Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Nine Deaths of the Ninja

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
3.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
  • Action
  • Thriller
Two anti-terrorist agents are assigned to free a busload of American schoolchildren in the Philippines who are taken hostage by terrorists.Two anti-terrorist agents are assigned to free a busload of American schoolchildren in the Philippines who are taken hostage by terrorists.Two anti-terrorist agents are assigned to free a busload of American schoolchildren in the Philippines who are taken hostage by terrorists.
IMDb RATING
3.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Emmett Alston
  • Writer
    • Emmett Alston
  • Stars
    • Shô Kosugi
    • Brent Huff
    • Emilia Crow
Top credits
  • Director
    • Emmett Alston
  • Writer
    • Emmett Alston
  • Stars
    • Shô Kosugi
    • Brent Huff
    • Emilia Crow
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos84

    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Hell on Wheels (1967)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shô Kosugi
    Shô Kosugi
    • Spike Shinobi
    Brent Huff
    Brent Huff
    • Steve Gordon
    Emilia Crow
    • Jennifer Barnes
    • (as Emilia Lesniak)
    Blackie Dammett
    Blackie Dammett
    • Alby the Cruel
    Regina Richardson
    • Honey Hump
    Vijay Amritraj
    Vijay Amritraj
    • Rankin
    Lisa Friedman
    • Tour Guide
    Kane Kosugi
    Kane Kosugi
    • Kane
    Shane Kosugi
    • Shane
    Bruce Fanger
    • Dr. Wolf
    Sonny Erang
    • Rahji
    Aiko Cownden
    • Marisa Lee
    Jennifer Crumrine
    • Amanda
    Helen McNeely
    • Mrs. Garcia
    Protacio Dee
    Protacio Dee
    • Feng Fu
    Judy Wilson
    • Woo Pee
    • (as Judy Blye)
    • …
    Joji Nagai
    • Dr. Yamada
    Ken Watanabe
    • Sensei
    • Director
      • Emmett Alston
    • Writer
      • Emmett Alston
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Pray for Death
    5.7
    Pray for Death
    Rage of Honor
    5.4
    Rage of Honor
    Revenge of the Ninja
    6.0
    Revenge of the Ninja
    Ninja III: The Domination
    5.3
    Ninja III: The Domination
    Enter the Ninja
    5.1
    Enter the Ninja
    American Warrior
    5.4
    American Warrior
    American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
    4.9
    American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
    Black Eagle
    3.8
    Black Eagle
    Never Too Young to Die
    4.8
    Never Too Young to Die
    The Delta Force
    5.6
    The Delta Force
    Miami Connection
    5.6
    Miami Connection
    Red Sonja
    5.1
    Red Sonja

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Alternate versions
      The 1985 UK RCA/Columbia video version was cut by 4 minutes 5 secs by the BBFC to remove all footage of nunchakus and Japanese throwing stars.
    • Connections
      Featured in Trailer Trauma (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Take Me High
      Music by Cecile Colayco

      Lyrics by Jose Javier Reyes

      Performed by Ivy Violan

    User reviews37

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Someone's gotta' stick up for this one.
    9 Deaths, despite the mediocre score I've given it, definitely has a place amongst some of my favorite 80's action fliks. I'm actually surprised at the multitude of the negative feedback it's receiving here on the IMDb. I believe this is partly due to the common misconception that this movie is a serious, devoted stab at a true action movie (and it doesn't help that the site lists it only as being an action movie in genre). 9 Death is, to the enth degree, a COMEDY. It is intended to be a parody and comedy of martial arts/action movies and television of its time. Spike Shinobi A.K.A. lollipop (ala Kojak)? Come on, you know this is a joke.

    You should be able to tell this film is deliberate humour, just watch the opening credits. It's a spoof off of the over-the-top Bond introductions, and there are other Bond parallels as well, such as the moronic laughing "arab" guy (who is subsequently played by a white guy .. riiiight), or Kosugi's speedo swim to the over-the-top whore boat. All taking ques from Bond movies as well as others. Secondly, you have your gung-ho American commando type ala Rambo or Ah-nold in Predator, mowing people down with a ridiculous chain gun.

    There are simply too many comedic elements to list. The fighting midgets, the ridiculous, out-of-the-blue ninja fight near the end (with not a hint of explanation as to how or why the ninjas are even there), the melodramatic nazi villain, and the grace jones may-day esquire lesbian combat killer, "honey hump".

    So before you watch this movie, I think it's important that you realize it is a comedy, and that it is filled with spoof or parody elements, right down to the cheesy music and characters. Of course, the film COULD be a little less deceptive in which genre it fits under. I can easily see how many would think the director was just a goof trying to make a serious action film - and the use of Kosugi's kids in the movie doesn't help (has it ever in the past? remember the Kane Kosugi/horrible actress fight in Revenge of the Ninja).

    Even as a comedy, though, the movie isn't perfect. There are a lot of shots that don't make sense, some of the acting is terribly wooden, and the title (while I suspect is all part of the humour) is just ... EXTREMELY misleading. And, unfortunately, some of the jokes that 9 Deaths tries to pull off just simply aren't funny -- and it can be excessively campy and cheesy at points, whether this film is a satire or not. Regardless, I recommend it to anyone looking for a cheesy, funny throw-back to 80s martial arts/action films. It's not bad for an afternoon viewing.
    helpful•9
    2
    • Yagamei
    • Jun 9, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 26, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Crown International Pictures
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die 9 Leben der Ninja
    • Filming locations
      • Philippines
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    Editors' Picks: What to Watch Now on Netflix
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Double Take: Celebrity Twins
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.