Few directors in Hollywood are able to evoke vivid imagery with just their name as much asMichael Bay. Seeing Bay’s name attached to a film conjures images of explosions, car chases, clunky dialogue, and grizzled men dripping with testosterone.
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In recent years R-rated action movies have begun to be missed due to the abundance of superhero films that now dominate the action genre. His films that were once described as derivative now feel fresh in a marketplace that is lacking bid-budget, violent action flicks. Some of his films have remained popular, and here is a definitive ranking of his filmography by IMDb.
15.Transformers: The Last Knight(2017) IMDb Score: 5.2
The fifth and (so far) finalTransformersfilm directed by Bay,Transformers: The Last Knightis the most maligned entry in his filmography. By this stage, the CGI juggernaut had grown stale, with audiences agreeing as the film was thefirst box-office bomb in the series.
The Last Knightcontains all of Bay’s trademark gimmicks, but it was clear the director’s heart was no longer in the franchise. A reboot,Bumblebee, was released a year later to much better reception.
14.Transformers: Age of Extinction(2014) IMDb Score: 5.6
The predecessor toThe Last Knight,Transformers: Age of Extinctionmarks a new beginning for the series, with previous leadShia LaBeoufnot returning.Mark Wahlbergtakes the reins as a Texan inventor drawn into the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons.
While better than its sequel,Age of Extinctionis another low point for the franchise and Bay’s career. After ending the plot of the original trilogy, the film feels more like a cash grab rather than being a story that needs to be told.
13.Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen(2009) IMDb Score: 5.9
It’s becoming quite apparent that Bay’s foray into theTransformersuniverse is considered the low light of his career. The second installment in the series,Transformers: Revenge of the Fallencontinues the story of Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) as he aids the Autobots.
While the film was a massive success at the box office, it is regarded as a step-down in quality from the original, revealing the first signs of franchise fatigue that would go on to plague later installments.
12.6 Underground(2019) IMDb Score: 6.1
6 Undergroundmarks the first collaboration between Bay andNetflixand follows a vigilante task force, led byRyan Reynolds, who attempts to foil the plot of a vicious dictator.
It is one of the most expensive films produced for the streaming service butfailed to capitalize on this investmentafter it was met with a collective “meh” from audiences and critics. Aside from Reynold’s effortless charm and Bay’s trademark action set-pieces,6 Undergroundis a forgettable affair.
11.Pearl Harbor(2001) IMDb Score: 6.2
Pearl Harborfollows the real-life attack by Japanese forces during World War II. The film uses the historical event as a backdrop for a love triangle betweenBen Affleck,Kate Beckinsale, andJosh Hartnett.
The film was heavily criticized for its focus on a lackluster romance, and its long runtime (183 minutes). Despite poor reviews, the production is Bay’s only film to secure an Academy Award, winning for Best Sound Editing.
10.Transformers: Dark of the Moon(2011) IMDb Score: 6.2
The finale to the originalTransformerstrilogy,Transformers: Dark of the Moondetails the final stages of the battle between the heroic Autobots and their rivals the Decepticons.Dark of the Moonis better thanRevenge of the Fallenbut still fails to reach the heights of the original film.
Released soon afterAvatarcaused a 3D boom in the industry,Dark of the Moonis a visual extravaganza with CGI robots and Bay’s signature explosions flying all over the screen.
9.Pain & Gain(2013) IMDb Score: 6.4
Pain & Gaintells the story of a group of bodybuilders who involve themselves in a kidnap scheme, which ultimately results in murder. The film is a nice change of pace from Bay, telling a smaller scale story rather than an action blockbuster.
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The three criminals are well-played byMark Wahlberg,Dwayne Johnson, andAnthony Mackie, and the film is full of dark humor as the three idiots spiral deeper into a life of crime.
8.Ambulance(2022) IMDb Score: 6.5
The latest release from Bay and hailed as a return to form for the often maligned director,Ambulanceis hisbest-reviewed film in almost two decades. StarringJake Gyllenhaal,Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, andEiza Gonzalez, the plot follows two brothers who hijack an ambulance after a bank robbery goes wrong.
A tight action-thriller, the film recalls classics such asHeatas it juggles multiple characters, showing perspectives from both sides of the law as the brothers flee for their freedom.
The sequel to the smash-hit original,Bad Boys IIis a bigger, brasher, and longer slice of the buddy cop genre.Martin LawrenceandWill Smithreturn for the sequel as they investigate a drug-smuggling ring in Miami.
Critics were not kind to the movie, criticizing its juvenile humor and length (a common criticism of Bay), though most fans foundenjoyment in the film’s large action set-pieces. The highway chase with cars hurtling in the air is a particular highlight.
6.Armageddon(1998) IMDb Score: 6.7
When a giant asteroid is forecast to destroy Earth, a team of oil-rig workers, led byBruce WillisandBen Affleck, are sent into space to save the human race. WhileArmageddonis big, dumb, and loud, it is still cheesy fun.
The film is a perfect representation of Bay, an action movie going at a hundred miles an hour aided by a great cast and an absolute banger of anAerosmithsong.
