The Transformers: The Movie

The Transformers: The Movie
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nelson Shin
Screenplay by	Ron Friedman
Based on	The Transformers by Hasbro and Takara
Produced by	Joe Bacal[1] Tom Griffin[1]
Starring	Eric Idle Judd Nelson Leonard Nimoy Robert Stack Lionel Stander Orson Welles
Cinematography	Masatoshi Fukui
Edited by	David Hankins
Music by	Vince DiCola
Production companies	Sunbow Productions[1] Marvel Productions[2] Toei Animation
Distributed by	De Laurentiis Entertainment Group[1]
Release date	August 8, 1986 (1986-08-08) (United States)
Running time	85 minutes[3]
Countries	United States[4] Japan[4]
Language	English
Budget	$5–6 million[5][6]
Box office	$2.6–5.8 million (North America)[6][7]

The Transformers: The Movie is a 1986 animated science fiction action film based on the Transformers television series. It was released in North America on August 8, 1986, and in the United Kingdom on December 12, 1986.^[8] It was co-produced and directed by Nelson Shin, who also produced the television series. The screenplay was written by Ron Friedman, who created Bionic Six a year later.

The film features the voices of Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem, Robert Stack, Lionel Stander, John Moschitta Jr., Scatman Crothers, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, and Orson Welles, who died 10 months before the film's release, in his final film role.^[9] The soundtrack comprises electronic music composed by Vince DiCola and songs from rock and heavy metal acts including Stan Bush and "Weird Al" Yankovic.

The story is set in 2005, 20 years after the TV series' second season.^[10] After a Decepticon assault devastates Autobot City, Optimus Prime wins a deadly one-on-one duel with Megatron, but ultimately sustains fatal injuries in the encounter. With Megatron gravely injured, the Decepticons are forced to retreat, saving the Autobots. The Autobots are hunted across the galaxy by Unicron, a planet-sized Transformer intending to consume Cybertron and who transfigures Megatron to become the enslaved Galvatron.

Hasbro's exclusively toy-focused agenda demanded a product refresh, to be contrived by the on-screen death of many prominent starring characters, at the protest of some creators of the film and TV series. The deaths of many established characters, especially Optimus Prime, inadvertently upset the young audience, prompting a letter-writing campaign from upset viewers of the film.

At the time of its release, the film underperformed at the box-office and received generally negative reviews for its plot and violent deaths, while praising the animation, voice acting and score. However, critical reception has improved over the years and the film has gained a cult following.