This movie had an underrated soundtrack, in my opinion it is a classic.

Transformers the Movie is a paradox, because it is simultaneously one of the most cynical and shameless advertisements ever- the entire movie literally exists for no other reason than to kill off all the 'old toys' and shill the 'new toys'- but it is also a staple of many people's childhoods and extremely fondly remembered due to its music, animation, voice acting, and for being the basis of decades' worth of Transformers lore. I can't for the life of me think of any other movie like it.

That scene where Optimus mows down Decepticons and then transforms while leaping into the air is still one of the most awesome things I've ever seen. And I'm still waiting for anybody else to do a better version of Unicron. It wasn't until years later that I was watching Rocky IV, noticed the music sounded familiar, and suddenly realized the same guy did the score for both films

2:41 LOL I teared up when Prowl died. They way his eyes went from Blue to orange and them faded out as the smoke came out of his mouth. I hadn't realized as a kid that Brawn was dead since he just fell on the ground. But when Prowl died. I knew that was it. And then Ratchet and Ironhide had their chest blown open. Probably the most impactful scene of the movie for me at the time. Even more so than Prime's death. I still remember that today. What 35 or so years later?

“Nobody summons Megatron.” “Then it pleases me to be the first.”

Failed?? Regardless of Hasbro's motives, this is still the greatest piece of media that franchise has ever produced. I live for this movie (and that frickin soundtrack)!!!

The opening was fantastic. Seeing Unicron devour a planet with such detail really set the stakes for the movie.

I actually saw the movie in the theater upon initial release. I remember being extremely traumatized by seeing characters I loved get killed. While I ended up liking some of the new characters eventually, I hated the movie itself for a very, very long time. The way that most of the characters died I think was what bothered me the most. Other than Optimus Prime their deaths were treated as if they were nothing, as if they were disposable. Which to the executives they were. I think the best thing to come out of the movie was it made Hasbro (and other toy companies) realize that they could not build a story-based universe and treat their characters as if they didn't matter.

I remember my mom paying my teenage uncle at the time to take my brother and I to see this. As sad as the movie was, my favorite memory of seeing this movie is my uncle screaming WTF in the middle of a theater with a bunch of kids when Prime died. I still mess with him about it to this day.

"We didn't realise he was an icon" These people are entrusted with millions, nae billions, of dollars from the companies that employ them. Mindblowing stupidity.

I guess I missed something when I was a kid till now because to me this was one of the greatest animated movies of all time. and I own the soundtrack.

pre pandemic me and my dorm friends would watch Transformers the Movie on repeat in the basement lounge, any time we where together it was playing. As a group of young adults who could appreciate its strange mystique and odd decisions, its fascinating universe and alien concepts. It was the best 5 dollars I ever spent.

I still remember watching the interviews on the special features of the DVD in a room with some college classmates and when they heard the quote “we had no idea he was an icon” everyone else in the room stopped what they were doing and said “wait what? How? No, seriously how? How stupid are these guys?”

This is such a criminally underrated channel

Aw man, imagine if they went with the original story and cybertron transforms into primus to have a final desperate showdown with unicron, damn that would've been a real story worth watching.

My mom took me to see this when I was a kid. To her credit, with the violence, death, profanity and my crying about Optimus, she let me sit through it. This movie taught me the concept of death, the most impact a movie has had on my entire life.

it was completely heart breaking seeing optimus die on the big screen, but i still love that movie to this day. so much that i just got the bluray steelbook

Up until I got the internet, I had *no idea* people took Optimus Prime's death that badly or blamed Hot Rod for anything. I guess the movie just hits differently for us 90s kids who could just pop The Return of Optimus Prime into the VCR immediately afterward.

