Everybody Likes To Hate On The Michael Bay-Era Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movies, But Here’s Why I’ve Kind Of Come Around On Them

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I once believed the *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* movies directed by Michael Bay were among the worst in the entire series.

I’ve ranked all the live-action *Ninja Turtles* movies, and the 2014 and 2016 films ended up near the bottom of my list (though not quite last – I’ll explain that later). Most *Ninja Turtles* fans would agree there are much better movies, and my personal favorite is the newest one, *Mutant Mayhem*.

Over time, I’ve started to see the Michael Bay *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* movies in a new light, and honestly, they’re not as bad as I once thought! They don’t quite live up to the original 1990 film or *The Secret of the Ooze*, but they’re definitely watchable, and I think I know why.

Honestly, I’m Now Kind Of Digging Their Look. It’s So Different!

A common complaint about these two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies is that the Turtles look really strange – and honestly, it’s a valid point! When I first watched them, I was shocked by how different they were from the Turtles I remembered from the cartoon and older films. They’re much more muscular and bulky, and don’t resemble the characters I grew up with at all.

I really didn’t care for how worn-out the Turtles’ masks looked, or the fact that Donatello had glasses held together with tape! My initial reaction to their appearance was negative, and I immediately disliked them. It’s funny now, because looking back, I really appreciate the creativity and effort that went into designing them.

These turtles don’t really resemble the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I grew up with-they look more like the characters from Battletoads. However, I’ve started to appreciate their unique, bulky designs because they offer a fresh take on the classic heroes.

At first, I was really shocked by this new design for the Turtles and thought that’s how they’d always look. But now that I’ve seen later versions – some of which I even prefer – I don’t dislike this original design as much. I’ve actually grown to appreciate how unusual and unique it is, even if it’s a bit “ugly”!

Out Of The Shadows Was The First TMNT Movie That Gave Us The Villains That We Clamored For

Like any Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan, I really like Shredder. But by the fifth movie, I was starting to feel like he was being used as the villain *again* and again. He wasn’t the main bad guy in only two TMNT films: *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III* and the animated movie from 2007.

We really hoped to see Bebop, Rocksteady, and Krang-characters who often appeared in the original cartoons. And in *Out of the Shadows*, we finally got them! Not only did the movie feature Bebop and Rocksteady, but it also included Krang, which was fantastic.

Even though the story wasn’t particularly strong, the movie was saved by its cast. *Out of the Shadows* brought back many recognizable characters, including Baxter Stockman (played by Tyler Perry), Shredder, and Casey Jones. However, like many films with large casts, it felt a bit crowded and overfilled.

Finally, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie delivered the characters so many fans had always wanted! It really brought our childhood dreams to life. It’s a shame the movie itself wasn’t quite as good, but you can’t always get everything you want!

The Action Is Different From Any Other Turtles Films

These Turtles are noticeably larger and move differently than in previous *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* movies. Interestingly, this is the first time the Turtles have been created using computer graphics and placed within a live-action world, and I’m eager to see how they handle the visuals in *The Last Ronin*.

This allows for more dynamic and visually exciting scenes than were possible with the special effects used in the 1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. We see the Turtles skateboarding extensively, and the action is generally fast-paced and vibrant.

I really enjoy the action sequence where the Turtles are sliding down a snowy hill, dodging tires and crashing into vehicles – it’s total chaos! I also appreciate how the movies portray the Turtles using their weapons. However, a common issue, particularly in *The Secret of the Ooze* and *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III* (I’ll talk more about the third movie later), was that their signature weapons didn’t really feel impactful or used effectively.

It’s great that the weapons used in these movies are authentic – I didn’t realize that on my first viewing, but it really stands out when you rewatch them. It’s a really cool detail!

They’re Arguably Both Better Than TMNT III

I already shared my ranking of all the live-action Ninja Turtles movies, and I’m sticking to it. While I rated the 2014 film and *Out of the Shadows* as being among the worst, I still think *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III* is the absolute worst – and I haven’t changed my mind. The Michael Bay-produced movies are definitely better than that one.

The third Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie felt disconnected from what fans loved. It took place in ancient Japan, but featured completely new villains and didn’t build on established storylines. It was especially strange that they didn’t include the popular character Usagi Yojimbo, considering the setting!

As I mentioned before, the Bay-era films at least attempted to deliver what fans were hoping for, particularly *Out of the Shadows*. While they weren’t completely successful – many fans felt they fell short – they shared a similar weakness with Michael Bay’s *Transformers* movies: a strong desire to please the audience, but struggles with a compelling story.

And that’s another point to consider: the *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* movies from the early nineties aren’t actually the *worst* in the franchise. That unfortunate distinction still belongs to the 1993 film, *TMNT III* – it really was a terrible movie!

Now That We Know It’s Not The Permanent Direction Of The Turtles, It’s A Nice Time Capsule

Growing up in the 1980s and coming of age in the 90s and 2000s, I’ve always enjoyed thinking about entertainment from each era as a way to preserve memories and create personal time capsules.

I started watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon as a kid in 1987, and it’s amazing to see how far movie special effects have come. Back then it was people in costumes, but many films from the 2010s felt like they relied heavily on motion capture and computer-generated imagery.

Looking back, Michael Bay’s *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* films really feel like a snapshot of the 2010s, and honestly, I’m kind of into that now that we’re past that era. They hit me with a wave of nostalgia for that specific time, and I think they actually capture the feel of the early 2010s pretty well – for better or worse.

So, I’ve been thinking about the *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* movies from Michael Bay’s production days, and I’m curious – have your feelings about them changed at all over time? I’m really interested to hear what you guys think now!

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2025-09-17 00:10