Although Transformers: Age of Extinction has been in theaters for little more than a day, that’s certainly enough time for franchise naysayers to voice their opinions of the film - check out the comments section on our review of the movie for some examples. Age of Extinction’s Rotten Tomatoes rating, a lowly 18 percent (6 percent if only the top critics are concerned) seems to fall in line with the opinions of the detractors, but the movie’s audience rating, 65 percent, seems to agree with our own rating of the movie: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The director of the Transformers franchise, Michael Bay, has responded to those who were less than impressed by the latest installment of his series featuring the robots in disguise.

Bay replied to the naysayers in an interview with MTV in which he encouraged them to voice their opinions because the argument between critics and fans gives the movie’s opening weekend more drama and makes it more interesting. This conflict can be beneficial in terms of box office sales. (Though it may not need the help since Age of Extinction is our prediction for top of the box office this weekend.)

Read Bay’s quote

[Naysayers] love to hate, and I don’t care; let them hate. They’re still going to see the movie! I think it’s good to get a little tension. Very good.

Bay also said that criticism can be beneficial feedback for his creative process. Although it may have bothered him before, he now uses negative comments to help himself improve:

I used to get bothered by it, but I think it’s good to get the dialogue going. It makes me think, and it keeps me on my toes, so it’s good.

However, whether Bay will have the chance to exercise what he’s learned through the production and release of Age of Extinction has yet to be seen. In an interview promoting the new film, Bay said he wasn’t sure if he would be directing any upcoming Transformers films, despite reports that Paramount planned to release Transformers 5 in 2016.

Michael Bay Responds to Transformers 4 Critics Mark Wahlburg

Our interview with Lorenzo di Bonaventura, a producer on Age of Extinction who has worked with Bay on many occasion, shed more light on the future of the franchise: no changes of director have been planned and the 2016 release date might be a bit too optimistic - perhaps 2017 would be a more realistic goal for the fifth film.

Should Bay direct Transformers 5, he may be able to take fan criticism into account and use it to fuel his creative process, or he’ll continue to make the movies the way he sees fit. Either way, it’s clear that Bay will continue to let the haters hate.

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Transformers: Age of Extinction is in theaters now.

Source: MTV