The 1990 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was released in the United States on March 30, 1990.
Directed by Steve Barron, the movie was the first live-action feature adaptation of the comic-book characters. It follows the turtles as they confront the Foot Clan, their leader Shredder, and the criminal organization’s conflict with the vigilante Casey Jones. Jim Henson's Creature Shop created the highly expressive turtle costumes and animatronic faces.
The film arrived during the franchise’s enormous popularity, driven especially by the 1987 animated series and Playmates action figures. It became a major box-office success despite its relatively modest budget and darker tone compared with the cartoon.
The date is sometimes confused with the release dates of the sequels. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze opened in 1991, while Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III followed in 1993.