The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been enthralling audiences since their creation in 1984. Their popularity has resulted in successful comics, animated series, live-action TV shows, and theatrical movies across several generations. While the animated series and live-action television shows have been able to capture the hearts and imaginations of countless fans over the years, the theatrical movies have become some of the most iconic elements of their franchise.
With a total of five movies released over the span of two decades, the turtles have made an impact on generations of fans — both old and new — who have been eager to watch the turtles on the silver screen. Each of the movies have had their own distinguishing elements, making them a unique part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe, so we’ve decided to rank them all according to their merits.
#5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)
The third installment of the original trilogy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III makes for the most forgettable one of them all. With a drastic change in scenery — taking the turtles to feudal Japan — the film felt out of place and the story proved to be a derivative of the original. Fun fact: This was the last TMNT movie to be released in theaters for over 20 years, before rebooting the franchise in 2014.
#4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
The TMNT film franchise was rebooted in 2014, with a modern take on the classic series. While it was a far cry from its 1990s predecessor, the movie was successful in its own right, popularizing the turtles to a new generation and introducing a more serious cinematic effort. The action-packed spectacle was a fresh take on the series and offered up plenty of exciting moments.
#3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)
The sequel to the 2014 reboot, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows expanded on the story from the previous movie, while also introducing some familiar characters from the original series. Its larger-than-life sensibilities and plenty of special effects made it a fun ride that also provided a fair amount of nostalgia.
#2 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)
The sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie was the first to introduce the two most beloved villains from the franchise, Shredder and Krang. While it does not live up to the original, the action sequences, comedy, and cameos from Vanilla Ice and Ernie Reyes, Jr. make for a memorable time.
#1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie is the one most fans look back on fondly. While it may have been a campy take on the franchise, it did a fantastic job of introducing the characters and their unique personalities, while also capturing the charm and wit of the original source material. It remains to this day as the definitive entry of the TMNT movie franchise.
There you have it, the five Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies ranked according to their merits. Whether you’re an old fan or just getting introduced to the turtles, these five movies offer some of the best memories of the franchise, giving fans an unforgettable cinematic experience.
