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Revenge of the Ninja

  • 1983
  • R
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
Revenge of the Ninja (1983)
Trailer for Revenge of the Ninja
Play trailer1:40
1 Video
76 Photos
ActionCrimeDramaThriller

After ninjas killed his family, Cho and his son Kane come to America to start a new life. He opens a doll shop but is unwittingly importing heroin in the dolls. When his friend betrays him, ... Read allAfter ninjas killed his family, Cho and his son Kane come to America to start a new life. He opens a doll shop but is unwittingly importing heroin in the dolls. When his friend betrays him, Cho must prepare for the ultimate battle.After ninjas killed his family, Cho and his son Kane come to America to start a new life. He opens a doll shop but is unwittingly importing heroin in the dolls. When his friend betrays him, Cho must prepare for the ultimate battle.

  • Director
    • Sam Firstenberg
  • Writer
    • James R. Silke
  • Stars
    • Shô Kosugi
    • Keith Vitali
    • Virgil Frye
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    6.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sam Firstenberg
    • Writer
      • James R. Silke
    • Stars
      • Shô Kosugi
      • Keith Vitali
      • Virgil Frye
    • 70User reviews
    • 70Critic reviews
    • 32Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Revenge of the Ninja
    Trailer 1:40
    Revenge of the Ninja

    Photos76

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    Top cast46

    Edit
    Shô Kosugi
    Shô Kosugi
    • Cho Osaki
    • (as Sho Kosugi)
    • …
    Keith Vitali
    Keith Vitali
    • Dave Hatcher
    Virgil Frye
    Virgil Frye
    • Lieutenant Dime
    Arthur Roberts
    Arthur Roberts
    • Braden
    Mario Gallo
    Mario Gallo
    • Caifano
    Grace Oshita
    • Grandmother
    Ashley Ferrare
    Ashley Ferrare
    • Cathy
    Kane Kosugi
    Kane Kosugi
    • Kane Osaki
    John LaMotta
    • Joe
    • (as John La Motta)
    Mel Hampton
    Mel Hampton
    • Detective Rios
    Oscar Rowland
    Oscar Rowland
    • One-Eyed Informant
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    • Sumo Servant
    • (as Prof. Toru Tanaka)
    Don Shanks
    Don Shanks
    • Chief
    • (as Dan Shanks)
    Joe Pagliuso
    Joe Pagliuso
    • Alberto
    Ladd Anderson
    • Thief #1
    Cyrus Theibeault
    • Thief #2
    Steve Ketcher
    • Big Thug
    Donré Sampson
    Donré Sampson
    • Shooting Thug
    • (as Don Ré Sampson)
    • Director
      • Sam Firstenberg
    • Writer
      • James R. Silke
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews70

    6.06.1K
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    Featured reviews

    7Innoculo

    Great Memories

    I can't say I remember too much about the film except it has all the normal ninja stereotypes in it with lots of blood. If that is what you want that is what you'll get. Don't get me wrong, when I watch a ninja movie I'm not looking for Shakespeare. I'm looking for sword slashing, shrunken throwing and bear claws to the face fun. And maybe a few heads getting lopped off. It is what it is.

    The cool thing is how movies can bring back memories and I remember going to the movies with my mom and older brother and somehow convincing her that this particular movie was the one we were going to see. I'm not sure why she agreed to it and I'm sure she regretted it afterward as she is a conservative Christian woman. I was only 10 at the time and whining like crazy for us to see it. LOL I guess she thought, "It's about ninjas, how bad could it be!?" WRONG! This was the first rated R movie I saw in fact. All I have to say this movie is part of my life narrative now. Thanks Mom. I still remember the ending, but I won't spoil it for you.

    I'm probably one of the few people who actually saw this in a theater.
    viddywell_78

    Enjoyable Hokum

    Good old Sam Firstenberg..The man who embraced graphic violence into martial arts films 80's deserves accolades for his entry of total cheese into the b-grade annals of this periods hokum.

