#3: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990
You know the term, if you don't succeed at first, try again. Well TMNT succeeded on the first fucking try. The prediction behind this movie is the most interesting one on the list. With Turtlemania starting to rise and Batman on the rise, Mark Freedman, the main listener of the TMNT, felt like they needed to compete. As such, they got the help of Hong Kong production staff Golden Hvarest to collaborate with Limelight Entertainment, who had connections with animatronics.
Thus enters Jim Henson Creature Shop. Using a combination of stunt and hero suits, plus unknown voice and stunt actors to bring the Turtles to life. Finally, while there is a little inspiration for the 87 show mixed in, it's super clear that much of the early Mirage comics were used here. Finally, the film will be distributed through New Line Cinema. From there history was made as the movie made 135 million off of a 13.5 million dollar budget. And they deserved every fucking penny.
As a film student, I find this entire movie shows how having lower budgets can give way to great creativity. Steve Barron's direction and Mirage comics as base help this move at a very natural pace the others simply do not have. April O Neil bravery to call out the Foot Clan on live television and the Turtle's inexperience combine as they save her.
Raph's anger over losing his sai forces him to venture into the city where he meets Casey Jones, saves April, and leads the Foot right to Splinter. Again, this is all simple, but this cause and effect lets the movie breathe in a way others don't. Of course, it doesn't hurt that our main cast is absolutely phenomenal. Corey Feldman, Robbie Rist, Brian Toechi, and John Pais' vocal performances combined with the suits legit make the Turtles so grounded in reality more than All Effects or the Bay Turtles could ever. They feel young, vibrant, and powerful.
While the effects steal the show, I do wish we saw more love given to Judith Hoang (April O Neil) and Elias Kotas (Casey Jones) in their respective roles. In a sea of fan casts, we have today for comic book projects, I think these 2 embody their respective roles so perfectly. Combined with the ample amount of time they get with the turtles, I am immediately sold on their interactions.
Another thing I love is the action scenes. Having martial artists on stuntwork combined with Golden Harvest gives the film a very old-school martial arts movie feel. As such, between the various locations, occasional gags, and fun choreography, I never mainly felt bored while watching it. For all these movies' great points, though, I must admit I'm very split on the antagonists.
After growing up with most iterations of the Foot Clan being international crime syndicates, it's almost refreshing to have them be a street gang praying on the youth. Not only does it ground them but it strikes an easy parallel to our adolescent heroes. However, what bothers me more is this depiction of the Shredder. Presentation-wise, he's a marvel, with James Saito and David Mchcharen pulling on double duty to make his performance work.
However, much like a lot of the Mirage adaptations, I think making Splinter a pure rat owned by Hamato Yoshi makes their beef less personal. Shredder's minimal appercances throughout the film combined with how easily he gets defeated by Splinter I think are two factors as to why the ending isn't my favorite. Still, TMNT 1990 is what helped bring so much longevity to the franchise. It's about as perfect an adaptation of classic TMNT as possible.
#2: Rise of TMNT movie
Coming into a silver medal, we Rise of the TMNT next. A particular version of the Turtles I admittedly spelled on as a lot of people did. At the time of it's appearance I was around a teenager who still had a strong attachment to the 2012 show. That combined with this show's offering a unique direction for the franchise, plus its short-lived nature on Nick, and I was turned off.
Years later, though, as I saw the first season get added to Netflix, I decided to finally give this show a chance before the movie was released. A decision I am incredibly grateful for. Rise, admittedly, is very different from its other iterations, and I don't think it has the best start. But once I took it as a bit of an origin story and appreciated what it did right I came around to it.
Having the turtles well "rise" to the kung fu frogs we know them to be, supplied with fun jokes, heartwarming chemistry, and jaw-dropping animation, was a rewarding experience. So, suffice it to say, by the time I saw the official trailers for the movie, I was hyped. I waited and waited, and soon enough, August 5th, 2022, would be a day to remember. And not just because I had to see the exploding boy from My Hero die and also attend a funeral. Needless to say I was an emotional wreck.
Right away this movie sets the stakes and tone faster than any Tmnt movie, opening up with a future New York ravaged by the Krang. As Leo and Mikey sacrfice themselves to send a new version of Casey Jones to the present in order to stop the alien invaders. In said present we see the turtles still fresh off their victory over the Shredder but still adjusting to their new dynamic as Leo grapples with being a leader.
On the one hand while I do think Leo is a little too much like his early series I do think it help to add a different dynamic. For Leonardo, I feel that TMNT didn't do the best in. ANd who boy does everyone suffer. Utrom Shredder might be the best villain on this list but terms of sheer terror the Rise Krang have them beat. Turning the pink blobs into these predatory, eldritch Darwinistic creatures that rely on tech, magic and organisms makes their threat level so profound. They up stakes so fast from Rise Shredder who was already the scariest version of him.
My jaw genuinely dropped with their proper introduction and Raph getting both stabbed and captured, the turtle's mystic powers getting taken out, plus the key still in play creates a dire atmosphere. We still get some good jokes, but Leonrado's colessing in him both understanding his brothers while allowing him to rely on them more openly is so rewarding.
The entire climax of this movie is an emotional rollercoaster that kicks me in the balls every time I rewatch. The "We are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," is so fucking earned and had me so geeked up alongside the final fight. This, I guess, also leads into the animation, but I don't think there's much to say that hasn't already been said by even the show's greatest haters.
