Transformers: Age of Extinction is the fourth installment in the Transformers live-action film franchise and serves as a soft reboot of the series following Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). Unlike its predecessors, it introduces a completely new human cast, led by Mark Wahlberg, while still featuring returning Autobots, including Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.
The film explores the aftermath of the Battle of Chicago (as seen in Dark of the Moon), where humanity has turned against the Autobots, hunting them down in an effort to eliminate all Transformers from Earth. The story introduces new villains, including the Transformer bounty hunter Lockdown and the human-created Galvatron, while also debuting the Dinobotsโfan-favorite Transformers known for their dinosaur-like forms.
Set five years after the Battle of Chicago, humanity has turned against the Autobots. A secret government organization, Cemetery Wind, led by Harold Attinger (Kelsey Grammer), is hunting down Transformers with the help of a ruthless Transformer bounty hunter, Lockdown.
Meanwhile, struggling inventor Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) discovers an old, damaged truck that turns out to be Optimus Prime. As Cade and his daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz) get caught in the conflict, they uncover a conspiracy involving a tech company called KSI, led by Joshua Joyce (Stanley Tucci), which is using Transformer remains to create man-made Transformers, including Galvatronโa reborn Megatron.
The Autobots, including newcomers Hound, Drift, and Crosshairs, team up with Cade to fight Lockdown, Galvatron, and the corrupt forces hunting them. The film climaxes in Hong Kong, where Optimus Prime gains the aid of the legendary Dinobots and confronts Lockdown. After a brutal battle, Optimus defeats Lockdown and leaves Earth in search of the mysterious Creators.
The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who criticized its lengthy runtime (165 minutes), convoluted plot, and excessive product placement, though the visual effects and action sequences were praised. Despite the criticism, Age of Extinction was a massive box office success, grossing over $1.1 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2014. It was followed by Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).