Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III drops the four brothers into feudal Japan after a shimmering portal swallows their modern world. The turtles shed their high tech gear and must blend with samurai and villagers while they search for a way back home. Under the guidance of a stern master, Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael train in swordplay and disciplined fighting, adapting their street smarts to ancient forms of combat. A quiet mountain village becomes the center of danger as a local uprising rises against a cruel lord. April O Neil, meanwhile, tracks strange energy signatures and teams with the turtles to defend civilians, keep the peace, and preserve hope in a world far from their own for a brief, turbulent moment.

Directed by Stuart Gillard and drawn from the comics by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, TMNT III released in 1993 through New Line Cinema. It relies on practical effects and suit performances to bring the turtles to life on screen.

The film may not rank as the franchise's most influential entry, but it helped keep the characters in public memory during a period of steady fan enthusiasm for live action turtles. Its emphasis on practical costumes and staged combat reflects the era's approach to portraying mythic heroes, and its look influenced later projects.

Critical responses were mixed, with some critics praising the energy of the voice cast and the humor and action, while others found the plot thinner than earlier chapters. The story centers on teamwork and loyalty, and on adapting to unfamiliar cultures without losing identity. The humor steadies darker moments and makes the cast feel like friends.

Worldwide gross reached about 42.3 million on a 21 million budget, making it a modest but respectable performer that kept the quartet visible between bigger adventures. It sustained the brand's ongoing presence in home video and merchandising.