--- title: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" year: 1990 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles" fi1m_id: "teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles" imdb_id: "tt0100758" tmdb_id: 1498 wikidata_id: "Q58439" fi1m_score: 71 critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 6 published: "2026-10-04T21:19:37.120624+00:00" updated: "2026-10-04T21:19:37.490553+00:00" region: "PT" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) Directed by Steve Barron · 1h 33m · Science Fiction, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family ## Identity Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles - **IMDb ID:** tt0100758 - **TMDB ID:** 1498 - **Wikidata ID:** Q58439 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100758/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1498, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58439 **Fi1m score: 71** · Critics 62 from 6 reviews *In a sentence:* Four turtles with enough personality to survive a plot that keeps getting in their way > Steve Barron’s *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* is a likeable martial-arts comedy whose creature effects and distinct personalities survive some sluggish storytelling. It earns an evening for families happy with scrappy action and adolescent jokes. ## Synopsis Leonardo (voiced by Brian Tochi), Raphael (voiced by Josh Pais), Donatello (voiced by Corey Feldman) and Michelangelo (voiced by Robbie Rist) are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Their adventure also involves April O’Neil (Judith Hoag), Casey Jones (Elias Koteas), Splinter (voiced by Kevin Clash) and The Shredder (voiced by David McCharen). The four Turtles bring different personalities to a series of martial-arts encounters, with comic exchanges accompanying the fighting. Their story combines science fiction, action and family comedy, keeping the quartet and their differing temperaments at the centre of the action. ## Review Steve Barron’s *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* is a likeable action comedy with more personality than its sluggish plotting ought to permit. It works because the four leads are worth spending time with, even when the story has not found much of interest for them to do. Barron lets their differences matter instead of relying entirely on the novelty of seeing a Turtle perform martial arts. That is enough to sustain a modest recommendation, especially for a family audience willing to forgive some rough edges. The creature effects do much of the work. The animatronic effects give the Turtles enough expression to carry a comedy; looking like plausible animals is hardly the requirement here. We laughed at their martial-arts clowning because the fighting gives their adolescent personalities another way to show themselves. The physical comedy works even when the action itself is not particularly exciting, and the creatures can hold our attention through a joke without needing another fight to start. Brian Tochi voices Leonardo, Josh Pais voices Raphael, Corey Feldman voices Donatello and Robbie Rist voices Michelangelo. The four are distinct enough for a joke to change with the Turtle delivering it. Their humour has a welcome cheekiness that gives adults something to enjoy alongside the action. Judith Hoag as April O’Neil and Elias Koteas as Casey Jones have considerable competition for attention. The Turtles remain the attraction, and the film is sensible enough to give their comic exchanges some room. The surrounding craft is uneven. John Fenner’s cinematography has a roughness that does the action few favours, while Roy Forge Smith’s production design seldom commands as much attention as the creatures. There is nevertheless pleasure in watching these ungainly bodies attempt martial arts: even when the fighting lacks force, their physical awkwardness can help the joke land. The visual shortcomings are easier to forgive during the comedy, when a slightly ridiculous movement can be useful. The larger problem belongs to the storytelling. Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck’s screenplay takes too long over a plot that offers less entertainment than the characters exchanging jokes. For a film running 93 minutes, there are too many stretches when the next fight seems overdue. The editing, credited to William D. Gordean, James R. Symons and Sally Menke, does not make those passages feel brisk. The stretches between the jokes and fights need to earn their place too. John Du Prez’s music helps supply the energy that the plotting sometimes loses. It cannot solve the stop-start rhythm, but it suits a film whose action is meant to be fun. As a martial-arts comedy, this is stronger on comic personality than on the excitement of the fights themselves. Anyone coming chiefly for precisely staged combat will have less to enjoy, although the effects give even the less persuasive action something interesting to look at. It would be easy for a film with this title to assume that recognising the characters was entertainment enough. Barron puts enough work into the Turtles’ personalities to avoid that, and their humour remains appealing when the adventure dawdles. Choose it for a family evening, with fair warning that some patience is required between fights. *Fi1m score 71, published 4 October 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews lean towards qualified approval, finding an entertaining adventure with enough humour and character to offset some uneven storytelling. Praise clusters around the Turtles themselves: their distinct personalities, tongue-in-cheek exchanges and convincing creature effects. The action earns approval in some accounts, particularly when the martial arts leave space for comedy. The more enthusiastic responses regard its unpretentious approach as a strength, with appeal beyond young fans. The spread is fairly wide. Empire warmly endorses the family entertainment and grown-up humour, while Radio Times finds that little beyond the turtle effects works. Plotting attracts repeated complaints about sluggishness and excessive length. The fight scenes also divide opinion: Variety enjoys their comic energy, whereas The Hollywood Reporter finds them weak. Variety additionally objects to the portrayal of Asian villains. Time Out’s review text is unavailable, so its particular reasons cannot be included in the consensus. ## Straight answers **Is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles worth watching?