Netflix Comic Book Blockbuster Hated By Fans Looks Better With Age

While the story has a few fun surprises, any old-school fan could probably predict the basics of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles long before streaming it on Netflix. In short, four mutated turtles were taught to be ninjas by their rat daddy, and they teamed up with a plucky reporter in order to stop a violent warrior known as the Shredder. The film is basically a love letter to fans who grew up with the 1987 cartoon, but it tells a generally more grounded tale of our titular turtles saving New York from a killer virus.

Now, let’s address the mutant elephant in the room: long before this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie landed on Netflix or any other streaming service, it was panned by both fans and critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently has a critical rating of 21 percent, low enough to be hanging out in the sewer with our heroes. In general, critics complained about the movie being a little too dull, especially compared to earlier adventures with these righteous reptiles.

With reviews like this, why am I, a lifelong fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, encouraging you to check out this hated film on Netflix? First, the cast is great: I was very skeptical at first, but Megan Fox makes a great April O’Neil, and she has a fun enough chemistry with most of the cast to help sell this strange cinematic world. She has particularly great chemistry with Will Arnett, who brings April’s scaredy-cat coworker Vern from the 1987 cartoon to hilarious, live-action life.

And as for the Ninja Turtles themselves, if you can look past the admittedly awful character design, they are wonderfully believable as wisecracking brothers by day and butt-kicking warriors by night. Thanks to some inspired casting, Jackass legend Johnny Knoxville voices Leonardo, and Reacher star Alan Ritchson does fiery justice to the angry Raphael. And while I never would have guessed it, Tony Shalhoub does the best Splinter voice.

Despite underwhelming critics, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles now streaming on Netflix was quite the box office hit. With a budget of somewhere between $125–150 million, the movie went on to earn $485 million at the box office. That was enough (ahem) green for the studio to authorize a sequel, one that courted fans of the original cartoon even harder by bringing in the bumbling mutant villains Bebop and Rocksteady.

REVIEW SCORE

As for this first cinematic outing, I think older Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans may agree after perusing Netflix for more adventures with their favorite shellheads. Right now, the streamer also has the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show (Season 1, at least) and movie, as well as the excellent 2012 CGI cartoon series.

Both of these different animated Turtles adaptations have their strengths but are aimed thoroughly at kids, so if you want a newer TMNT live-action adventure aimed more at adults, this Michael Bay-produced 2014 film is currently your best bet.

Will you agree that this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film is underrated after you stream it on Netflix or will you wonder what the shell I’ve been smoking? You won’t know until you give it a try. Plus, be honest, shellheads: what else are you going to be watching until Mutant Mayhem 2 comes out?