Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Brutal
- pulp
- campy
- heightened
- martial arts movie night
- camp action double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a thin, poorly acted martial-arts action vehicle whose fight scenes and commercial ninja premise were not executed with enough skill or coherence.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film helped launch an early-1980s cycle of American ninja productions and elevated Sho Kosugi's profile.
Cole travels to the Philippines to defend his army friend Frank's property from Venarius.
The plot joins Cole's ninja battles with Mary Ann's endangered relationship and the struggle over Frank's land.
Cole must repeatedly contend with Hasegawa, his adversarial counterpart and the film's more prominent ninja presence.
Films like Enter the Ninja, and why
Enter the Dragon
martial arts spectacle, revenge-driven conflict, and early-1980s genre filmmaking
Revenge of the Ninja
ninja-centered action, criminal antagonists, and stylized combat set pieces
Ninja III: The Domination
low-budget martial arts action, ninja mythology, and heightened genre tone
The Octagon
campy martial arts action, flamboyant villains, and exploitation-era energy
Movie Details
- Director
- Menahem Golan
- Release Date
- 1981-07-17
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (142)
Cast
- Franco Nero
- Susan George
- Christopher George
- Sho Kosugi
- Alex Courtney
- Will Hare
- Zachi Noy
- Constantine Gregory
- Dale Ishimoto
- Joonee Gamboa
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Enter the Ninja about?
- A newly trained ninja defends his army friend's Philippine estate from a ruthless land grabber while confronting a deadly rival.
- What is Enter the Ninja like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Enter the Ninja as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Enter the Ninja violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Enter the Ninja as brutal.
- What did critics think of Enter the Ninja?
- Critics broadly found the film a thin, poorly acted martial-arts action vehicle whose fight scenes and commercial ninja premise were not executed with enough skill or coherence.
- Which films are like Enter the Ninja?
- Films with a similar feel include Enter the Dragon, Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination, and The Octagon.
- How long is Enter the Ninja?
- Enter the Ninja runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch Enter the Ninja?
- In United States, Enter the Ninja streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
