Top 10 Epic Transformers Franchise Moments

Say what you will about the Michael Bay films, but when it comes to some good old rock ‘em sock ‘em robot action, they definitely do not disappoint. In a desperate attempt to protect Sam Witwicky from the Decepticons, Optimus Prime races off carrying Sam with him, but is soon ambushed by a very angry Megatron. Valiantly fighting off several Decepticons all on his own, Optimus Prime gets the scrap kicked out of him, but isn’t going down without a fight. In a ferocious display of courage and combat skill, Optimus Prime reminds us all why he is the brave, inspiring leader of the Autobots.

Speaking of great action sequences from the Bay films, how about this kickass display of stunning special effects and devastating carnage from the first live-action movie? With the ability to submerge and tunnel through the sandy terrain with incredible ease, Scorponok proved to have a big advantage on the group of military soldiers that he was pursuing. Catching them off guard, the tension in the scene hits a high note as the soldiers scramble to safety, running for their lives from the lethal hunk of metal following closely behind. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s over-the-top, and perfectly demonstrates just how unstoppable the Transformers, whether good or bad, can be.

When the odds seem stacked against the Autobots, Optimus Prime decides to seek out reinforcements to even things up. What better place to look for back up than in giant robot dinosaurs? Seeing the Dinobots in live-action was already enough fan service, but it was watching Optimus Prime stand up to a beastly Grimlock, as the titanic Tyrannosaurs-based Transformer charged towards him that really got us. After an intense confrontation, Optimus is able to rally his opponent, as well as the other Dinobots, onto his side - but the real money shot comes when Prime climbs on top of Grimlock’s back and rides him into battle. Now that’s epic!

In the epic series finale, a moment that surprised everyone was when Bumblebee (the Autobot typically seen as the weakest of the group) successfully killed Megatron in one fell swoop. Just when Megatron seems to have the Autobots beat, a familiar voice calls out from behind and an unseen adversary suddenly strikes the villain. The camera pulls back and reveals that Megatron has been vanquished by none other than Bumblebee, who, after a few heroic words, casts the Decepticon down to the planet below. How appropriately ironic that in the same instant Bumblebee regained his voice, we were all left speechless from what we just saw.

No matter which interpretation of “Transformers” we’re talking about, Optimus and Megatron serve as archenemies to one another, constantly butting heads in their pursuits of what they feel to be right. However, there have been exceptions of sorts to this. When Optimus seems to be defeated at the hands of the merciless Sentinel Prime, it looks like it could be the end for the leader of the Autobots. Suddenly, Megatron swoops in and savagely begins to tear Sentinel Prime apart, rescuing Optimus in the process. While it wasn’t Megatron’s intention to save Prime, as this act was more about his personal beef with Sentinel, it’s still an awesome moment to see the villain save the hero nonetheless.

Megatron has performed some dastardly schemes in his career of being a supervillain, such as the time that he simultaneously destroyed an alien threat and removed Optimus Prime from the equation. But how crazy was that time he actually rewrote history? To change a long series of events and the outcome of the Autobot/Decepticon war to better suit his interests, Megatron takes the ultimate gamble by tracking down the body of the original Optimus Prime, and wastes no time in shooting him right in the head. This of course drastically alters the fabric of time and space, as the Maximals begin to fade from existence, leaving Megatron laughing victoriously from what just happened.

In a franchise all about giant robots smashing each other to bits, a Transformer has to do something incredibly unique to stand out from the pack. That’s just what Unicron is able to do. Already hard to miss due to his intimidatingly gargantuan size, Unicron shocked viewers everywhere when he showed off his impressive power by consuming an entire planet. The citizens of Lithone can do nothing but panic and scramble to escape before their home world is completely annihilated. In a very short amount of time, Unicron successfully shows that he means business, as it’s not everyday that someone – or some thing - chows down on an entire world. Must’ve been a filling meal though: nom, nom, nom.

As previously stated, Optimus and Megatron have tangled many times over the years. One of their most spectacular showdowns comes in the form of the climax in the first live-action film. The two titans square off in the middle of a city, crashing up and down streets and flying through entire buildings. We’d hate to see the repair bill based on all the collateral damage caused by these two fearsome fighters. Thankfully, in one daring move, Sam Witwicky puts an end to the conflict by shoving the AllSpark into Megatron’s chest, effectively killing him. Now that’s going to leave a mark.

If actions speak louder than words, then the moment when Dinobot sacrificed himself in order to save a group of proto-humans is undoubtedly excellent proof of his heroic nature. When the Predacons decide to attack a group of humanity’s ancestors, Dinobot finds he’s the only thing standing between them. He’s very quickly outnumbered, but Dinobot fights on, trading every blow with one of his own and dishes back as much damage as he takes himself. Although he manages to subdue the other Predacons, Dinobot eventually proves to be no match for Megatron himself. In the end, his fellow Maximal comrades surrounded him, as they bid him farewell.


Before we roll into our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions…

Megatron Becomes Galvatron
“The Transformers: The Movie” (1986)


Ironhide Dodges Rockets
“Transformers” (2007)


Unicron Transforms
“The Transformers: The Movie” (1986)

Sure, the aforementioned live-action fight between Optimus and Megatron was cool, but nothing matches the sheer epicness of their standoff in the 1986 animated movie. In an absolutely ruthless encounter, both combatants charge at one another with a ferocity and precision previously unseen. As they slam into each other, there is a sense that this battle was a long time coming, with both packing years’ worth of tension into each blow. Only heightening the experience are the snappy and memorable one-liners, as well as the catchy inclusion of Stan Bush’s “The Touch.” Capping it all off is the death of Optimus Prime, which is an unforgettably emotional moment for the franchise as a whole.