While modern cinema has seen its fair share of Transformers movies since Michael Bay adapted the franchise in 2007, those films have yet to live up to a special moment from the animated 1986 installment. Acting as a follow-up to the hit sci-fi TV show from the ’80s, Transformers: The Movie is set 20 years after that series’ second season and though some aspects of all Transformers movies haven’t aged too well, this one remains a popular rewatch for longtime fans of the franchise.

This animated Transformers movie did something completely unexpected, killing off the show’s main character in heroic fashion and changing the course of any future films or episodes. This happens early on in the script too, meaning that the kids who watched it were left shocked. However, before the stunning death occurs, Optimus Prime gets to be part of an awesome moment that no future film, whether animated or live-action, has matched.

“One Shall Stand, One Shall Fall” Is Transformers At Its Best

The Line Is Iconic

Transformers: The Movie begins like most other stories from the TV show of the ’80s. The Decepticons are up to no good and the Autobots set out to stop them. A fun fight ensues before Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, says, “Megatron must be stopped. No matter the cost.” He then transforms as Stan Bush’s epic “The Touch” plays and Optimus runs through several Decepticons before coming face to face with his rival.

That’s when Optimus utters “One shall stand, one shall fall,” setting the tone for a fight that feels bigger than any they previously had. The combination of the music, the quotes, and the action make it something that’s perfect for the franchise. Optimus stands as the ultimate hero, risking everything to overcome evil. It’s simple, yet effective storytelling and remains a cool scene to watch over and over all these years later.

This Was Optimus Prime At His Best Just Before A Shocking Death

It’s A Perfect Showcase Of Who Optimus Is

As noted, Transformers: The Movie features a shocking death and it is Optimus Prime who tragically dies. The moment was especially surprising because in this franchise aimed at kids, characters like Optimus were never killed off. The action was often low stakes and fun, with pretty much everyone always kept alive to return for more adventures in the future. That made Optimus’ death all the more memorable.

The fact that Optimus dies after standing up to Megatron and besting him in a fight adds to the incredible moment that is the “one shall stand, one shall fall” scene. Optimus was always a hero and there was no more heroic way to go than this. On top of that, he also pᴀsses on the Matrix of Leadership, understanding that someone new would have to lead the Autobots. Optimus is a selfless hero and this moment was further proof of that.

The Live-Action Transformers Could Never Quite Match This Moment

The Michael Bay Movies Often Misunderstood Optimus Prime

If there’s one thing that the modern live-action Transformers movies have had, it’s action. Michael Bay is known for that, so he brought the explosions, big fight scenes, and more to his films. That included some memorable ones involving Optimus Prime, including in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, where he bested the Decepticons in a huge sequence and lost his life, similar to the 1986 film.

However, the moment was never able to match what came before it. Part of it is because these films often handled Optimus incorrectly, with many fans citing that Optimus shouldn’t be the bloodthirsty fighter that he is in these movies. While the live-action movies haven’t quite lived up to the 1986 moment, Transformers One came the closest in the scene where Orion Pax officially becomes Optimus Prime, giving hope to the future of the franchise.