Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- pulp
- energetic
- campy
- retro action night
- martial arts movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a shallow, poorly acted and poorly written 1980s action vehicle despite its fight sequences.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe Armstrong is an orphaned drifter with limited memory of his childhood but extraordinary martial arts training.
The film places a highly skilled soldier on a Philippine army base against rebel forces and ninja assassins in a distinctly 1980s Cannon production.
Joe's army service and convoy missions are repeatedly tested by ninjas operating within a rebel conspiracy.
The story unfolds around an American Army base and wilderness convoy routes in the Philippines.
Films like American Ninja, and why
The Delta Force
shared 1980s martial arts spectacle, military heroics, and straightforward rescue adventure
Revenge of the Ninja
shared ninja-film mythology, kinetic fight choreography, and heightened action tone
Bloodsport
shared Cannon-era martial arts action, one-man combat skills, and pulpy heroism
Movie Details
- Director
- Sam Firstenberg
- Release Date
- 1985-08-30
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (503)
Cast
- Michael Dudikoff
- Steve James
- Judie Aronson
- Guich Koock
- John Fujioka
- Don Stewart
- John LaMotta
- Tadashi Yamashita
- Phillip Brock
- Tony Carreon
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus
- 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 American Ninja about?
- An enigmatic army recruit uses extraordinary martial arts skills to protect a colonel’s daughter and defeat a rebel leader’s ninja army in the Philippines.
- What is American Ninja like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of American Ninja as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is American Ninja violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in American Ninja as moderate.
- What did critics think of American Ninja?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a shallow, poorly acted and poorly written 1980s action vehicle despite its fight sequences.
- Which films are like American Ninja?
- Films with a similar feel include The Delta Force, Revenge of the Ninja, and Bloodsport.
- How long is American Ninja?
- American Ninja runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch American Ninja?
- In United States, American Ninja streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus.
