Every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Ranked (Including Mutant Mayhem)

We said we're ranking every "TMNT" movie and we meant it, even if it means having to unearth this confusing piece of pop culture detritus. Casual "Turtles" fans might not know that, at the height of the characters' popularity, the brothers in green branched out into recording and performing music. Yes, really. From the minds of composer-musicians Bob Bejan and Godfrey Nelson, "Coming Out of Our Shells" is a collection of rock songs (with a dash of hip-hop — this is "TMNT" after all) "performed" by the Turtles, covering topics like surfin' down sewer pipes and, of course, "Pizza Power." Even Splinter and April O'Neil get numbers of their own.

After Bejan and co-producer Steven Leber struck a deal with Pizza Hut, the album went multiplatinum and, as part of the deal, inspired a live concert with extensive costumes, pyrotechnics, and even a special new rap track for Shredder. This truly once-in-a-lifetime (hopefully) event was captured for posterity on an official VHS live recording, in which younger fans can witness this bizarre yet banal blip in "Turtles" history. 

The live show sees the Turtles wanting to connect with their fans IRL, until their performance is threatened by the evildoings of Shredder and Baxter Stockman. It's a silly show whose larger-than-life story and characters can't quite match its minimalist staging, but it's far more fun to revel in the absurdity of its very existence than to be a buzzkill over its lack of quality. Just don't watch the making-of documentary ... then you'll really be in Turtle Hell.

After having bought the rights to "TMNT" from series co-creator Peter Laird in 2009, it was imperative for Viacom and Nickelodeon to make a good first impression on the silver screen. Though the film was a box office success, Platinum Dunes' 2014 reboot was reviled by critics and hardly embraced by fans, in part because the Turtles aren't even the main characters of their own movie. Despite being woefully miscast, Megan Fox leads the film as April O'Neil, a struggling reporter who discovers the turtles while investigating the Foot Clan. In a bizarre revision to the original lore, April first interacts with the brothers and Master Splinter (Tony Shalhoub) as pets in her father's laboratory before he is killed and the animals are abandoned in the sewer.

There is something admirably grimy about this Michael Bay-produced take on "TMNT," not just in the cinematography but also in the frankly disgusting CGI redesigns. Let's be honest, photorealistic mutant turtles would likely look as horrifying as these mo-cap abominations, though that doesn't make them enjoyable to watch. As much as the voice cast (which includes Johnny Knoxville, for some reason) does their best to imbue chemistry into their brotherly dynamic, the Turtles are total eyesores, and that's a fact, Jack. In combination with the film's overly-produced blockbuster cinematography and editing, the entire film is a tiring, aimless ordeal. It's no wonder that the Mutant Bayhem only lasted for two films and was quickly superseded by Netflix's far superior "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" reincarnation beginning in 2018.

Talk about a shell shock! The third installment in the original live-action "TMNT" film series has long been lambasted as not only the worst of the trilogy, but one of the entire franchise's biggest mistakes. However, perhaps this surprisingly ambitious film deserves some reappraisal. People jeer at the notion of the Turtles time traveling to Feudal Japan, yet the Turtles literally time traveled two years earlier in one of their best-selling video games, "Turtles in Time" (which many fans mistake as the title of the film due to errors printed on home video copies). Plus, what better way to expand the "Turtles" universe than to send them back to when and where their fighting style, ninjutsu, originated?

This isn't to say the film fully takes advantage of its interesting setup. The surprisingly detailed historical narrative isn't perfectly juxtaposed with the Turtles' constant one-liners. However, it does provide the brothers with the chance to meet new characters and learn from them, something "Secret of the Ooze" barely bothered to attempt. In fact, "TMNT III" is overall more ambitious than its predecessor, featuring extensive period set design, costuming, props, and even music. Many are quick to point out the film's cheaper-looking Turtle suits but don't even care to mention that this is the only film of the three where the mouth animatronics are actually convincing! Call us crazy, but it's about time that this black sheep (or black turtle) of the franchise gets its due diligence. I mean, c'mon — the Turtles dance! In unison!

