The Best Michael Bay Films To Buy on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K UHD!

Michael Bay is one of the best blockbuster filmmakers working today. His imprint Hollywood is felt in nearly every major motion picture. He understands action, blending special effects with sweeping action and a dash of comedy thrown in there as well. He knows how to create a spectacle, which is what the audience wants to see up there on the big screen. The man has a term for his brand of action named after him, ‘Bayhem’. With the release of ‘Ambulance’ on DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K this month, there is no better time to break down his five best films. These films have made over one billion dollars at the worldwide box office. He continuously hits it out of the park. So without further ado, let's go!   

Ambulance – The heist genre has taken a back seat in recent years, with only a handful of releases really capitalising fully. Michael Bay also noticed this, capitalising on this and creating one of the more intense heist movies ever made. The film benefits from its contained setting with the characters stuck in the ambulance as they are on the run from authorities. This fact alone makes for 2 hours of edge of your seat intensity. The three performances are also magnificent, which helps ground the film in a heightened sense of reality. Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Eiza Gonzalez are all terrific in this film. If you are looking for high-octane action and all the explosions we have become accustomed to in a Michael Bay film, then this one is for you!

Armageddon - Michael Bay understands scope and spectacle. He’s made a career out of showing this on the big screen. Showing every little bit of destruction. His 1998 film Armageddon may just be the best disaster film of all time. The film's absurd premise and the way it embraces it, is one of its strong suits. I absolutely love the scale of this film. You feel the stakes, the whole world is at risk as a giant asteroid plummets towards earth and it’s up to our working-class oil drillers to save us. Which leads me to another reason I love this film, who the heroes are. They are just regular people, no superpowers, just regular Joes and I love that. The cast also does a great job of portraying that. We have Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis, Owen Wilson and the late, great Michael Clarke Duncan. This cast is amazing, and one of the best assembled in the 1990s. The film still holds up remarkably well, even though it is over 20 years old. I love this one and would recommend it even to the unconverted. If you’re not a fan of ‘Bayham’ then this may be the closest you will get to enjoying a Michael Bay film. 

Transformers (2007) - The Transformers franchise has become a Hollywood, blockbuster staple. The franchise has made over $4 billion at the worldwide box office, with a total of 6 live-action films in the franchise. In terms of quality, I would have to say the first film in the franchise, simply titled ‘Transformers’ remains to be my favourite. It’s funny, the action is mesmerising, and the characters are all fun and likeable. The film shows the sheer level of destruction these robotic beings would bring to our world if they existed. The carnage and destruction are next level here, with Bay leaning into the special effects at his disposable, blowing up cars, streets and everything in between. It’s absolutely glorious if you’re a fan of great visual effects. The Transformers themselves also all have distinct personalities and traits, something lacking in the sequels. I love the way these characters all interact with each other. You feel a level of camaraderie among them, which is endearing and allows you to really connect and care about these characters and the conflict they find themselves in. This is easily one of the best Michael Bay films and it looks absolutely stunning on 4K UHD!  

The Rock (1996) - You can’t have a conversation about the best action films of all time without bringing up ‘The Rock’. Even if you haven’t seen this gem, you’ve definitely heard about it. It’s the film where Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage need to break into Alcatraz. The premise is incredibly simple, but the way Bay handles the wonderful action set pieces here is stunning, showing very early on in his career, the man knows action! The film is held together by the amazing chemistry between the films two leads. Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery (May he Rest in Peace) are fantastic together. Cage is the crazy sidekick and Connery is the straight man, trying to pull off this mission. It’s a hell of a lot of fun. Gregory Sporleder as our main antagonist of the film, Captain Frye is great too. Delivering a suitably over-the-top performance for this type of role. I really like him here. Overall, this one ranks among one of the best action films of all time. It’s clever, full of great action and has some of the best performances in an action film of all time. This one is well worth your time.

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi (2016) - Michael Bay is no stranger to the military. If you have watched any of Bay’s films before you would know that he had a love and admiration for the military, often highlighting their heroics, this has never been more evident than it is here in his 2016 film 13 Hours. 13 Hours centres on the 6 secret soldiers of Benghazi following the aftermath of the death of Osama Bin Laden. The film is one of the tensest films in recent years. Bay builds tension through the escalating situation. We still have action set-pieces here, but these are subdued and played a lot more seriously than what we have seen in previous Michael Bay films. John Krasinski showed the world in this film that he has a lot more to offer outside of Jim Halpert from The Office. He is really good here, showcasing his acting chops whilst also showing he can carry an action flick. If you aren’t a fan of Bay's blockbuster films, and just want a solid war thriller, this is one for you. It isn’t an easy watch, but it is superbly crafted and really well done.

Whether you love him or hate him, there is no denying that Michael Bay has left his stamp on cinema. He re-invented the blockbuster for modern audiences, and for that we say thank you. Thank you Michael Bay, you have created some of the biggest, loudest and most epic experiences ever captured on the big screen. Be sure to pick up these titles today from your local Sanity and/or from their website. Be sure to also pre-order your copy of Ambulance on DVD, Blu-Ray or 4K UHD releasing June 22, you won’t want to miss this one!

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here