Bumblebee
A grieving California teenager discovers that her battered yellow Volkswagen Beetle is a stranded alien scout caught between rival robot armies.
Overview
A young Autobot's journey on Earth leads to unexpected friendships and epic battles against evil forces.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- warm
- nostalgic
- witty
- family movie night
- nostalgic weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a refreshing, more character-driven and visually coherent return to fun within the Transformers franchise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
B-127 loses his voice and memories, then develops a close bond with Charlie while recovering his identity.
The film is set in 1987 and uses the period's California setting and pop-culture details as a defining backdrop.
Autobot and Decepticon fights emphasize visible mechanical movement and coherent geography rather than chaotic cutting.
Charlie navigates grief, isolation, and tension at home while helping Bumblebee recover from trauma.
Films like Bumblebee, and why
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Accessible science fiction action, youthful coming-of-age perspective, and a sympathetic nonhuman companion
The Iron Giant
1980s nostalgia, teen self-discovery, family-friendly adventure, and a charismatic mechanical companion
Super 8
Teen protagonist, secret extraterrestrial activity, government pursuit, and brisk blockbuster adventure
Pacific Rim
Playful giant-robot spectacle, human-machine friendship, and accessible franchise action
Movie Details
- Director
- Travis Knight
- Release Date
- 2018-11-22
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (6857)
Cast
- Dylan O'Brien
- Hailee Steinfeld
- John Cena
- Jorge Lendeborg Jr.
- John Ortiz
- Stephen Schneider
- Jason Ian Drucker
- Pamela Adlon
- Len Cariou
- Glynn Turman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bumblebee about?
- A grieving California teenager discovers that her battered yellow Volkswagen Beetle is a stranded alien scout caught between rival robot armies.
- What is Bumblebee like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bumblebee as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Bumblebee violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Bumblebee as moderate.
- What did critics think of Bumblebee?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a refreshing, more character-driven and visually coherent return to fun within the Transformers franchise.
- Which films are like Bumblebee?
- Films with a similar feel include E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Iron Giant, Super 8, and Pacific Rim.
- How long is Bumblebee?
- Bumblebee runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bumblebee?
- In United States, Bumblebee streams on Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
