Transformers Bumblebee Movie (2018) - release dates and details

Release dates for the cinema release of the Bumblebee Movie (may or may not be Transformers 6 as its sub-title).

AUSTRALIA - Thursday December 20th 2018 (source)
New Zealand - YTBA (should be same day)

USA - December 21st
UK - December 26th
China - ??
Japan - March 23rd 2019

Singapore - December 20th
Germany - December 20th
Russia - December 20th
France - December 26th
Hong Kong - December 27th

Running time - 1h 54min
IMAX running time - 1h 54min


Human cast (character - actor)
Charlie Watson - Hailee Steinfeld
Memo - Jorge Lendeborg Jr.
Jack Burns - John Cena
Dr. Powell - John Ortiz
Sally Watson - Pamela Adlon
Otis Watson - Jason Drucker
Ron - Stephen Schneider
Seymour Simmons - Nick Pilla
Uncle Hank - Len Cariou
Tina Lark - Gracie Dzienny


Robot cast (robot - voice actor)
Bumblebee - Dylan O'Brien
Shatter - Angela Bassett
Dropkick - Justin Theroux
Optimus Prime - Peter Cullen
Blitzwing - David Sobolov
Cliffjumper - Andrew Morgado


Production
Director - Travis Knight
Story - Christina Hodson
Screenplay - Christina Hodson, Kelly Fremon Craig
Producers - Steven Spielberg, Brian Goldner (Hasbro), Chris Brigham, Mark Vahradian, Michael Bay, Lorenzo di Bonaventura (plus 3 more)


Movie poster from Paramount Australia facebook page (August 6th 2018), showing Australian release date.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2018/081001.jpg

The release date for the DVD/BR in Germany is April 2019, which should be the same for most countries, or close to it.
(be aware of spoilers at that link though)

According to TFW (who didn't quote or credit a source, so I can't verify this), some release dates for the Bumblebee Movie have been revealed, including Australia, which is claimed to be Thursday December 20th.

IMDB has some of these dates, but not the Australian release date, so I can't tell where they got it from.

The listings note that the UK and France has a release date of December 26th, while Germany and New Zealand have the same release date as us in Australia.

Most previous Transformers movies had their US release date brought forward a couple days to be world-first, so we could still see that happen with this one.
Not that it will make much difference, as this time, there will be a novelisation out about a month before the movie comes out.

Updated the Australian release date, now that it is on IMDB... and it is a week after what TFW claimed in their news posting (above) without a source.
Our date is Boxing day, which means having to wait five days after it is released in America and a number of other countries.


But at least we aren't as bad as Japan, which always gets a month or two delay with the live action movies, but this time they could be waiting 4-5 months before seeing the Bumblebee movie there, as it is expected to be released there between March and May.

Never knew that about Japan. What's the reason behind the delayed release?

Not sure, but they've always had to wait at least a month to see each Transformers movie (late July or early August, from a late June global release)... and it can't be for translating it because they were released in various non-English speaking countries at about the same time as it was released here and in America.
This time it just seems really excessive, and will mean the Bumblebee movie toys (and maybe Studio Series toys for the BBee movie), might not released there until at least February next year.

Promotional poster and trailer for Japan, still noting "Spring 2019" (our Autumn), instead of an actual release date, so they still mustn't have a date locked in yet.

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Originally Posted by griffin

Updated the Australian release date, now that it is on IMDB... and it is a week after what TFW claimed in their news posting (above) without a source.
Our date is Boxing day, which means having to wait five days after it is released in America and a number of other countries.


But at least we aren't as bad as Japan, which always gets a month or two delay with the live action movies, but this time they could be waiting 4-5 months before seeing the Bumblebee movie there, as it is expected to be released there between March and May.

