Home Blog New TMNT Movie: Ticket Sales, Sequel, and Rundown

New TMNT Movie: Ticket Sales, Sequel, and Rundown

by Justin W

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Welcome to Hollywood, boys..

 

 It's safe to say that the Turtles have officially made it to the big time. Okay, so the Ninja Turtles have been popular for the past 30 years, but this is the first time we can officially say that they’ve had one of those tent pole, big budget blockbusters centered around them, and it’s nice to see that kind of respect given to everyone’s favorite heroes in a half shell.

 

That being said, Hollywood flicks come with their own set of rules, so it’s not like you can expect them to give the fans everything that they want. When it comes to a movie like this, the studio’s main goal is to attract and please as many viewers as possible, which means that they are going to go with whatever sells well to major audiences. In other words, chances are you’re not going to get everything you wanted out of this movie.

 

This isn’t like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies you grew up watching as a kid – those were made on a considerably lower budget.  In fact, the budget for this film was almost $100 million more than any other Ninja Turtles movie that has ever been made before. Paramount Studios spent more money on this movie than Golden Harvest spent on all of the previous four TMNT movies combined. Keep that in mind as you wonder why they didn’t give you exactly what you wanted, and hopefully it will be easier to understand the decisions they made.

 

The thing is, even though some fans will undoubtedly be disappointed, we here at TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles.com think that this is actually a really good movie.

 

Yes, it is your prototypical summer blockbuster, filled with a lot of action and humor to keep everyone having fun, but Paramount, Michael Bay, and Director Jonathan Liebesman actually did a great job with the turtles in this movie. Although a lot Turtles fans were unhappy with how the turtles looked at first, when you actually get to see them in action on the big screen, these new Turtles just work.

 

The origin story is altered, as has been discussed quite a bit on various Turtles forums across the internet, but it wasn’t that badly altered, and in fact, has most of its roots in tact from many of the TMNT stories we have come to know and love over the years.

 

There are nods to the 2003 series, the new IDW comic, the original Laird/Eastman comics, the 90’s movies and the 1987 animated series placed (perhaps sparingly) throughout. These characters definitely don’t feel the same as the Ninja Turtles that many of us grew up with, but they retain enough of the core elements here that it is difficult to be disappointed here.

 

There will always be shellheads unhappy with some changes to the Laird/Eastman Turtles universe, and with that being said — are the changes made here in the 2014 really that atrocious?  As Turtles fans, we've all seen this before, and furthermore, as Turtles fans shouldn't we be instead celebriting the fact that the Turtles are back up on the screen?  Bringing the Turtles back to theaters in 2014 is going to do nothing but introduce to them to the next generation, who like us are coming to them in a key moment in their adolescence.  This will no doubt continue the Turtles legacy.

 

With some of the critics that have attacked the film:

What doesn’t work for the film is the lack of attention paid to developing the main characters. In the original 1990s film, we were treated to some genuinely memorable moments in those movies that the turtles shared amongst each other and with other characters. Unfortunately, the same really cannot be said for this latest iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In fact, just as we are starting to learn about them and their characters start to develop, the movie jumps right into some action before anyone can even say “Cowabunga!”   Yet, we are also living in a comic book world too, and in this age of sequels and reboots, perhaps this is nothing but the first chapter in an on-going new franchise, well, they have announced their plans for a sequel already know, haven't they?

 

Maybe the 2014 Ninja Turtles movie is supposed to be for people not familiar with the Ninja Turtles universe.    Maybe it's supposed to act as an introduction to the boys?  The movie is set to debut at #1 at the box office for its first weekend in theaters, raking in an estimated $65 million dollars after all.   Doesn't that say something about how much we needed the Turtles tor return to the big screen?

 

The studios were pleased enough with the numbers that it looks like they will be going forward with their plans for a sequel, which means that we can expect even more turtley awesome action on the big screen soon. It’s a good thing, too, because we really want to see some more characters and their development in these movies.  Fans came out in droves to see the new movie and most of the people that we've spoken to have really loved it. Maybe this isn’t the perfect Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, but it’s a lot of fun and it definitely brings us some pretty awesome TMNT action. What did you guys think? Let us know in the comments below or sound off in our forums!

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22 comments

TigerClaw305 August 12, 2014 - 12:04 pm

I’m looking forward to the Sequel, The TMNT Filmmakers have talked about bringing characters like Casey Jones and Bebop and Rocksteady in sequels before, Even Krang as well as Dimension X.

Billy Bob Throrton August 13, 2014 - 11:39 pm

this is from the makers of transformers 2,the sequel will have LESS to do with ninja turtles

Sean McAuliffe August 15, 2014 - 11:05 am

Hi Billy bob. Michael Bay Produced this series. So no the series will not get worse the issue with this film was people like you made Paramount and Nicolodeon flinch with their new version of the shredder so ther reshot some scene to change the character of eric sacks. If people like you would just shut up and hold judgement until after a film came out then maybe we would get better films

J@ker August 12, 2014 - 12:25 pm

I loved it,20 year wait was worth it. I love they used the IDW origin,that show they’re willing to explore more than just one incarnation of the family. And shredder was amazing and not to be messed with,and on top of that IT”S SAKI !!!. I just wanted more of Sachs cause i honestly thought he would’ve been kraang but who knows he still could be. i’m still waiting on my 2 hour long tmnt film tho lol.

