Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

List of ninja films

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The following is a list of films where at least one ninja character appears as a significant plot element.

Contents

Series

  • Azumi (2003) and Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005)
  • The Black Hooded Man (Gozonji Kaiketsu Kurozukin Maguna no Hitomi) and The Black Hooded Man 2 (Gozonji Kaiketsu Kurozukin Dai-Niwa Shinsengumi Tsuigeki) (1955), also the remake The Black Hood (Kaiketsu Kurozukin) (1959)
  • Castle of Owls (Ninja Hichō: Fukurō No Shiro) (1963) and its remake Owls' Castle (Fukurō no Shiro) (1999)
  • Chō Ninja Tai Inazuma! (2006–2007): direct-to-video series
  • Enoken no Sarutobi Sasuke Arya Arya no Maki (1937) and Enoken no Sarutobi Sasuke Doron Doron no Maki (1938)
  • The Executioner (Chokugeki! Jigoku-ken) (1974) and The Executioner II: Karate Inferno (Chokugeki Jigoku-ken Dai Gyakuten) (1974): two films about a modern-day Kōga ninja
  • Kage no Gundan: Hattori Hanzō (1980) and Shin Kage no Gundan I-VI (2003–2005): a movie and six direct-to-video episodes connected to the TV series Shadow Warriors
  • Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Ōkami) (1972-1974): series of six films, remade as TV movie Lone Wolf and Child in 1984, and TV movie Lone Wolf and Cub: Assassin on the Road to Hell in 1989
  • Memoirs of a Lady Ninja (Onmitsu Kunoichi Retsuden: Himerareta Onna Shinobi) (2009) and Memoirs of a Lady Ninja 2 (2011)
  • Nine-One: Female Ninja Supernatural Beast Legend (Nine-One: Kunoichi Yoju Densetsu) (1995) and Nine-One II: Demon Beast City (Nine-One II: Maju Toshi) (1996)
  • Ninja, a Band of Assassins (Shinobi no Mono) (1962–1966): series of eight films
  • The Ninja Hunt (Ninja Gari) (1964, TV movie remake in 1982)
  • Ninjutsu Sanada-Jō (1960) and Ninjutsu Ōsaka-Jō (1961)
  • Ninjutsu-tsukai to Sannin Musume (1961) and Ninjutsu-tsukai to Sannin Musume: Megitsune Henge (1961)
  • On Patrol (Ukyonosuke Junsatsu-Ki) (1963) and its sequel Purple Killer (Murasaki Ukyonosuke Gyaku Ichimonji Giri) (1964)
  • The Purple Hooded Man (Murasaki Zukin): along with its sequels, Purple Hood: The Mystery of Gold (Murasaki Zukin: Ogon no Himitsu) (1958) and The Mysterious Purple Hood (Hengen Murasaki Zukin) (1963)
  • Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness (Sarutobi Sasuke Yami no Gundan) (2004–2005): series of four films about Sarutobi Sasuke
  • Seventeen Ninja (Jūshichinin no Ninja) (1963, TV movie remake in 1990) and Seventeen Ninja: The Great Battle (Jūshichinin no Ninja: Dai Kessen) (1966)
  • Shadow Hunters (Kage Gari) (1972, TV movie remakes in 1983 and 1992) and Shadow Hunters: Hero's Gun (Kage Gari: Hoero Taihō) (1972)
  • Shinobi: The Law of Shinobi (2002), Shinobi 2: Runaway (2002), Shinobi 3: Hidden Techniques (2003) and Shinobi 4: A Way Out (2003)
  • Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke (1958), Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke Rōgoku no Himegimi (1958) and Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke: Tenkū no Hakuba (1958)
  • Spy Swordsman (Onmitsu Kenshi) (1964) and Spy Swordsman 2 (Zoku Onmitsu Kenshi) (1964): two films based on the TV series The Samurai (Onmitsu Kenshi)
  • Tobidasu Bōken Eiga: Aka Kage (1969) and its remake Red Shadow (Aka Kage) (2001)
  • Yagyū Bugeichō: two films, Yagyu Secret Scrolls (1957–1958), nine films, Yagyu Chronicles (1961–1964), and five TV movies Yagyu Bugeicho (1990–1992)

    • Films based on the Ninpō-chō novels by Futaro Yamada:

    Silent films

    The first ninja movies were silent films, including Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari (1912), possibly the first ever ninja film. Other films include: Genkotsu to Ninjutsu no Manyū (1920), Genkotsu to Ninjutsu no Manyū (1924), Genkotsu to Ninjutsu no Manyū Dai Ni-Hen (1921), Genkotsu to Ninjutsu no Manyū Dai San-Hen (1921), Goketsu Jiraiya (1921), Gōketsu Ninjutsu Kurabe (1937), Gotō Matabei Ninjutsu Yaburi (1921), Gozonji Sarutobi Sasuke Kōhen (1935), Gozonji Sarutobi Sasuke Zenpen (1935), Hatsusugata Ninjutsu Dōchū Sugoroku (1937), Hikitobi Tasuke (1916), Hōtaikō Gozen Ninjutsu Kurabe (1920), Jiraiya (1914), Jiraiya (1914), Jiraiya (1920), Jiraiya (1922), Jiraiya (1927), Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari (Jiraiya) (1918), Jiraiya Gōketsu-Den (1916), Jiraiya Oshō (1914), Josō Ninjutsu (1921), Josō Ninjutsu Konishi Teruwakamaru (1922), Kaiketsu Ninjutsu Gorō (1916), Kaiso-Den (1915), Kappa no Sarumaru (1916), Kirigakure Ninjutsu Tabi (1935), Kirigakure Saizō (1915), Kirigakure Saizō (1922), Kirigakure Saizō (1922), Kirigakure Saizō to Iwami Jūtarō (1920), Kirigakure to Sarutobi (1920), Kōga Umon (Ninjutsu Kōga-Ryū) (1916), Mito Kōmon Ninjutsu Yaburi (1918), Musume Jiraiya (1919), Nidaime Jiraiya (1917), Ninjutsu Amako Jūyūshi (1919), Ninjutsu Botan no Chōji (1917), Ninjutsu Gisuke (1917), Ninjutsu Gokko (1923), Ninjutsu Gorō (1921), Ninjutsu Gozen Dai Shiai (1936), Ninjutsu Happyakuya-Tanuki (1937), Ninjutsu Hizakuri-Ge Dai Ichi-Hen (1928), Ninjutsu Hizakuri-Ge Dai Ni-Hen (1928), Ninjutsu Hizakuri-Ge Dai San-Hen (1928), Ninjutsu Ichiya Daimyō (1926), Ninjutsu Jirai (1921), Ninjutsu Jūyūshi (1917), Ninjutsu Jūyūshi (1923), Ninjutsu Kaiso Kōga Saburō (1918), Ninjutsu Kirigaku Sen'emon (1922), Ninjutsu Kitaguni Raitarō (1921), Ninjutsu Kobōshi (1920), Ninjutsu Kōshin Kyoku (1930), Ninjutsu Kozō Daisuke (1923), Ninjutsu Kyōkaku Kirigakure Saiji (1922), Ninjutsu Meijin to Genjutsu Meijin (1921), Ninjutsu Momochi Sandayū (1937), Ninjutsu Naniwa Angya (1931), Ninjutsu Ōsaka Fuyu no Jin (1937), Ninjutsu Sanada Jūyūshi (1935), Ninjutsu Sanada Tasuke (1936), Ninjutsu Sannin Musume (1920), Ninjutsu Sannin Tarō (1917), Ninjutsu Sanyūshi (1916), Ninjutsu Sanyūshi (1920), Ninjutsu Sanyūshi (1922), Ninjutsu Sarutobi Sasuke (1921), Ninjutsu Senjōgatake (1937), Ninjutsu Shitennō (1919), Ninjutsu Shitennō (1937), Ninjutsu Tarō (1916), Ninjutsu Tōsuke (1919), Ninjutsu Yasha (1922), Ninjutsu-Shu Akashi (1921), Ninjutsu-Yaburi Maeda Inuchiyo (1922), Onna Ninjutsu (1917), Onna Sarutobi (1919), Sanada Daisuke to Sarutobi Sasuke (1921), Sarutobi Genji (1921), Sarutobi no Ninjutsu (1924), Sarutobi Sasuke (1915), Sarutobi Sasuke (1918), Sarutobi Sasuke (1919), Sarutobi Sasuke (1922), Sarutobi Sasuke (1922), Sarutobi Sasuke (1934), Sarutobi Sasuke Ninjutsu Dai Kessen (1920), Sarutobi Sasuke Renai Hen (1930), Sarutobi Sasuke Shokoku Tansa (1932), Sarutobi Sasuke to Seikai Nyūdō Chūhen (1926), Sarutobi Sasuke to Seikai Nyūdō Shūhen (1926), Sarutobi Sasuke to Seikai Nyūdō Zenpen (1926), Sennin (1924), Shōnen Jiraiya (1922), Shōnen Ninjutsu Haruwakamaru (1920), Shūhen Sarutobi Sasuke (1918), Shusse Ninjutsu Matsunosuke Sairai (1928), Sozoku Ninjutsu Banashi (1929), Sumō Ninjutsu Dewagatake Yūzō (1918), Tenkamusō Kaiketsu Jiraiya Kōhen (1936), Tenkamusō Kaiketsu Jiraiya Zenpen (1936), and Yōkai Jiraiya (1923).