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:(:mad::(:mad::(

There go all the plans for my sons Bumblebee birthday party - told him tonight and we are both a bit heartbroken :(

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

There go all the plans for my sons Bumblebee birthday party - told him tonight and we are both a bit heartbroken :(

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Do a TV series marathon of "The Best" Bumblebee episodes from across G1, Animated, Prime and RiD. :)

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

Do a TV series marathon of "The Best" Bumblebee episodes from across G1, Animated, Prime and RiD. :)

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It’s a nice idea :) and he still wants a Bbee themed party, but he was really looking forward to going to the movies with his friends in Bathurst. I’ve told him we will still do that, but it will have to be seperate from his birthday.

Oh well, I’ve still got all the cheap TR Seasprays I picked up for the party bags ;)

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

Oh well, I’ve still got all the cheap TR Seasprays I picked up for the party bags ;)

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best goodie bag EVER!

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

Oh well, I’ve still got all the cheap TR Seasprays I picked up for the party bags ;)

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:D

That's awesome. Reminds me of 1986 when my mother bought a trolley load of $5 Kups and that became "gift fodder" for all my friends. :)

Five bucks was a lot of dosh back in '86. Unlike today where you'd get little to no change from a cup of coffee.

Paramount Australia's Facebook page posted a December 20 release date on 3 August

I'd trust them over IMDB

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

Paramount Australia's Facebook page posted a December 20 release date on 3 August

I'd trust them over IMDB

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Cheers for the heads up mate - maybe I had better wait until closer to the date and all the conflicting info disappears before we make a definitive decision :)

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

Paramount Australia's Facebook page posted a December 20 release date on 3 August

I'd trust them over IMDB

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Thanks for that. I've shared it to our fb page too.

So it took Paramount Australia until August 6th to officially announce the Australian release date, just four months away... I wonder why it took so long.
IMDB isn't too bad for info though, and until ten days ago, the Australian release date (which was previously December 20th, and then later changed to December 26th), could have been from insider sources detailing preliminary dates. Otherwise, how would they have so many release dates listed before they are officially revealed, and any that are wrong, or have changed, at least IMDB is updated accordingly (the did have December 20th listed at one stage, so maybe it was Paramount who changed the date twice before officially adding it to promotional posters).

I find IMDB is a bit like a wiki - info comes in from all sorts of people, and is only as accurate as the most reliable source (until an official source releases the info).

(the other thing to be mindful of, is the release date can still change at any time before its release - sometimes by a few days like previous Transformers Movies, and in some rare occasions, by a several months)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Galvatran

Five bucks was a lot of dosh back in '86. Unlike today where you'd get little to no change from a cup of coffee.

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Still worked out to be about 80% off the toy's RRP. It would be the equivalent of buying a Voyager Class Transformer today for $10.

The running time has been announced, at 1 hour and 54 minutes, which is about 30 minutes shorter than the previous shortest one (2007 Movie), and almost an hour shorter than TF4, which was at 2 hours and 45 minutes.


The rating in America has also been revealed as well, with a PG-13 rating... which could end up being PG rated here, or M if the "sequences of sci-fi action violence" is enough to push it up into that rating here.

Shorter run time is a good thing imo. The Bayformers movies felt so bloated in and got worse in each subsequent film.

Shorter movie running time makes total sense. No T&A's in this movie.

Looks like the Japanese release date has been revealed, to be March 22nd next year... with tickets going on sale form November 23rd, with 7-11 once again having a special Movie + toy deal, with a "rusty" edition of the Studio Series VW Bumblebee, noted as SS-EX.
There will also be exclusive Bumblebee kewpie keychains with pre-ordered tickets.


Meanwhile, over in Russia, it is being claimed that the Movie will have an early release there, being brought forward to December 13th (seven days before the first countries).

Not to be outdone by Russia, some Theatres in America have brought forward their early screenings to December 8th.


And for those who can't wait until December 20th to find out what happens in the Bumblebee Movie, it looks like the Junior Novel adaptation of the Movie is already released (found at a book store in America, and on Amazon).

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Originally Posted by Ralph Wiggum

Shorter run time is a good thing imo. The Bayformers movies felt so bloated in and got worse in each subsequent film.

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Agreed, better for younger people too (ie my five year old daughter :D)

I think we'll get some early screenings too, moonlight cinemas (outdoor) in Perth is selling tickets for a session on the 15th.