** *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* is worth watching for families who enjoy scrappy martial-arts comedy and adolescent jokes; we score it 71 out of 100. The expressive creature effects and distinct personalities keep it likeable, but the sluggish plotting requires patience, and we recommend it more for the comic exchanges than the excitement of its fights. **How long is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and what is it rated?** *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* runs 1h 33m. It is a science fiction and action film. **Where can I watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Portugal?** *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* is not on any streaming or rental service in Portugal at the moment. It is available in 14 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily. **How does Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles compare to The Dark Crystal?** *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* is the cheekier family comedy, while [*The Dark Crystal*](https://film.one/film/the-dark-crystal) offers more expressive creature work and a considerably more solemn fantasy adventure. We favour the latter for its handmade creatures and richly imagined home, and the Turtles for martial-arts clowning and adolescent banter; neither adventure sustains its storytelling as well as its characters deserve. **What should I watch after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?** After *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*, try [*The Dark Crystal*](https://film.one/film/the-dark-crystal) (1982, Fi1m 78): For more expressive creature work, with a considerably more solemn fantasy adventure. Then [*Gremlins*](https://film.one/film/gremlins) (1984, Fi1m 80): Practical creatures cause comic havoc, though the nastiness calls for older company; and [*The Mitchells vs. the Machines*](https://film.one/film/the-mitchells-vs-the-machines) (2021, Fi1m 76): Another argumentative family finds that saving the day requires tolerating each other. ### Reviews we read (6) - **Empire**, Lloyd Bradley (85/100, inferred): Bradley finds it a funny, unpretentious adventure that works for the whole family. He especially praises the Turtles’ distinct personalities and their lively, grown-up humor. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-review/) - **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin (70/100, inferred): The review presents the film as an energetic, action-driven adaptation. Its headline singles out the nonstop action. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/30/movies/review-film-nonstop-action-in-mutant-ninja-turtles.html) - **Variety**, Variety Staff (65/100, inferred): The review finds the film entertaining despite rough visuals, sluggish plotting and troubling portrayals of Oriental villains. It especially praises the turtles’ amusing martial-arts scenes and tongue-in-cheek humor. [Read](https://variety.com/1989/film/reviews/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-2-1200428241/) - **Time Out**, CM (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a film review, but the review text is unavailable. Its verdict and any singled-out praise or complaint therefore cannot be determined. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Henry Sheehan (50/100, inferred): Sheehan sees the film as a limited success, appealing to young fans but held back by a long-winded plot and weak fight scenes. He praises the solid animatronic effects and the faithful screen translation of the turtles. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-thrs-785360/) - **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (2/5): Jones finds the film uneven and says little beyond its effects hits the target. He praises the Henson Creature Shop’s turtle effects, while criticizing the plot. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-2v54vj/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles/) ## Details - **Director:** Steve Barron - **Director:** Steve Barron - **Screenplay:** Todd W. Langen, Bobby Herbeck - **Story:** Bobby Herbeck - **Cinematography:** John Fenner - **Editor:** Sally Menke, William D. Gordean, James R. Symons - **Music:** John Du Prez - **Production design:** Roy Forge Smith - **Costume design:** John Hay - **Producer:** Kim Dawson, Simon Fields, David Chan - **Cast:** Brian Tochi as Leonardo (voice); Josh Pais as Raphael (voice) / Passenger In Cab; Corey Feldman as Donatello (voice); Robbie Rist as Michelangelo (voice); Judith Hoag as April O'Neil; Elias Koteas as Casey Jones; Kevin Clash as Splinter (voice); David McCharen as The Shredder / Oroku Saki (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 33m - **First release (the US):** 30 March 1990 - **Genres:** Science Fiction, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family - **Budget:** $14 million - **Box office:** $202 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y9C_P7dG6s ## Where to watch in Portugal Not streaming, renting or buying in Portugal at the last check. Also available in: AT, AU, CA, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, NO, NZ, PA, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 1991: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (nominated) ## If you liked this - *The Dark Crystal* (1982), Fi1m 78: For more expressive creature work, with a considerably more solemn fantasy adventure. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-dark-crystal.md) - *Gremlins* (1984), Fi1m 80: Practical creatures cause comic havoc, though the nastiness calls for older company. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md) - *Kung Fu Hustle* (2004): For older viewers, martial-arts comedy with sharper fights and much stranger possibilities. - *A Town Called Panic* (2009): Belgian stop-motion mayhem that gives unlikely figures plenty of comic personality. - *The Mitchells vs. the Machines* (2021), Fi1m 76: Another argumentative family finds that saving the day requires tolerating each other. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-mitchells-vs-the-machines.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles