Summary

• The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been popular since the 1980s and have appeared in various movies and TV shows, both live-action and animation.
• Some of the TMNT movies have not been well received, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III and the 2014 live-action reboot.
• The best TMNT movie is considered to be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which features unique and visually stunning animation, a focus on the teenage side of the characters, and a strong emphasis on themes of acceptance.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been around since 1984, and there have been several Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies made in the decades since. The characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird have been recurring faces in Hollywood ever since they became incredibly popular during the mid-to-late 1980s. The instant recognizability of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo has repeatedly emboldened Hollywood studios to try and make new TMNT movies and shows built around them. As a result, fans of the Turtles have consistently been treated to new takes on the characters, both in live-action and animation.

The very first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie was made in 1990 and helped further prove just how popular the characters were. When Hollywood isn't using practical suits or CGI to bring the Turtles to life, 2D and 3D animation have repeatedly been utilized to offer additional stories with them. The result is the Turtles starring in movies that have done everything from time travel, exploring the multiverse, and experiencing epic crossovers. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise Rotten Tomatoes scores prove that some are better than others. Here is every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie ranked worst to best.

10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III is arguably the worst TMNT movie ever made. Released in 1993, the final installment of the original live-action franchise ended the trilogy with some odd decisions. The movie revolved around the Turtles traveling through time with April O'Neil to ancient Japan and fighting to save a village, while Casey Jones and Splinter remained in the present with time-displaced Japanese warriors. The two stories do not mesh all that well, and Elias Koteas plays a strange dual role in the different settings. While some charm remains and Raph's story shows maturity, there is not a ton here to love - especially with the cheaper-looking turtle costumes.

9 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

The first installment of the Michael Bay-produced live-action TMNT movie reboot did not land as expected. The 2014 movie is filled with nonsense and has plenty of difficulty with finding the right tone, as it attempts to be a more serious adaptation of the Turtles while still attempting cringy humor. This means the movie largely does not get its main characters with everything from their character designs to voice casting selections (like Johnny Knoxville as Leonardo) not working. Throw in some bland human characters and an underdeveloped Shredder plot, and its spot in this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie ranking is secured.

8 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is an improvement on the previous movie in the live-action franchise. The series goes bigger on the action and has a better grasp on its characters and personalities than its predecessor. It also happens to include a much deeper exploration of the TMNT mythos and universe by bringing in Casey Jones, Krang, Baxter Stockman, Bebop, and Rocksteady. Those elements mostly all help make Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows feel more like a proper TMNT movie, even if Bebop and Rocksteady's gross humor largely doesn't work. However, saying it is better than what came before still isn't a huge compliment.

7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze is an example of Hollywood trying to replicate the fun of a first installment and coming rather close to doing so. There is plenty of fun to be had in the sequel as the Turtles having fun and cracking jokes make for a mostly enjoyable experience. Paige Turco as the new April O'Neil and Ernie Reyes Jr.'s Keno gives the Turtles helpful human allies. Rahzar and Tokka's inclusion instead of Bebop and Rocksteady is strange but forgivable, while Super Shredder allows the finale to go bigger than before. Plus, this is the movie responsible for Vanilla Ice's "Go Ninja" song.

6 TMNT

The 2007 animated TMNT movie is a perfectly adequate attempt to bring the iconic characters to life in a new way. The 3D animation style can be a bit rocky at times, but there are other moments where it really works and is done excellently - such as Leonardo and Raphael's fight in the rain. The relationship between these two brothers is certainly at the heart of the movie and where TMNT shines the most, as they battle for control, leadership, and understanding. Chris Evans' Casey Jones and Sarah Michelle Gellar's April O'Neil get major roles, but the movie ultimately falters with its weak and forgettable villains.

5 Turtles Forever

Turtles Forever is a made-for-TV Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie that released in 2009 to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary. The timing is very important to the movie's story, which sees the original 1987 animated Turtles crossover with the characters from 4Kids' 2003 series. The dynamic between the two groups of Turtles does not always work, as the 1987 versions are often portrayed as annoying and overly humorous, which contrasts too heavily with the darker and more serious 2003 versions. The movie really finds its footing once the multiverse story is completely explored and the TMNT's history is properly honored as even more Turtles join the plot.

4 Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies ranked also include the animated DC crossover movie Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Released in 2019, the movie is set in an alternate universe where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles exist in the same universe as Batman. The result is the Turtles teaming up with Batman, Batgirl, and Robin as they battle Shredder, Ra's Al Ghul, The Joker, and more villains. Seeing the different character dynamics between the Turtles and Batman is quite a lot of fun for fans of either or both properties, while major Batman villains mutating into animals makes for a unique spin on them.

3 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie is a 2022 animated movie that serves as a sequel/conclusion to the animated series of the same name. The movie follows Casey Jones as he goes back in time to help the Turtles from Krang and the Utrom alien species taking over the world. Although Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie builds off the series, it still works as a standalone TMNT movie unlike any other. The gorgeous animation style makes the movie a visual treat for viewers, while the increased power set of the Turtles is used to go even bigger with the action.

2 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

There will always be something about the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie that will make it tough to beat. The movie's decision to use practical costumes for the Turtles made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop remains a true highlight. Instead of attempting to make the Turtles look overly realistic for their live-action debuts, the suits are still a bit cartoonish and not terrifying. The costumes help set the tone for the entire movie as a full-on 1990s campy family-friendly adventure filled with silly humor and lots of heart. Instead of being a product of nostalgia, this deserves a high spot in any Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie ranking.

1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

2023's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the best TMNT movie made. It is far from the first time audiences got to see the Turtles in animation on the big screen, but the unique animation style helps it stand apart. TMNT: Mutant Mayhem blends 2D and 3D animation together to create a rather spectacular-looking movie that can mix and match art styles and looks for the characters depending on the situation. The animation setting also allowed the filmmakers to push the boundaries to extreme lengths when it came to action set pieces, which otherwise might not have been achieved in live-action.

In addition to the great animation, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem's spot in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie ranking comes from how it handles its story and characters. It is the first movie that really emphasizes the teenage side of these mutant ninja turtle characters by giving them a youthful energy and casting actual teenagers to play them. TMNT: Mutant Mayhem's voice cast is deep with talent making the biggest and smallest characters memorable. Meanwhile, Superfly's reinvention, Splinter's new origin, and more are all done to help emphasize the movie's themes of acceptance. That's why this deserves the top spot out of every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie ranked.