    Commentary Editions

    Daijayama Senjutsu Jiai (1939), Josō Ninjutsu Iga-Ryū (1939), Ninjutsu Dai Shingun (1938), Ninjutsu Gōyū-Den (1939), Ninjutsu Hachi Tengu Kōhen (1939), Ninjutsu Hachi Tengu Zenpen (1939), Ninjutsu Hyakujū Gassen Zenpen (1939), Ninjutsu Kaikoku Sanyūshi (1939), Ninjutsu Saiyūki Kōhen (1939), Ninjutsu Saiyūki Zenpen (1939), Ninjutsu Sangakutō (1938), Ninjutsu Satsuma Bikyaku (1939), Ninjutsu Tomoe Gassen (1938), Ninjutsu Torawakamaru (1938), Ninjutsu Yaburi Arakawa Kumazō (1938), and Ninjutsujū Sandaiki (1939).

    Erotic films

    There are numerous softcore ninja films (in addition to innumerable hardcore-pornographic costume movies, often featuring BDSM motives), including the series: Injū Gakuen (La Blue Girl Live, three films), Kunoichi Ninpō-den (Ninja Vixens, at least nine films) and Sanada Kunoichi Ninpō-den: Kasumi (Lady Ninja Kasumi, at least five films), and Kōshoku Kunoichi, Lady Ninja Kaede (Kunoichi Youen Den Kaede), Sexy Ninjas (Sanada Kunoichi Ninpō-den) and Sultry Assassin (Tsuyakenkaku) of at least two films each.

    Japanese films (anime)

    Naruto films: Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (2004), Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel (2005), Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006), Naruto Shippuden the Movie (2007), Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds (2008), Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire (2009), Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower (2010), Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison (2011), Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie (2012)

    Series

  • 3 Ninjas (1992–1998): series of four films
  • American Ninja (1985–1993): series of five films
  • Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) and Dancing Ninja (2010)
  • Daredevil (2003) and Elektra (2005)
  • Enter the Ninja (1981), Revenge of the Ninja (1983), and Ninja III: The Domination (1984): anthology series collectively known as "The Ninja Trilogy"
  • G.I. Joe: Ninja Battles (2004), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2010) and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
  • Mortal Kombat (1995), Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) and Mortal Kombat: Rebirth (2010)
  • Ninja (2009) and Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013)
  • Ninjas vs. Zombies (2008), Ninjas vs. Vampires (2010), and Ninjas vs. Monsters (2012)
  • Sakura Killers (1987) and White Phantom (1987)
  • Sin City (2005) and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2013)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990–2014): series of five live-action films and an animated film
  • Unmasking the Idol (1986) and The Order of the Black Eagle (1987)

