Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in film

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a superhero team created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, have appeared in seven theatrical feature-length films since their debut. The first film was released in 1990, at the height of the franchise's popularity.^[1] Despite mixed reviews from critics, it was a commercial success^[2][3] that garnered two direct sequels, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze in 1991 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993, both of which were modest successes.^[4][3] An animated film titled TMNT was released in 2007.^[5]

Following the purchase of the Turtles franchise by Viacom in 2009,^[4] Paramount Pictures gained the exclusive theatrical film rights. The studio's first film which served as a reboot of the series was released in 2014.^[4] A sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, was released in 2016^[6] and was the first film in the franchise to be considered financially unsuccessful.^[7][8] An animated reboot film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was released in 2023.^[9] The seven films have grossed $1.3 billion worldwide.^[10]

The film tells the origin story of Splinter and the Turtles, their initial encounters with April O'Neil and Casey Jones, and their first confrontation with The Shredder and his Foot Clan.^[11] It closely follows the storyline from the Mirage comic books, in addition to some of the more lighthearted elements of the cartoons.^[12] It was directed by Steve Barron and written by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck from a story by Herbeck.^[13] Kim Dawson, Simon Fields, and David Chan serve as producers.^[13] It stars Judith Hoag and Elias Koteas, with the voices of Brian Tochi, Josh Pais, Corey Feldman, and Robbie Rist.^[11] It also showcases the innovative puppetry techniques of Jim Henson's Creature Shop.^[14] Golden Harvest Entertainment Company, known for its Hong Kong action films, co-produced the film, which was released theatrically in the United States on March 30, 1990, by New Line Cinema.^[15]

The film further expands the Turtles origin story and follows the four as they once again face Shredder, who is out for revenge.^[16] The sequel to the 1990 film features a more lighthearted tone than its predecessor.^[16] It was directed by Michael Pressman and written by Langen.^[16] Dawson, Chan, and Thomas K. Gray serve as producers.^[16] It stars Paige Turco and David Warner, with the voices of Tochi, Rist, Adam Carl, and Laurie Faso.^[16][17] The film was dedicated to puppeteer Jim Henson.^[18] Golden Harvest co-produced again, and the film was released theatrically in the United States on March 22, 1991, by New Line Cinema.^[16]

The plot revolves around the "Sacred Sands of Time", a mystical scepter which transports the Turtles and April back in time to feudal Japan, where they become embroiled in a conflict between a daimyō and a group of rebellious villagers.^[16] Written and directed by Stuart Gillard, it was produced by Dawson, Chan, and Gray.^[16] It stars Koteas, Turco, Vivian Wu, Sab Shimono, and Stuart Wilson with the voices of Tochi, Rist, Feldman, and Tim Kelleher.^[19] Golden Harvest co-produced again, and the film was released theatrically in the United States on March 19, 1993, by New Line Cinema.^[16]

In the film, after having grown apart following the final defeat of their arch-enemy, the Shredder, the four Turtles — Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo (voiced respectively by James Arnold Taylor, Nolan North, Mitchell Whitfield, and Mikey Kelley) — are set to reunite and overcome their faults to save the world from evil ancient creatures.^[20][21] An animated film, it was written and directed by Kevin Munroe, and produced by Thomas K. Gray, Galen Walker, and Paul Wang.^[21] It features an ensemble voice cast including Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, and Ziyi Zhang, with narration by Laurence Fishburne.^[21] Produced by Imagi Animation Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States and The Weinstein Company internationally,^[22] it was the final Turtles film to be distributed by Warner Bros. due to the franchise being purchased by Viacom.^[23] The film was theatrically released in the United States on March 23, 2007.^[22]

The plot follows the Turtles, who, with the help of their new ally April O'Neil, face the evil Shredder and his Foot Clan, as well as protect their New York City home.^[24] It serves as a reboot of the series and was directed by Jonathan Liebesman and written by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Evan Daugherty.^[24] Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller co-produced the film, alongside Galen Walker, Scott Mednick, and Ian Bryce.^[24] The film stars Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Danny Woodburn, Abby Elliott, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, and Alan Ritchson, with the voices of Johnny Knoxville and Tony Shalhoub.^[24][25][26] It was released in theaters on August 8, 2014 by Paramount Pictures.^[27]

