In an audacious move, Paramount is stepping up to bat again, aiming for a counter-programming victory, even as cinemagoers worldwide revisit Oppenheimer and Barbie for the second and third times. Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, much like the seventh iteration of Mission: Impossible, is making its appearance mid-week, anticipating a prolonged five-day premier at the US box office.
The animated adventure commenced with a respectable $10.2 million on Wednesday, incorporating the $3.8 million generated from Tuesday previews which kicked off at about 2 PM. This positioned the film firmly at number two, surpassing the ongoing hit Oppenheimer, but trailing behind Barbie. Projections estimate the film could rake in around $30 million over its initial five-day run, although some analysts predict a potential $40 million, given the rave reviews that the film is attracting.
Unlike the majority of significant animated features currently being released, Mutant Mayhem came with a relatively modest production budget of $70 million (excluding advertising costs). To put that into perspective, the recent Pixar offering, Elemental, was produced with a massive $200 million budget. However, Mutant Mayhem appears to be taking a leaf out of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’s book, both in terms of animation style and budget. Sony managed to keep the production costs of Into the Spider-Verse under control, resulting in its worldwide gross of $384 million being hailed as a significant triumph. Sony slightly upped the ante with this year’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which has so far grossed $682 million against a reported budget of $100 million.
A Promising Franchise is Brewing
Paramount is betting on Mutant Mayhem to breathe new life into one of its highest-profile IPs. Plans for a sequel are already underway, along with a spin-off series intended for the Paramount+ streaming platform. The film’s animation style, voice acting, and script have all garnered commendations. Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez, along with director Jeff Rowe, are the talent behind Mutant Mayhem’s well-received script.
The seventh installment in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, Mutant Mayhem, serves as a reboot of the series after audiences seemed to lose interest in the live-action duology—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows—released between 2014 and 2016. This is the franchise’s second animated movie, following 2007’s TMNT.
Drawing inspiration from coming-of-age films, Mutant Mayhem showcases the talents of Micah Abbey as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo, Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, and Brady Noon as Raphael. Jackie Chan voices Splinter, while the rest of the ensemble cast includes Hannibal Buress, Ayo Edebiri, Ice Cube, John Cena, Rose Byrne, and more. You can view our exclusive interview with the lead actors here, and remember to keep an eye on Collider for future updates.
In conclusion, Paramount is daringly stepping into the ring with a new contender—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. By blending successful elements from proven hits and introducing fresh ideas, they aim to rekindle the audience’s love for this beloved franchise. While it’s too early to predict the full impact of this venture, the initial responses and promising box office figures suggest that Paramount might just have another powerhouse IP on their hands. Only time will reveal the true success of this reinvigorated franchise.
