From worst to best:

-AOE
Transformium is stupid, and this mode is just too generic and has zero car kibble on him. However if they make a Studio Series figure I still might bite.
-TF1
Not that great, but I do kind of like his design. May or may not buy a new SS toy of him, really considering that MPM.
-ROTF
He's a mean looking sumbitch, love the claw gun. Tank mode is meh, ultimately.
-TLK
Love the new sleek styling, the jet mode is pretty swish, too. That axe sword means serious business. Plus, he has an arm cannon!
-DOTM
Maybe it's just the Mad Max fan in me, but Mackatron just oozes villainy, appearance wise. Shame he was physically the weakest of the bunch since he was so beaten and tired by that point. Definitely want his SS leader class figure.

 

Here's my ranking order of Megatron designs, best to worst

TLK - I like the styling and the spiky helmet, as well as the axe sword and fusion cannon. One of the few redeeming elements of that movie. One of the few redeeming elements of that film.
TF1 - I'm in the minority here, but I do sort of like the design; especially on the jet mode, which looks pretty cool. The flail is pretty badass looking, too.
DOTM - I do like Mackatron, because mostly the poncho and the shotgun; the truck mode is cool also. Looks very Duel.
ROTF - The claw gun is rad; however, the tank mode looks a bit... dumb.
AOE - It just looks shite; Transformium is a dumb concept and I didn't like how he molecularly turned into his alt-mode. That was easily the worst concept AOE introduced.

 

1. TLK - Best

It's probably a coincidence (with the whole knight-theme), but this one ended up fitting Megatron's character the best IMO. Heavily armored, big fusion cannon on the right arm, cool Ganondorf sword, Head shaped like battle helmet, Cybertronian jet that actually looks good. Only downsides are, robot mode gives zero indications of what he turns into, so he kinda just looks like an evil robot knight rather than a Transformer. I think the colors are too dark also, it makes everything blend together. The face reminds me too much of Ivan Ooze.


2. ROTF

The movie design that fits Megatron second best. The fragmented armor plates are larger, and designed in a way that suggests muscle groups on a living creature rather than totally random, thin metal shards everywhere. The tank mode is one of the Bayverse's best, very strong and imposing. The cannon arm with the extending blade is pretty cool also. But I'm not a huge fan of the asymmetry, the "big fiddler crab arm and puny arm" thing. I'd prefer if he just had normal arms.


3.TF2007

I used to absolutely hate this design, but it's grown on me over the years. The head is the best aspect, a big improvement over the concept version. Vaguely suggests the G1 shape, but is different while still looking regal and menacing. He has good humanoid proportions and is capable of agile movement, with a nice silhouette. I like how the wings compress into the back to form shoulder blades. The big issue with it is the detail, I think they tried too hard to make it look alien/organic and so he's completely covered with weirdly shaped metal bits that look fragile and lack any kind of visual logic.

The fiddly spider hands and the "put your arms together" fusion cannon always looked stupid to me, along with the jet mode. The idea of the Cybertronian jet grew on me, but the film design looks like some weird alien squid. I can enjoy 2007 Megs as something zany and unique, but TLK's jet is superior in every way.


4. DOTM

DOTM is the point in the films when Megatron went from being an intimidating leader to a goon who was easily beaten and no longer taken seriously as the main adversary, (who only stays around because he's the best selling Decepticon toy) and the design reflects this. He literally looks like he's cobbled together from junkyard parts (the chains and cowl DO NOT help) the shotgun is silly, and he walks around with a giant hole in his head? WHY??

I don't really dig the Mad Max truck thing either, The grill blades are tacky, it's a shitty disguise, and what possible reason would Megatron have for giving up the ability to fly? I don't loathe it like some designs, but it feels like the "broken down Mad Max" theme was imposed on the character without considering if it actually made sense. I do like the grabber claws on the right arm though.


5. AOE -Worst

With Galvatron they gave up any pretense of making a design that looks like it could transform, and the robot suffers heavily for it. He's extremely generic, his head is a massive downgrade, and overall looks unfinished. Nothing about his design says "main villain", the KSI Boss looks more important than he does. When the trailer came out, I thought this was an incomplete drone (other people did too) and it's easy to see why. It's just a heap of randomly curved metal and vulnerable-looking tubes.

He represents some of the worst aspects of Bayverse design, there's nothing iconic or cool that gives this Galvatron it's own identity - other than the big glowing grinder hole in his chest. I get the feeling this was meant to mock the reactor core of Gypsy Danger - I could be wrong, but if that is the case, it's stupid.

Only positives I can say, this was the first design that gave him normal human hands (which should have been there to begin with) and the truck mode is pretty slick. But I feel some sort of futuristic/experimental military vehicle fits the character of Galvatron better, and the film's plot would have easily allowed for this.

 

Hmm kinda hard, some of them are really close being good but always missed the mark for me, except for Galvatron, he is straight trash.
TF1 - I like his silhoutte, but his overall body is a mess. His head is the best part of him, his arms while spindly do look kinda cool. I also like how he formed his fusion cannon.
ROTF - Decent, digging his tank treads feet. Head looks okay, but prefer the TF1 version. His arms proportion is funny, although I like his lobster arm.
DOTM - Some days I like his design, some days I don’t. Idk why.
TLK - He looks good, he looks fresh and strong and definitely gave a more menacing aura, but I just hate the knight/medieval armor looks. Love the arm cannon and his face plate.

All in all, use TLK body as the basis, give it some alt mode kibbles and give him his crown back, the TF1 headgear and he’ll be the best design, in my eyes at least.