    • Independent and short films

    There are a number of independent and short films, including A Ninja Pays Half My Rent (2003), Assassin (2013), Batman: Dark Justice (2003), Beneath the Mask: Portrait of an American Ninja (2005), Bloodbath (2007), Bushido: The Way of the Warrior (2004), Cosmic Space Ninja (1997), Dracula vs the Ninja on the Moon (2009), Dubbed and Dangerous 2 (2003), Elektra: The Hand & The Devil (2009), Flying Naked (2006), Girl With Gun (2006), Home Security (2003), How to Cope with Rejection (2010), Irish American Ninja (2005), "Japanese School Girl Chase", Lonely Dragon (2006), Mutrumuf (1999), MVG (1997), Ninja Apocalypse! (2007), Ninja Bachelor Party (1991), Ninja Janitors (2014), Ninja Mission 2000 (2000), Ninja Say What?! (2010), Ninja Star in the Eye (2006), Office Ninja (2014), Reel Guerrillas (2005), Sins of the Dragon (2012), Super Ninja Bikini Babes (2007), The Beatle Fan (2002), The Climactic Death of Dark Ninja (2004), The Creepees vs. Robot Monster Number Two (2004), The Last Gaucho Ninja (El último gaucho ninja) (1991), The Littlest Cowboy (2003), The Lotus Flowers (2005), The Ninja Spirit Project (1999), Thunderman (2004), Trailer: The Movie! (2001), Undercut (2004), and Who Makes Movies? (2005).

    Cut-and-paste films

    Between 1985 and 1989, many "Ninja"-titled Z-movies were written and/or directed by the Hong Kong-based low budget director Godfrey Ho. Ho's "cut-and-paste" technique of creating his ninja movies involved shooting a large amount of largely random ninja combat and interstitial footage that would be spliced with existing footage from incomplete, abandoned, or lesser known Asian films, many of which were not martial arts films; as a result, these films often appear to have two parallel storylines. The films were recorded without sound, so although the gweilo actors spoke English while recording their lines, they were dubbed over by other voice actors. Ho reportedly used multiple pseudonyms to direct these films, so the exact number of films that can be credited to him as such is unclear.

    The production and distribution of the majority of these cut-and-paste films were through Joseph Lai's companies IFD Films & Arts Limited (39 films) and ADDA Audio Video Limited (2 films), and Tomas Tang's Filmark International Ltd. (at least 28 films) Additionally, two other Hong Kong-based companies, First Films and Ocean Shores, produced and distributed 1 film each.

    Joseph Lai’s IFD Films & Arts Limited and ADDA Audio Video Limited

    American Commando: Angel's Blood Mission (aka Advent Commando:Angel's Blood Mission) (1987), Born a Ninja (1986), Challenge the Ninja (aka Ultimate Ninja Challenge) (1986), Cobra Against Ninja (1987), Commando The Ninja (1986), Diamond Ninja Force (aka Ghost Ninja) (1986), Full Metal Ninja (1988), Golden Ninja Warrior (1986), Night of the Ninja (aka Official Exterminator 5: Enter The Victory) (1989), Ninja Champion (1985), Ninja Commandments (1987), Ninja Destroyer (1986), Ninja Dragon (1985), Ninja Hunt (1986), Ninja Kill (1987), Ninja Knight: Thunder Fox (1986), Ninja Knight 2: Blood Brothers (aka Ninja Killer,aka Official Exterminator: Kill For Love) (1987), Ninja Knight 3: Heaven's Hell (aka Official Exterminator 2: Heaven's Hell) (1987), Ninja Knight 4: Joy for Living Dead (aka Official Exterminator 3: Joy For Living Dead) (1987), Ninja of the Magnificence (aka American Ninja The Magnificent) (1988), Ninja Operation: Knight and Warrior (1988), Ninja Operation 2: Way of Challenge (aka Ninja Strike Force) (1988), Ninja Operation 3: Licensed To Terminate (1988), Ninja Operation 4: Thunderbolt Angels (aka Ninja Powerforce) (1988), Ninja Operation 5: Godfather the Master (aka Power of Ninjitsu) (1987), Ninja Operation 6: Champion on Fire (aka Ninja Avengers) (1988), Ninja Operation 7: Royal Warriors (aka Hands of Death) (1988), Ninja Terminator (1985), Ninja The Protector (1986), Ninja Thunderbolt (1985), Official Exterminator 4: Goddess Mission (1987), Platoon The Warriors (1987), Rage of a Ninja (1988), The Ninja Showdown (1987), The Ninja Squad (1986), The Ultimate Ninja (1987), Thunder Kids: Golden Adventure (1989), Thunder Kids 2: Wonderful Mission (1989), Thunder Kids 3: Hunt For The Devil Boxer (1989), Zodiac America: The Supermaster (aka Zombie vs Ninja , aka Zodiac Power: The Supermaster,aka The Gravedigger) (1987), Zodiac America 2: Evil Destroyer (aka Zodiac Power 2: Evil Destroyer) (1988).

