Transformers One

What’s it about?

Transformers One follows the transformation of two low-class miners from brothers-in-arms to sworn enemies, the heroic Optimus Prime and the evil Megatron. Set entirely on the planet Cybertron, the film centres on the history of the Transformers and origins of the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons.

The facts

• Directed by Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4)
• Stars Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, and Keegan-Michael Key.
• English language
• Runtime: 104 minutes
• The first theatrical animated Transformers film in 38 years since The Transformers: The Movie (1986).

Why did it get this rating?

This film was rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

As the first film intended for children in a long-running franchise based on toys, we understand parents and caregivers wanting to know if it is age-appropriate for tamariki. We hope this guide will help you decide whether Transformers One is appropriate viewing for your whānau.

Violence

Most of the fight scenes happen in the second half of the film. These are grand in scale and feature many dozens of robots and vehicles engaged in combat. Characters wield guns and cannons that shoot lasers instead of real bullets. These action sequences are brightly coloured exchanges of lasers and explosions.

The most impactful violence occurs in the film’s climax where one character is torn in half, and another has their arm blown off. The scenes are brief, and as the characters are robots there is no blood or graphic wound detail is shown. Injuries are shown with sparks and leaking liquid.

A character is shown choked by another. The character’s voice is shown to be permanently impacted by the choking, sounding higher in pitch afterwards.

Scary scenes

Some of the film’s villains may be scary for young children. One is particularly  frightening as she transforms into a spider-like robot with a head that opens to reveal dozens of eyes that she uses to spy on the main characters. A huge menacing alien lifeform is introduced as the threatening character taking Cyberton’s power: it is an organic squid-like creature

In one intense scene, the main characters need to hide from laser sensors produced by the giant space craft that is hunting them.

The story deals with one character’s falling to the ‘dark side’. As the film progresses, the other characters are shown to fear changes in his behaviour and his willingness to use violence to solve problems. Younger children might be scared seeing an initially heroic character turning into a tyrant.

Coarse language

One character refers to themselves as “Badassatron” repeatedly throughout the film.

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?