History YMMV / TheTransformersTheMovie

*** Averted in the marvel comic book adaption, where it's made quite clear that Galvatron is simply Megatron with a new body and name.

* DiscreditedMeme: The film has proven very quotable and writers for decades since have loved quoting it, so much so that the references to it can get a bit tiresome. There's only so many times that official ''Transformers'' media can reuse lines like "Megatron, is that you" and "Soundwave superior" before the nostalgic charm wears off. A 2016 comic even lampshades this, with Galvatron quoting the famous "one shall stand, one shall fall" line, only for Optimus Prime (ironically, the one who usually says it) to punch him and quip "no cliches, Galvatron".

** Of the few survivors from the 84 cast, Cliffjumper would end up unusable because Season 3's offensive portrayal of the Middle East alienated Casey Kasem.

''(Prime decks Galvatron(''\\

* TheScrappy: While Hot Rod has always had his defenders, you'll find virtually none for Wheelie, who's nigh-universally loathed by fans for his RhymesOnADime shtick and BrattyHalfPint antics. The kindest thing most people will say about him that he's not as bad as his [[Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen live-action]] version, who's even more despised.

* "Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost." [[note]]Optimus says this before going into Autobot City to do battle with Megatron. Snowcloned frequently, with Megatron's name swapped out for basically anything or anyone the poster hates.[[/note]]

** Ultra Magnus's "I can't deal with that now!" has become somewhat memetic [[spoiler: (and kind of funny, considering the post-movie season, where he largely serves as Rodimus Prime's level-headed NumberOne).]]

** "Coronation, <X>? This is bad comedy."[[note]]"<Y>, is that you!?" "Here's a hint!"[[/note]]

** "Soundwave superior, <X> inferior."
** "Generation 1 Superior, Bayformers/Creator/MichaelBay inferior". [[labelnote:explaination]]A snowcloned version of the line, which was used by the majority of the fandom who openly loves the original ''Generation 1'' cartoon while sticking their middle fingers to the live-action film franchise.[[/labelnote]]
** "Creator/MichaelBay Must Be Stopped. No Matter The Cost."[[note]]A comment snowcloned from Optimus Prime's "No Matter The Cost" line, this was used by 99% of the fans who tried to stop him (if by stopping him, it means giving him death threats or begging Hasbro to fire him.) from destroying their childhood franchise. [[/note]]
** Likewise, fans ''also'' compared Unicron's line before destroying Cybertron as Bay destroying the franchise's reputation.

** A full two decades before Creator/MichaelBay's ''Film/{{Transformers}}'', Creator/{{Paramount}} had the Canadian distribution rights to this film through a distribution deal with De Laurentiis Entertainment Group.

* NarmCharm: While no one will claim that it's a pinnacle of high-quality cinema, the movie '''''is''''' filled to the brim with RuleOfCool[[note]]many say more so than [[{{Camp}} the series]], possibly due to its DarkerAndEdgier nature[[/note]], from the giant robot fights [[AutobotsRockOut set to '80s hair metal music]] to the surprise inclusion of Creator/OrsonWelles and Creator/LeonardNimoy as two of the movie's badass villains. This is what helps hold it dear to many a fans' heart, along with the mandatory {{nostalgia|Filter}}.

''[Prime decks Galvatron]''\\

-->'''Megatron:''' Wait, I can still function just fine.
-->'''Starscream:''' [[PreMortemOneLiner Then function.]]

** The Anibots (a team of vicious animal-themed Autobots would eventually be realized as animal-based Decepticons called Predacons, [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars but not those Predacons]]) would've been led by a lion-themed robot (who will eventually inspire Razorclaw, the leader of the original Predacons]] named ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Simba]]''.

* CatharsisFactor: After the untold attrocities he had committed over the course of the film, Rodimus Prime opening the Matrix to kill Unicron is very satisfying.

* ReplacementScrappy: The film kills off a large portion of the cast so that new characters could be introduced in their place, so this trope is to be expected. To list a few:
** Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime to Optimus Prime. The latter is ''incredibly'' popular and his death infamously traumatized pretty much every kid who saw this movie. Not only was introducing a character to replace him a massive challenge in of itself, but Hot Rod [[NeverLiveItDown being partially responsible for Optimus' death did not do him any favors.]]
** Daniel and Wheelie to Spike and Bumblebee. They all fit into the KidAppealCharacter trope, but the former group fell into the exact pitfalls that Spike and 'Bee avoided, like being too young and having annoying voices.
** Galvatron generally gets the least of this (possibly because he technically is Megatron, just in a different form), but many still prefer Megatron due to feeling that Galvatron came off as less competent and didn't have as many interesting dynamics with his troops.
* RonTheDeathEater: As far as a lot of the fans who hate Hot Rod for being partially responsible for Optimus' death are concerned, he is either [[TheMole an undercover Decepticon]] or a {{Jerkass}} who wanted Optimus to die so he could take leadership for himself. The numerous times that he stops the Decepticons' plans paired up with a notable lack of moments of aiding them seem to disprove the former, and season 3 features two episodes back-to-back that seem to disprove the latter: one where Rodimus is perfectly willing to give up leadership, and one where he decides to revive Optimus.
* SacredCow: This film set up many aspects of the Transformers lore and many of its scenes are still beloved by fans. While there has been some debate about [[SeinfeldisUnfunny how well this holds up compared to later works]], calling this film a bad one is like asking to die.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny:

** Also: "Who disrupts my [[IncrediblyLamePun Combination?]]" for the ''Power of the Primes'' Starscream toy's ability to combine.