Trailer
Plot summary
Orphaned as a child, Joe Armstrong has spent his life as a drifter and remembers little of his past beyond street gangs and the exotic fighting styles he mastered. A judge offers him a choice between the Army and prison, and he enlists, ending up at an American base in the Philippines. On one of his first assignments he drives a convoy, and rebels attack it, after the weapons the trucks carry and after Patricia, the daughter of the base colonel. Joe brings her back safely, but the rest of the platoon is lost, and his superiors hold him responsible for what happened.
Cast
- Don Stewartas Victor Ortega
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about American Ninja (1985)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Cannon Films originally wanted Chuck Norris for the lead, but he reportedly did not want to fight with his face covered. The studio instead cast Michael Dudikoff, who had no martial arts training; fight choreographer Mike Stone assured producers Dudikoff would pick up the moves.
- American Ninja was the first of three films to pair stars Michael Dudikoff and Steve James, who went on to co-star in Avenging Force (1986) and American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987).
