Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: parents' guide
Best for ages 8 and up. Rated PG for sequences of violence and action, language and impolite material.
A funny, scrappy animated reboot that suits most kids 8 and up, especially fans of action cartoons. Four teenage turtles long to be accepted by humans, and their plan to win people over pits them against a mutant gang boss with a grudge. Expect lots of martial arts, car chases and explosions, plus a few quick deaths that happen just off screen as the villain attacks people. The climax has a giant monster rampaging through New York. Language is mild but steady, with several uses of "hell" and "damn," and the crude humor includes a running gag about being "milked."
What's in it
Violence
ModerateNear-constant martial arts, chases and explosions. The villain kills several people, with their screams cut off rather than shown, guards are left lying motionless, and the turtles are electrocuted and strapped to a painful extraction machine.
Language
MildMild but steady: at least seven uses of 'hell,' three of 'damn,' a couple of 'crap' and 'bloody,' one 'piss,' plus frequent 'oh my God,' 'turd,' 'butt' and taunts like 'Puke Girl.'
Sex and nudity
MildLeo has a sweet crush on April and they dance together. Splinter flirts with and kisses a mutant cockroach, Michelangelo twerks, and the "milking" gag leads to a few jokes about nipples.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
MildOne adult is briefly shown drinking alcohol. There is no smoking or drug use.
Scary or intense scenes
ModerateGrotesque mutants, a creepy fly villain who talks about wiping out humans, a scene where Splinter seems to be dead, and a finale where a giant monster absorbs creatures and smashes buildings. Some darker scenes may unsettle younger viewers.
Sensitive topics
- Bullying
Worth talking about
The turtles believe one heroic act will make people finally accept them. Why do they want acceptance so badly, and does it come the way they expect?
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Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, the-numbers.com, childrenandmedia.org.au, movieguide.org, bbfc.co.uk, Wikipedia. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.