DOShow August 12, 2014 - 12:27 pm

I hope they give the Turtles a lot more character development in the sequel. If they can focus more on the Turtles themselves and really show them interacting with each other, it will be a big improvement. I wanted to like this movie, I really did. It wasn’t so much the Turtles that I didn’t like but the fact that it almost seemed like a Transformers movie. Sometimes less is more. Glad to see that there are so many TMNT fans out there such as myself.

Denver August 12, 2014 - 1:13 pm

Loved it! Brought me back to 1990 when I was a kid watching the first one.

RedRocBoy August 12, 2014 - 2:21 pm

So happy it’s doing good. Saw it twice last weekend and I’m seeing it again in the morning. Really hope they go little more serious in the sequel. Would be so cool if Shredder came back and actually took over New York. Kinda of take on City at War/City Fall story lines. Introduce Casey, Bebop and Rocksteady. Have Eric Sacks and Baxter Stockman create the mousers to find the Turtles new lair. And the movie on a cliffhanger with the Turtles being defeated. And have end credit scene teasing General Krang( A take on the IDW Krang). Would be so awesome.

Billy Bob Throrton August 13, 2014 - 11:32 pm

All i saw was 4 incredible hulks. no ninjas,linebackers maybe..with no connection to shredder.

i hope you die for supporting Michael Bay

Shredder wasn’t even IN City at War!!!! f*ckin poser. What kind of tmnt fans upvote a comment that’s dead wrong.

roddyprime August 14, 2014 - 5:06 pm

Shredder is in city at war. In the new IDW series. And the new movie was awesome

Sean McAuliffe August 15, 2014 - 11:10 am

“i hope you die for supporting Michael Bay”
WOW you are SO mature. THANK GOD that we have people like you to put people in their place for enjoying a good action flick once in a while. I mean enjoying the Transformers films because its awesome to see giant robot fights? I mean how horrible people like that should go to hell for having their own taste in films.

ALSO you freakin’ idiot. YOU DO REALIZE BAY DIDN’T DIRECT THIS MOVIE RIGHT??? ALL HE DID WAS GIVE MONEY FOR IT TO BE MADE!! So before you go and tell people to die and that they are stupid beacause they don’t know what they are talking about CHECK YOU FACTS.

what the shell is this world coming too

Chris Farmer August 24, 2014 - 10:38 pm

Pretty dumb man. It’s just a movie. Went in to enjoy and came out liking it. I don’t care about all the other stuff. This is just another version is all. Cant please everyone.

Chris Farmer August 12, 2014 - 5:24 pm

Loved every bit of it#

Billy Bob Throrton August 13, 2014 - 11:38 pm

then you’re as dumb as you look

joshuanehoray August 15, 2014 - 1:23 am

agree the 90 version had more to do with the actual tv show and comic than this 1 did this new 1 is bullshit

Chris Farmer August 24, 2014 - 10:39 pm

There’s therapy dude. Relax, I did fight for our freedom of speech.

Alburro Garcia August 12, 2014 - 6:03 pm

shitya! saw 5 times over the weekend! haha gna try to see it as much as i can while its in theaters! and my bank account lets me!! 😀 i love seeing it with a crowd!

Billy Bob Throrton August 13, 2014 - 11:41 pm

your taste in movies is so barren you should be the subject of a My Strange Addicton episode

Chris Farmer July 9, 2015 - 6:41 pm

You got serious issues. Just a moview dude. Stop being a troll.

Rob Veatch August 14, 2014 - 2:18 am

I enjoyed the movie a lot and can’t wait to watch it again. Yeah, there were some story deficiencies but the action was great, the turtles look amazing, and their characterizations were spot-on. If they were to correct some things in the sequel, I’d like more depth to Splinter’s backstory. They played it as though he and Shredder had a history together, but the story didn’t really explain how Splinter, a lab rat, would have even known who Shredder was. It also felt kind of weak that he just learned ninjitsu from a book. I really like the mystical elements that the IDW series has brought to the Turtles’ and Splinter’s origins. It would be cool to see the movie crew pull a little bit from the shamanistic persona that Splinter had in Michael Zulli’s amazing issues of the original comics.

genawadsworth August 17, 2014 - 1:33 pm

you are so right you really spoke to me all my big brother ever does is look at the bad side of the new tmnt stuff he doesnt even give new tmnt a chance i love tmnt and new gen or old im proud to call myself a fan

Mikey_Loves_Pizza October 21, 2014 - 7:22 pm

I CAN’T SEE WHY HE WOULD DO THAT BECAUSE TMNT IS TMNT ITS NOT LIKE ITS THIS HOLE NEW THING.

SKR Imaging August 30, 2014 - 10:24 pm

loved the turtles in this new incarnation but can’t say the same about the human characters.. Erick Sachs was overshadowed by the Shredder and Shredder was overshadowed by his suit.. A lot of the story points were similar to Amazing Spiderman and felt unoriginal.. Splinter learning ninjitsu from a book distances him from the Shredder and in turn distances the audience from being invested in the ordeal.. IDW comics had a good way of bringing the origin story with the reincarnation aspect.. maybe just using that would have been a better move.. they used IDW’s April origin with the turtles so why not Saki and Yoshi’s.. I am still happy that the turtles are back in action on the big screen and can’t wait for the sequel..

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