American Ninja (1985)

American Ninja (1985) is an action film directed by Sam Firstenberg, starring Michael Dudikoff as Joe Armstrong, an American soldier who is skilled in ninjutsu. The film follows Joe, a quiet and solitary soldier, who becomes embroiled in a conflict involving a corrupt army officer and a group of ninjas working for a criminal organization. When Joe saves Patricia, the daughter of his commanding officer, from an attempted kidnapping by these ninjas, he is targeted by the crime syndicate. As the story unfolds, Joe uncovers a plot involving arms smuggling and must use his ninja skills to protect his comrades and bring the criminals to justice.
The film became a cult classic, notable for its martial arts action and helping to launch Michael Dudikoff’s career as an action star. The success of American Ninja led to several sequels in the franchise. The combination of 1980s action tropes, martial arts choreography, and ninja-themed storytelling contributed to its enduring popularity among action movie fans.