Every 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Movie, Ranked
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Cowabunga! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles returned this summer in a star-studded adventure from Jeff Rowe, Seth Rogen and others. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (now available on digital, DVD and Blu-ray), Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael attempt to find acceptance as normal teenagers in New York City all while using their ninjutsu to take on a new army of mutant animals. While the Ninja Turtles are voiced by relative newcomers, several of the other mutants might sound familiar. Jackie Chan, Maya Rudolph, John Cena, Hannibal Buress and Paul Rudd are just a few of the people who lend their voices to the movie.
Originally a comic book series in 1984 followed by a TV show in 1987, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first hit the big screen in the ‘90s with a trilogy of movies. Other films have cropped up over the years, including a particularly wonderful Batman crossover and an ill-fated Michael Bay-backed attempt at a reboot franchise. It’s a pretty impressive empire for a comic that was initially supposed to be a one-off parody of superhero comics.
In honor of our favorite late '80s, early '90s "shell-ebrities," we’ve ranked all 10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies from worst to best. See how the newest installment ranks among the others and where your favorite TMNT flick falls on the list:
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Every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) movie ranked
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
This reboot attempt was one of the franchise's more disastrous endeavors. While investigating the criminal group the Foot Clan and its leader Shredder, reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) is taken hostage alongside several others on the subway. When a crew of vigilantes rescue her and the other hostages, she follows them and discovers the four mutant turtles. Realizing that she has a past connection to the turtles, April begins to work with them and their rat sensei, Splinter, to help save the city from Shredder and a money-hungry pharmaceutical CEO. Sharing an incredibly similar plot to the 1990 original, the live-action and CGI combo brought nothing new to the story and instead became a needlessly regurgitated piece of IP.
9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)
Although the original live-action series reigns supreme, the third and final entry was a struggle. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), April is accidentally sent back in time to 17th-century Japan when a scepter makes her swap places with a young prince. The turtles decide to travel back in order to save her, cautious of the time-sensitive nature of the scepter’s power. There, two of the turtles feel like they belong, while the other two wish to return to present day NYC once their mission is over. Michelangelo, specifically, is upset about growing up and is wary of returning, but ultimately ends up back with his brothers. While it's the worst part of the original trilogy, the movie scores points for playing on the turtles' recurrent struggle to feel that they belong.
8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)
One of the rare instances where a sequel is far superior to the original, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016) gets points for offering a relatively original story. When Shredder escapes prison, he meets an even more nefarious antagonist, alien Krang, who plans to invade Earth (with Shredder’s help). April and the turtles (and Stephen Amell’s Casey Jones) once again team up, but this time they have access to a mutant antidote, which brings with it the controversial possibility for the mutants to turn human. The movie’s ending sets up a third and final installment, but the lukewarm reception halted the reboot at two films.
7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of Ooze (1991)
Time and time again, one of the biggest components of TMNT lore is how the mutated turtles came to be. Each series has its own spin, with a more comprehensive explanation often coming in the sequel. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of Ooze (1991), the turtles learn that the mutagen (which they call “ooze”) that changed them into anthropomorphic creatures came from a lab that currently has a toxic waste leak. A disfigured Shredder and the remnants of the Foot Clan get ahold of the ooze, of course, and the turtles must band together to fight Super Shredder and his mutated charges. The movie was a quickly scraped together but still a solid sequel to an original film that wound up being more successful than anyone could have predicted.
6. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022)
While much hype has surrounded the release of Mutant Mayhem, another stellar animated TMNT movie hit Netflix last year. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022) finds the turtles in 2044, where Krang has taken over Earth. The turtles send Casey Jones, who has been training under them, back in time (to present day) in the hopes that he’ll be able to find a key that can keep Krang from coming to Earth. The movie, which served as a continuation of the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018-2022) TV series, helps bring the turtles into the present in a way that honors the franchise’s lore.
Related: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shows the Importance of Teamwork in TMNT
5. TMNT (2007)
Set after the original live-action trilogy, the animated TMNT (2007) finds the not-so-teenage mutant ninja turtles later in life. The turtles have drifted apart and individually protect different parts of the world, but they’re pulled back together after thirteen immortal monsters are released. Back in New York City, Splinter attempts to reunite his adopted sons and get the TMNT back on the same page. The movie featured a surprisingly stacked voice cast, including the talents of Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Stewart and Laurence Fishburne. Although the movie didn’t spawn a new cinematic venture or reignite the franchise, it was a genuine attempt to bring the turtles into new territory with fresh storylines and for a slightly older audience.
4. Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
Contrary to the title, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019) features a team-up for the ages. When Shredder and the Foot Clan go to Gotham to attack Wayne Enterprises, the mutant turtles follow and run into Batman, Robin and Batgirl. After initially squabbling, the two groups discover that Shredder has teamed up with Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins, so the turtles and the Bat Family opt to also work together. The movie features a stellar voice cast, including work from Troy Baker, Rachel Bloom, Darren Criss and Kyle Mooney, among others. While the story itself is one of the more unconventional entries into TMNT lore, the film is one of the more surprising gems of the franchise and serves as the crossover you didn’t know you needed.
3. Turtles Forever (2009)
Before the Marvel multiverse, there was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles multiverse. In Turtles Forever (2009), which served as a finale to the beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003-2009) television series, the modern turtles are shocked to see a video of themselves fighting the Purple Dragons. It turns out that they’re looking at an alternate universe version of themselves, specifically the turtles from the 1987 TV series of the same name. A battle with Shredder and Krang sent the OG turtles into a different dimension and unfortunately opened up a villainous multidimensional opportunity for the Shredders out there. While everything eventually works out (and the turtles even get to meet yet another prime version of themselves), the movie is less about plot and more about offering longtime fans a thrilling conclusion and a nod to the comics that started it all.
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Like the 2014 rendition, the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saw the mutants and Splinter go up against Shredder, but it was fresh at the time and offered an introduction to the turtles for those who might have missed the comics and TV series. The movie introduces a more heartfelt, sincere look at the turtles, and through live-action helps flesh out the characters as three-dimensional beings. A large part of the film’s success was due to the artistry of puppeteer Jim Henson, who passed away shortly after the premiere. Rather than attempt CGI, the four turtle costumes were expertly crafted by Henson and have an air of realism to the entire production—despite the silly premise.
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Coming in first is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The animated adventure combines classic TMNT tropes with Seth Rogen's signature sense of humor, creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' best outing to date and a film that is genuinely appealing to all ages. MVP status goes to Ayo Edebiri's April O'Neil, this time a fellow teenager who just wants to fit in (and break an amazing story, as an aspiring journalist). The movie smartly avoids repeating the plots of its predecessors and instead focuses on Superfly, the leader of a group of fellow mutants. The film withholds signs of Shredder (for the most part), rather than making him the main protagonist of Mutant Mayhem, and has smartly saved his involvement for the sequel (which is already in the works, per Variety, along with a Paramount+ TV series).
