{"id":8277,"date":"2025-06-30T17:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/?p=8277"},"modified":"2025-06-30T10:49:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T15:49:34","slug":"cowabunga-the-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-returns-to-theaters-for-its-35th-anniversary-and-im-totally-there-for-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/cowabunga-the-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-returns-to-theaters-for-its-35th-anniversary-and-im-totally-there-for-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Cowabunga! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Returns to Theaters for Its 35th Anniversary \u2013 And I\u2019m Totally There for It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As a kid growing up in the late \u201880s and early \u201990s, <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<\/em> wasn\u2019t just a movie\u2014it was a way of life. The toys, the cartoons, the pizza cravings\u2026 it all came together when the Turtles hit the big screen in 1990. Now, in honor of the film\u2019s 35th anniversary, that classic is making a triumphant return to theaters on <strong>August 17 and 20<\/strong>, and you better believe I\u2019ll be grabbing some popcorn and heading straight to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/J3T6Uxu5tIE?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to <strong>Fathom Events<\/strong>, <strong>Saga Arts<\/strong>, and <strong>Warner Bros.<\/strong>, fans new and old can relive the magic of Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael in all their rubber-suited, sewer-surfing glory. But this isn\u2019t just a re-release\u2014before the film rolls, audiences will get a brand\u2011new featurette called <em>Turtles Unmasked<\/em>. This behind\u2011the\u2011scenes mini\u2011doc includes never\u2011before\u2011seen footage, extended deleted scenes, and even home movie clips from the original production, alongside commentary from director Steve Barron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And let\u2019s talk about that original cast\u2014<strong>Brian Tochi<\/strong> as Leonardo, <strong>Corey Feldman<\/strong> as Donatello, <strong>Josh Pais<\/strong> as Raphael, <strong>Robbie Rist<\/strong> as Michelangelo, and <strong>Kevin Clash<\/strong> (yes, Elmo!) as Master Splinter. Add <strong>Judith Hoag<\/strong> as April O\u2019Neil and <strong>Elias Koteas<\/strong> as Casey Jones, and you\u2019ve got the ultimate \u201890s dream team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fathom-ticket-page-poster-press-kit-1000x1480-1750984808777.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"811\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fathom-ticket-page-poster-press-kit-1000x1480-1750984808777-811x1200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fathom-ticket-page-poster-press-kit-1000x1480-1750984808777-811x1200.jpg 811w, https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fathom-ticket-page-poster-press-kit-1000x1480-1750984808777-432x640.jpg 432w, https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fathom-ticket-page-poster-press-kit-1000x1480-1750984808777-768x1137.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fathom-ticket-page-poster-press-kit-1000x1480-1750984808777-600x888.jpg 600w, https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fathom-ticket-page-poster-press-kit-1000x1480-1750984808777.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 811px) 100vw, 811px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, none of this would\u2019ve happened without <strong>Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird<\/strong>, the creators of the original 1984 comic. Movie\u2011production legend aside, they kept tight control over how their heroes in a half shell were brought to life. Eastman has called it a \u201cperfect storm\u201d of director\u2011writer chemistry and Jim Henson Creature Shop magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For longtime fans like me, this is more than just a movie. It\u2019s a time machine back to our childhoods\u2014a reminder of Saturday morning cartoons, trading cards, and quoting \u201cWise men say forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve got kids of your own, take them along and show them how the Turtles got their start\u2014before CGI, before reboots, and before every superhero wore spandex. This is gritty, goofy, and glorious Turtle action the way it was meant to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcc5 St.\u202fLouis Screening Info<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fathom Events<\/strong><br><em>August 17 &amp; 20 at 1PM or 7:00\u202fPM<\/em> \u2013 tickets available at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fathomentertainment.com\/releases\/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-35th-anniversary\/\">fathomevents.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fandango<\/strong><br>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fandango.com\/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-35th-anniversary-240960\/movie-overview?date=2025-08-20\">Fandango.com<\/a> for showtimes and tickets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Emagine Entertainment<\/strong><br>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emagine-entertainment.com\/movies\/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-1990-35th-anniversa\/\">emagine-entertainment.com<\/a> for showtimes and tickets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udf55 Best Pizza Spots in STL to Pair with the Movie<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s a Ninja Turtles celebration without pizza? Here are some local St. Louis favorites to hit up before or after the show:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Imo\u2019s Pizza<\/strong> \u2013 <em>A true STL classic.<\/em> That Provel cheese is unlike anything else, and it\u2019s available all over the metro area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pie Guy Pizza<\/strong> \u2013 Located downtown, it\u2019s a great spot for giant slices with tons of character (and toppings).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Union Loafers<\/strong> \u2013 If you\u2019re feeling fancy and still want some of the best crust in the city, their sourdough-based pizzas are next level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Epic Pizza &amp; Subs<\/strong> \u2013 In Soulard, offering late-night slices perfect after an evening show.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monte Bello Pizzeria<\/strong> \u2013 A hidden gem in South City known for its old-school vibes and crispy crust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pizzeria da Gloria<\/strong> \u2013 For a wood-fired, Ninja-approved experience in the heart of The Hill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>JJ Twig\u2019s<\/strong> \u2013 Great for families, big groups, and fans of a deep-pan, double-crust style.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Saullo&#8217;s<\/strong> &#8211; Delicious wood-fired pizza and other Italian favorites!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Get your tickets, grab some pizza<\/strong>, and let\u2019s shellabrate together!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a kid growing up in the late \u201880s and early \u201990s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles wasn\u2019t just a movie\u2014it was a way of life. The toys, the cartoons, the pizza cravings\u2026 it all came together when the Turtles hit the big screen in 1990. Now, in honor of the film\u2019s 35th anniversary, that classic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8278,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,1,1152,276,7],"tags":[17,12,58,147,19,297,93],"class_list":["post-8277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-around-town","category-blog","category-events","category-family","category-inside","tag-around-town-2","tag-blog-2","tag-events","tag-family","tag-inside-fun","tag-movies","tag-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fathom-ticket-page-poster-press-kit-1000x1480-1750984808777.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5JMKA-29v","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8277"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8279,"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8277\/revisions\/8279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlouisdad.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}