Bumblebee (2018)
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A teenage girl and a damaged robot find solace in each other's company in the 1980s.
The story
Set in 1987, the film follows Bumblebee, an Autobot scout who is sent to Earth for refuge. After crash-landing in California, he is pursued by the Decepticons and a secret government agency, Sector 7. Amidst the chaos, he is discovered by Charlie Watson, a teenager struggling with the loss of her father. The two form an unlikely bond as they navigate the dangers of the Decepticons' pursuit and the government's attempts to contain the extraterrestrial threat. As Bumblebee struggles to regain his memories and identity, Charlie finds a sense of purpose in protecting him, leading to a journey of mutual healing and survival in a world that views them as anomalies.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
On the planet Cybertron, the Autobots are fleeing a losing war against the Decepticons. Scout B-127 is sent to Earth in an escape pod, where he crash-lands in 1987 California. After being attacked by the Decepticon Blitzwing and losing his voice box, he takes the form of a Volkswagen Beetle. Nearby, Charlie Watson, a girl mourning her father, finds the car in a junkyard and befriends the robot, naming him Bumblebee. Their bond is threatened by Sector 7, a government agency, and the Decepticons Shatter and Dropkick, who track Bumblebee's signal. After a series of skirmishes and a moment where Bumblebee is captured and nearly destroyed by the Decepticons, Charlie and her friend Memo help him escape. The pair eventually faces off against the Decepticons at a harbor. Bumblebee defeats the villains and, after a final farewell to Charlie, takes on a new form as a 1977 Chevrolet Camaro to join the other Autobots. The film ends with Bumblebee reuniting with Optimus Prime on Earth while Charlie finds peace with her family.
- First release year
- 2018
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- China; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Travis Knight
- Writers
- Christina Hodson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Hailee Steinfeld · Charlie Watson; John Cena · Jack Burns; Jorge Lendeborg Jr. · Guillermo "Memo" Gutierrez; John Ortiz · Dr. Powell; Jason Drucker · Otis Watson; Pamela Adlon · Sally Watson; Dylan O'Brien · Bumblebee; Peter Cullen · Optimus Prime
- Genres
- science fiction; action
- Tone and mood
- nostalgic; action-packed
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; sci-fi; action
- Source material / true-story basis
- Transformers toy line
- Franchise connections
- Transformers
- Reception
- Generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its action sequences, Steinfeld's performance, Knight's direction, visuals, and the 1980s setting.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 91% · scale: percentage · review count: 251; Metacritic · score: 66 · scale: 100 · review count: 39; PostTrak · score: 85% · scale: percentage
- Awards and nominations
- Razzie Redeemer Award · Biggest Surprise of the Year · 2019 · nomination; Golden Schmoes Awards · Best Song/Score - Trailer · 2019 · nomination; Teen Choice Awards · Choice Action Movie · 2019 · nomination; Teen Choice Awards · Choice Action Movie Actor - John Cena · 2019 · nomination; Teen Choice Awards · Choice Action Movie Actress - Hailee Steinfeld · 2019 · nomination; Saturn Awards · Best Science Fiction Film · 2019 · nomination; Saturn Awards · Best Supporting Actress · 2019 · nomination
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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