"we didn't know we killed an icon" Yeah, I was so shaken I couldn't talk. I didn't notice It wasn't just me. Even when they brought him back it was too late. Next to matrix revolutions it was the great mistake in cinema history

I'm 40 and I still remember seeing this in the Canon Cinema, London Road, Croydon. UK. November 1986. I have pretty much bought every release since 2001/2 when it was released on DVD. Animation was awesome and the soundtrack 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I still love that transformation scene when Megatron transforms to Galvatron.

The 86 movie is not a failure. Its the best transformers movie ever made. I still watch it once a year.

Yes Optimus was an icon, but at 7 years old when I watched it on the big screen, I was old enough to understand that in wars soldiers die, even generals sometimes. Which was why I enjoyed the story's message; even if you lose the leader, the values and the fight continue, hence the Matrix being passed on.

I always tell people that this film had the single larges impact on me as a child, and they look at me as if I'm mad. It's hard to appreciate what it was like as a six year old watching your favorite characters die, not just get injured then get better, have actual holes blown in them and die. Also all this was wrapped in an aesthetic designed to greatly appeal to children. This film was the greatest Trojan horse for lessons in bereavement and loss I have ever encountered.

The odd thing is despite the disaster of the decision, I think the Death of Optimus might have actually turned out to be one of the most important decisions in Childrens TV you can still see the effects today.

Not a failure at all and still the best Transformers movie ever made

This was one of the first movies I ever saw at the cinema when I was a youngling and it was frikkin awesome!! So originally The Matrix (of Leadership) was meant to awaken Cybertron to fight against Unicron, yeah that makes better sense than giving Unicron heartburn.

I was DEFINITELY one of those kids that cried when Optimus died, but I didn't remember Spike's cursing until I bought the movie on DVD years later. This is a classic example of what happens when you make decisions about a product without knowing anything but the dollars and cents. I do remember giving Transformers a chance in Season 2, and being hyped for Optimus's return in Season 3, but it just wasn't the same. I was a teenager then, and the love for toys was fading.

This movie had such a major impact in my life as a young child. It’s still one of my favorite animated films till this day.

The Cybertronic Spree are awesome, I'm glad that they got a shout out!

Hot Rod/Rodimus is one of my favourite characters. However, now Hasbro have a fear of a backlash from using him prominently (after the lessons learnt of Transformers the movie) and I feel that he suffers from that, allowing Bumblebee to become something that he never was…

Ironically, the voice actor for Starscream also voiced Cobra Commander, both characters were written off in the animated movies.

Still one of the favorite movies of all time, I can almost quote it line for line.

Finally! Someone giving Kick Axe the credit they deserve.

My mother held my hand in the movie theater when Optimus Prime died and I cried. RIP mom.

That list of the movies from 1986 really shows how far the industry has declined in the last 35 years. How can one year have so many classics!? I'll always be thankful that I got to grow up in the greatest decade!

This is one of the best Transformers: The Movie documentaries ever. Kudos to Toy Galaxy for doing a better job than many of the professional versions. Wonderfully written. Great editing. I couldn't recommend this more. Great job!!!

"Ba weep granna weep ninny bong" I saw this movie in the theaters when I was 5yrs old and balled my eyes out within like 5min into it starting. But I do remember enjoying the movie overall. Also I remember having the bedroom sheet set of the Transformers back then too.

Saw this in theaters when I was a lil kid. Very, very traumatizing to say the least to see all the characters get killed or straight up executed in this movie.

its a tale as old as time. Corporate suits thinking kids are stupid. They wont mind that a beloved animated character is brutally murdered on screen, kids are dumb, they just come to drool and stare at the pretty light show. Then beg their parents to buy the new shiny toys on sale. This wont backfire in the slightest.

I remember seeing the movie and telling all my friends about the "Oh shit" moment. When it came out on VHS my friends called me a liar.

The moment when Megatron said, "Its over, Prime". yeah, that gave me chills. I knew some serious shit was about to go down.

I saw this twice in the theater in 1986. The first time I saw it we arrived late and the first thing I saw was Prowl getting shot and smoke pouring out of his mouth. Heck of a time to arrive! Spike and his swear word, Unicron, Prime’s death , etc. Mind blown. Incredible!!

