Originally by Ranker FilmUpdated December 28, 2020 4.5k votes 3.2k voters 331.0k views34 items
List RulesFilms about or featuring ninja characters
A list of the best Ninja Movies. In the United States, Ninja movies surged in popularity in the early 1980's and have been with us ever since. We believe we've thought of them all, but if you think we missed one feel free to add it to the list yourself. Ninjas were the covert agents of feudal Japan. They were assassins and spies. Ninjas date back to at least the 1300's, although the word "shinobi" (another word for ninja) did not begin to appear until the 1400's. Ninjutsu is an even later word. Since espionage was considered dishonorable in Japanese cultures, ninjas were shrouded in mystery to help keep their employers identities a secret. Ninjas have been used in popular culture for centuries, appearing in countless folktales. Today, Ninja Films continue that tradition.
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1,16268Mumon: The Land of Stealth
Satoshi Ohno, Yuri ChinenReleased: 2017
Directed by: Yoshihiro Nakamura
Mumon: The Land of Stealth is a 2017 Japanese jidaigeki film directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura,... more
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787170Ninja Assassin
Naomie Harris, RainReleased: 2009
Directed by: James McTeigue
Year of Release: 2009Ninja Assassin is a 2009 American-German martial arts film directed by James McTeigue. The... more3
225120Revenge of the Ninja
Professor Tanaka, Sho KosugiReleased: 1983
Directed by: Sam Firstenberg
Year of Release: 1983Revenge of the Ninja is an action film starring Sho Kosugi as a ninja. It is considered part... more4
172123American Ninja
Michael Dudikoff, Tadashi YamashitaReleased: 1985
Directed by: Sam Firstenberg
Year of Release: 1985American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon... more5
204157Ninja
Scott Adkins, Tsuyoshi IharaReleased: 2009
Directed by: Isaac Florentine
Year of Release: 2009A westerner named Casey, studying Ninjutsu in Japan, is asked by the Sensei to return to New... more6
11087Enter the Ninja
Franco Nero, Christopher GeorgeReleased: 1981
Directed by: Menahem Golan
Year of Release: 1981Enter the Ninja is a 1981 martial arts film directed by Menahem Golan and starring Franco... more7
129110Ninja III: The Domination
James Hong, Sho KosugiReleased: 1984
Directed by: Sam Firstenberg
Year of Release: 1984Ninja III: The Domination is a 1984 film directed by Sam Firstenberg, and stars Sho Kosugi as... more8
3615Pray for Death
Sho Kosugi, Kane KosugiReleased: 1985
Directed by: Gordon Hessler
Pray For Death is a 1985 American martial arts action film starring Sho Kosugi. After a peace... more9
4633The Warrior's Way
Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey RushReleased: 2010
Directed by: Lee Seung-moo
The Warrior's Way is a 2010 New Zealand-South Korean fantasy action film directed by Lee... more10
7061Shinobi: Heart Under Blade
Yukie Nakama, Erika SawajiriReleased: 2005
Directed by: Ten Shimoyama
Shinobi: Heart Under Blade is a 2005 Japanese romantic drama film directed by Ten Shimoyama,... more11
5654Goemon
Erika Toda, Masatō IbuReleased: 2009
Directed by: Kazuaki Kiriya
Goemon is a 2009 Japanese historical fantasy film written and directed by Kazuaki Kiriya. It... more12
1512Shaolin vs. Ninja
Alexander Lou, Alan Chui Chung SanReleased: 1983
Directed by: Robert Tai, Mai Chen Jsai
Shaolin vs. Ninja is a 1983 action film written by Chien-chi Chang and directed by Mai Chen...13
5671Ninja II
Scott Adkins, Kane KosugiReleased: 2013
Directed by: Isaac Florentine
Ninja II (aka Ninja: Shadow of a Tear) is a 2013 American-Japanese film directed by Isaac... more14
66Heroes of the East
Chia Hui Liu, Yasuaki KurataReleased: 1978
Directed by: Lau Kar-leung
Heroes of the East, also known as Challenge Of The Ninja, Shaolin Vs. Ninja and Shaolin... more15
1218Shinobido
Naoko Ken, Aimi SatsukawaReleased: 2012
Directed by: Toshiyuki Morioka
Shinobido is a 2012 Japanese jidaigeki film directed by Toshiyuki Morioka. A hidden Ninja... more16
7123 Ninjas
Clifton Powell, Patrick LabyorteauxReleased: 1992
Directed by: Jon Turteltaub
Year of Release: 19923 Ninjas is a 1992 American martial arts comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub, starring... more17
30Ninja Scroll
Jōji Nakata, Daisuke GōriReleased: 1993
Directed by: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Ninja Scroll is a 1993 Japanese animated action thriller film written and directed by Yoshiaki... more18
3858The Princess Blade
Yumiko Shaku, Yōko MakiReleased: 2001
Directed by: Shinsuke Sato
The Princess Blade is a 2001 Japanese action film directed by Shinsuke Sato. It is a... more19
20Ninja in the Dragon's Den
Hiroyuki Sanada, Hwang Jang-leeReleased: 1982
Directed by: Corey Yuen
Ninja in the Dragon's Den is a 1982 Hong Kong martial arts film written, choreographed and... more20
20Kill Bill Saga
Uma Thurman, Lucy LiuReleased: 2003
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
The Kill Bill Saga consists of Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 in which Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman)... more21
10Duel to the Death
Damian Lau, Norman ChuReleased: 1983
Directed by: Ching Siu-tung
Duel to the Death is a 1983 Hong Kong wuxia film starring Norman Chu and Damian Lau. It is the... more22
10Nine Deaths of the Ninja
Vijay Amritraj, Sho KosugiReleased: 1985
Directed by: Emmett Alston
Year of Release: 1985Nine Deaths of the Ninja is a 1985 action/drama film written and directed by Emmett Alston....23
10Rage of Honor
Sho Kosugi, Ulises DumontReleased: 1987
Directed by: Gordon Hessler
Rage of Honor is a 1987 drama action film written by Robert Short and Wallace C. Bennett and... more24
10Five Element Ninjas
Michael Chan, Lo MangReleased: 1982
Directed by: Chang Cheh
Five Element Ninjas is a 1982 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Chang Cheh. It was... more25
10Shadow Hunters
Tetsurō Tamba, Yujiro IshiharaReleased: 2005
Directed by: Toshio Masuda
Kage Gari is a 1969 jidaigeki manga series by Takao Saito. It follows the adventures of three... more
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