The Transformers Movies Totally Ruined Optimus Prime

While they are far from the worst films in the world, the Transformers movies did ruin Optimus Prime as a character, turning him into a ruthless warrior, and even Peter Cullen disliked his portrayal. There are a total of seven live-action Transformers movies, including five Michael Bay films and two sequel prequels, which span from 2007 to 2023. While the science fiction action films have generated an impressive $5.29 income at the worldwide box office over the years, being the 14th-highest-grossing film series of all time, there have been negative to mixed reviews by critics regarding the Transformers movies.

Following the lengthy conflict between the Autobots and Decepticons surrounding Earth, the Transformers movies have always been blockbusters, notable for their action sequences. However, that is not exactly what the franchise is about. Peter Cullen, who voices Optimus Prime in the Transformers movies, has expressed a dislike for the film series’ treatment of his character, due to it being far from the source material. In fact, many fans of the franchise share the same opinion. Regardless, the critical reception has not been enough to sway the sci-fi franchise’s success, as there are many upcoming Transformers movies planned for the future.

Optimus Prime Was Turned Into A Ruthless Warrior By The Transformers Movies

The Movies Changed Optimus Prime’s Morals And Idealistic Views

Optimus Prime Standing With Weapons Drawn In Transformers Dark of the Moon

Optimus Prime was turned into a ruthless warrior in the Transformer movies, and this contrasts with his typical character. While different writers have different takes on the source material, many felt that the Optimus Prime in the movies was too drastically changed. Since the beginning, Optimus Prime has been known for his nobility and warmth, having a good sense of morality that made him a bit of an idealist. To strip that away would be like changing Batman’s “no killing” rule or disregarding Spider-Man’s duty in being responsible with his powers, and that is what happened in the Transformers films.

In the movies, Optimus was portrayed as a much more ruthless personality that was willing to hurt humans and launch into rage-filled attacks. While Optimus Prime is very much a warrior, completely capable of killing, the movies seemed to take this one step further. In fact, the way that Optimus is portrayed goes against his usually gentle personality that always gives the enemy a second chance, and makes him out to be a much more emotionally-charged character. Changing a character’s moral stance can be impactful when done correctly, and this Optimus had obviously been through a lot to change him.

Admittedly, without prior context, the movie version of Optimus is a cool character. However, many felt that it simply wasn’t what Optimus Prime is supposed to be about.

However, the Transformers movies’ version of Optimus Prime felt like it was mostly done to appease Hollywood’s need for a sci-fi franchise full of action sequences. Instead of fleshing out a complex character arc which delved into how and why Optimus changed, the Transformers films focused on an action-packed story that would be more likely to sell tickets to a wider audience. Admittedly, without prior context, the movie version of Optimus is a cool character, full of wisdom as well as badᴀss and brutal attacks. However, many felt that it simply wasn’t what Optimus Prime is supposed to be about.

Even Peter Cullen Wasn’t Happy With Optimus Prime’s Portrayal

The Optimus Prime Voice Actor Had Some Concerns

Peter Cullen has voiced Optimus Prime in every Transformers movie except for Transformers One – a prequel animated film in which Chris Hemsworth took over the role – so it is safe to say that his voice is probably the most recognizable as the character. Furthermore, Peter Cullen’s 37 years of experience playing the famous character pretty much makes him a special kind of expert on the subject of Optimus Prime. As a result, it means a lot when Peter Cullen says that he wasn’t always happy with the way that Optimus Prime was portrayed in the Transformers films at times.

“I really don’t want to read that line. I don’t think he’d say that.”

In a Transformers Q&A at TFcon Chicago in 2022, Peter Cullen admitted that he didn’t feel “comfortable” reading some of his lines as “It’s just not Optimus.” Cullen said that, “I believed in [the character] and if I was asked to say a line that was just not Optimus Prime, I would say “I really don’t want to read that line. I don’t think he’d say that.”” He adds that there was only one (unnamed) director who dismissed his concerns, showcasing his influence. You can check out the full TFcon panel below – the question starts at 31:00:

Cullen doesn’t name the director who dismissed his concerns about Optimus Prime’s character portrayal, but he does quote, “I’ll kill them all,” in his Optimus voice at the panel. This is obviously referring to the Michael Bay movies, as Optimus Prime does state “We will kill them all!” in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and “I’ll kill you!” in Transformers: Age of Extinction. Peter Cullen’s portrayal in the Transformers movies will forever remain iconic, however, it’s a shame that they changed Optimus Prime so much from the usual “tough enough to be gentle” personality the Transformers character is known for.

Source: TFcon Chicago