I was almost 11 when I went to see Transformers in theaters. Yes, I cried when Optimus died. It is still one of the best death scenes in film history! But, I wasn't mad about it. His fight with Megatron was epic, and it wasn't Hot Rod's fault. I loved that a new Prime came to be. I thought Dark Awakening in season 3 was awesome! Rodimus Prime was a good leader. I loved his character arc throughout season 3. True he was no Optimus, but I did like him!

“You got the touch… You got the power”!!!!

This is literally how one of my best friends from childhood introduced himself to me outside of school. I had moved to a new town, and in 3rd grade he just walked up to me on the first day of school and introduced himself with a handshake. A short time later I went to his house for an afternoon of hanging out and the first thing he did was break out Transformers: The Movie. He didn’t ask if I wanted to watch it. He just popped in the VHS and told me it was what we were doing. We’re still good friends so I guess his bold move paid off.

I'm a G1 girl through and through. I wrote all their names in my notebook, drewmade-up gadgets for the human friends to use, even tried drawing Optimus Prime. Heck, when I finally could earn money for myself, I bought a third-hard diecast model of Prime. That's how much I adored him and the show. So imagine my shock when the Decepticons massacred the Autobots in the ship and Optimus died. Me and my siblings were crying. I really need to revisit this movie again.I didn't give Hotrod much credit then.

This is the only movie I ever cried at as a kid. Interestingly, I love the movie now. Those Studio Series figures are among my favorites.

It should be called Transformers: The Red Wedding.

One thing I've noticed is that the transformers are depicted as people in a way. For example, they are easily killed by one or a couple gun shots. Usually being aimed at the chest or face area. Some died whilst smoke comes out of their mouths, symbolising blood. The reason why I make this comparison is because in the tv shows, they get shot and blown up dozens of times and yet their's always someone of their team to repair them or they repair themselves.

I always assumed Hasbro at the time was really out of touch, I’m not saying they couldn’t add more characters for the newest toys but it’s just baffling that they thought killing off most of the established and popular characters like Prime and think the fans wouldn’t care and just be ok with that.

Saw it once, Optimus died, never saw it again.

If Unicron's backstory had existed when the film was made, Orson Welles might have taken his role more seriously if he was voicing Satan seducing the villain into helping him kill God.

I remember the day I watched it still, rented it. Ran outside as soon as the end credits scrawled wanting to jump and turn into a car so bad. :( then I grew up, realized that was stupid, and wanted to jump and turn into a jet instead. then I grew up even more and realized that I really wanted to be a helicopter.

I was one of those kids that absolutely HATED Hotrod/Rodimus because he "got Optimus killed" lol. Hell I'm a grown man and still have a mild dislike for Hotrod. ....I mean damn dude, he never asked for your help.

I STILL can't watch Optimus Prime's death without tearing up. That's some heavy-duty mental anguish Hasbro inflicted on a generation of children.

I remember that contest! The grand prize was the ENTIRE Transformers collection. It happened during the USA Network's Kids Club segment on Cartoon Express.

The insertion of the Boogie Nights scene featuring "The Touch" is just special. 😆

Excellent segment, right on. 20 years ago, in college, I had to hunt down the Canadian VHS release to re-watch the film, & next week, I'm going to see it again in theaters for the third time - 1986, 2018, 2021.

Hardly a failure, it's an 80's classic!

"The Great Toy Massacre of 1986" - an Article on the movie's effects.

I still have the soundtrack on my phone. Classic songs that still hold up to this day.

This movie is a certified CLASSIC! Amazing music as well!

This movie rocked!! Even though Optimus died I still loved and love it to this day

The scene where Star Scream meets Galvatron is one of my favorites.

I had rented the VHS tape. Went to return it and the store had closed. So I watched it religiously as a kid. "You belong to me now." "I belong to nobody!" Still a killer line.

