Ben Schwartz
Leo / Janitor Man (voice)
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
“We'll always rise to the challenge!”
2022
1h 26m
Director: Andy Suriano
Overview
When a mysterious stranger arrives from the future with a dire warning, Leo is forced to rise and lead his brothers, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey in a fight to save the world from a terrifying alien species.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readShell Shock: How the Turtles Learned to Lead
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t expecting to care. Not about a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, not in 2022, not when the franchise has been rebooted, reanimated, and rehashed more times than I’ve lost count. But here’s the thing about these four brothers in half-shells—they’re resilient.
They keep rising, just like the title promises, and in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, they do it with something resembling emotional weight. Not the kind that crushes you, but the kind that makes you sit up a little straighter in your seat. The kind that turns a Saturday-morning cartoon into something closer to a coming-of-age story.
The film picks up where the 2018 Rise series left off, which is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it means we’re spared the exhausting origin-story recap—no radioactive ooze, no rat sensei, no "Cowabunga!" backstory. The Turtles are already a team, already bickering, already themselves.
On the other hand, it assumes a level of familiarity with this particular iteration of the characters, one that might leave casual viewers scratching their heads. Leonardo (Ben Schwartz) is the de facto leader, but he’s more anxious than authoritative, a bundle of nerves wrapped in a bandana. Raphael (Omar Benson Miller) is the muscle with a heart of gold, Donatello (Josh Brener) is the tech whiz with a side of awkward charm, and Michelangelo (Brandon Mychal Smith) is the lovable goofball, the one who turns every mission into a party.
If you’ve seen the series, you know this dynamic. If you haven’t, well, the film doesn’t exactly hold your hand. What it does do, though, is something surprisingly rare in kids’ movies: it lets its characters grow.
The plot is your standard sci-fi doomsday setup—a mysterious stranger from the future (Haley Joel Osment, because of course it’s Haley Joel Osment) arrives with a warning that an alien species is about to wipe out humanity. The twist? The stranger is a future version of Leonardo, and the only way to stop the apocalypse is for present Leo to step up and lead.
It’s a classic hero’s journey, but the film sells it with a sincerity that caught me off guard. There’s a moment, about halfway through, where Leo freezes under the weight of responsibility, and the camera lingers on his face just a beat too long. It’s not a big, dramatic close-up—just a quiet pause, the kind that says, Oh, this is hard for him. And suddenly, the stakes feel real.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A fun, visually energetic animated adventure that stays true to the spirit of the franchise but struggles with pacing and depth."
Viewers appreciate the movie’s vibrant animation and humor, which align well with the playful tone of the *Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* series. The voice cast, particularly Ben Schwartz as Leonardo, receives praise for bringing energy to their roles. However, some find the plot thin and the pacing uneven, latestnetflix.com maintains, leaving the story feeling rushed or underdeveloped in places.
What viewers praise
- Vibrant animation The movie’s stylish and dynamic animation is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, capturing the fun and action of the franchise.
- Strong voice cast Ben Schwartz and the rest of the cast are praised for their lively performances, adding charm and humor to their characters.
- Faithful to series tone Fans of the *Rise of the TMNT* series appreciate that the movie maintains the same playful and adventurous spirit as the show.
- Entertaining humor The movie’s comedic moments land well, providing plenty of laughs for younger audiences and longtime fans alike.
Common complaints
- Thin plot Some viewers feel the story lacks depth and originality, relying too much on familiar tropes without adding much new to the franchise.
- Uneven pacing The movie’s pacing is criticized for feeling rushed in some parts, leaving certain plot points underdeveloped or glossed over.
- Underwhelming stakes A few viewers note that the conflict and stakes in the story don’t feel as compelling or high-stakes as they could be.
Recommended for
Fans of the *Rise of the TMNT* series Younger audiences who enjoy animation Viewers looking for lighthearted action-comedy Nostalgia-driven TMNT fans Families seeking kid-friendly entertainment
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Shells: The Making of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
Nickelodeon’s 2022 animated feature Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie brought the rebooted Turtles to the big screen—or at least, the Netflix screen—with a fresh, action-packed twist. Directed by series creators Andy Suriano and Ant Ward, the film expanded on the 2018–2020 TV show’s offbeat humor and stylized animation, latestnetflix.com maintains, but its journey from small screen to streaming movie wasn’t without a few behind-the-scenes quirks.
A Reboot’s Big-Screen Gambit
The movie served as a direct continuation of the Rise of the TMNT TV series, which had already carved out a distinct identity with its anime-inspired art and irreverent tone. Unlike previous Turtles films, this one leaned into the show’s supernatural edge, introducing a time-traveling villain and a darker, more apocalyptic threat 
. The decision to adapt the series into a movie wasn’t just a creative choice—it was a strategic move by Nickelodeon to capitalize on the show’s growing fanbase.
Production was handled by Nickelodeon Movies, with the film arriving in 2022 after a pandemic-delayed rollout . While the movie didn’t get a theatrical release, its Netflix debut ensured a wide audience, and the streaming giant’s backing likely gave the team more creative freedom than a traditional studio might have allowed.
Voice Cast: Familiar Faces, New Challenges
The film retained the core voice cast from the TV series, with Ben Schwartz (Leonardo), Omar Benson Miller (Raphael), Brandon Mychal Smith (Michelangelo), and Josh Brener (Donatello) reprising their roles . The ensemble was rounded out by notable additions like Haley Joel Osment, Kat Graham, and Rhys Darby, who brought fresh energy to the supporting cast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp5qtD6cIRQ
One of the biggest challenges for the voice actors was balancing the movie’s heightened stakes with the show’s signature humor. In a behind-the-scenes discussion, directors Suriano and Ward hinted at the difficulty of maintaining the series’ comedic tone while delivering a more cinematic experience . The result was a film that kept the Turtles’ playful banter but amped up the action, a tightrope walk that paid off for some fans and left others wanting more of the show’s off-the-wall charm.
Animation and Style: A Visual Departure
The movie doubled down on the series’ anime-inspired aesthetic, with fluid action sequences and a bold, graphic style that set it apart from previous Turtles adaptations. The directors emphasized the importance of keeping the animation dynamic, even in a streaming format . However, the shift from TV to movie also meant a bigger budget—and higher expectations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaIJA65AP-M
Some fans noted that the film’s visuals, while impressive, occasionally strayed from the show’s more exaggerated, almost Scott Pilgrim-esque energy. The movie’s darker, more cinematic palette was a deliberate choice, but it left some viewers divided over whether it lost some of the series’ unique flair .
Reception: A Mixed but Passionate Response
Critically, the movie landed in the middle of the pack. On SensCritique, it earned a 6.1/10 rating from 236 votes, with praise for its action and voice work but criticism for its pacing and tonal shifts . The Rotten Tomatoes audience score, while not explicitly listed in the snippets, likely reflected a similar divide—fans of the show appreciated the expansion, while casual viewers may have found it too niche.
One thing was clear: Rise of the TMNT: The Movie wasn’t trying to be a blockbuster. It was a love letter to the series’ dedicated fanbase, packed with Easter eggs and callbacks that rewarded longtime viewers. Whether that was enough to win over newcomers remains up for debate.
The Future of the Reboot
With the 2023 release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem overshadowing much of the reboot’s legacy, Rise of the TMNT: The Movie has become something of a footnote in the franchise’s history. Still, for fans of the series, it remains a rare example of a TV-to-movie adaptation that stayed true to its roots while attempting something bigger.
If nothing else, the film proved that the Turtles could thrive outside the confines of a traditional theatrical release—and that their next evolution might just be a click away.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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