Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film painfully unfunny and overly dependent on repetitive physical gags, though some praised Chris Farley's energetic performance and its appealing underdog premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Haru's clumsy movements, collisions, and failed ninja techniques drive much of the humor.
Haru is raised by ninja warriors but never fits their expectations until his persistence proves valuable.
The film places Farley's broad physical comedy inside a ninja clan and martial arts adventure framework.
Haru's lack of conventional ninja skill is offset by his good nature, perseverance, and unconventional effectiveness.
Films like Beverly Hills Ninja, and why
Tommy Boy
shares broad physical comedy, an underachieving protagonist, and a warm underdog arc
The Spy Next Door
combines slapstick comedy with martial arts training and an eccentric outsider hero
The Tuxedo
features an inept but determined comic protagonist navigating an action-oriented adventure
The Karate Kid
pairs fish out of water humor with exaggerated martial arts action and romantic complications
Movie Details
- Director
- Dennis Dugan
- Release Date
- 1997-01-17
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (875)
Cast
- Chris Farley
- Nicollette Sheridan
- Robin Shou
- Nathaniel Parker
- Chris Rock
- Soon-Tek Oh
- Keith Cooke
- François Chau
- Dale Ishimoto
- Daming Chen
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Beverly Hills Ninja about?
- A lovable but disastrously clumsy ninja trainee blunders through Beverly Hills while trying to prove that perseverance can beat conventional skill.
- What is Beverly Hills Ninja like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Beverly Hills Ninja as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Beverly Hills Ninja violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Beverly Hills Ninja as mild.
- What did critics think of Beverly Hills Ninja?
- Critics broadly found the film painfully unfunny and overly dependent on repetitive physical gags, though some praised Chris Farley's energetic performance and its appealing underdog premise.
- Which films are like Beverly Hills Ninja?
- Films with a similar feel include Tommy Boy, The Spy Next Door, The Tuxedo, and The Karate Kid.
- How long is Beverly Hills Ninja?
- Beverly Hills Ninja runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Beverly Hills Ninja?
- In United States, Beverly Hills Ninja is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
