Trailer For TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE 40th Anniversary 4K Release and I’m Absolutely Ready for the Emotional Damage Again

If you grew up in the '80s, there's a good chance Transformers: The Movie left a permanent mark on your childhood. For me, it absolutely did.

I was actually at the premiere of the film, and while I couldn't wait to see my favorite Autobots and Decepticons on the big screen, I definitely wasn't prepared for what happened next.

Watching so many beloved characters get brutally murdered, especially Optimus Prime, was genuinely traumatic. It was a rough day. Even so, I still love this movie, and I've never stopped being a fan of it.

Now, nearly 40 years later, fans will get the chance to experience that unforgettable animated classic all over again because Transformers: The Movie is returning to theaters in stunning 4K.

Hasbro has partnered with Fathom Entertainment to bring the beloved 1986 animated film back to the big screen for a special theatrical event beginning on September 17.

Tickets officially go on sale starting August 7, giving longtime fans and a whole new generation the opportunity to experience one of the most iconic animated movies of the decade the way it was meant to be seen.

Directed by Nelson Shin, the film featured an incredible voice cast that included the late Orson Welles as Unicron, Robert Stack as Ultra Magnus, and Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron. It also gave us Peter Cullen's unforgettable performance as Optimus Prime, which still hits just as hard today.

The announcement was made during San Diego Comic-Con this weekend, where attendees were also treated to an all-new post-credits sequence.

On top of that, this new theatrical version will include an exclusive addition that wasn't part of the original release, giving even longtime fans another reason to head back to theaters. The trailer below teases that at the very end.

The re-release is also part of Hasbro's wonderfully self-aware "Apology Tour," a year-long campaign acknowledging the emotional scars left behind after Optimus Prime's shocking death in the film.

Honestly, after all these years, some fans probably deserve that apology. I know I could've used one after walking out of that theater as a kid wondering why a bunch of my favorite characters had just been slaughtered in front of me.

Thankfully, despite all of that emotional devastation, the movie still stands as one of my favorite animated films. The incredible animation, the unforgettable soundtrack, the larger-than-life characters, and the sheer ambition of the story have only made me appreciate it more with age.

The theatrical event won't be limited to North America either. Fans in the UK and Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Mexico, and Germany will also get to experience the return of Transformers: The Movie, with additional international markets expected to be announced later.

If you're already getting nostalgic, you can also revisit one of the greatest animated movie soundtracks ever released. The Transformers: The Movie: The Soundtrack: The Reformatted Edition is available now on major streaming platforms and vinyl, including a new version of "Nothing's Gonna Stand In Our Way" featuring Sebastian Bach.

When Transformers: The Movie originally hit theaters in 1986 through De Laurentiis Entertainment Group during the peak of Hasbro's toy empire, it earned $5.8 million at the North American box office.

While it wasn't a massive theatrical success at the time, its legacy has only grown over the decades, becoming one of the most beloved entries in the entire Transformers franchise.

I'll absolutely be sitting in a theater for this one. Sure, I know exactly what's coming. I know who's going to die, I know which scenes are going to hit like a freight train, and I know Optimus Prime's death is still going to sting.

But that's all part of what makes Transformers: The Movie such a legendary experience. It's an animated film that wasn't afraid to take huge swings, and nearly four decades later, fans are still talking about it.

Now excuse me while I mentally prepare to relive one of the greatest childhood traumas ever put on film... in glorious 4K.