Transformers: Crossroads in Time

Transformers: Crossroads in Time is an American science fiction action film based on the Transformers franchise notably the Beast Era. It's set in the late 90s and was a follow up to Rise of the Beasts as the second of a trilogy.. The film is directed by Steven Caple Jr. It stars Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback as well the voice talents of Peter Cullen and Ron Perlman, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was released theatrically in the United States on July 15th, 2026, by Paramount Pictures. It received positive reviews from critics calling it the best transformers movie ever made. It grossed $1.567 Billion against a $200 million dollar budget, making it the highest grossing film of 2026.

Plot
In 1999, the Autobots are searching for a way back to Cybertron. The Autobots are being hunted down by Shockwave who leads the Decepticon council following the disappearance of Megatron. Soundwave and Starscream search the Earth for Autobot survivors that took refuge on Earth. With the destruction of the Transwarp Key and the looming threat of Unicron, Optimus is worried that Unicron will destroy the galaxy and believes the Autobots have to foil Unicron's return at all costs.

Meanwhile, Unicron emerges from transwarp space, he is wounded and alone having lost his Terrorcon legion. A team of time-traveling space pirates known as the Predacons find Unicron. One honorable member named Dinobot encourages them to destroy the wounded being so he can't devour the universe. The leader Megatron refuses and communicates with Unicron. Unicron reveals that his heralds were defeated by the Autobots and Maximals on Earth. Megatron decides to cooperate with Unicron and attack Earth out of spite against the Maximals. The Predacons reveal that the Maximals are a race of peaceful Cybertronains that fled the galaxy. Megatron claims that Predacons and Maximals have been enemies for thousands of years and are both from the future. The Maximals are a peaceful race that dedicated their existence to advancing technology and exploring the universe. However, the Predacons are a warlike successor race of the Decepticons and Megatron's crew are a team of pirates that raid ships throughout space and time.

Unicron gets closer to the Earth's system and the Predacons team up with Soundwave and Shockwave manipulating them to find the Maximals. He claims to be helping them find his ancestor, the original Megatron, who disappeared after crash landing into planet Earth. The Predacons and Decepticons find the Maximals living in Peru. The Predacons capture Cheetor although Optimus Primal escapes and warns the Autobots about the return of the Predacons. The Autobots team up with their liaison Noah Diaz who works for G.I. Joe. G.I. Joe reveals that the Decepticons are searching for their leader Megatron who is currently frozen in Sector 7. The Autobots decide to prevent the escape of Megatron at all costs.

The Predacons and Decepticons torture Cheetor and Shockwave begins to experiment on him and assimilate Maximal technology. Using the advancements, Shockwave conceives the idea of an Geo-Energon Planetary Utilizer to control planet Earth. The device would control all geological functions of the planet by inserting a device into the planet's core. Megatron realizes that he can use this to take control over the body of Unicron. He manipulates Shockwave to continue his plan and design various other technologies. The Decepticons and Predacons continue their plan and Megatron discovers the location of his ancestor but hides it from Shockwave to manipulate him into finishing the planetary device. He manipulates Wheeljack to have sector 7 hide the frozen body of Megatron revealing that the Decepticons are looking where it is hidden in Hoover Dam. Rhinox discovers that Unicron is near the Earth and finds the Geo-Energon Planetary Utilizer. The Maximals realize they can use the device to destroy Unicron once and for all.

The Autobots are suspicious of the Decepticon's behavior and track them down to an outpost in the pacific ocean. The Autobots battle against the Decepticon hordes and are attacked by Predacons. They discover the device and put their effort into destroying it. However, Rhinox reveals what the device can do, but Optimus strives to destroy the device at all costs believing that no race has the right to control planet's for their own use and abuse lifeforms on it. The Autobots are driven away by a Predacon combiner named Tripredacus. Megatron manipulates his own team and the Decepticons to move the device into space to work on it away from the Maximals and Autobots. His true intentions are to use it on Unicron since it's already capable of controlling planets that are mostly metal.

While transferring the Decepticon device, Tigatron and Depth Charge break into the Decepticon base and steal a component of the Geo-Energon Planetary Utilizer. They escape to Hawaii  which is a place to recover where some Maximals were residing. Megatron has Unicron enter the solar system, intending to use the device on him. The Autobots travel to space to foil the attack outside of Earth's Atmosphere. He discovers the Predacon ship Darksyde and plans to search for a technology similar to the Transwarp Key. The Autobots attack Darksyde along with Noah Diaz and Elena Wallace. Wheeljack reveals that the Autobots can use the transwarp drive to send Unicron away. The Autobots try to take over the ship and battle the Predacons.

