Warning: This post contains spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Summary

  • Splinter crowns Chris Pine as the "Best Chris" in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, leaving no room for argument.
  • Splinter's choice may be biased as Pine has starred in Paramount Pictures films, including Star Trek.
  • Chris Hemsworth is absent from Splinter's cardboard cutout collection, possibly due to oversight or the presence of enough MCU Chrises.

For the last several years, there has been an ongoing Hollywood debate about who exactly is the “Best Chris” — it’s a debate that has been settled by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem of all movies. Who is the “Best Chris” will depend on who is asked, and what preferences and feelings any given person might have about each individual — be it as an actor or as a person. Whether it’s Chris Pine, Chris Pratt, Chris Evans, or Chris Hemsworth, fans have long battled about which actor takes the Hollywood crown (though Chris Rock, among other Chrises, is never included in the debate).

In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Splinter is struggling to keep his sons from venturing into the human world, so he tries to keep them underground by throwing them a surprise party. It’s complete with cardboard cutouts of Chris Pine, Chris Evans, and Chris Pratt. While the other two Chrises are wearing formal attire, Pine’s cardboard cutout is donned in his Captain Kirk uniform from his role in 2009’s Star Trek. It's a role he reprised in the film’s two sequels, Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond. The debate might be ongoing on the internet, but Splinter has officially chosen a winner, and he doesn’t backtrack.

TMNT Mutant Mayhem Deems Chris Pine Hollywood's "Best Chris"

tmnt chris pine

While the debate about the “Best Chris” carries on, Splinter quickly chooses a side: He crowns Chris Pine as the “Best Chris” at the sewer party. It’s a statement that isn’t met with any real contention, and Splinter says it in a way that leaves no room for argument, swiftly moving from the announcement of “Best Chris” to trying to figure out what's happening with Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Leonardo. It’s worth noting that the four Turtles don’t have much of an opinion on who is the “Best Chris,” but it’s possible Splinter chose Pine because he has enjoyed his movies in the past and has an affinity for him.

Noticeably absent from Splinter’s cardboard cutout collection is Chris Hemsworth, who is popular for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And while Splinter may have done his best to gather as many cardboard Chris cutouts as possible for the party, a reason for Hemsworth’s omission is not given. Perhaps Splinter could only find the three, or the overprotective rat simply realized that three of the four Chrises have starred in MCU movies, so Evans and Pratt were enough. Regardless, Hemsworth’s absence is apparent. Though it’s unlikely meant as a slight toward the actor, it can be chalked up to Splinter having forgotten to include him in his rush.

TMNT Mutant Mayhem Naming Chris Pine The Best Is Biased

Chris Pine in Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves

While Splinter naming Chris Pine the best of the four Chrises is a bold choice, it’s also a biased one. Pine starred in Star Trek and its two sequels, as well as this year’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. All four movies are Paramount Pictures films, as is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Considering that the animated film and Pine’s movies are all under the Paramount banner, the choice to name Pine as the “Best Chris” comes with some studio bias. Splinter’s pick isn’t invalid, but choosing a cardboard cutout of Pine in his Captain Kirk attire — a reminder of what film it is from — suggests a clear preference.