Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem has finally hit theaters. Because of that, it’s time to look back at all ten TMNT movies that have been released to date and rank them from worst to best.
When it comes to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, I would view myself as more of a casual fan than a hardcore one. I know the basic origins of the characters along with the tropes that the series have grown accustom to but I’ve never been someone that lives or breathes ninja turtles. My earliest memories of it come from some of the earlier cartoons and movies along with the 2007 animated film that I watched for the first time at my cousin’s house. While they have always been relevant to me, I’m certainly far from the biggest die hard fan of it.
I bring this up so that anyone that reads this ranking know that I’m coming through all movies in this franchise through fresh set of eyes with no nostalgic glasses attached to them. I’m just going by which ones I enjoyed watching the most and the ones I dreaded watching the most. I’m also not an expert on the TMNT fanbase as a whole so I’m not quite sure how exactly each movie has been received in the eyes of fans, except for maybe the original. Because of that, there’s a good chance your rankings are not gonna match mine.
Let’s not waste anymore and lets get right down to it!
10.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
Anyone remember when Michael Bay produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? While he might have technically not been the director of this monstrosity, his fingers prints are certainly all over it. These fun and goofy turtles don’t mesh well in a world whatsoever that’s tries it’s damndest to be bleak and grim. The title characters themselves are hideous to look at, the script is poorly written and somehow manages to come across as an even worse version of The Amazing Spider-Man, there’s way too much focus on April O’Neil herself, and just about every single change made to the traditional established lore feels like a complete spit in the face to the turtles themselves. There’s a couple of fun moments here and there (most notably the elevator scene) and (surprisingly) Megan Fox is not that bad as April O’Neil but this was an absolute turd that should have stayed firmly in it’s shell. At least the turtles themselves weren’t actually aliens like they were suppose to be! No, really!
9.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
The infamous part three of the live-action TMNT movies was most certainly the one that jumped the shark big time for the series in live-action. There’s and attempt to add a time travel spin to the mix with an emphasis on a bizarre setting with Japan along with giving the ninja turtles themselves their own separate arcs. Unfortunately, none of it comes together because of how unfunny and boring the whole experience is. The direction is lifeless, the comedy is unbearable, the animatronics are hilariously awful, and nothing interesting is ever done with it’s emphasis on time travel or the turtles themselves in Japan. It was by this point that you can tell everyone involved with these movies have grown tired of the turtles themselves. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III was certainly the moment that the series would (no pun intended) become a shell of it’s former self.
8.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Out of the Shadows was a major improvement over the ill-fated 2014 reboot in just about every way. The turtles themselves were in the forefront, April was pushed more to the wayside but is still her usual resourceful self, it’s much more colorful, and the lighter tone feels much more appropriate for a TMNT movie. Just a shame that it’s mostly the newer elements added that basically bring the whole movie down. Stephen Amell is horribly miscast as Casey Jones (And that’s not just because of his recent comments involving the strike!), Krane is completely wasted and useless, and Bebop and Rocksteady are absolutely UNBEARABLE whenever they appear on screen. While better overall than it’s predecessor, Out of the Shadows proves that this iteration of the ninja turtles was never good enough to be considered worthwhile.
7.) Turtles Forever
What was basically Spider-Man: No Way Home before Spider-Man: No Way Home was even a thing, Turtles Forever sees the turtle of the original animated series team up with the turtles of the 4Kids animated series. Seeing both incarnations of the ninja turtles together was fun to to see, Shredder was among his most threatening out of any of the TMNT movies, and it’s interesting to see how the concept of the multiverse basically started in film here WAY before it would have a big impact on other comic book movie franchises. It’s a shame they couldn’t get the voice actors from the original 1987 series and I don’t know if this will appeal to those outside of TMNT fans. However, for those that were big fans of both cartoon series, I can’t imagine how they wouldn’t be able to get any enjoyment out of this.