Meanwhile, On the Decepticon ship, Megatron puts his plan into action, however, he discovers the Maximals stole an important component. He sends several of his Predacons to Hawaii to steal the component. A battle between the Maximals, Decepticons along with Terrorsaur and Dinobot breaks out over the city of Honolulu. The Autobots work together to destroy Tripredacus and Optimus Prime battles Tarantulas. The Autobots hurry to weaponize the transwarp drive while Unicron arrives at Earth. On Earth, Dinobot betrays the Decepticons after realizing that Megatron's plan will lead to the destruction of Earth. He joins the Maximals and destroys the component of the Geo-Energon Planetary Utilizer. Unicron realizes that Megatron was using him for personal gain and transforms into his robot form to destroy the Decepticon ship. He finds Megatron in the wreckage and destroys him. Unicron releases reinforcements to capture the Maximals and interrogate them for more information on the transwarp drive. The Autobots successfully weaponize the transwarp drive and fire a blast of its power at Unicron. It sends Unicron through Space and Time. The Autobots rejoice after finding a way off of planet Earth and through the universe. The Decepticons continue their search for their missing leader and Dinobot is welcomed into the Maximals.

In a mid-credit scene, Dinobot and Depth Charge explore the Decepticon base and save Cheetor.

Humans

 * Anthony Ramos as Noah Diaz, a G.I. Joe electronics expert.
 * Dominique Fishback as Elena Wallace, an explorer.
 * Michael Kelly as Agent Burke, an agent of G.I. Joe.

Autobots

 * Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobot resistance who transforms into a 1987 Freightliner FLA semi truck.
 * Pete Davidson as Mirage, an Autobot spy who can project holograms and transforms into a silver-blue Porsche 964.
 * Liza Koshy as Arcee, a Female Autobot commando who transforms into a red-white Ducati 916motorcycle.
 * Cristo Fernández as Wheeljack, an Autobot scientist and mechanic who transforms into a brown and white 1970s Volkswagen Type 2 panel bus.
 * John DiMaggio as Brawn
 * Reno Wilson as Prowl
 * Abby Trott as Windblade
 * Bumblebee, a voiceless Autobot scout who transforms into a modified yellow and black second-generation 1970s Classic Chevrolet Camaro with all-terrain extensions.

Decepticons

 * Jon Bailey as Soundwave, A Decepticon who transforms into an assault vehicle.
 * David Sobolov as Shockwave, A Decepticon who transforms into a cybertronian artillery cannon.
 * Charlie Adler as Starscream, A Decepticon who transforms into a McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
 * Megatron, A former Decepticon leader, he appears in the film but doesn't talk.

Maximals

 * Ron Perlman as Optimus Primal, the leader of the Maximals who transforms into a gorilla.
 * Tongayi Chirisa as Cheetor, a Maximal who transforms into a cheetah.
 * David Sobolov as, Rhinox, a Maximal who transforms into a rhinoceros.
 * Matthew Lillard as, Rattrap, a Maximal who transforms into a rat.
 * Taika Waititi as Tigatron, a Maximal who transforms into a white tiger.
 * Dennis Quaid as Depth Charge, A Maximal who transforms into a manta ray.

Predacons

 * James Earl Jones as Megatron, The leader of the Predacons who transforms into a T-Rex.
 * John Mulaney as Terrorsaur, a Predacon who transforms into a Pterodactyl.
 * Mahershala Ali as Tarantulas, A Predacon who transforms into a Spider.
 * Kit Harington as Dinobot, A Predacon who transforms into a Velociraptor.
 * Will Arnett as Ram Horn, A Predacon who transforms into a Rhinoceros Beetle.
 * Alan Tudyk as Sea Clamp, A Predacon who transforms into a Lobster.
 * Steve Buscemi as Cicadacon, A Predacon who transforms into a Cicada.
 * Scorponok, various Predacon drones sent to Earth by Unicron.
 * Will Arnett as Tripredacus, The combined form of Sea Clamp, Cicadacon and Ram Horn.

Reception
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has an approval rating of 95%, based on 250 reviews, with an average rating of 9.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Dark, Well Written and beyond the norm, Transformers: Crossroads in Time is an instant classic " On Metacritic, the film has an average score of 85 out of 100, based on reviews from 70 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale.

Future
In February 2022, Rise of the Beasts was announced to be the first entry of three new installments in the Transformers series. Following the mediocre performance of the film and the success of Crossroads in Time a sequel was announced for 2028.