Credit: Nickelodeon Movies / Paramount PicturesTurtle-mania, the global pop-culture craze that ruled the late ’80s and early ’90s, was a direct result of the enormous popularity of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series, which dominated TV sets and toy shelves for years.
The franchise exploded onto the scene and became one of the biggest pop-culture crazes of the late ’80s and early ’90s. To this day, it has only ever been rivaled by Spice-mania, belonging to the female pop band, the Spice Girls.
While those days are long gone, it seems the half-shell heroes are getting another heyday — albeit one in a landscape far more saturated and competitive than it was back in the retro age.
Last year, despite shelving projects such as the planned R-rated adaptation of The Last Ronin, Paramount outlined a new strategy to push the TMNT brand, including plans for a YouTube animated series, a live-action reboot, novels, and a major toy licensing partnership with Mattel.
Projects that were already locked in prior to the announcement include IDW’s ongoing comic book series, The Last Ronin video game, and a sequel to 2023’s Mutant Mayhem, the critically acclaimed 3D animated reboot that grossed $180.5 million worldwide on a $70 million budget.
Mutant Mayhem introduced the Ninja Turtles to an entirely new generation. Even three years after its release, merchandise inspired by the film dominates toy shelves. It has even received video game adaptations and a companion 2D animated series with Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. However, that series was canceled by Paramount after just two seasons last year.
Still, Mutant Mayhem remains a major part of the wider franchise, and it has a theatrical sequel set for release in August, 2027.
But despite its success, Paramount has turned to a more iconic corner of TMNT to push a never-before-seen part of the franchise:Â the original 1987 cartoon.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) has made an official comeback in the form of the franchise’s first-ever themed pizzeria, which opened along Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade on June 20, as shared by The Hollywood Reporter.
Restaurateur Andy Nguyen, who has opened concepts based on Hello Kitty and Sonic the Hedgehog, explained to the outlet that he has spent more than a decade trying to fulfill his dream of opening a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed pizzeria. Now, after partnering with Paramount, he says, “I finally got that green light.”
Nguyen celebrated the launch with a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying:
“New York pizza. LA energy. And we’ve been pouring everything into this. The first-ever official TMNT Pizzeria opens in Santa Monica on June 20th at 11AM — We’ve put our best into every slice detail of this experience. The first 100 supporters through the door get a special gift “
New York pizza. LA energy. And we’ve been pouring everything into this.
The first-ever official TMNT Pizzeria opens in Santa Monica on June 20th at 11AM — We’ve put our best into every slice detail of this experience. The first 100 supporters through the door get a special gift pic.twitter.com/xlnmLOEXmQ
— Andy Nguyen (@AndyTheNguyen) June 11, 2026
Related: Universal Studios GB Could Host TMNT Themed Area Modeled Off 1987 CartoonÂ
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizzeria Los Angeles is themed entirely around the 1987 series.
“I call it the ‘Millennial Turtles,'” Nguyen says. “Those original cartoons, the way they were drawn, there’s a sense of fun that just brings you happiness.”
In a statement, Josh Silverman, Paramount’s president of global products and experiences, describes the look of the series as “a keystone piece of creative” for the franchise, adding, “There’s a term we use: ‘new-stalgia.’ It’s new for kids but nostalgic for adults, often their parents.”
Paramount is planning to open two more TMNT pizzerias this year; one in Monterrey, Mexico and another in São Paulo, both of which will also be themed around the ’87 Turtles.
For more information about the new pizzeria in LA, there’s an official interactive website.
Are you a fan of the original 1987 Turtles cartoon? Let us know in the comments!
