American Ninja (1985)

American Ninja (1985) is a martial arts action film directed by Sam Firstenberg, starring Michael Dudikoff as Joe Armstrong, a mysterious U.S. Army private with expert martial arts skills. The film became a cult favorite for its action-packed sequences and is notable for its blend of 1980s action tropes and ninja-themed combat.
The story begins with Joe Armstrong stationed in the Philippines, where a military convoy is ambushed by rebels. Joe instinctively defends the convoy with advanced martial arts techniques, revealing his secret training as a ninja. His skills draw suspicion from his fellow soldiers but also admiration from Curtis Jackson (played by Steve James), a fellow soldier who becomes his ally. Together, they uncover a conspiracy involving a corrupt local businessman, an arms smuggling ring, and a deadly ninja army.
Joe’s past is shrouded in mystery, and through the course of the film, his backstory as an orphan trained by a ninja master is revealed. The film’s climax features intense hand-to-hand combat, sword fights, and ninja acrobatics, with Joe using his skills to bring down the villains and their army of ninjas.
American Ninja was successful at the box office and spawned multiple sequels, establishing Michael Dudikoff as an action star and solidifying the film’s place as a staple of 1980s martial arts cinema.