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The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie Review

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie works as a great introduction to this part of the franchise, and a great addition for long time fans!

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie review

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie – (L-R) Leonardo (voiced by Ben Schwartz), Raphael (voiced by Omar Benson Miller), Michelangelo (voiced by Brandon Mychal Smith), and Donatello (voiced by Josh Brener). Cr: Netflix © 2022

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie comes after two seasons of the series that focuses on younger versions of the brothers — Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Donnie. This show is more for a younger audience and offers a new take on everyone’s favorite turtles.

Not only do they have mystic powers, but they do things just a bit differently. Still, they embody the same characteristics the turtles have since the start of the franchise, allowing long time fans to find something to love about them as well. 

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie review

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie – (L-R) Raphael (voiced by Omar Benson Miller), Michelangelo (voiced by Brandon Mychal Smith), Leonardo (voiced by Ben Schwartz), and Donatello (voiced by Josh Brener). Cr: Netflix © 2022

While you don’t have to have watched all 26 episodes of the series, or any of them for that matter, to enjoy the movie, there are certain things that will mean more or hit harder if you have. The good thing about this movie though, appropriately titled Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, is that it can be enjoyed as a standalone or even work as a kicking off point.

Those who have yet to dive into the series are likely going to be quite intrigued to learn more about these versions of the brothers, and lucky for them two seasons are sitting on Netflix, ripe for the watching! 

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie review

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie – (Pictured) April O’Neil (voiced by Kat Graham). Cr: Netflix © 2022

In this film, Casey Jones is sent from the future by a (clearly) Doctor Strange inspired Michelangelo and Sensei Leonardo in order to stop the Krang invasion that all but ends the world before it starts. When Casey meets the turtles he must help them band together to stop the alien race before it completely destroys everything. 

What follows is a whole lot of epic action sequences, some witty jokes, and even some emotional moments that will tug at the heart strings. Those who are invested in these characters thanks to the show are going to absolutely love what this film does. Those who haven’t watched it yet will likely hit play on season one as soon as it ends. 

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie review

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie – (L-R) Michelangelo (voiced by Brandon Mychal Smith), Leonardo (voiced by Ben Schwartz), Splinter (voiced by Eric Bauza), Raphael (voiced by Omar Benson Miller), and Donatello (voiced by Josh Brener). Cr: Netflix © 2022

The best thing about this movie is that the stakes feel high and they feel real. It is easy to become invested, right from the start. Most made for TV movies that are related to an ongoing series are basically a glorified episode. The stakes are not really raised and it just seems like the point is to tell a longer story. So the fact that this feels like a cohesive, standalone film, with its own story to tell — and an important one at that — is appreciated. 

Even with this being a bigger scale movie, it gives off the very same vibes of the show that fans already know and love. Of course, the voice actors are the same, but so is the animation and dialogue style. The jokes are the same silly humor as well. It is telling a massively epic story, but in the same way that fans are used to, allowing the movie to fit seamlessly into the franchise.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie review

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie – (Clockwise) Raphael (voiced by Omar Benson Miller), Michelangelo (voiced by Brandon Mychal Smith), Leonardo (voiced by Ben Schwartz), April O’Neil (voiced by Kat Graham), and Donatello (voiced by Josh Brener). Cr: Netflix © 2022

While all the characters have their moments, Leo fans will be thrilled because the movie mostly focuses on him and his journey. This film is great for fans of all ages, but there are some parts that might be a bit much on the emotional scale for the younger ones, especially if they are attached to these characters, so just keep that in mind.

Overall, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie is a great addition to the franchise. It is a super fun movie with high stakes, incredible action sequences, and enough heart to make sure you have tissues handy. A wonderful introduction to this version of the turtles, or a welcoming continuation, it works as a standalone but still fits into the larger picture. 

We can’t wait to see where things go from here! Tune in August 5th for an epic journey with everyone’s favorite pizza loving turtles!

Rating: 3 out of 5

NEXT: Gifts for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fan

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie Poster

About The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie

In Nickelodeon’s Rise of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, the Ninja Turtles are faced with their greatest challenge yet when a mysterious stranger arrives from the future with a dire warning. Leo is forced to rise and lead his brothers, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey in a fight to save the world from a terrifying alien species… the Krang!

The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie comes to Netflix on August 5th!