 

5-TLK From what I've seen, this is incredibly unpopular. The G1 imitation is nice, but I loathe the helmet and the new cannon looks no better than the ones before it.
4-AOE No kibble is the only issue.
3-07 Basic design. I like how he used both arms to form the cannon.
2-DOTM This is my favorite design. The rifle and the rust create a "just got whooped, ready for revenge" feel. The truck is also fun to draw.
1-ROTF The murder arm and cyber tank are awesome. Too bad he was the weakest Meg.

 

1. RoTF
2. 2007
3. TLK
4. DoTM
5. AoE

Best to worst.

 

1. TLK - The only one that actually looks like Megatron
2. DOTM - The Mad Max aesthetic is a nice touch and the overall design actually has a good sense of character
3. ROTF - A better Galvatron design than the one in AOE
4. 07 - Rendered redundant by ROTF, looks too fragile
5. AOE - Not a robot bad design in isolation, but doesn't work as a Transformer

 

Worst is Galvatron, followed by TF07 Megs, then DOTM Megatron, then TLK and then ROTF as the best.

 

5. AOE

Awful, ugly, forgettable design. Just doesn’t look scary at all, it looked like he had a baby face? Nothing memorable about him.

4. TF1

His face looks a bit weird, but it is still a very solid design. I did like how he formed his cannon with both arms though.

3. ROTF

Basically a better version of TF1. More bulky, more realistic, looked A LOT more evil. That tank mode was dope asf.

2. TLK

Looks very strong, heavily armoured, head sharped like G1 Megatron. Looked really sleek and that huge ass sword was really cool.

1. DOTM

What a design, the Mad Max inspiration was a nice addition. He looked strong and represents Megatron as a character the best for me. The spiky truck mode made him look menacing too.

 

ROTF is the best one for me.

 

This is how I rank them as well.

 

ROTF wins. DOTM a close second. TLK pretty good. Galvatron alright. TF1 Megs eh.

 

ROTF
DOTM
TF1
TLK

I don't count Galvatron.

 

1 tlk
2 dotm
3 rotf
4 first movie
5 aoe

 

Best to worst

1. TLK - Sleek and clean. Plus quite expressive.
2. AOE - Same can be said, From what I said of TLK. Difference is, he's a lot cleaner and quite great in ever aspect. Plus love the tech.
3. ROTF - Was my top tier, until TLK came about. Still by far one of my favorites.
4. DOTM - Still superior in ever aspect of TF1's Megatron. Not saying 07 is bad. But wasn't as defiant as TLK's.
5. TF1 - 07, is good. But could be a lot more detailed. But understandable due of budget.

 

1. 2007 - He’s my favourite version of his five designs. I’m probably one of his most ardent supporters here but even I have to admit he looks like a spindly mass of metal. 6/10
2. ROTF - By contrast, I loathe ROTF Megatron. I hate his asymmetrical look, the gigantic crab arm, and the fact he’s stolen the spotlight from my favourite Megatron in everything but with MPMs. I’ve recognised some of his ups and downs and I admit he looks better than 07 despite still looking like a mash of scrapmetal, but nah I refuse to back down on my pride. 5.5/10
3. DOTM - He oozes r/iamveryedgy and is an utter disgrace to the name held by Decepticon tyrants across dozens of continuities. He had a unique concept (weary old man tired of war, Optimus foil a la Nemesis Prime) which Bay happily tossed aside because the comics got spoiled, which I think is completely stupid and short-minded. Despite all that I like his design because he isn’t as messy as 2007 and isn’t ROTF. 7/10
4. AOE - He could’ve made an excellent drone or Nemesis Prime, but as Galvatron he was a total joke. Very generic looking and even more useless on-screen. 5/10
5. TLK - He looks like an utter badass but I’m not gonna lie, I don’t understand the love for him. He was as much of an ass kisser as ROTF Megatron and got wiped just as easily as DOTM Megatron yet somehow he’s supposed to be even better than the “I answer to nobody” 2007 Megatron because... why? I’m okay with people liking him, I don’t. He could’ve been anybody else but Megatron for he doesn’t feel like more than a generic warlord IMO. 6.5/10

 

I'm a G1 fan above all else, but Megatron's DotM design is the best the character has ever had in any continuity, imo. It only makes sense for a Megatron that's been completely beaten down and is barely holding on by a thread, as in DotM, but still.

 

For TLK, you’re slating his design because of what his personality is like.....?

 

(Worst to Best)

5: AOE
4: DOTM
3: ROTF
2: 2007
1: TLK

 

You know Travis Knight was pissed off about cutting that scene (to the point where he publicly complained about it)? Apparently, he really wanted it in, but with the retool, they wouldn't let him. Which doesn't make sense, because for such a decisive battle, the leader of the Decepticons should be there.

There's actually a way to keep that scene in that could answer a couple of dangling questions; how did Blitzwing end up on Earth when Bumblebee's only recently arrived and how does Optimus Prime know where Earth is?

The idea is this; during the nineteenth century, Optimus, Megatron and a small contingent on each side threw it down in the Arctic. The Autobots won, Prime defeated Megatron, throwing him in the polar sea, and Soundwave and Shockwave called a retreat, leaving Megatron behind (as well as Blitzwing, who was injured in the battle). S7 find him in the 1910s and take him to one of their bases and keep him on ice.

End result: Megatron's frozen on Earth and Soundwave and Shockwave take command of the Decepticons, as we saw them in Bumblebee's opening scene.