    Tomas Tang's Filmark International Ltd.

    Bionic Ninja (aka Ninja Assassins) (1986), Clash of the Ninjas (1986), Counter Destroyer (aka RoboVampire 2: Counter Destroyer) (1989), Death Code: Ninja (1987), Devil's Dynamite (aka RoboVampire 3: Devil's Dynamite) (1987), Empire of the Spiritual Ninja (1987), Golden Ninja Invasion (1987), Instant Rage (1986), Ninja and the Warriors of Fire (aka Ninja 8: Warriors of Fire) (1987), Ninja Demon's Massacre (1988), Ninja Fantasy (aka Twinkle Ninja Fantasy aka Ninja Project, aka Empire of the Ninjas) (1986), Ninja Force of Assassins (1988), Ninja in Action (1987), Ninja in the Killing Fields (1988), Ninja Masters of Death (aka Ninja Project Daredevil, aka Grandmasters of Death) (1985), Ninja The Battalion (1988), Ninja The Shadow Killers (1989), Ninja Warrior From Beyond (aka Black Panther) (1986), Ninja, Phantom Heroes U.S.A. (aka Ninja Empire) (1986), Ninja, The Violent Sorcerer (1986), Ninja: American Warrior (1987), Ninja's Extreme Weapons (1987), Silver Dragon Ninja (1986), The Thundering Ninja (1987), Thunder Score (1989), Top Mission (1987), Tough Ninja the Shadow Warrior (1988), Vampire Raiders: Ninja Queen (1988).

    Other companies

    City Ninja (aka Ninja Holocaust) (1985 First Films), Ninja vs. Ninja (1987 Ocean Shores).

    Minor roles

    Ninja characters appear in minor roles in many films, including 24 Hours to Midnight (1985), Action Her00? (2004), Backfire! (1995), Blind Fury (1989), Blood Orgy of the Leather Girls (1988), Bloodbath (2007), Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh (1991), Bowfinger (1999), Brighton Wok: The Legend of Ganja Boxing (2008), Bugi Fiction (2003), Bullet of Life (2006), Burning Power (1984), Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989), Cats & Dogs (2001), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), Date Number One (2006), Do or Die (1991), Double Dragon (1994), Dragon Fire (1993), Expect No Mercy (1995), Fight Ring (2008), Fireback (1983), Fist of Vengeance (aka Bruce's Fist of Vengeance) (1980), Guns (1990), Inspector Gadget 2 (2003), Jarrett (2001), Kill 'Em All (2012), Knock Outs (1992), Kung Fu Rascals (1992), Kung Phooey (2003), Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979), Legend of the Tsunami Warrior (2008), L.E.T.H.A.L. Ladies: Return to Savage Beach (1998), Let's Talk About Sex (1998), Licence to Kill (1989), Millionaires Express (1986), My Lucky Stars (1985), Nikos the Impaler (2003), Ong Bak 2 (2008), Ong Bak 3 (2010), Operation Dance Sensation (2003), Operation Las Vegas (1990), Order of the Eagle (1989), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), Pervirella (1997), Pineapple Express (2008), Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987), Prison-A-Go-Go! (2003), Puppet Master: Axis of Evil (2010), Raw Force (1982), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), RoboCop 3 (1993), Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000), Sci-Fighter (2004), Sidekicks (1992), Speed Racer (2008), Stereo Future (2001), Super Tromette Action Movie Go! (2008), Taxi 2 (2000), Taxi 3 (2003), Tekken (2010), The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (2006), The Adventures of El Frenetico and Go Girl (1993), The Crow: City of Angels (1996), The King Maker (2005), The Last Action Hero (1993), The Last Samurai (2003), The Master of Disguise (2002), The Roller Blade Seven (1991), The Samurai of Strongsville, Ohio (2010), The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption (2012), Toad Warrior (1996), Torrente 3: El Protector (2005), Trading Mom (1994), Transformed (2005), Two's a Mob (1998), Violent Shit III (1999), War (2007), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), and Zatoichi (2003).

    Miscellaneous

    A number of films feature characters who are often mistaken for ninja, or whose titles, artwork, and/or trailers have misrepresented the presence of ninja in them.

    References

    List of ninja films Wikipedia
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