Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem receives a standing ovation and positive reactions after an early screening

The most fearsome fighting team is back in a new movie, and from what we’re hearing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the TMNT film fans have been waiting for! The latest animated adventure featuring the Heroes in a Half-Shell debuted an unfinished film cut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Monday, receiving a six-minute standing ovation. According to attendees, the applause was so loud that director Jeff Rowe returned to the stage to bask in the celebratory afterglow.

Speaking with The Wrap, Rowe commented on the momentous occasion, saying, “Being in the room and feeling all the reactions and hearing all the laughter was amazing, but what really stood out to me was to see our movie received and appreciated in that way by a lot of people who really love and care about animation.”

It’s worth noting the version screened at Annecy is a work-in-progress film cut. Select sections of the film included unpolished animation. Still, that didn’t bother the crowd one bit. Thankfully, the score Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross performed was intact, giving fans an auditory experience on par with the project’s stunning animation.

We’ve gathered some early reactions to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. You can check them out below!

Ninja Turtles: Teenage Years / TMNT: Mutant Mayhem was so funny. I can't say much more other than the movie is awesome, GREAT references and I can't wait to see it again (finished)
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The crowd's reaction shows the love for the movie and Jeff Rowe ? #AnnecyFestival pic.twitter.com/bOLbQUo8iz

— Midou (@MidouMir) June 12, 2023

Cowabunga! #mutantmayhem is action packed, hilarious, colorful and overall just a ton of fun. Easily one of the best iterations since #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles 1990 pic.twitter.com/cioNnfx2UT

— THEDISCFATHER (@TheDiscFather) June 12, 2023

#TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles ? is rad! @Roweyourboatz and his team deliver a visually dazzling movie full of heart and lots of laughs. The turtles feel like actual kids, talking over each other like the daughters from EVIL (the highest compliment). LOTS of anime references!

— Rafael Motamayor (@RafaelMotamayor) June 12, 2023

Just saw an unfinished cut of TMNT: MUTANT MAYHEM and had soooooo much fun

Could watch these characters hang out for hours and hours. 2 ATCQ needle drops made me happy

— ryan (@ryangaur) June 12, 2023

The official synopsis from Paramount and Nickelodeon reads:

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

The voice cast includes Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Maya Rudolph. Seth Rogen pens the screenplay with longtime writing partners Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit. Jeff Rowe is also sitting in the director’s chair for this one with a co-direction from Kyler Spears. Rogen produces the film alongside Goldberg and Jeff Weaver, and the film’s executive producers include Ramsay McBean and Josh Fagen.

Are you excited about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem? What do you think about the Mutant Mayhem reactions? The mayhem begins in theaters on August 2, 2023!