"Open! Dammit, open!" "Magnus! I want the Matrix!" "Never!" "SWEEPS! Terminate Him!" I need this scene with the planned Draw & Quartering of Ultra Magnus on a4K DVD.

I've said this before over the years (and thank you for making this) -- the writers of the show worked hard to write TV episodes every week. The writers of this movie worked hard to create A SHAKESPEAREAN SCI-FI WAR MOVIE. Replacing stock characters has been done a hundred times with a wave of the hand, the filmmakers decided to give this as much emotional weight as was possible with giant animated robots that turned into vehicles. This movie wanted to be American anime before any American knew what anime was. It remains the best Transformers movie of all time. Guilty or Innocent? INNOCENT.

The Transformers: The Movie is still the best Transformers movie to date. Yes even better than Bay-formers in every way.

As strong 8 year old that absolutely lived and breathed Transformers, I convinced my dad to take me to see it. And I cried when Prime died. I felt so crushed. And while they brought him back, it was a striking blow to young me. While I didn't love Rodimus Prime, I did get on with Hot Rod eventually.

There is a cohort of people between the ages of, say, 35-45 for whom this is a goddamn childhood touchstone. I remember where I was when Optimus Prime died. How can something so important, memorable, and relevant to so many be a failure?

Great job guys - brought back so many memories!

Saw it in theatres, scarred me for life

"Coronation, Starscream? This is bad comedy." "Dan, is that you?" "Here's a hint!" *wields Producer Greg in BattleDirector™ mode and proceeds to beat Screamer to dust*

I still remember seeing the film. I was eight-ish, and mom picked me up from school early for a dentist appointment. Afterwards she surprised me with ‘Transformers: The Movie’. She took me to see it in the theater in the Campus Hill Shopping Center here in Harford County, Maryland. There wasn’t many people in there, but there were four or five other kids around my age. I was a HUGE fan of Transformers, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, G.I.Joe, Robotech, and Thundercats - all of the best cartoons with the best toys! I loved the film. Looking back now I can recall the boredom on my mom’s face, God bless that sweet woman. But even though I was a big fan of Optimus and I had not only his but every Autobot who died in the film in my bedroom back home his death didn’t bother me at all, and it didn’t bother any of the other children there either as I recall. Even at eight I knew that 1.) it was a cartoon, and 2.) he was a robot and you could always rebuild a robot. Imagine my surprise so many years later when I discovered via the interwebz that there were children who were absolutely devastated by Prime’s demise. I had no idea! My parents have been married for over 50 years now and my father, an imperfect but great dad, has always been in my life, so perhaps that’s why I wasn’t bothered by Prime’s demise - he was never a ‘Daddy’ in my mind because I had a daddy. I can imagine that there were little boys who had only their mothers and that Optimus probably did become a father-figure to them and that’s why they were so hurt by it all. I still enjoy the movie and I have it on my phone along with the original soundtrack. I do kinda regret watching this video though - I thought that Stan Bush was a talented vocalist, but hearing him kinda-sorta sing in the clip you put in your video has made me realize that he was another mediocre singer who was autotuned. Appropriate perhaps, since he was singing about Autobots.

LOL "Trauma on top of trauma" absolutely nails it. I was 10 when I saw this in theaters with my dad. I couldn't believe all the death that was happening and that they actually said "shit" twice. Still the best Transformers movie by a country mile! I still listen to the soundtrack today.

I remember the movie "Flight of Dragons" was being aired on ABC the week before Transformers released in the theater, which I video taped to watch later. They happened to run a commercial for Transformers The Movie during the boradcast, and I watched that commercial so many times, I left a mark on the tape from rewinding it so often.

I had the UK VHS release as a Christmas present that year, absolutely loved it. But for some reason the tape was ever so slightly too large for VHS players, so I'd need to pull it out the machine with a table knife each time I wanted to watch it.

