10 Movies That Saved Their Respective Franchises

10. Bumblebee

The Transformers movies were never critical darlings, but by 2017, Transformers: The Last Knight showed signs of franchise fatigue with many growing tired of the series. But just one year later, Bumblebee would be released and, like the famous tagline, was more than meets the eye.

Bumblebee's victory could be attributed to two things. The first is through its Transformers designs. Though previous entries sported well-done visual effects with intricate parts, Bumblebee streamlined the characters to something closer to the G1 look, which was well-received by the fanbase.

The second aspect is the film's focus on character development. Charlie and Bee develop a genuine relationship which allows the audience to connect with the two. By investing in these characters, the viewers care when they eventually part ways by the end of the picture. Director Travis Knight also trims down the cast and removes unnecessary additions that cluttered the previous films.

These two aspects would turn Bumblebee into the most well-received Transformers movie to date. Despite being marketed as a prequel to the Bayverse, it would be used as a stepping stone for a full reboot with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts coming soon.