6.) Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
The film adaption of the most recent TMNT series on Nickelodeon is able to successfully translate this version of the ninjas turtles properly to a movie, and is even able to improve on the show’s shortcomings as well. The 2D animation is a refreshing change of pace to all the moderately 3D animation we get nowadays. You also got the ninja turtles that are still as fun and goofy as ever and action scenes that are a blast to sit through. Most of the supporting cast don’t get much to do here and as awesome as Ben Schwartz is as Leonardo, his vocal performance mostly blends with his ones for Dewey and Sonic the Hedgehog. While the show it’s based on is quite polarizing, I do think Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie is worth a watch for TMNT fans or even for those that are looking for a fun watch.
5.) Batman vs the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Who would’ve ever guess that we would ever see a Batman and TMNT crossover on film? Who would’ve also guess that it’s in the top five of the best TMNT films ever made? There’s not much to describe with Batman vs the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles other than it’s title and premise itself. What you see is basically what you get! If the idea of a Batman and TMNT crossover sounds awesome to you, then you will likely find it awesome. If not, then well…….you’re just no fun!
4.) TMNT (2007)
The first ever CGI-animated TMNT flick was able to do a “serious” Ninja Turtles movie much better than the the 2014 live-action film could ever do. If anything, it certainly has a more more balanced tone along with a style and art direction that feels greatly appropriate for TMNT. Despite the film receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews back in 2007, time has been very kind to this one and there’s plenty to enjoy here. Throw in an all-star celebrity voice cast who are all great in their roles, plenty of easter eggs/references for hardcore and causal fans, engaging internal conflicts for the turtles themselves (especially with the fight between Raphel and Leo) and a thoroughly faithful adaption of the material, TMNT (2007) acts as not just one of the best TMNT movies ever made but an absurdly overlook gem of an animated film that deserves more recognition.
3.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
The sequel to the beloved original does what just about any good sequel does, it dives deeper into the characters themselves, their origins, and their reasons for doing what they do. However, instead of going darker, it goes much more goofier as it dials up the wackiness and silliness up to 11, right down to the Vanilla Ice “Go Ninja Go!” sequence (which absolutely RULES btw, don’t @ me!). Secret of the Ooze is a film that basically allows it’s audience to laugh along the way with it’s characters as we go on the adventure with them this time around while getting to learn more about them. The characters are still engaging, the action is still great, the suits and effects still hold up incredibly well, and it’s just a ton of fun throughout. Some might find it too silly for it’s own good, but for what it’s worth, this is still a worthwhile sequel that acts as a worthy companion to the original, even if it doesn’t surpass it.
2.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
The original 1990 film still remains a classic in the eyes of just about every Ninja Turtles fan out there. This is able hold up very well even over three decades later because of how much love and respect it pays to the source material that it’s based on. It’s able to perfectly blend a dark and gritty tone of the comics with the more campy and light hearted nature of the 80’s cartoon without having either one completely overtake the other. The characterization of the likes of April O’Neil, Casey Jones, and the ninja turtles themselves are incredibly well realized, making them easily the best version of all the live-action films to date. Even if there are some elements that are now quite dated, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) makes for easily the definite live-action TMNT movie thus far with well-done action scenes, solid performances, quotable lines, a rocking soundtrack, and themes surrounding family and heroism that still resonate to this very day. While it’s no longer quite my favorite TMNT movie now, I wouldn’t fault anyone who would still have it as their very favorite because it’s still that damn good.
1.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Of all the films that have we have gotten to date involving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mutant Mayhem is probably the one to get the most things right. The animation is top notch, the characters are all well-utilized and bounce off each other perfectly, the story feels fresh but yet faithful to the turtles lore, the score is absolutely killer, the action is a lot of fun, and it’s able to exist in it’s own sandbox as being the kind of film that can stand proudly on it’s own along with the best of what the Ninja Turtles have offered throughout their entire history. While I won’t go as far to say that it’s a perfect film (especially with it’s likely dated pop culture references), it’s certainly a perfect TMNT film and one that will likely be the one to get a new generation into this successful running franchise. A sequel has just been announced is in the works along with a brand new 2D series. If they manage to be as enjoyable if not more so than Mutant Mayhem, than this new generation of TMNT fans will have plenty to be spoiled by.
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