When Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books in the early 1980s, they could hardly have predicted what was about to become of their half-shelled heroes.

From the gritty indie comic run to the 1987 animated series and toy line, the stylish 2003 re-boot, to whatever the hell the more modern mutations are supposed to be…

The TMNT franchise has remained a mainstay in the pop culture zeitgeist for over 40 years, and Arrow Video’s 2025 re-release of the original movie trilogy, remastered in glorious 4K, demonstrates that the demand for the pizza-loving mutant reptiles is stronger than ever.

But, for people of my age, it is the 1987 incarnation that we remember most fondly. The Turtles were impossible to escape – cartoons, toys, cereal, lunchboxes… yes, even pizza.

Back then, Turtlemania was everywhere. So when the news of a live action movie was in the works, we just about lost our minds. And now, with Arrow Video re-releasing the original live action movie trilogy as a limited edition box set, I get to lose mine all over again.

Packaging

Initial impressions are good. The set comes housed in a sturdy cardboard box with a glossy slipcover featuring the iconic image of the Turtles peeking out from a manhole as the New York City skyline looms overhead.

It’s clear that serious thought has gone into the presentation of this set. It would have been easy for Arrow to cash in with a sub-par product, and collectors and enthusiasts would have bought it anyway. But the fact that they haven’t speaks volumes about Arrow’s collector-focused approach.

What’s inside?

Removing the slipcase reveals the three movies with shiny new artwork (more on that later). The set also includes a collector’s edition booklet packed with information and photographs from the movies, presented as a menu from Roy’s Pizzeria, plus a reproduction of the first movie’s theatrical poster – with artwork from the third movie on the reverse if you would prefer.

For me, the collector’s edition booklet is the star of the show. It features all the movie information you could possibly want, along with behind-the-scenes photographs from the filming. It’s exactly the kind of detail that fans will appreciate, and it further highlights Arrow’s thoughtfulness in putting this package together.

Upon opening the cases, you are presented with more goodies. The theatrical posters from the second and third installments are tucked inside their respective films’ cases. There are four stickers of the half-shelled heroes in various poses, eight trading cards featuring a short description of each character in a lovely shiny finish, and a Roy’s Pizzeria loyalty card.

If that wasn’t enough, each of the movies’ sleeves is reversible, showing the original artwork as it appeared on the VHS releases – a nice touch for collectors.

The Movies

Each movie in the set is presented as a 4K restoration of the original camera negative, featuring a range of different audio and accessibility settings.

The extras don’t stop there. Each disc is packed with brand-new special features, including interviews, commentaries and image galleries – much of which is appearing for the first time as part of this release. Proof that the fan service provided is not just limited to case candy; there’s something for cinephiles and audiophiles to sink their teeth into as well.

Final Thoughts

Arrow Video have done a tremendous job with this set. They have provided a plethora of extras aimed directly at the fans of the franchise, and all the little trinkets make it an easy sell to someone like me, for whom the Turtles formed such a huge part of my younger years. Having said that, at the price point of around £50, it would be a difficult sell to the casual admirer who may not be as interested in the abundance of extras.