American Ninja
1985, English. Directed by Sam Firstenberg.
The deadliest art of the Orient is now in the hands of an American.
Joe Armstrong, an orphaned drifter with little respect for much other than martial arts, finds himself on an American Army base in the Philippines after a judge gives him a choice of enlistment or prison. On one of his first missions driving a convoy, his platoon is attacked by a group of rebels who try to steal the weapons the platoon is transporting and kidnap the base colonel's daughter.
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.0/10 from 514 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch American Ninja
American Ninja is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in India.
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YouTubeAvailability in India as of 10 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Part of a series
American Ninja: watch order
Cast & crew
- Sam FirstenbergDirector
- Michael DudikoffPvt. Joe Armstrong
- Steve JamesCpl. Curtis Jackson
- Judie AronsonPatricia Hickock
- Guich KoockCol. William T. Hickock
- John FujiokaShinyuki
- Don StewartVictor Ortega
- John LaMottaMSgt. Rinaldo
- Tadashi YamashitaBlack Star Ninja
- Phillip BrockPvt. Charley Madison
- Tony CarreonOlder Colombian
- Roi VinzonYounger Colombian
- Richard NortonMP
Details
- Released
- 30 August 1985
- Country
- United States of America, Netherlands
- Written by
- Paul De Mielche, James R. Silke, Gideon Amir
- Budget
- $1M
- Box office
- $10M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
After American Ninja
What comes next in the series.
If you liked American Ninja
Shogun Assassin
1980 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Dragonheart: Vengeance
2021 · 6.8/10
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Interceptor
2022 · 6.0/10
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No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder
1987 · 6.0/10
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2018 · 5.9/10
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Mortal Kombat II
2026 · 7.7/10
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Weekend in Taipei
2024 · 6.5/10
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Falcon Rising
2014 · 6.3/10
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Ninja Assassin
2009 · 6.8/10
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2010 · 6.6/10
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American Ninja: quick answers
What comes after American Ninja?
Next in the series: American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987), American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989), and American Ninja 4: The Annihilation (1990).
Is American Ninja worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.0/10 from 514 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is American Ninja?
American Ninja runs 95 minutes (1h 35m).
Does American Ninja have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for American Ninja. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
American Ninja parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
American Ninja is rated R in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is American Ninja on?
American Ninja is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in India. (Checked 10 November 2026.)
What movies are like American Ninja?
If you liked American Ninja, try Shogun Assassin, Dragonheart: Vengeance, Interceptor.
Who directed American Ninja?
American Ninja (1985) was directed by Sam Firstenberg and stars Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Judie Aronson.