Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles watch order

Ninja Turtles movies in order, by release and rating. Updated October 20, 2026.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have no single timeline: each cartoon and film series is its own continuity. The easiest start is the 1990 live-action film, then The Secret of the Ooze (1991), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993) and TMNT (2007), which continues that story. Mutant Mayhem (2023) and the series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2024 to 2025) are the newest run, with Mutant Mayhem 2 due August 13, 2027.

How to watch the Ninja Turtles movies in order: the full guide

All 16 films and series in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, in release order and in chronological (story) order. The first in release order is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987); the first in chronological order is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in New York and Dimension X).

Release order

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series, 1987): The cartoon that made the Turtles famous: Krang, Bebop, Rocksteady and pizza across ten seasons.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Movie, 1990): The live-action film with Jim Henson's creature suits, close to the darker comics; the best place to start.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (Movie, 1991): The direct sequel: Shredder returns with mutants of his own, Tokka and Rahzar.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (Movie, 1993): Ends the original film trilogy with a time-travel trip to feudal Japan.
Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (Series, 1997): A live-action series with a fifth, female turtle, Venus; separate from the films and easy to skip.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series, 2003): Closer to the original comics than the 1987 show; seven seasons, the last two set in the future and back in the sewers.
TMNT (Movie, 2007): A CGI film that continues the live-action trilogy: the brothers have drifted apart after beating Shredder.
Turtles Forever (Movie, 2009): The 2003 Turtles meet the 1987 cartoon Turtles and the original comic versions; best after both shows.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series, 2012): Nickelodeon's CGI series: five seasons with the Kraang, Shredder and a long story of its own.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Movie, 2014): The Michael Bay produced reboot with Megan Fox as April O'Neil; its own continuity.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Movie, 2016): The sequel to the 2014 film, bringing in Bebop, Rocksteady, Krang and Casey Jones.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series, 2018): A looser, comedic redesign with Raph as the big brother in charge; two seasons that lead into the Netflix film.
Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Movie, 2019): A one-off animated crossover in Gotham City, outside every continuity.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (Movie, 2022): Finishes the Rise series with Leo stepping up; watch the show first.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Movie, 2023): Seth Rogen's reboot with teenage voice actors; starts the newest continuity.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series, 2024): Picks up after Mutant Mayhem: two seasons of the brothers on their own, the second its last.

Chronological order

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in New York and Dimension X): The cartoon that made the Turtles famous: Krang, Bebop, Rocksteady and pizza across ten seasons.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in New York): The live-action film with Jim Henson's creature suits, close to the darker comics; the best place to start.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (set in New York): The direct sequel: Shredder returns with mutants of his own, Tokka and Rahzar.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (set in Feudal Japan): Ends the original film trilogy with a time-travel trip to feudal Japan.
Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (set in New York, with a fifth turtle): A live-action series with a fifth, female turtle, Venus; separate from the films and easy to skip.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in New York, and later the future): Closer to the original comics than the 1987 show; seven seasons, the last two set in the future and back in the sewers.
TMNT (set in New York, after Shredder's defeat): A CGI film that continues the live-action trilogy: the brothers have drifted apart after beating Shredder.
Turtles Forever (set in Across the Turtleverse): The 2003 Turtles meet the 1987 cartoon Turtles and the original comic versions; best after both shows.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in New York and Dimension X): Nickelodeon's CGI series: five seasons with the Kraang, Shredder and a long story of its own.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in New York): The Michael Bay produced reboot with Megan Fox as April O'Neil; its own continuity.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (set in New York and Dimension X): The sequel to the 2014 film, bringing in Bebop, Rocksteady, Krang and Casey Jones.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in New York and the Hidden City): A looser, comedic redesign with Raph as the big brother in charge; two seasons that lead into the Netflix film.
Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in Gotham City): A one-off animated crossover in Gotham City, outside every continuity.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (set in New York): Finishes the Rise series with Leo stepping up; watch the show first.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (set in New York): Seth Rogen's reboot with teenage voice actors; starts the newest continuity.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (set in New York, after Mutant Mayhem): Picks up after Mutant Mayhem: two seasons of the brothers on their own, the second its last.

Coming next

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2 (2027-08-13)

Common questions

What order should I watch the Ninja Turtles movies in?

How many Ninja Turtles movies and shows are there?

There are 16 titles in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise: 10 films and 6 series, released from 1987 to 2024. 1 more is announced: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2.

How long does it take to watch all the Ninja Turtles movies?

About 221 hours for all 16 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (14 titles) take about 210 hours.

What is the first Ninja Turtles title in chronological order?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, set in New York and Dimension X. In release order the first is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987).

Which Ninja Turtles titles can I skip?

Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation and Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.

What is the next Ninja Turtles release?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2, out August 13, 2027.