Transformers: 10 Strongest Characters in the Live-Action Movies, Ranked
It's no secret the live-action Transformers movie franchise is very divisive. Fans ended up feeling bitter over the Michael Bay movies, feeling they became more style than substance. On top of that, Paramount Pictures couldn't nail down the franchise's continuity.
Across all the movies, there were glaring plot holes and questionable creative decisions, like why Bumblebee felt disconnected. One thing that's certain, however, is that the property did have engaging characters. Despite many being under-utilized, here is a ranking of the strongest seen on the big screen and how epic they were in battle.
10 The Fallen Was a Ruthless Genocide Lover
The Fallen Wanted to Harvest Earth's Sun
In 2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, fans learned the Fallen (aka Megatronus Prime) was the first Decepticon. He betrayed the Primes and tried to use a sun harvester to destroy Earth. He was defeated and remained dormant until Megatron revived him.
The Fallen tried to resume his mission in Egypt. He had telekinesis and could manipulate matter, throwing pieces of pyramids at the Autobots and jet fighters in the sky. He was swift as well. He used his spear to wound Optimus Prime to the point where the latter had to use Jetpack's parts to upgrade and defeat this Cybertronian god. It was a close fight. There's also the fact Megatron was so intimidated by the Fallen, he never tried to backstab him said it all.
9 Scourge Was a Brutal Combatant
Scourge Served a Higher Power in Unicron
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As the leader of the Terrorcons and Predacons, Scourge was a herald of Unicron in 2023's Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. He arrived on Earth to get a unique key to open a portal to bring the devourer of planets over. He lost his planet to Unicron, but had no problem using his arsenal as a trophy hunter for the boss.
Scourge used ion cannons, electric claws and a double-sided blade. He even deployed a virus to mind-control the likes of Airazor. Scourge battered and sliced up Optimus in battle. Not even Optimus with an ax could stop him. Bumblebee tried, but Scourge was too quick and tactical. He stabbed Bumblebee to death. Optimus needed help from the Maximals and Noah (in a war suit) to stop him.
8 Optimus Primal Was a Scary Brawler
The Maximal Leader Was Devastating In the Field
Optimus Primal (voiced by Ron Perlman) was Optimus Prime's descendant in Rise of the Beasts. He led the Maximals through a portal to escape Unicron. They hid out in Peru, only to have to join the Autbots to fight Scourge's army.
Primal went toe-to-toe with Optimus before joining forces. Optimus adored his strength, efficiency, speed and power. In his ape form, he was even more lethal. Primal showed his ferocity, fighting and smashing Battletrap with his own wrecking ball. He later used his blades to mow down many of Scourge's minions. Primal eventually rescued Optimus from dying in the Scourge fight, making it clear he was as strong as Optimus.
7 Shockwave Was a Devouring Monster
Shockwave Ate Metal and Earth at Will
In 2011's Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Shockwave was one of Megatron's most trusted soldiers and scientists. He had a stealthy pet worm, the robotic Driller, that ate anything in sight after traveling through the Earth. They wreaked havoc in Chicago, eating buildings among other things, as Megatron tried to open up a wormhole to bring Cybertron over.
Shockwave had a powerful arm cannon and blasted many Autobots away when in tank form, too. Optimus was worried about his speed and might. He had more trouble killing Shockwave than he did Megatron. The Bumblebee prequel in 2018 did retcon Shockwave into his G1 form in a cameo on Cybertron, but this paled in comparison to the weapon of mass destruction on Earth.
6 Lockdown Was a Terrifying Hunter
Lockdown Slayed With Consummate Ease
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Lockdown was sent by the Creators to apprehend Optimus Prime in 2014's Transformers: Age of Extinction. He had an arm cannon, shoulder missiles, a face cannon, hooks and grenades. What made him even more dangerous as a bounty hunter was his spark extractor. He'd kill Ratchet, slicing him up, torturing him and sucking his spark out.
Lockdown also had a few battles with Optimus where he stabbed and maimed the Autobot leader after maxing out on his Lamborghini form. Lockdown used his teleporting warship as well to cause havoc. It had a giant magnet that could disrupt the environment or pull up metal targets. Optimus rallied and killed him, but he needed help from the others like Bumblebee to do so.
