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American Yakuza (1993) poster

American Yakuza

1993, English. Directed by Frank A. Cappello.

The mob has a new enemy.

When Nick Davis leaves prison after one year in solitairy, he is hired to operate a forklift in a warehouse in the harbor owned by the Japanese Yakuza patriarch Isshin Tendo. The place is assaulted by the Italian Mafia lead by Dino Campanela and Nick rescues and saves the life of Shuji Sawamoto, who is the representative of Yakuza interests in America. Shuji hires Nick to work for Yakuza and becomes his godfather in the family after his oath to join Yakuza. However, Nick is a lonely FBI undercover agent assigned to penetrate the criminal organization. When the FBI discovers that Campanela is organizing a massive attack to destroy the Yakuza, Nick's boss Littman calls off the operation to leave the dirty work to the Italian Mafia. But the connection of Nick with Shuji and his goddaughter Yuko forces him to help his Japanese family.

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Runtime
1h 36m
Post-credits
None listed
Language
English
Rated
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5.8/10 from 77 TMDB viewer ratings.

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Details

Released
22 December 1993
Country
Japan, United States of America
Written by
Takashige Ichise, Max Strom, John Allen Nelson
martial artsundercover agentyakuzaorganized crimemafiaaction hero

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After American Yakuza

What comes next in the series.

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American Yakuza: quick answers

What comes after American Yakuza?

Next in the series: Back to Back (1996).

Is American Yakuza worth watching?

Our verdict is Snoozefest: Your time is worth more. It scores 5.8/10 from 77 TMDB viewer ratings.

How long is American Yakuza?

American Yakuza runs 96 minutes (1h 36m).

Does American Yakuza have a post-credits scene?

None is listed for American Yakuza. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.

American Yakuza parents guide: is it suitable for kids?

No age rating is listed for American Yakuza yet.

Which OTT platform is American Yakuza on?

American Yakuza is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and Howdy in India. (Checked 10 November 2026.)

What movies are like American Yakuza?

If you liked American Yakuza, try Ninja: Shadow of a Tear, Until Death, Out for Justice.

Who directed American Yakuza?

American Yakuza (1993) was directed by Frank A. Cappello and stars Viggo Mortensen, Ryo Ishibashi, Michael Nouri.

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