The confusingly titled "TMNT" is an oddity in the history of our lean, mean, and green heroes. It was the first-ever animated "Turtles" film, not to mention a sequel (technically) to "TMNT III." It features the voice talents of Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Stewart, and even Laurence Fishburne. It has the makings of what could have been a momentous turn for the Turtles, yet is mostly forgotten in the wake of Viacom and Nickelodeon's purchase of the franchise just two years later.

The film follows the four ninja warriors in the year following their defeat of the Shredder, a concept never explored in a film previously. Not only that, but the Turtles begin to grow apart and some of them even take on real jobs. It's a surprisingly somber movie that forces the team to consider what their lives are like now that their main baddie has bitten the dust. It goes to some dark places, including one confrontation with Leonardo (James Arnold Taylor) and Raphael (Nolan North) that feels incredibly evocative of Laird and Eastman's original comics.

The Turtles' struggles mirror their villain this time around, Max Winters (Stewart), a billionaire businessman who is secretly an immortal warlord. He wishes to no longer be immortal and strives to reverse this curse by any means necessary; just as the Turtles learn by the end of the film, Winters knows that a lonely life is not worth living. It's a subtle juxtaposition but one that grounds the entire film in a maturity that you'll rarely find in a "Turtles" film. Who said ninja teens can't have gravitas?

It's almost absurd how well the Turtles' silver screen debut holds up. Everything points to it being a product of its time, cheesy in its humor and dated in its effects. However, within just the first few minutes, it's clear that visionary music video director Steve Barron had brought the comics to life in a way that no other director has achieved since. This isn't to say it's a flawless adaptation, but it succeeds in ways that no other film in the series has.

For one, this is the only "TMNT" movie that feels like an actual New York story. The Turtles' city upbringing is a major aspect of their identity, and Barron embraces the grittiness and ground-level crime of '80s Manhattan to a tee. It also feels like the Turtles are real New Yorkers –- Mikey (Robbie Rist) does impressions of Sylvester Stallone and James Cagney for crying out loud. With its expressionist lighting and grainy cinematography, it probably has more in common with "Dog Day Afternoon" or "The French Connection" than its own sequel.

Secondly (and most importantly), the 1990 film finds an incredible balance between the original comic's darker edges and the television show's lighter elements. The film's commitment to Shredder's (James Saito) steely, intimidating aesthetic feels genuine, while the Turtles' chemistry between each other and with April O'Neil (Judith Hoag in a genuinely brilliant performance) is incredibly charming. This tightrope tonal balance, in combination with the film's b-movie sensibility, creates a fascinating world for the Turtles to inhabit and one that has yet to be topped in live-action.

When it comes to storied franchises like "TMNT," it can be difficult to feel surprised by new interpretations. The characters are so beloved by such a devoted fanbase that, oftentimes, it's easier to repeat what's tried and true. This was not the case for "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," the 2018 television incarnation that saw much of the franchise's story and cast thoroughly redesigned. Not only was the art style more angular and high-octane, but the brothers themselves were given new characterizations: Leonardo (Ben Schwartz) was more arrogant, Donatello (Josh Brener) was more witty, Raphael (Omar Miller) was more responsible, and Michelangelo (Brandon Mychal Smith) was more wide-eyed. It presented a whole new dynamic for the foursome that made this take on the turtles immensely refreshing, not to mention hilariously funny.

The series culminates with the 2022 film, in which fan-favorite character Casey Jones (Haley Joel Osment) is similarly reimagined as a student of Master Leonardo in the year 2044. On the brink of worldwide destruction, Leonardo sends Casey back in time to help the original turtles save the future. It's an adventure that retains much of the series' charm but boosts the action up several notches. In fact, several moments are more intense than any other entry in the franchise, including the body horror abilities of the Krang (Jim Pirri and Toks Olagundoye). 

It's all in service of a high-stakes story, both for the brothers and for the fate of the world, that sets up and pays off every character arc. It resonates more effectively than the wacky hijinks of other entries, making this film the most radical "Turtles" adventure in every sense of the word.