Rise of the TMNT is arguably the best-looking Turtles film. Everything that made the show great is amplified here in both the fight scenes and brief showings of comedy. All of which aid in the film's emotional ending. The prison dimension, being this lifeless graveyard Krang and Leo sail through as our hero gets put through hell, is heart-wrenching. But it makes the last scene so much more bittersweet.
Honestly, the only real issues I can think of in this movie are time and budget. I would've like to have seen more of the alternate future and what was cut from the final fight. Also, just because this movie is supposed to be a pseudo-starting point for older fans does not mean this film doesn't address a majority of the show's cast.
As much as I like Casey 2 as a character, it also means Cassandra gets left behind a little bit. Still, if Rise is ending its era of TMNT, at least on the small screen, despite wanting more, I can't help but be satisfied with this open ending. Tony Gamo Lobo, Rebecca May, Ant War and Andy Suriano and everyone else deserve a slice of this film.
#1: Mutant Mayhem
A part of me really couldn't decide where to put this movie, and even now, I still kinda can flip-flop a little. Still, I think Mutant Mayhem somehow manages to embody the best aspects of the films alongside it while giving us a lot to chew on. After the Rise of TMNT ended, NIckleoden wanted to go in another direction for the turtles, and as such, executive vice president Ramsey Naito joined up with Brain Robbins to hit up Seth Rogen. With the producer, actor, and writer's work on shows like The Boys and Invincible, this is the right call.
His friend Evan Goldberg and production company Point Grey Pictures instantly got to work and crafted the movie. Unlike almost every iteration on here, Mutant Mayhem focuses way more on The first T of the acronym, where they got teenage actors and visually made the turtles younger. I think this simple part is what makes the movie work so well. I don't think the Turtles have ever had a truly bad casting, but Nicholas Cantu, Brandy Noon, Micah Abbey, and Shammon Brown Jr. combined with Ayo Edeberi, and time to ad-lib helps a lot. They lose some of the iconic archetypes they've crafted, but their gain is irreplaceable.
Some people think loads of references will date the film, and while I do agree partly, it should be noted the turtles have always done pop culture references, and they get the main message across. Stuff like the Bacon Egg and Cheese scene or them recording themselves just kinda captures the essence of what I love about this franchise.
It also makes the Turtles collective want to be accepted way more sympathetic than many other versions. They also accomplish this mission way better than Out of the Shaodws. There are tons of great comedy bits in the movie as well that help sell the Turtles in reality almost as much as the 90's movie.
The teenage naivety also bleeds into the story well enough when the turtles meet their "cousins." I'm genuinely shocked how little a full-on gang of mutants has been a threat to the turtles, and Superfly was a great leader to show them off. Ice Cube gives Superfly a very aggressive but down-to-earth feel you can't help but vibe with, and he goes from charismatic to villainous in a heartbeat. TMNT, in my opinion, always works best when there's a melding of the serious and more light-hearted tones, and straight up, this movie probably has the best melding of the two.
The parallels between the Turtles needing acceptance from humanity and Superfly's refusal of them reflecting toward splintering are great. Keeping safe in a world that doesn't accept you is a valid survival response. But it isn't a way to live, and every teenager has to grapple with risking that safety to risk happiness. It's the most universal message that any turtles film has and one of the things that has aided the Turtles always. Because it's through that risk of connection, they've connected with many people. It's why the climax where Kevin Eastman and the rest of the humans aiding the Turtles hit so hard.
Of course, what also hits hard is the animation. Mutant Mayhem still has visually speaking competition, but I like its look the most. Many people when MM came out said it was like Spiderverse I do feel like it doesn't give this style enough credit.
Unlike its comic book-centric peers, MM has a much rougher, sketchy, and asymmetrically clay-like style surrounding the visuals. It gives New York a very realistic feeling while still being ultra-stylized. Paired up with the best soundtrack of any Turtles film and we have visual delight. You can also see how well this visual style pays off in both Mutants Unleashed and Tales of TMNT.
While every fight scene is great, nowhere is the presentation more important than the "No Digiity fight scene." It's one of the best fights in the entire franchise for a reason, and it is so expertly directed. Honestly, if I had any real problems with the movie, it would probably lie with the mutants who aren't the turtles.
Superfly's gang having so many celebrity voice actors in scenes kinda means they are doomed not to get enough screen time or have defined personalities. The deleted scenes I feel like really gave a missed opportunity for the Turltes and mutants to fight proper. I also am not a fan of Splinter, being just a regular rat who teaches the Turtles ninjutsu through videos, which is disappointing. I'm hoping the next movie or show might make the Turtles reap that creative decision though.
Which may not be too far-fetched anyway. Mutant Mayhem was not only a great success, but it's clear that the TMNT film will go forward for the 2020s. Between the game, sequel and series I really dope we get to see more of this universe moving forward.
Epilogue
And that's my list! I know this took way longer than I expected but I still enjoyed the process. Rewatching every film while reading the the Ultimate Visual History book helped out a lot. 2025 is still fresh for me as I write this and for all the changes it's brought I'm glad my love for the Turtles have not. It's still difficult as a 21 year old to explain my love for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles because it's still multifaceted.
I love the found family aspect in it, knowing that most iterations have the Turtles be social recluses who, by venturing out, eventually developing a loving community. I love the audacity of it all, originally starting to be a parody of comic books to eventually becoming a celebration of them and pop culture. And I love this franchises ability to evolve so sivergently while being high quality, growing as I still grow up.
Whatever the reason I hope like Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird wishing to stand on the foots of legends I hope many more can use the Turtles can follow suit. I hope more people are able to add to their legacy or be inspired all the same. It's how we can keep this whole "art" thing going. And besides, who doesn't love being a turtle?