The film follows the Turtles, who, after defeating the Shredder, must face an even bigger foe: the dreaded Krang.^[28] The sequel to the 2014 film, it was directed by Dave Green and written by Appelbaum and Nemec.^[28] Bay, Form, and Fuller of Platinum Dunes, as well as Walker and Mednick, returned to co-produce the film.^[28] Fox, Arnett, Fisher, Howard, Ploszek, and Ritchson reprise their roles, with Laura Linney, Stephen Amell, Tyler Perry, Gary Anthony Williams, Brian Tee, and Sheamus joining the cast.^[28] It was released in theatres in the United States on June 3, 2016 by Paramount Pictures.^[29]

The film follows the Turtles, who, with the help of their new ally April O'Neil, go on a hunt for and face off against a mysterious crime boss, Superfly, and his gang of mutants.^[30] An animated film, it serves as being the second reboot of the series.^[31] The film was directed by Jeff Rowe and co-directed by Kyler Spears, from a screenplay and story written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Rowe, with Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit also credited to the former and Brendan O'Brien to the latter.^[30] Rogen, Goldberg, and James Weaver co-produced through their production company Point Grey Pictures.^[30] The film stars an ensemble voice cast with Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon as the titular team, alongside Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rudolph, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Natasia Demetriou, Giancarlo Esposito, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, and Paul Rudd.^[32] It was released in the United States on August 2, 2023, by Paramount Pictures.^[33]

In July 2023, a month before Mutant Mayhem's release, it was announced that a sequel had been greenlit.^[34] It will feature the character Shredder as a main antagonist who was teased at the end of Mutant Mayhem.^[35][36] Rowe is set to return as director alongside co-directors Spears and Yashar Kassai.^[37] Point Grey is set to co-produce again, with Rogen, Goldberg, and Weaver returning as producers alongside Ramsay McBean.^[38] It is set to be released in theaters on October 9, 2026, by Paramount Pictures.^[39]

The plot follows the Turtles of the 2003 animated television series as they team up with the Turtles of the 1987 television series and the Mirage comic books to save the multiverse from the wrath of Ch’Rell, the Utrom Shredder of the 2003 television series.^[40] The film was produced in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the franchise while also serving as the finale to the 2003 television series.^[40] It was directed by Roy Burdine and Lloyd Goldfine and written by Goldfine, Rob David, and Matthew Drdek. It aired on The CW4Kids on November 21, 2009.^[41]

The story focuses on Batman, Robin, and Batgirl teaming up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in order to save Gotham City from chaos at the hands of both Shredder and Ra's al Ghul.^[42] The film is an adaptation of the comic book miniseries Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by James Tynion IV and Freddie Williams II.^[42] A co-production between Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon, and DC, it was directed by Jake Castorena and written by Marly Halpern-Graser and features the voices of Troy Baker, Eric Bauza, Darren Criss, Kyle Mooney, and Baron Vaughn.^[42] It was produced for the direct-to-video market, and was released on both Blu-ray and Digital HD by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on June 4, 2019.^[43]

In the film, the Turtles, with the help of their new ally from the future, Casey Jones, set out to stop the evil alien force, the Krang, from invading Earth.^[44] It is a continuation of the animated television series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018–20).^[44] The film was directed by series co-developers Andy Suriano and Ant Ward from a screenplay by Tony Gama-Lobo and Rebecca May, based on a story by Suriano and Ward.^[44] It stars the show's regular voice cast of Ben Schwartz, Omar Miller, Brandon Mychal Smith, Josh Brener, Kat Graham, and Eric Bauza, with newcomer Haley Joel Osment as Casey Jones.^[44] The film premiered on Netflix on August 5, 2022.^[44]

^C indicates the actor or actress portrayed their character through a costume.
^D indicates the actor or actress portrayed their character in deleted scenes.
^M indicates a performance through motion-capture technology.
^P indicates a performance through puppetry.
^U indicates the actor or actress was uncredited for their role.
^V indicates a performance through voice-work.
^Y indicates an actor or actress portrayed a younger version of their character.

