10 Must-See Ninja Films

      Prepare your shurikens and masks; it's time for ten must-see ninja movies!

      These skilled warriors move silently through the trees and leap from building to building, merging with the shadows. They don stunning outfits and engage in combat with swords and shurikens. During the nostalgic 8 and 16-bit gaming era, numerous fantastic games centered around the ninja theme were created, alongside a variety of films.

      These masked assassins, whether protagonists or antagonists, lead to captivating action films rooted in a rich history of tradition, mythology, and literary fantasy.

      There have been a multitude of subpar ninja films, yet even the less impressive ones possess a quirky charm. Conversely, several enjoyable ninja movies embrace their B-movie nature. Here are ten essential titles in the ninja genre...

      Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

      For many, their first encounter with ninjas and ninja films began with Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Aside from the cartoons, toys, and a notoriously challenging NES game, the major highlight for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was their inaugural feature film.

      Recently re-released, the film surprisingly holds up well when viewed today. It features exciting action sequences, impressive visuals of the Turtles (especially in the first film), convincing voice performances, an iconic villain, and a remarkable soundtrack. Besides the comedic antics and battles, the film possesses a touch of genuine emotion and has darker elements for a children's movie. Subsequent sequels became more light-hearted, leaning heavily into screwball comedy but failed to match the quality of Steve Barron's original film.

      The Hunted

      Christopher Lambert’s post-Highlander fame led him to numerous action roles throughout the 1990s, some of which quickly disappeared after their theatrical releases or hit home video shelves soon after. Lambert was both prolific and reliable in this genre.

      The Hunted stands out as one of his better films from that enjoyable period. Although he starred in another notable film that year (Mortal Kombat), which included ninja characters, The Hunted is, quite frankly, superior. Lambert plays an American businessman who becomes entangled with ninjas and witnesses them murder a woman (Joan Chen) he has just met. Targeted for death, he receives assistance from Ijuro (Yoshio Harada) and Mieko (Yoko Shimada), who seek to dismantle a ruthless ninja cult led by John Lone. The film includes some impressive action sequences.

      Ninja: Shadow of a Tear

      Scott Adkins and Isaac Florentine formed a successful partnership in the straight-to-video action niche, especially known for their work on the Undisputed sequels. After a preceding Ninja film that did not meet expectations, they attempted to improve with a sequel.

      From the start, with Adkins portraying a Western ninja seeking vengeance for the murder of his wife, everything instantly feels sharper. Filled with fantastic fight scenes, even though the ninja aesthetic takes a backseat, Adkins delivers his best performance yet, and Florentine fully utilizes his strengths.

      Kane Kosugi (son of the legendary ninja actor Sho Kosugi) serves as a formidable opponent for Adkins, especially during their inevitable showdown. The stunning Thai locales also enhance production value, which was notably lacking in the first Bulgarian-produced film that attempted to pass for New York City.

      The Killer Elite

      Sam Peckinpah, a director known for redefining action sequence techniques, is primarily recognized for his work in Westerns and crime thrillers.

      Among his iconic films, he crafted a commendable ninja movie starring James Caan and Robert Duvall as CIA operatives, until Duvall betrays Caan. Legendary actor Mako is also featured, and if you're interested in seeing Caan take on ninjas armed with an Uzi, this film is for you. While it might be overly long, within its two-hour runtime lies potentially 100 minutes of excellent action. The cast is strong, and the action sequences are visually impressive, as expected from Peckinpah.

      Beverly Hills Ninja

      Essentially the same premise as Kung Fu Panda, but presented in live action and featuring the late, great Chris Farley, Beverly Hills Ninja follows a clumsy man (Farley) who is welcomed into a proud group of ninjas and learns their traditions.

      He travels to America to prove his worth, unwittingly getting caught up in thwarting a criminal operation, while his ninja brother, Robin Shou, covertly aids him at every turn. Farley fully utilizes his physical comedy skills, and despite his size, he executes some remarkable physical feats. This film promises a lot of fun.

      Enter the Ninja

      We cannot discuss ninjas without mentioning a film starring Sho Kosugi. Enter the Ninja is a classic exploitation film released under the Cannon label, where ninjas had become a well-worn trope from Golan and Globus’ B-movie production