All 8 TMNT Movies Ranked (According To IMDb) | ScreenRant
The superhero sensation known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a force seemingly as unstoppable as the mutant half-shell heroes themselves. Even decades after its humble comic origins, the property has reached cultural icon status - bursting onto the scene with the '87 animated series and seldom slowing down. These bodacious crime-fighters have since been the face of a variety of shows, video games, and toys. As one might expect, this expansive and long-running series has also seen a number of distinct movie renditions.
These range from gritty live-action films to flashy CG epics - and everything in-between. The current tally stands at 8, with a new film in the works based on the recent Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, set to release on Netflix soon. With that said, let's explore these 8 distinct TMNT films, as ranked by IMDb.
8 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993) (4.8)
You know you're dealing with a pretty questionable film when online video critiques and spoofs tend to be more popular than the actual content it's mocking. This is arguably the case for this third entry in the live-action Turtles trilogy. While its predecessors had received their share of cheese, this sequel is absolutely oozing with it - not unlike an overloaded pizza favored by the Turtles.
Turtles III marks a major departure from the settings, concepts, and cast of the '90 and '91 films. Rather, the narrative revolves around a silly, over-the-top time-traveling premise that just feels thematically off. Not only this, but both the action and the visuals feel like a step back, as does the cringy dialogue and janky animatronics.
7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) (5.8)
Director Jonathan Liebesman and producer Michael Bay are certainly no strangers to amped-up action and cinematic bombast. So when it was announced they'd be involved in an all-new, edgier rendition of TMNT, fans were cautiously optimistic. This was at least partially tempered, however, when the odd, borderline creepy designs of this new brand of Turtles was unveiled.
Beyond this jarring face-lift for the Ninja Turtles, the film was criticized by some for a slew of other reasons. These include some of the casting decisions, a disjointed tone, and the lack of prominent figures in the series. Still, some thrilling action, silly humor, and sleek visuals were enough to bring some on board.
6 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze (1991) (6.0)
This anticipated Turtles sequel was criticized for its more kid-friendly themes and general dialing back of the '90 film's darker, grittier tone. Some particularly cringe-worthy moments - like the impromptu Ninja rap by Vanilla Ice - also weigh down the film's otherwise entertaining nature somewhat.
Still, even if this felt like "TMNT-lite" at times, the '91 sequel did manage to entertain with some fun inclusions from Turtles lore, along with a more gripping plot. The film emphasizes some cool, colorful villains like Super Shredder, along with the Bebop/Rocksteady-inspired mutant duo, Rahzar and Tokka. This alone was enough for some fans to give the film franchise a second look.
5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (2016) (6.0)
Similar to how Secret of the Ooze revved up the excitement and fleshed out TMNT lore, director Dave Green's sequel achieved these ends with the 2014 rendition. But while that '91 sequel dialed some elements back, Out of the Shadows goes full-throttle - especially when it comes to the action and visual effects.
As indicated by its tepid 6.0 score, it still had some blemishes for many fans and critics, leading to mixed reviews and relative commercial failure at the box office. Still, there's certainly something to be said for the sheer grandiosity and abundance of fan-pleasing character inclusions. Not only does Shredder, Baxter Stockman, and even Krang see some action - it also features the real Bebop and Rocksteady!
4 TMNT (2007) (6.2)
Considering this was first TMNT film since the disappointing Turtles III 14 years earlier, there was a building curiosity and hype surrounding this CGI reboot. While it didn't quite manage to meet expectations for many, this animated action romp serves as a fun and interesting new take on this established series. Being essentially a stand-alone project in terms of lore, the film paints the scene with a distinct origin story and creative world-building. The lives and personalities of the Turtles themselves also prove a departure from the norm - with Donatello working as an IT specialist, and Raph flying solo as a vigilante, for instance.
Though this distinct, colorful spin on TMNT isn't for everyone, many regard it as an entertaining watch in its own right.
3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) (6.8)
Fans weren't quite sure what to expect following the announcement of this project, which was to be the first live-action TMNT film - with a slightly darker twist to boot. These concerns proved at least somewhat justified, though the movie does have its finer points.
It's true that the corny humor, crude visuals, and thematic departure from the cartoon produced a rather mixed reception. Still, many regard this film for its edgier qualities, fun action, and impressive animatronics as well as costume design - at least for 1990. Given the ambitious nature of this charming romp - which became the highest-grossing independent film until The Blair Witch Project - there's much to appreciate about it.
2 Batman Vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019) (7.2)
Regardless of their cheese-factor, action films are typically about entertainment value first-and-foremost. Certainly, a Batman and TMNT crossover would provide ample amounts of fun and excitement - and this Jake Castorena animation mostly delivers. Being a direct-to-video film, this 2019 cartoon managed to fly under the radar, even for many Turtles fans. Still, fans of superhero epics and Saturday morning cartoons alike found much to enjoy in this delightful crossover.
Watching two of the biggest superheroes of the 80s and 90s team up to take on the League of Assassins and Foot proves particularly enjoyable. This is thanks, in part, to some detailed and flashy animation, adrenaline-pumping action, and an enthralling plot.
1 Turtles Forever (2009) (7.8)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a franchise with a vast and rich history, dating back to the gritty '84 comic series. As such, a film exploring this history - whilst taking viewers on a nostalgic TMNT ride - is almost sure to provide some entertainment.
Though the aforementioned Batman crossover was neat, this 4Kids Entertainment production does it one better - featuring a crossover within the TMNT franchise. This cartoon epic is both a thrilling ride and a delightful celebration of all things Turtles. It features the '03, '87, and the black-and-white comic renditions of the ninjas - kicking some shell together in one entertaining romp. Fans renown this crossover for its gripping narrative and intense action - along with visuals that truly look stylistically authentic. Even without the inclusion of the original shows' voice actors, this truly feels like a trip into TMNT's past.