    Before Michael Dudikoff picked up a sword,Sho Kosugi was the real deal. Never afraid to defend his honour,even before he knew what he was fighting for and not afraid to take a beating for his earnings,Takes up the role here as a sacred ninja forced to flee to America for a new life after the slaying of his family in Osaka.(The Grandmother should have been the FIRST one slayed for her acting ability)

    Ninja's are like alcoholics as far as i am concerned.They always conced that their past is forged without reason to continue other than violence and dismay.More slaughter is abound due to a poor drug running effort on part of Kosugi's friend Braden who settles Sho's life in the US unbeknowenst he's being used as the front for such materials.When Kosugi's family is caught up in the slaughter that arises from the rival gang falling out, you have to think to yourslef. A:Why is the Blonde woman even part of the story and why does she not wear underwear during practice! B: Why does Kane remain defeated by afformentioned Hypnotised Blonde and not by huge Japanese Captive C: Were most of Kane's onscreen backflips poorly choreographed. and D: Why Keith Vitali's fearless cop role was rubbed short in a matter of seconds by the evil ninja man when he spent the whole film defeating guys with hatchets and guns.

    The Answer is : WHO CARES when in fact this film should be appreciated for the fact that nothing else today with Jet Li or Seagal can emulate it..This is classic 80's garb at it's best.Appreciate it for what it is and dont pick it to bits.After all,The Cannon Group were in a league of their own,and as far as the league they set out to be goes,They were the experts.This is 80's predecessing martial arts mayhem and gore (and ham also) at it's best :)
    8pxii

    Great movie with lots of weapons

    This is a real classic Ninja movie with lots of weapons and real Ninja art. Okay it sometimes get a bit too much but it is still one of my favorite Ninja Films. If you like Ninja movies I think you got to see this one. The movie is about a Ninja who decides to move away from the ninja clan wars in Japan and live peacefully with his son in USA. As you might expect it doesn't go that easy to get peace. And while fighting and struggling with all his senses and abilities we get to see a lot of action. You will see all day living combined with training of a Ninja and the fighting with the bad guys. The bad guys is everything from common crocks to real villains with lots of abilities (Ninjas) The Weapons and hidden secret of the Ninja way is terrific and will give lots of joy when looking at this movie
    demandred_999

    This movie was the innovator of its time

    By today's standards, yes. By the standard of fighting movies back then, sho kusugi was considered today's crouching tiger. No movies back then had swordplay or weaponplay or martial arts like this. Before this movie, all the movies of any category with any sort of fighting were all conan the barbarian type or the excalibur type. They took roughly 3 seconds to complete a swing of a sword, moved very slowly, etc. Sho kusugi brought speed and finesse to the screen, although his acting was subpar, his fighting skills were excellent. His martial arts sparring with the good guy cop was about the best martial arts ever produced on the big screen up to that time. The cop was also the only other extra with any real skills. All the other fighters in the movies were just that.....extras. They moved slow like conan movie guys, etc. The good guy cop was actually the guy wearing the bad guy ninja suit for all the fighting scenes if you look at the credits.

    Basically, these movies with a true master martial artist like kusugi paved the way for movies you see today.

    Revenge of the ninja was the matrix/crouching tiger of its time. Unmatched.
    9samoanui

    The best ninja movie

    This movie is terrible. The acting is just awful and the plot could have (or perhaps was?) written by a drunk autistic child. Nonetheless, you will love it. Watch it! It and Enter the Ninja are easily the two best ninja movies of the 80's.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was originally to be shot in Los Angeles, but the necessary permits, police protection, fire marshals and myriad logistics fees would be taking up a bigger and bigger part of the film's budget. The Utah Film Commission was trying to get Cannon Films to start producing films in their state and a representative promised no permits, location fees or union deals as well as lower salaries for local crews. The commission's assurances persuaded Cannon to switch filming to Salt Lake City.
    • Goofs
      When Cho is using the claws to climb up the side of the building, in one scene as he sticks the claws in the concrete you see the wall move slightly. It's more than likely plaster or sheet rock used to simulate the rock of the side of the building.
    • Quotes

      Cho Osaki: Only a ninja can stop a ninja.

    • Alternate versions
      The Australian Video version (released by Syme Video) has all censored scenes intact. The scene where Cho's son gets a Ninja Star in the head is intact, the cut scenes of violence at the end of the film between Cho and Braden that most versions worldwide don't have are uncut in the Australian Video version.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movie Ninjas (2014)

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 16, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nindza osvetnik
    • Filming locations
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
    • Production companies
      • Golan-Globus Productions
      • Cannon Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $700,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,168,027
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,168,027
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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