Big-budget franchises are navigating a rocky box office landscape, where once-reliable blockbusters now stumble and unexpected hits emerge. Case in point: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the seventh installment in the long-running sci-fi action series, is currently streaming for free on Pluto TV—but not for long. The film will exit the platform in August 2026, giving fans a limited window to catch this costly chapter in the Autobot saga.
Released in 2023, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was meant to revive a franchise that had lost its luster. After Michael Bay's five-film tenure—which he later admitted may have overstayed its welcome—the series attempted a soft reboot with 2018's Bumblebee. That prequel, directed by Travis Knight, earned a Certified Fresh 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed over $480 million worldwide on a leaner budget. But instead of building on that critical and commercial success, Paramount pivoted back to Bay-era excess.
The result was Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, directed by Steven Caple Jr. With a production budget reportedly exceeding $200 million, the film aimed to reignite the franchise's box office dominance. However, it grossed just $440 million globally—less than Bumblebee and far below the $1 billion milestones achieved by two of Bay's entries. Critics were lukewarm, handing it a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences were left with a post-credits scene teasing a crossover with the G.I. Joe franchise—a project that never materialized.
As Michael Kelly's Transformers: Rise of the Beasts finds streaming success on Paramount+ in July 2026, the film's free run on Pluto TV is ending. The movie is also available on Paramount+ until August 1, 2026, after which it will leave both platforms. For fans who missed it in theaters or want a rewatch before it vanishes, now is the time to act.
The franchise's future remains uncertain. A new Transformers movie is in development, written by Jason Fuchs, but no release date has been set. Meanwhile, the G.I. Joe crossover teased in Rise of the Beasts remains on hold. For now, viewers can catch the film on Pluto TV for free, but the clock is ticking.
If you're a sci-fi fan looking for more franchise action, check out How Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Restored the Franchise's Soul or explore Prime Video's Next Big Sci-Fi Franchise: 'Victories Greater Than Death' Adaptation. And don't miss Saw Franchise Leaving Netflix in July 2026: Your Last Chance to Binge All 10 Films for another streaming deadline.
