When can you watch the iconic 1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie in theaters again?

For the last three decades, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been one of the most iconic media franchises in Hollywood, spanning over numerous comics, movies, video games, and television shows. The franchise reached the big screen for the first time in 1990, with their first feature film directed by Steve Barron and written by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck.

Initially receiving skepticism from critics, the film was produced by the independent production company New Line Cinema, which took a big leap of faith with the project. Contrary to popular belief, the film was a massive hit, garnering a staggering $202 million with a mere budget of $13.5 million. It became the highest-grossing independent film of that time, and soon made way for other sequels and projects that were well-received by the audience.

That was thirty-five years ago. And the Ninja Turtles have now become a popular pop culture icon. To celebrate the film's thirty-fifth anniversary, Fathom Entertainment is bringing it back to theaters in August as a celebration of the project that started a legendary legacy. It will come with the Turtles Unmasked featurette, which includes some special content for fans that has never been released before. The film will be available in theaters on August 17 and 20, 2025.

More details on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a wild, lovable clash of street grit, sewer-dwelling wisdom, and pure ’90s attitude. It’s one of those rare comic book adaptations that doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard; it just is cool.

Directed by Steve Barron, the film walks a tightrope between the dark, moody atmosphere of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s original black-and-white comics and the goofy, high-energy chaos of the animated series kids were obsessed with. And somehow, it pulls it off.

The story drops us straight into the underground lives of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael, four teenage turtles trained in ninjutsu by their sensei and father figure, Master Splinter, who is a literal giant rat with the soul of a Zen monk. Above ground, New York City’s in trouble. A crime gang of teens, called The Foot Clan, is spreading out and getting worse. The turtles stand up against them and fight back.

Under all the one-liners and nunchuck twirls, there’s real heart. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is about brotherhood, loyalty, and identity. The characters' backstories, arcs, and how their personalities were developed, all of it hit harder than you’d expect from a movie where the villains wear samurai helmets and the heroes live off pizza.

Additionally, the costumes, made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, were realistic, and you'd almost forget the turtles were actually men wearing rubber costumes. For a film of 1990, it was way ahead of its time.

Thirty-plus years later, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles still holds up. Not because of nostalgia, but because it's got the turtles. Messy, fierce, funny, and full of love.