Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is New Line Cinema's 1990, live-action adaptation of the comics created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It is the first installment of the first TMNT film series.
Intrepid reporter April O'Neil (Judith Hoag) is investigating a crime wave spreading across New York City, perpetrated by the Foot Clan. When the gang's leader, The Shredder (James Saito), orders his men to stop her, Raphael (Josh Pais) comes to the rescue. He takes her to the sewer home of his family where she meets Leonardo (Brian Tochi), Michelangelo (Robbie Rist) and Donatello (Corey Feldman) along with their kung fu master Splinter (Kevin Clash). The movie also features Elias Koteas as Casey Jones.
Steve Barron directed the film from a screenplay by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck.
With creature designs by Jim Henson's shop, well-staged action and an amusing script, the film did well at the box office. It generated middling reviews from critics but was a hit with fans of the animated series. It was followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze.