5 Bumblebee Was An Agile, Ruthless Warrior
Bumblebee Had a Fierce Heart of Gold
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Bumblebee was a small shell in the Transformers movies, but not someone to underestimate. He used his car form (whether in sports or the buggy mode) throughout this franchise to accentuate his attacks. He transformed and leaped around like a robot ninja.
The underdog mostly used his arm cannon to blast enemies. His most impressive showing came in Rise of the Beasts, where Energon revived him, powered him up, and led him to cut down a ton of Scourge's soldiers. Bumblebee killed a slew of Decepticons in the past, but he labored for them. This upgrade has fans eager to see him evolve in the next Transformers sequel or with the G.I. Joe crossover.
4 Unicron Was a Hungry Beast
Unicron Fed on World and Machines Alike
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Unicron made a cameo in The Last Knight. Earth was built on his shell, which allowed villains to try to revive him. He traveled across space and time to eat planets. Rise of the Beasts showed this in its full glory, coming off as a true threat of extinction to humanity and everyone else in the cosmos.
Like Galactus from the Marvel Universe, he appeared near the Maximals' world and sucked it up. It was a galactic genocide that killed many. The finale had Unicron using a vortex to suck up parts of Peru as well. Luckily, he was stopped and left stranded in his cosmic dimension. But almost killing Optimus left all the heroes worried over a possible return and feeding session. Unicron's size alone would make this evil planet tough to beat.
3 Megatron Was a Malicious Killer
Megatron Always Had Lethal Tactics Up His Sleeve
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Megatron killed Optimus occasionally after debuting in 2007's Transformers. He used his blasters, blades, tank and jet forms to also slay many other Autobots. This carried on when humans turned him into Galvatron and tried to control him. No matter what, he'd break free of his control and use his arm cannon to cause mass collateral damage.
Thankfully, Optimus was resurrected time and time again, with elements like the AllSpark and Matrix of Leadership coming in handy. In the end, he respected and knew Megatron could murder him again. Megatron had a cutthroat mentality, and whether it was working alone or for a higher power, he used military strategy to leave a trail of casualties in his wake. His speed, might and determination always made him a versatile, lethal threat in the air or on the ground.
2 Optimus Prime Was Ruthless in His Own Way
Optimus Prime Remains Unbeatable to This Day
Despite dying a few times, it's hard to keep a good Autobot down. Optimus was the perfect warrior, using his truck mode, blasters, sword and jetpack to defeat many villains. He tamed the Dinobots, killed Megatron, Lockdown, Scourge, the Fallen and many more.
Optimus Prime Voice Actor Details
Actor Name
Peter Cullen
Date of Birth
Jul. 28, 1941
Place of Birth
Quebec, Canada
Notable Movies
G.I. Joe: The Movie, The Tigger Movie
Notable TV Shows
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Invincible
His kills were akin to Mortal Kombat Fatalities, which did alienate some fans as they thought it was too dark. Nonetheless, this wasn't the quippy Optimus from the 1980s and 1990s cartoons. This was a war general who, despite his size, moved like a ninja, too. The indefatigable Optimus was great even when the numbers were against him, leaving viewers curious if the G.I. Joe crossover or future villains like Unicron would be able to best him.
1 Quintessa Was a Vengeful Goddess
Quintessa Wanted to Punish Earth
Quintessa was revealed as the creator of all Cybertronians in The Last Knight. She considered them children, which is why she tried to ravage Earth and raise Cybertron using Earth's core, as it housed Unicron. Quintessa mixed science and magic, using her staff and unique energy beams to restrain, defeat and turn Optimus Prime into Nemesis Prime. She used telekinesis and even reshaped metal (turning Galvatron back into Megatron) to cause chaos.
Quintessa could fly and use holograms to disguise herself, too. To top it off, she wielded the brainwashed Knights of Iacon as her pawns. After Bumblebee shot her, she remained hidden on Earth, cloaked and ready to activate Unicron. That got scrapped for the Rise of the Beasts soft reboot, but it still stands: Quintessa was a harrowing, pseudo-immortal enemy with a lot of untapped potential and a variety of mental and physical weapons.
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Transformers
Transformers is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals.
First Film Transformers
Latest Film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
First TV Show The Transformers
Latest TV Show Transformers: EarthSpark
Cast Peter Cullen , Wil Wheaton , Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Luna Lauren Velez , Dominique Fishback