Summer in the film world is off to a blistering start as Transformers: Rise of the Beasts garners an impressive $8.8 million in preview screenings.

After a five-year hiatus, the film series is back in full swing with promising preview grosses from fan screenings on Wednesday as well as regular Thursday showings. This installment has been promoted as a direct sequel to 2018’s Bumblebee and a prequel to the first Transformers live-action film series.

Rise of the Beasts follows Optimus Prime and the Autobots as they once again team up to save the world from sheer destruction, this time in a battle they have never faced before. To fulfill this duty, the team calls up the Maximals, an advanced breed of Cybertrons with a powerful Beast Mode, after their land is also put in danger.

The cast is led by Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback as Noah Diaz and Elena Wallace, two new characters and main human protagonists. Joining them will be the vocal talents of Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Liza Koshy, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Colman Domingo, Cristo Fernández, Tongayi Chirisa, and returning franchise regulars Peter Cullen, John DiMaggio, and David Sobolov.

The film is directed by Steven Caple Jr. in his franchise debut with producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Tom DeSanto returning as franchise regulars since its first movie in 2007. 

According to Hollywood Reporter, current numbers suggest a box office opening in around the $60 million range for this project.