One ages failure can equal one ages colt classic, this movie is a 9.9/10 for me

Great video - very spot on! I was one of those kids that cried in the theater when Optimus Prime died, and held a level of animosity towards Hot Rod for the longest time growing up. Now as an adult I think this, to me, is the best Transformers movie I've ever watched.

I watched it in the theatre in Orlando, FL at 9 years old in '86... I remember all the kids were shocked when Jazz (I think) said "Oh shit!!" in the movie... Its still a classic in my eyes.

I remember watching this movie in the theaters and being do damn excited... Memories man, memories

I was a kid in that theatre and I was blown away at the changing of the guard. It meant something because it happened BEFORE we wanted a "reboot", and that was what made it brilliant. Ca you imagine if they did a time-jump reboot well after the point we didn't care about anymore? This is why it worked - it forced the audience to accept change. I was all on board.

I got Galvatron for my birthday in 1986 and still felt like I had missed out on the glory that was Megatron. Sure, this toy could make sounds and light up, etc etc but it didn't capture my attention like the first wave of Transformers did years earlier.

I still have PTSD from watching this movie in theater as a kid. That said, this remains the BEST Transformers movie to date! 💯

Holy CRAP, I never noticed how stacked 1986 was, film-wise.

I remember seeing the omicron figure a while back , and thought it was awesome. Now I'm honked to hear that a company hasbros size actually crowdfunded that. That's some serious stones. "Here, pay for us to develop a toy we'll eventually charge you 4 figures to own"

Optimus Prime - "I must die so other toys can be sold"

I watch this movie at least once a year. The soundtrack has always been a banger.

I was pumped to go see that movie and in the first 5 minutes, my three favorite characters died like chumps, then Optimus goes out like a champ. I sold my toys in a yard sale a few weeks later and used the money to by many lego sets and a few high end water guns. I was done, as where all my friends. I was 8 or 9 at the time.

This movie is my absolute favorite movie of all time. At least three viewings a year. I have to stop myself sometimes from quoting the movie in normal conversation

Yes!! That ending was epic. Dare!!

The fact that we never got a joke or reference to "The Touch" during either of Mark Wahlberg's Transformers movies is a crime. I mean the fact that those movies were made is the bigger crime so maybe it's for the best.

I can honestly say this is my favorite movie of all time. Not because it's great, not because it's full of new ideas, not because an actor put on the best performance of their lifetime. But all parts of it, the animation, the music, the voice acting, the pacing, etc., make every moment interesting and enjoyable. The animation is incredible most of the time, far surpassing every episode except one (Call of the Primitives came close to matching it). It's the only movie that I can remember the entire soundtrack to from beginning to end. No other movie has had that effect on me, or even made me consider listening to their orchestrated parts more than a few times. The new characters are interesting, their voices fit perfectly, and they interact perfectly with the old characters. There's never a dull moment, and the plot slows down when it needs to, but never comes to a screeching halt with excessive babbling (not even from Blurr) or plot dumps. And the humans aren't annoying! O.o To this day, I can still watch from beginning to end and still be enthralled. Even some of my other favorite movies (Aliens, T2, BTTFs, Baby Driver) have moments that slow things down a bit too far. Everything just came together at the right time to create the perfect movie for me.

I probably saw Transformers: The Movie 10 times in the theatre and have owned it on 3+ digital formats since then. But then again, I was 6 in 1986. :)

It's an absolute masterpiece

Hahaha. Love how you quoted "Dare" at the end... pure gold Dan!

This has become my new favorite KZfaq channel. Thanks for the hard work.

I felt they should call it Transformers: "the musical".

So many memories. Saw this when I was 8 years old with my dad. Everyone cheered when Blaster said, "Sick em!" I was one of the few kids who was merely DISAPPOINTED when Optimus died, hating the fact that the writers chose to do that. But I loved the movie, loved the experience and was my favorite movie for over 20 years.