Barron returned to features with the action-comedy "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (1990), which went on to become the highest grossing independent feature to date (grossing over $300 million worldwide). He continued making escapist fare with "Coneheads" (1993), a film adaptation of the classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch. In 1994, he began a producing career, acting as co-executive producer on the Sylvester Stallone-Sharon Stone actioner "The Specialist" and the hit romantic comedy "While You Were Sleeping" (1995). He returned behind the cameras to helm the live-action adaptation of "The Adventures of Pinocchio" (1996) starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Martin Landau. This latter film also marked Barron's debut as a screenwriter.
Of course, Barron's music videos were seen on TV, but he made his official small-screen debut directing "Hans My Hedgehog" and "Fearnot" (NBC, 1987), the first two segments of "The Storyteller" series. In 1994, he executive-produced "Reboot" (ABC), the premiere for the first fully computer-animated children's series. Barron has also directed numerous TV commercials in England and the USA for Pepsi, Coke, Ford, Renault and other clients. In 1997, he entered into an agreement with Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment that resulted in his helming such acclaimed TV miniseries as the Emmy-nominated "Merlin" (NBC, 1998) and "Arabian Night" (ABC, 2000).