By Eddie Possehl
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While most notorious for his work creating the first five Transformers live-action films, director Michael Bay has 10 other films outside that franchise that range from mediocre to actually pretty great. Since his first theatrical release in 1995 after a long career of directing music videos, Bay has made headlines for reasons both good and bad. Known for his grand, bombastic and sometimes shallow directing style, Bay has had a continuous impact on the film industry, challenging the extent and boundaries of the modern action movie.
Often imitated and sometimes duplicated, Bay is far more versatile a director than many give him credit for; he can go from directing a street-level buddy cop film to depicting humongous transforming robots duking it out in the city in just a few years while still maintaining a consistent style and vibe — if you're watching a Michael Bay movie, you can tell it from a mile away. From the disappointing to the impressive, Bay's movies are all over the place, but at least no one can say he isn't himself 100% of the time.
15 'Transformers: The Last Knight' (2017)
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, and Anthony Hopkins
Easily the worst Michael Bay film of all time and one of the worst blockbusters in the last decade, Transformers: The Last Knight is the absolute low point of the robotic franchise. The film sees the Autobots and Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) facing off against a brainwashed Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), now known as Nemesis Prime, thanks to the likes of Quintessa (Gemma Chan).
Panned by critics and audiences for pretty much every single reason imaginable, The Last Knight boasts the franchise's weakest writing, directing, and performances, tied in a hideous bow of terrible humor and dodgy CGI. The Last Knight was the straw that broke the camel's back and forced Paramount Pictures to reconsider its direction with the once mighty franchise. For the next entry, Bumblebee, they went to the past and hired a new director, ending a decade of Bay-dominated robotic action.
Transformers: The Last Knight
PG-13
Sci-Fi
Action
Adventure
Thriller
Superhero
- Release Date
- June 16, 2017
- Cast
- Mark Wahlberg , Anthony Hopkins , Josh Duhamel , Laura Haddock , Santiago Cabrera , Isabela Merced
- Runtime
- 149
- Writers
- Art Marcum , Matt Holloway , Ken Nolan , Akiva Goldsman
14 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' (2009)
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel
After a not-so-bad first film entry in the live-action Transformers franchise, there were high hopes that the franchise would only go up from there. That hope led to one of the biggest let-downs in cinematic history after the misguided, over-the-top, and obnoxious Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen dropped into theaters on June 24th, 2009.
There is so much wrong with this film that it's impossible to describe it all. It's widely regarded among some of the worst action films of all time. The story is overblown to the point of absurdity, the characters are beyond annoying, and even the action feels stale. The negative press surrounding Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has spread across the world and stood the test of time, even getting referenced in a recent episode of Amazon Prime's The Boys as "the one with the racist robots." Not a great look, Bay.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
13 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' (2014)
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, and Jack Reynor
After the first controversial Transformers trilogy, the franchise needed a severe reworking if it was going to continue. Unfortunately for the Autobots, the way it was reworked in Transformers: Age of Extinction resulted in the beginning of a dark two-film era for Transformers.
Whether it's the addition of Cade Yeager and his supporting cast or the new, odd-looking designs for the robots, Age of Extinction was another step into the grave that Bay had already begun digging for the Transformers franchise. How the film got a follow-up in the first place is surprising to many. Age of Extinction did introduce the villain Lockdown, a pretty interesting antagonist who put up an incredible fight against the Autobots. However, his presence isn't enough to fix the mountain of things that are wrong with this inept sequel.
Transformers: Age of Extinction
PG-13
Science Fiction
Action
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- Release Date
- June 27, 2014
- Cast
- Mark Wahlberg , Kelsey Grammer , Nicola Peltz , Jack Reynor , Stanley Tucci
- Runtime
- 165 minutes
- Writers
- Ehren Kruger
12 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' (2011)
Starring Shiah LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, and John Turturro
The final film in the first Transformers trilogy brought an incredible scale that had yet to be seen in the franchise and still reigns as one of the bigger films in the franchise. It also was the first Transformers live-action film to not feature Megan Fox after her rough departure due to tensions that have gone down in Hollywood infamy.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon suffers from a lot of the same issues its predecessor did. The problems are a bit muffled here, thanks to the action setpieces and the scale that makes them even more impressive. The impressive action doesn't fix the film's problems in any way, but at least it makes them easier to digest, and the addition of wonderful actors like Frances McDormand and John Malkovich brings some much-needed dignity to the whole thing. The third act of the film is a movie in and of itself — an exceptionally thrilling one, too.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
11 'Pearl Harbor' (2001)
Starring Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, and Josh Hartnett
By most sources, Pearl Harbor is classified as a romantic war drama, which is quite a different genre from Michael Bay than most are used to. One could definitely consider this an experimental time for Bay, as Pearl Harbor was only his fourth film and marked a decidedly daring step in the opposite direction from his usual fare. The film follows a love triangle of sorts as one childhood best friend goes to war, and the other finds himself comforting his friend's girlfriend.
