequent instalments rather than build on the newer film's approach. This decision illustrates a broader ongoing debate within the film industry about whether to pursue costly spectacle or invest in more restrained storytelling when attempting to revitalise struggling franchises.