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Originally Posted by griffin

Looks like the Japanese release date has been revealed, to be March 22nd next year... with tickets going on sale form November 23rd, with 7-11 once again having a special Movie + toy deal, with a "rusty" edition of the Studio Series VW Bumblebee, noted as SS-EX.
There will also be exclusive Bumblebee kewpie keychains with pre-ordered tickets.

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Looks like the exclusive Bumblebee could just be the minor redeco toy that comes in the Studio Series 2-pack (which is now out at Kmart here).

The moonlight cinema in Melbourne is having advanced screening as well on the 15th.

Advance screenings have now started, in Germany (on the 4th) and England (on the 5th)... beating out the American sessions that are on the 8th.
A pity that we didn't have something in Australia as well, as those first screenings in other countries were being labelled as "fan screenings".


Meanwhile, China now has it's release date revealed - January 4th.

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Originally Posted by doublespy

The moonlight cinema in Melbourne is having advanced screening as well on the 15th.

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Thanks... I went and looked it up, and posted it as news.

Even New Zealand is having advance screenings before Australia, at Event Cinemas.
December 12th with have one screening, while another screening on December 16th the cinema will have a Bumblebee there (probably a person in costume... or a statue).

was just looking on Hoyts.com.au and they have Bumblebee advanced screenings from Friday 14th Dec to Sun 16th Dec

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Originally Posted by WIIGII

was just looking on Hoyts.com.au and they have Bumblebee advanced screenings from Friday 14th Dec to Sun 16th Dec

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They must have only just listed it, as I looked on their site the other day when I posted up about Event cinemas having advance screenings here.

Seems like most of the current reviews are positive, so that's great!

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Originally Posted by Raptormesh

Seems like most of the current reviews are positive, so that's great!

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Yeah, so far I've seen nothing but love from both critics and fans. People are saying it's the best Transformers movie yet.

Had a look this morning and 100% of reviews from critics were positive.

Probably what happens when the director follows the script and tells a story that makes sense. :p
I still think that they aren't showing enough Decepticons in the commercials, even if they probably don't have much screen time, it will make the movie look more like a robot action movie, rather than a human-robot drama. People aren't expecting Bay-explosions, but we don't want to put off too many of those millions of past Transformers movie goers hoping to see bot-v-bot action who might think it is just about a single robot exploring earth and human interaction, with a small bit about the military wanting to capture him.

Ok the Rotten Tomatoes score and the generally good reception is getting me hyped. Also, Miranda is showing it this Friday-Sunday. However they want $26 a ticket to see it in V-max which has curbed my enthusiasm somewhat. :rolleyes:

Think I'll wait till next week and see it during a quieter time to avoid what looks like surge pricing.

The official world "premiere" was held in LA at the Chinese Theatre on Sunday December 9th... which not only had the current director (Travis Knight), but also the previous director (Michael Bay) who has a Producer credit.
Also on hand were actors Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena, along with voice actors Peter Cullen and Dylan O'Brian (voice of Bumblebee).
A Youtube video can be seen here - a photo gallery can be seen here.


Also links to several social media pages and some mirrored images from the event.


Also... it looks like it was Hailee's 22nd birthday at the premiere, and she talks about the Movie, as well as the song she did (Back to Life).
.

A cinema chain in Singapore called Golden Village has a movie combo of popcorn, drink and the reissue Minibot Bumblebee toy... for just (about) AU$14. That's less than the original price of the toy alone here... and probably less than a snack combo in cinemas here.

Seen it, Loved it. Absolutely blows the bayformers away

So I had a really long and hard day at work today. At about the 10 hour mark I get a message from the missus; she booked Gold Class tickets for me and my son to see Bumblebee on Thursday night as a boys night. What a woman. My son is wrapped as he has clearly never been to Gold Class before and knows it is a real treat. Can't wait to see the movie. He now has a Bumblebee poster on his wall already and has rearranged his room with all his Transformers. :D

^ That's great to hear.

I too had a really long and hard day but no happy ending.