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Revenge of the Ninja

  • 1983
  • R
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
Revenge of the Ninja (1983)
Trailer for Revenge of the Ninja
Play trailer1:40
1 Video
76 Photos
B-ActionActionCrimeDramaThriller

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
    6.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sam Firstenberg
    • Writer
      • James R. Silke
    • Stars
      • Shô Kosugi
      • Keith Vitali
      • Virgil Frye
    • 70User reviews
    • 66Critic 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

    6.06.3K
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    Featured reviews

    5ma-cortes

    Japanese Chop-Socky expert Kosugi is forced into action when his son is kidnapped

    This classic Ninja about practitioners of an ancient Oriental art of killing named Ninjitsu , wearing in black , using martial arts and diverse weapons , as Katana , deadly star (Ninkaisen), explosive balls...The exciting movie deals about Cho (Shô Kosugi , he personally crafted many of the weapons in the film) , when his family is murdered , he goes to America along with his son (Kane Kosugi) . There he puts a dolls-store , but his friend (Arthur Roberts) deceits him by means of drugs smuggling into the dolls . Then , a Ninja dedicates to human chase disguised in silvered mask . The Japanese Ninja , helped by a cop (Frye) , confronts enemies , mob , hoodlums (Professor Tanaka) and metes out his own justice when his son is abducted . The Ninjitsu fighter is possessed by the spirit of vengeance-seeking Ninja and only Sho Kosugi wipes out a passel of heinous villains and brings his bloody rampage to a moving final .

    This a violent and gripping story with plenty of noisy action and struggles in a comic-book style . It's a mindless but enjoyable for martial arts aficionados of the old style because the new technical are made by means of wires , cables and computer generator . The violence was dramatically cut for its original theatrical release which still garnered '18' certificates around the world . The unrated version of the film features an infamous blood splatter , one of the major reasons this version of the film is more popular . Shô Kosugi was adamant that Keith Vitali's character be killed to heighten the drama , director Sam Firstenberg agreed but nixed the idea that the character's hand be cut off during his dying scene . The film highlights are the fighting between the little boy named Kane against a group of children and a gorgeous woman ; the combat between the grandmother and a killer and Sho Kosugi fighting and wielding a fan , among them . The fights , thrills and lots of action and even some moments of unintentional humor make this movie worth seeing .

    The previous movie was ¨Enter the Ninja¨ (81) by Menahem Golan with Franco Nero , Menahem Golan was director of the first film , and was to direct this one also , but shortly before production was to start he decided to turn over directing chores to Sam Firstenberg . Golan did remain as producer , however and he came up with the films' opening prologue that adds more depth to the story . It was followed by ¨Ninja III , the domination¨ with Lucinda Dickey and again Sho Kosugi . The picture was well produced by Cannon -Golan and Globus- and rightly directed by Sam Firstenberg , being first "Ninja" film directed by Sam Firstenberg for Golan-Globus' . Sam's a low-grade expert on karate genre and Ninja sub-genre , such as he proved in ¨American Ninja¨ and sequels , and ¨Forced vengeance (82)¨ and ¨Avening force (1986)¨ with his usual actor Michael Dudikoff . Martial-art and Ninja films aficionados should enjoy it , because this Ninja entry is good of its type .
    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.
    skyhowl

    great great movie!

    man this was the greatest ninja movie ever made......it had violence,sex and a hero and a villian that were capable assasins!!!..for the people that say the acting was bad ar there were script problem....the movie was about the action and the entertainment not about winning the dam oscar!!!!!!!...and it was set in salt lake city utah...that alone made it unique because it wasn't the typical filmed in new york or la crap!!..anybody who can't appriciate two ninjas dueling to the death..with those beautiful utah mountains in the backgroud....just doesn't get it!!!
    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.
    6tocotoco2001

    Bad Acting + Hilarious Dialogue + Good Fight Scenes = Revenge of the Ninja

    Martial Arts movies have always sacrificed acting and dialogue in favor of keeping the action constant and entertaining. Revenge of the Ninja is no exception. The fight scenes are amusing and the dialogue is absolutely hilarious, and yet this movie has enough charm to be a cult classic.

    Sho Kusagi plays Cho, a doll collector(!) living in Japan. For centuries he and his family have followed the way of the ninja. However, one day a group of ninjas massacres his family. Only his grandmother and infant son survive. Following the advise of his friend, he moves to America to sell his doll collection. Little does he know that he is a pawn in a Japanese drug-smuggling ring...

    The plot aside, Revenge of the Ninja acts out like a parody of ninja clichés. You got the evil ninja that manages to change into his ninja suit in the blink of an eye, a grandmother that can do backflips, and over-the-top villains that look like they just came back from a Halloween party. The film's final fight scene occurs on a Los Angeles rooftop, where the evil ninja pulls out decoys, sticks, and shrunikens; none of which he had at the start of the scene.

    There are a lot of bad martial-arts out there. Some are pure trash. Others, like this one, are good for a few laughs.

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    Related interests

    Mathew Karedas in Samurai Cop (1991)
    B-Action
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    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
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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