Ninjas are stealthy, skilled, and mysterious warriors who have fascinated audiences for decades. Whether they are fighting for justice, revenge, or survival, ninjas always deliver thrilling action and intrigue. If you are a fan of ninjas, here are some of the best movies and TV shows that feature them.
10. George of the Jungle (1997)
This comedy film is not exactly about ninjas, but it does have a hilarious scene where George (Brendan Fraser) encounters a group of ninja warriors who try to kidnap his love interest Ursula (Leslie Mann). George uses his jungle skills and animal friends to fight off the ninjas in a slapstick manner. This movie is a fun and lighthearted spoof of Tarzan and other adventure films.
9. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-1996)
This classic TV series follows five teenagers who are chosen by an intergalactic wizard named Zordon to become the Power Rangers, a team of superheroes who protect Earth from evil aliens. Each ranger has a color-coded suit and helmet that resembles an animal, as well as a giant robot called a Zord that can combine with others to form a Megazord. The rangers also use martial arts and weapons to fight their enemies, some of whom are ninjas themselves.
8. Free Guy (2021)
This recent blockbuster film stars Ryan Reynolds as Guy, a bank teller who discovers that he is actually an NPC (non-player character) in an open-world video game called Free City. He decides to break free from his routine and become a hero in the game world, with the help of another player named Molotov Girl (Jodie Comer). Along the way, he encounters various obstacles and challenges, including ninja assassins who work for the game’s villainous developer Antoine (Taika Waititi).
7. Daredevil (2015-2018)
This Netflix series is based on the Marvel comic book character of Daredevil, aka Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer who fights crime in Hell’s Kitchen using his enhanced senses and martial arts skills. He faces off against various foes such as Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), Punisher (Jon Bernthal), Elektra (Elodie Yung), and The Hand, an ancient ninja clan that seeks to unleash a dark force upon New York.
6. Tokyo Vice (2022-)
This upcoming HBO Max series is based on the memoir of Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort), an American journalist who worked for one of Japan’s largest newspapers and exposed some of the country’s most powerful crime bosses. He teams up with Ken Watanabe as Hiroto Katagiri, a veteran detective who helps him navigate the dangerous underworld of Tokyo. The series promises to explore themes such as corruption, culture clash, loyalty, and justice.
5. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
This Quentin Tarantino film is part one of his epic revenge saga that follows The Bride (Uma Thurman), a former assassin who wakes up from a coma after being betrayed by her former lover Bill (David Carradine) and his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. She sets out to kill them one by one, starting with O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), the leader of the Crazy 88s, a gang of elite swordsmen who wear black suits and masks like ninjas.
4. The Dagger of Kamui (1985)
This anime film is based on a historical novel by Tetsu Yano that tells the story of Jiro, an orphaned boy who learns that he is the son of a legendary ninja named Tenkai. He inherits a mystical dagger called Kamui, which grants him superhuman abilities. He embarks on a journey across Japan, Russia, and America, seeking revenge against those who killed his family and uncovering secrets about his past.
3. The Ninja Mission (1984)
This Swedish film is considered one of the best ninja movies ever made, despite its low budget and cheesy effects. It follows a group of highly trained ninjas, led by Karl Markov (Krzysztof Kolberger), who are sent on a mission to rescue Markov’s daughter Nadia (Hanna Bieniuszewicz) from the KGB in Russia.
2. Ninja Assassin (2009)
This is a modern ninja movie starring Scott Adkins as Casey, a westerner who studies ninjutsu in Japan and is entrusted with protecting a legendary chest that contains the weapons of the last Koga ninja. He faces off against a rival ninja clan who want to steal the chest and unleash its power1.
1. Naruto (2002-2007)
A Japanese anime series that follows the journey of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja seeking recognition and dreaming of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. He is joined by his friends Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, who also want to become ninjas. The series is known for its epic battles, thrilling action, and emotional storylines.