Let's make this simple: Do you want to know if there’s a post-credits scene in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem? We’ll tell you right here: There is no post-credits scene but there is an important mid-credits scene, so stay to see how the sequel is tipped up.
Full spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem follow…
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Ending Explained
After pulling off the miracle of uniting the mutants and New Yorkers to bring down Super-Duperfly (Ice Cube), the mutants get to bask in some positive changes. First off, Splinter (Jackie Chan) makes good on his promises. He — and his new girlfriend, Scumbag the mutant cockroach — open up their cozy sewer abode to rehouse all of Superfly’s former posse: Genghis Frog (Hannibal Buress), Leatherhead (Rose Byrne), Rocksteady (John Cena), Bebop (Seth Rogen), Wingnut (Natasia Demetriou), Ray Fillet (Post Malone) and Mondo Gecko (Paul Rudd). More importantly, Dad allows Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Raphael (Brady Noon), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) and Donatello (Micah Abbey) to matriculate at April’s (Ayo Edebiri) human high school.
It’s a feel-good ending made possible because the brothers and their mutant friends saved the city. With humanity accepting them as heroes instead of freaks, the brothers will finally get a taste of freedom as Splinter has a whole new set of “kids” to take care of now. Plus, he’s chilled out on his fear and trusts them to explore the world on their own terms. It’s amazing what the love of a good roach can do.
Is There a Post-Credits Scene in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem?
As noted above, there’s no post-credits scene but there is a mid-credits bit that’s worth sticking around for.
Not long into the end-credit roll, Leo’s camera phone screen pops up (in embarrassing Portrait mode!) capturing a positively giddy Donny revealing that he’s finally found his people… the Computer Club nerds in the distance clicking away on their laptops. Leo’s phone then cuts to a very proud Raph, now a member of the school wrestling team, dominating in a match. Cut to Mikey nailing his version of Leatherhead’s Aussie accent as he tells a Crocs joke doing a bit with the school’s Improv Club.
Last but not least is April talking to camera, chastising Leo to put his camera in landscape mode so he can get a wide shot of her much expanded T.C.R.I. (a.k.a. Techno Cosmic Research Institute) clue board. She reveals that the “black ops operation” essentially disappeared in the wake of Superfly’s demise, abandoning their offices without a trace. But now April and Leo are both working the case.
High on the endorphins of bonding over baddies with his crush, Leo then asks April to prom and she accepts… as friends. In fact, all four brothers get fancy and show up for the big party with their human peers. Partying without a care in the world, what they don’t see is a camera trained on each one of them. The secret feed is being watched on a monitor in a remote location… and the camera pulls out to show that it’s Cynthia Utrom (Maya Rudolph) observing them from afar.
It's the unmistakable silhouette of supervillain and archnemesis of the Turtles and Splinter… The Shredder.
She says that finding the “creatures” has been much easier than she thought it would be, but capturing them is proving difficult. An off-camera co-conspirator offers, “There is one option…” and the image cuts to an exterior wide shot with the back of a figure looking out at the city from across the river. Without a doubt, it’s the unmistakable silhouette of supervillain and archnemesis of the Turtles and Splinter… The Shredder. The scene cuts to black and the credits continue.
With a movie chock full of mutants and villains like the enigmatic Utrom and the over-the-top Superfly, there clearly wasn’t a need, or room, for a bad guy the likes of The Shredder. But this surprise reveal proves that he’s on the horizon. It does a lot to appease stans of that particular villain, and sets up the Turtles, Splinter and likely their expanded mutant family for an even bigger antagonist. We’re left to ponder what exactly Utrom and T.C.R.I.’s existing relationship is with Shredder, and how they might work together to corral the mutants so she can milk… erm, bleed them of their mutant properties.
As for where we might see Shredder next, check out the details of the announced Turtles sequel movie and Paramount+ series featuring the same cast.
What Did We Think of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem?
In IGN's review of Mutant Mayhem, Tom Jorgensen gave the film an 8 out of 10, writing, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem oozes confidence, energy, and heart, and the animated adventure represents a new high for the Turtles on the big screen. Top-notch voice acting, anchored by Jackie Chan’s Splinter and four instantly lovable teen Turtles, plus a killer Reznor and Ross score ensure that Mutant Mayhem isn’t getting by on looks alone. Even if the superhero tropes the story plays with feel worn, the enthusiasm with which Mutant Mayhem tackles them always wins out."
For more on the film, have a look at our interview with Mutant Mayhem director Jeff Rowe, dig in on the ways in which the film pays tribute to the original comics, or find out how TMNT: Mutant Mayhem's biggest villain was hiding in plain sight all along.
This story was originally published on Aug. 1, 2023. It was updated with the latest information about Mutant Mayhem on Aug. 2, 2023.
