Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

In a rain soaked New York, four teenage turtles have carved out a hidden life beneath the streets, trained in ninjitsu by a patient rat mentor who speaks in sly wisdom. When crime and corruption threaten the city, they step into the light and decide to act as a team, testing why they fight and what they stand for. They cross paths with reporter April O'Neil and discover an ally in her, even as a ruthless gang called the Foot Clan and its leader Shredder push the city toward chaos. The turtles learn to balance their secret identities with the responsibilities of heroism, facing danger with humor, courage, and the stubborn belief they can protect those who need them. Their bond deepens as they learn to trust.

Released in 1990 and directed by Steve Barron, the film adapts the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, with Bobby Herbeck shaping the screenplay. It marked a major moment for family friendly blockbuster action.

The movie cost about 13.5 million to make and earned 201,965,915 worldwide, turning a solid profit and helping launch a franchise that extended well beyond the big screen into toys, cartoons, and video games, becoming a lasting legacy.

The 1990 film left an enduring imprint on popular culture. Its practical effects and colorful ensembles made the turtles instantly recognizable, spawning action figures, games, and references in media. The balance of humor and action helped cement TMNT as a family friendly phenomenon that drew kids and adults into conversations.

Critics praised the film for its practical effects, brisk pacing, and for balancing humor with earnest teamwork. The story centers on friendship, identity, and choosing to protect others, delivering a light hearted hero tale that still lands with intensity, that still resonates with audiences today.