When it comes to going through the reviews for Pearl Harbor, they're quite black and white. People either love or hate the soap opera filter that Bay puts over the historical events of the real world's Pearl Harbor. Some find his act of depicting the events in such a flashy Hollywood fashion a bastardization of the truth behind the tragedy, while others simply take issue with his inability to craft a genuinely compelling love story. At the end of the day, everyone can agree Michael Bay was the worst possible choice to direct a war romance. However, credit where credit is due: the attack sequence remains quite good, even under a modern lens.
Pearl Harbor
10 'Pain & Gain' (2013)
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, and Anthony Mackie
Set in Maimi in the 1990s, follows a three-musketeers-like crew of bodybuilders who get stuck inside an extortion venture and kidnapping plot, which spells bad news for them. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, and Anthony Mackie, with the three delivering some of their most impressive on-screen work.
Pain & Gain feels like a film that was always meant to be helmed by a smaller director with a different style and priorities. Instead, it went to a bigger name that just wasn't the right fit for it. While it may be tough to call any of the characters fully fleshed, Johnson's character here may be one of the most interesting he's played. Pain & Gain is unlike Bay's usual action film extravaganzas, instead focusing on a small-time con story and the bond between three men looking out for themselves. In the hands of a more grounded director, it could've been much better, but Bay tries his best and succeeds, albeit only on certain parts.
9 'Bad Boys II' (2003)
Starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, and Gabrielle Union
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back in the action-packed sequel to Michael Bay's iconic film, Bad Boys. With the drug game growing bigger than ever in Miami, the buddy-cop duo of detectives Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey jump back onto center stage, ready to take on a new and dangerous job.
Bad Boys II's biggest issues come from its almost 2 1/2 hour runtime, especially because it lags along and feels tedious as it reaches its end credits. Like other Bay films with similarly extended run times, there is only so much wild action that one can take in one sitting before it begins to feel repetitive at best and obnoxious at worst. While hardcore Bad Boys fans seem to really like this film, general audiences struggle to find traction in this safe yet overblown sequel.
Bad Boys II
R
Action
Comedy
Crime
- Release Date
- July 18, 2003
- Cast
- Will Smith , Martin Lawrence , Gabrielle Union , Jordi Molla , Peter Stormare , Theresa Randle , Joe Pantoliano , Michael Shannon
- Runtime
- 147 Minutes
- Writers
- George Gallo , Marianne Wibberley , Cormac Wibberley , Ron Shelton , Jerry Stahl
8 '6 Underground' (2019)
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Mélanie Laurent, and Manuel García-Rulfo
For some odd reason, when one thinks about a Michael Bay film, Ryan Reynolds is most likely one of the last people to be expected to star in it. But in 6 Underground, he stars alongside the likes of Adria Arjona and Dave Franco as he joins a team of 6 from around the world who are each the best at what they do.
When it comes to the more "mid-tier" Bay films, the enjoyment factor for the audience really comes down to whether one has an appreciation for Bay's, well, "Bay-isms." Indeed, 6 Underground's reviews are all across the board. Panned by critics but surprisingly well enjoyed by audiences, 6 Underground is a really fun movie that doesn't attempt to get too deep and is, at the end of the day, just a fun watch. Reynolds is reliably entertaining, and the supporting cast is there for those who don't enjoy the actor's brand of cocky humor.
6 Underground
7 'The Island' (2005)
Starring Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, and Djimon Hounsou
Another film that was trashed by critics but generally enjoyed by audiences is The Island. Starring acting powerhouses Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor, the film follows the two clones trying to escape a deadly mercenary (Djimon Hounsou) after they flee from a top secret and deceivingly dangerous facility.
If there's a film outside of the Transformers franchise that proves to be the epitome of what makes a Michael Bay film, it would be The Island, for better and worse. A thrilling and fun ride, The Island doesn't know when to stop to take a breath; the action moves at a breakneck pace, a detriment to the slower moments that don't receive enough time to settle in. Alas, like most Bay adventures, The Island is serviceable, and the action is reason enough to give it at least one watch.
The Island (2005)
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi
Thriller
- Release Date
- July 21, 2005
- Cast
- Ewan McGregor , Scarlett Johansson , Djimon Hounsou , Sean Bean , Steve Buscemi , Michael Clarke Duncan
- Runtime
- 127
- Writers
- Caspian Tredwell-Owen , Alex Kurtzman , Roberto Orci
6 'Armageddon' (1998)
Starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler
While some may believe that the Transformers franchise is Michael Bay's most iconic work, some would argue it's Armageddon. Indeed, the 1998 disaster film might just be his most iconic work and the birthplace of the style he would come to be known all around the world for. The plot is utterly nonsensical, depicting a mission to drill an asteroid coming to Earth.
With giant explosions, breakneck pace and non-stop action, Armageddon is the definition of a certified summer blockbuster. One could even say that Armageddon defined a lot of the typical tropes that make up the genre today. It's an absolute classic, but it's also spectacularly flawed. Like any Bay film, it suffers from all the typical Bay-isms that hold his films back from their true potential: it's dumb, puzzlingly sentimental without committing to genuine emotion, loud, and overlong. However, Bruce Willis is at the top of his game, the visual effects are quite good, and who doesn't love that Aerosmith song?
