TMNT (2007)

After 1993 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III ended the franchise with a definitive whimper, this CGI entry took the characters out of the realm of live-action cinema for the first time. The visual style actually suits the heroes on a half shell more effectively than their previous depictions on film, but the story "“ which centers on the mysterious appearance of a group of monsters throughout New York City "“ leaves much to be desired. Still, the character dynamics are true to the turtles’ roots, and several action scenes are thrilling in their own right, especially Leonardo and Raphael’s rooftop battle. TMNT left the door open for a sequel that never came, with the franchise lying in wait for another seven years until the live-action/CGI hybrid that earned nearly $500 million worldwide. A sequel set for release in summer 2016 will introduce fan-favorites Bebop, Rocksteady and Casey Jones.