90s Kids Grew Up on This Action Movie! Still Thrilling After 35 Years

If you were a child of the 90s, you probably watched the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action movie on VHS over and over, a nostalgic treat for kids and teens of that era.

Pizza Feasts and Flying Kicks!

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze hit playgrounds hard, sparking wild enthusiasm! The story of these martial arts-loving mutant turtles was such a hit that it spawned a trilogy, with sequels released in 1991 and 1993.

Still, the first movie remains the best of the series, with its unrestrained action, killer lines, proudly cheesy quality, and of course, the mutant turtles themselves! The plot takes us to New York City, the city that never sleeps… but where thieves definitely don’t rest at night.

A clan of silent (and rather rude) ninjas called the Foot Clan causes havoc while the police turn a blind eye. Fortunately, April O’Neil, a tenacious reporter with flawless hair, decides to uncover the truth, even if it makes her some enemies.

Four Kick-Ass Turtles in the City

But deep in the sewer, away from human turmoil, live four mutant turtles as skilled as Jackie Chan and Jet Li combined: Leonardo, the zen leader; Michelangelo, the pizza-loving jokester; Donatello, the tech genius; and Raphael, the tough guy in a red bandana.

When April is attacked, our favorite shelled knights swoop in to rescue her, ninja-style, and things get pretty intense. In the process, Raphael encounters Casey Jones, a vigilante who favors a baseball bat over diplomacy. Spoiler: it ends in a knockout (for Raph).

After some fights, sewer heart-to-hearts, a dinner at April’s (yes, the turtles eat pizza on her couch), and the kidnapping of their mentor Splinter by the fearsome Shredder, everyone ends up at a farm for a sort of spiritual retreat with training, jokes, and brotherly bonding.

However, the Foot Clan (no, not the sport, the gang) is still around, ready for a showdown. Thankfully, Casey returns, and Danny, the son of April’s former boss, betrays his gang of thieves to join the good guys. United at last, they gear up for the final battle against Shredder, the samurai in armor that could intimidate a blender.

Fights and One-Liners!

Brotherly love, kung-fu, dripping pizzas, and battle cries of “Cowabunga!” welcome to the most reptilian adventure of the 90s! Adapted from the comic of the same name created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is truly the action movie of a generation! Between this film and the animated series, kids in the 90s were truly spoiled!

The film premiered in the United States on March 30, 1990, and immediately topped the box office during its opening weekend. With earnings exceeding $25 million, it set a record at the time for the biggest opening of an independent film.

This success continued over the weeks, with the movie grossing over $135 million in North America and more than $66 million internationally, for a global total exceeding $200 million on a modest budget of $13 million. It ranked 9th in the list of the most profitable films of 1990 worldwide.

In France, it hit theaters on December 12, 1990, attracting 1.2 million viewers. Directed by Steve Barron, the film features Judith Hoag (April O’Neil), Elias Koteas (fantastic as Casey Jones), Lee Josh Pais (Raphael), David Forman (Leonardo), Michelan Sisti (Michelangelo), and Lief Tilden (Donatello). If you’re in the mood for a fun night with your favorite turtles, the film is available on VOD/DVD/Blu-ray.