Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts Shocks Everyone At The Box Office
Despite disappointing previous films in the franchise, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts celebrates a promising box office debut with $8.8 million.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is shaping up to be a surprise hit with an $8.8 million haul in previews, exceeding some expectations for what had seemed a dwindling franchise. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the number reflects select Wednesday screenings for fans and the regular Thursday screenings, showing promise for the Hasbro-linked series. Though it has been five years since the previous offering following the adventures of the Autobots, this film looks like it could revive interest in the Transformers films.
Rise of the Beasts is considered both a sequel and a prequel, taking place after the events of 2018’s Bumblebee and before the original film in the series, Transformers, which was released in 2007. After five films under the direction of Michael Bay that became increasingly criticized for being big, dumb, and loud, the series was looking to be breathing its last breath. But Bumblebee, from director Travis Knight, managed to inject some humanity back into the world of the Transformers, leaving fans hopeful for a sequel.
When it was announced that Bumblebee 2 would instead become Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, there was some concern that the series was once again going off track, but these early numbers suggest that audiences are responding well to the new offering. Since it is still a direct sequel to Bumblebee, there was surely momentum from that film’s broadly positive reception helping to fuel interest in the new movie. And it’s also possible that the five-year gap between the films has helped stave off fatigue for the 16-year-old series.
It is hoped by execs at Paramount Pictures that Rise of the Beasts will revive interest in the Transformers films, leading to more movies in the future. This entry sees the Autobots facing a potentially planet-destroying threat and teaming up with the Maximals, Transformers that turn into animals who were first introduced in the animated series Beast Wars, which ran from 1996 to 1999. Of course, the Transformers always need human counterparts, here played by franchise newcomers Dominique Fishback and Anthony Ramos.
The pair were in attendance this week as Rise of the Beast had its premiere in New York City along with other cast members, including voice actors Liza Koshy, who plays the femme Autobot Arcee, and Cristo Fernández, who portrays Wheeljack. That character is making history as the first Latin Autobot. The film also introduces a new Transformer named Mirage, voiced by Pete Davidson, and sees the return of Peter Cullen, who has lent his voice to Optimus Prime since 1984.
On the conservative side, it’s estimated that Rise of the Beasts will see a $55 million to $60 million opening, but hopes are that it will be able to beat out Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which earned more than $120 million in its opening week. Producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Tom DeSanto have been with this series since the beginning and are surely hoping the film meets or exceeds expectations. With Transformers One already in production under director Josh Cooley and set to premiere in September of 2024, they and Paramount are hoping the Transformers prequel films will continue to be beasts at the box office.