In June 2018, it was reported that Paramount Pictures will once again reboot the live-action series with Fuller and Form returning to produce the film and Andrew Dodge writing the script.^[70][71] Fuller and Form announced while at the 24th Critics' Choice Awards that production on the reboot is set to start in 2019,^[72] but in July, TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman revealed that the film is still in development and believed that Paramount took the reactions to the 2014 and 2016 films "to heart", and that "its going to be a next-level type of stuff".^[73] In August 2021, Colin Jost and Casey Jost were announced to be doing a rewrite of the script.^[74]

In February 2022, at the ViacomCBS’ Investors Event, a number of spin-off films were announced to be in development. Each film will center around a villain in the franchise, with the projects being developed by Nickelodeon Animation for streaming exclusively released on Paramount+.^[75]

In April 2024, at CinemaCon, Paramount announced that an R-rated film adaptation of the comic miniseries The Last Ronin is in development.^[76][77] Walter Hamada will produce the movie through his 18hz Productions company while Tyler Burton Smith will write the script.^[77]

Kevin Eastman was working on a fourth Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film between 1995 and 1997 titled TMNT 4: The Next Mutation or TMNT 4: The Foot Walks Again. In 2012, Heritage Auctions published concept arts showing a fifth turtle named Kirby, but also featured are Fang, Shredder, Spyder, Nano Spyder, Super Shredder, Casey, Talbot, Lawson, Bugman and "Evil April". Peter Laird showed some concept art of the Turtles and Splinter on his blog.^{[78][79][80][81][82]} The main concept behind the film would have the turtles undergo a second mutation due to the mutagen in the heroes' bloodstream beginning to change with age and giving them new abilities and new problems. Also, the film would revolve around the return of the Shredder and proceeded to rebuild the Foot empire.

In 2007 Kevin Munroe stated that he would like to direct a possible sequel to TMNT, possibly involving the return of the Shredder.^[83] Munroe planned a trilogy. TMNT 2 would have loosely adapted the Turtles’ 13-part comic book saga "City At War". Michelangelo would have felt rejected and joined the Foot Clan, while the Turtles would have traveled to Japan and would have crossed paths with Karai and Shredder. TMNT 3 would have featured the Triceratons as well as the Technodrome’s arrival from Dimension X. Munroe wanted Michael Clarke Duncan to voice the Triceraton's leader, Commander Mozar.^[84] In an interview, Peter Laird stated he was interested in the idea of having the next film be a live-action and CGI hybrid film, with the Turtles rendered in CGI and Sarah Michelle Gellar and Chris Evans reprising their TMNT roles in live-action.^[85]

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2019)

In late April 2009, a new live-action film was announced to be in the works for a 2011 release. Mirage Studios was partnering with producers Scott Mednick and Galen Walker, with Peter Laird, Gary Richardson, Frederick Fierst, Eric Crown as executive producers, and 4Kids Entertainment handling the film's merchandising with Lightbox Productions, LLC. funding the project.^[86] The film would have used animatronic suits whose facial expressions would be digitally enhanced in post-production.^[84] It was stated that the story would focus on the Turtles origin.^[87] A few months later, an open casting call was made for extras to play as members of the Foot Clan with Ernie Reyes, Jr. as an acting judge.^[88] "Ninja Turtles" co-creator Peter Laird said "there were a lot of positive feelings about a Batman Begins-style reboot,^[89] while producer Galen Walker said the film would be headed in a darker direction.^[90] In July the same year, John Fusco was hired to be the film's writer.^[91] His version was to be inspired by the original dark and gritty black and white comics that Eastman created with Peter Laird, but Paramount wasn't on board. Kevin Eastman described the script as being "too edgy for what Paramount wanted". Laird revealed the film would have been a direct sequel to the 1990 film while ignoring its earlier sequels.^[92] In October, Viacom's subsidiary network Nickelodeon had purchased all of Mirage's rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property for $9.75 million, thus terminating all deals with 4Kids and Time Warner.^[93][94][95]

In August 2014, Noel Fisher stated in an interview that he and the other Turtle actors had signed on for three films.^[96] Megan Fox had also signed on for three films.^[97] In May 2016, Tyler Perry said that if a third film was made, his character, Baxter Stockman, would probably mutate into his fly form during the movie.^[98] Pete Ploszek also expressed his interests in reprising his role in a third film as Leonardo.^[99] In October the same year, in light of the second film's financial failure, producer Andrew Form indicated that a third film was unlikely.^[8]