Overview:
With this year being the 35th Anniversary of the release of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, people are revisiting the film. It is set to be rereleased in theaters next month. It is a much deeper film than one might recall and has some great messages to the viewer about caring for your loved ones.
This year, the first motion picture in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise—released in 1990—celebrates its 35th anniversary. In honor of the occasion, the film is set to be re-released in theaters later this summer. This announcement inspired me to revisit the movie—one I first saw as a six-year-old in theaters. Back then, I didn’t love it. I had grown attached to the cartoon version of the Turtles and wasn’t prepared for the darker tone of the live-action film.
Watching it now, as an adult, I have a very different reaction. What once felt strange now feels profound. There’s a seriousness and emotional core to the film that I missed as a child—especially around themes of family, loss, and loyalty. Before diving into the heart of that message, here’s a refresher on the characters and plot.
Backstory: From Sewer Origins to Street-Level Heroes
April O’Neil is a TV news reporter in New York City investigating a crime wave linked to a mysterious group known as the Foot Clan—a gang of ninjas led by the ruthless Shredder. But Shredder, we learn, wasn’t always a criminal mastermind. Born Oroku Saki, he once lived in Japan, where he murdered Hamato Yoshi, a martial artist who kept a pet rat named Splinter.
After Yoshi’s death, Splinter attacked Saki in a fit of grief, leaving a scratch across his face. Saki retaliated, slicing off part of the rat’s ear. Splinter eventually ends up in New York City’s sewers, where he comes into contact with four baby turtles and a mutagenic ooze that transforms them all. The turtles gain humanoid form, and Splinter, now also transformed, names them after Renaissance artists—Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo—and trains them in ninjitsu.
When April is attacked by the Foot, the Turtles rescue her and bring her into their underground home. After recovering from her initial shock, she grows close to the Turtles and their wise mentor. Together, with the help of street vigilante Casey Jones, they form an unlikely alliance to take down Shredder and stop the Foot’s growing influence.
Family Ties and Fractures
A key emotional thread in the movie is Splinter’s early warning to the Turtles: “I will not always be here.” This foreshadowing sets the tone for what follows. When Splinter is captured by the Foot, the Turtles are devastated. The fear of losing their father figure—someone who raised and trained them—is overwhelming.
Conflict within the group adds another layer of tension. A major fight breaks out between Raphael and Leonardo, leading Raphael to storm off and get ambushed by the Foot. Badly injured, he’s brought back by his brothers, and the group fends off another Foot attack—but not before April’s apartment burns down and she’s fired from her job.
This leads the group to seek refuge at April’s old family farmhouse, where the emotional healing begins. Leonardo holds a bedside vigil as Raphael recovers, eventually apologizing to his brother. Meanwhile, April warms up to the rough-edged Casey, and the two begin to develop mutual respect—and more.
Danny’s Journey: A Father-Son Parallel
Running alongside the main plot is a quieter subplot involving April’s boss, Charles, and his son, Danny. Their strained relationship drives Danny to seek belonging within the Foot Clan. It’s while hiding out there that he meets Splinter, who, despite being imprisoned, becomes a wise mentor figure to the troubled teen.
Danny confesses his belief that his father doesn’t care about him. Splinter gently responds, “All fathers care for their sons,” planting the seed for Danny’s eventual change of heart. Through their conversations, the film subtly critiques absentee parenting and the dangers of young people falling into the wrong crowd when they feel unloved or unheard.
False Family vs. True Family
Shredder manipulates his Foot recruits by positioning himself as a father figure. “This is your family. I am your father!” he proclaims, trying to mold loyalty through fear and manipulation. But this “family” is built on lies.
Casey Jones, undercover at the Foot’s hideout, helps expose the façade. Danny, growing more uneasy, warns Casey and Splinter that Shredder plans to kill the rat. Even after the Foot’s leader is defeated, some members still claim loyalty to Shredder—until Splinter and Casey reveal the truth: Shredder used them for his own agenda.
In this way, the film draws a sharp contrast between the genuine, earned bond of the Turtles and Splinter and the forced loyalty Shredder demands. True family, it argues, isn’t about words or uniforms—it’s about care, sacrifice, and shared growth.
The Final Battle and Reunion
The climactic battle sees the Turtles face off against Shredder on a rooftop. Despite their skills, they’re nearly defeated—until Splinter arrives, battered but not broken. He reveals to Shredder that he was Yoshi’s pet, and knows the villain’s true identity. Shredder lunges, but Splinter deftly dodges, leaving him dangling above the edge of a building.
As he hangs, Splinter tells him, “When you die, it will be… without honor.” Shredder falls to his demise in a garbage truck, bringing an end to his reign of terror.
The film ends on a hopeful note: April regains her job and begins a romance with Casey. Danny reunites with his father, and the Turtles are joyfully reunited with their beloved mentor.
A Message That Endures
Looking back, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles isn’t just a fun, martial-arts action movie with mutated reptiles—it’s a story about loyalty, growth, and family in all its forms. It challenges viewers to consider what truly makes someone part of your tribe: Is it biology? Proximity? Or is it compassion, honesty, and sacrifice?
These deeper themes went over my head as a kid, but as an adult, they resonate. Rewatching the film, I see how it speaks to kids and adults, blending high-stakes action with heartfelt storytelling. And now, with its 35th anniversary rerelease, a new generation can experience the magic for themselves.
Don’t Miss the Anniversary Screening
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) is set to return to theaters for a limited run on August 17 and 20, presented by Fathom Entertainment, Saga Arts, and Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering it for the first time, this is a perfect opportunity to celebrate a classic that’s as radical as it is real.
