From its inception as a toy in the early 1980s, the Transformers series has become a worldwide media phenomenon, including toys, television series, comics, and feature films The original animated series, Marvel Comics, live-action films, and numerous animated shows that aired on both cable television and streaming have grown over generations with the adventures of the vehicle-transformable robots

Transformers first appeared on the big screen in an animated film in 1986, and was expanded into a live-action film by director Michael Bay in 2007 Live-action films have continued after Bay's involvement, and new ones are currently in development However, the Transformers films will return to animation first, with "Transformers One" slated for theatrical release in September

If you want to catch up on the Transformers movie action before then, here's how to stream the entire franchise

Following the huge success of the original "Transformers" animated series in the 1980s, the same production team created "Transformers: The Movie," an animated theatrical feature film that takes place between the second and third seasons of the TV series

Noted for its celebrity voice cast (including the final role of film legend Orson Welles) and the shocking death of a beloved character, "Transformers: The Movie" was a relative failure upon its release, but has since gained many fans

Multiple anniversary editions of Transformers: The Movie have been released on physical media, but current streaming distribution is limited to rent or purchase from Redbox

Animation

After decades of popularity in animation, Transformers was adapted into live action in a series of blockbuster films directed by Michael Bay The director of action spectacle films like "The Rock" and "Armageddon" introduced giant CGI robots alongside human characters played by stars like Shia LaBeouf, Mark Wahlberg, and Megan Fox, bringing his signature "Bayhem" style into the world of Transformers

Despite poor critical reception, Bay's "Transformers" films grossed huge numbers at the box office Bay's films set the tone for the franchise in subsequent films and TV series

All five of Bay's films were released by Paramount Pictures, so most were streamed on Paramount Plus and available in rotation on other services, including Peacock

Following Bay's departure, the Transformers live-action franchise began to focus on the prequels, beginning with the 1980s-set "Bumblebee" starring Hailee Steinfeld as his human companion and featuring the origin of one of the most popular Transformers The shift is being made: the 1990s-set "Transformers: Rise of the Beast" will feature live-action versions of fan-favorite characters from the "Beast Wars" toy line and the animated series

The future of the Transformers films continues with the development of more sequels and prequels, including the animated prequel "Transformers One" and a possible crossover with another Hasbro-owned toy-based franchise, GI Joe

Both prequels stream on Paramount Plus, along with the possibility of selection on other services, as the Transformers live-action films continue to be released by Paramount Pictures