Armageddon
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi
Thriller
- Release Date
- July 1, 1998
- Cast
- Bruce Willis , Billy Bob Thornton , Ben Affleck , Liv Tyler , Will Patton , Steve Buscemi
- Runtime
- 151
- Writers
- Jonathan Hensleigh , J.J. Abrams , Tony Gilroy , Shane Salerno , Robert Roy Pool
5 'Transformers' (2007)
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel
As Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) and the Autobots arrive on Earth, Sam Witwicky (Shia Labeouf) and Mikaela Barnes' (Megan Fox) lives take a turn that will change their futures forever. When Megatron (Hugo Weaving) awakens, the race for the Allspark begins, and the Transformers make themselves known on Earth.
While it's a commonly known fact that the Transformers films have a less-than-ideal batting average, the film that started it all isn't too bad. A lot of the franchise's future issues are a lot less pronounced in the debut film, and the simple story allows for an easy and breezy ride that happens to be a lot of fun and quite lovable. It has badass Transformers fighting each other, just enough juvenile humor to entertain, and a pair of leading performances that are quite engaging. While it's certainly not perfect, it was a great start to what could have been a great run for Bay's Transformers films.
Transformers (2007)
PG-13
Adventure
Science Fiction
Action
- Release Date
- June 3, 2007
- Cast
- Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Mark Ryan , Peter Cullen , Hugo Weaving
- Runtime
- 144 Minutes
- Writers
- Roberto Orci , Alex Kurtzman , John Rogers
4 'Bad Boys' (1995)
Starring Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, and Téa Leoni
The film that started it all and made it possible to get to this year's Bad Boys: Ride or Die can only be considered iconic. Bad Boys brought the iconic duo of Martin Lawrence and Will Smith together and made headlines almost instantly upon its release on April 7th, 1995.
The biggest highlight of the classic buddy-cop story is Martin Lawrence and Will Smith's electrifying dynamic. Their chemistry on screen is one of the film's greatest upsides and had viewers clamoring for more content with them together. Their consistent bickering with each other brought a ton of comedy to theaters and had audiences instantly falling in love with them. It's no question why Bad Boys spawned three more sequels that are still thriving, even in 2024.
Bad Boys
3 'Ambulance' (2022)
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza González
Everybody loves a good heist film. But what happens when you take the typical, overdone premise of a heist film and flip it on its head to create a thriller where the life of a wounded police officer (Jackson White) depends on the heist team's fate? You get a film that subverts expectations in a spectacular and unexpected way while keeping the stakes high and the narrative entertaining.
Ambulance is a great example of how Michael Bay's non-stop action and speed can be used to make an entertaining film. The way Bay takes what audiences believe is going to be another stereotypical and trope-y heist flick and flips the screen on it is nothing short of brilliant. Ambulance brings in stakes that keep tension tighter than a tightrope, bringing out great performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and the underrated Eiza González. Exhilarating yet emotionally grounded, Ambulance is an electric ride that keeps the audience's eyes glued to the screen for its entire runtime.
Ambulance
R
Action
Thriller
- Release Date
- February 17, 2022
- Cast
- Jake Gyllenhaal , Eiza González , Devan Chandler Long
- Runtime
- 136
- Writers
- Chris Fedak , Laurits Munch-Petersen , Lars Andreas Pedersen
2 '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' (2016)
Starring John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, and Pablo Schrebiber
There's more to the story of September 11th, 2001, than many know of; on the same day, 11 years later, a U.S. compound in Libya was attacked. The film follows six men, members of the Annex Security Team, who have to fight back against the attackers to stay alive and save the lives of the other Americans stationed there.
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is, by far, Michael Bay's most well-received film. With an impressive audience score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi was a success with audiences. Everybody loves a good biopic, and Bay brings such a thrilling, tense touch to an unknown story that he makes it even more engaging and compelling. Krasinski proves himself a worthy leading man, and the supporting cast contributes to making 13 Hours not only entertaining but also surprisingly poignant.
13 Hours
1 'The Rock' (1996)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, and Ed Harris
When General Francis Hummel (Ed Harris) plans to launch chemical weapons from the fortress of Alcatraz Island, John Patrick Mason (Sean Connery) and Stanley Godspeed (Nicolas Cage) must come together to put a stop to his potentially worldly destructive plans. However, when their SEAL time is taken down completely, the two men must face the threat totally alone.
With a cast of three titans of the silver screen helming the three main roles, The Rock is a riveting and action-packed tale. The brilliant performances shine thanks to a story that stays simple and undemanding, making it easy for audiences to follow and allowing them to focus on the stunning setpieces and surprisingly witty dialogue. The Rock is an instant classic that still holds up to this day and is worth revisiting for anyone who appreciates the '90s brand of campy, overblown action movies.
Rent on Amazon
NEXT: 10 Movies To Watch if You Like Transformers
- Michael Bay
- Bad Boys
- Ambulance
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