American Ninja (1985) is an action-packed martial arts movie directed by Sam Firstenberg. The film follows Joe Armstrong (played by Michael Dudikoff), an American soldier stationed in the Philippines. Joe is a trained fighter with a mysterious past. During a mission, he teams up with a fellow soldier, Curtis Jackson (played by Steve James), to thwart a criminal organization led by a ruthless ninja master.

The movie begins with a military operation that goes awry, and Joe and Curtis are captured by a group of ninjas. As they attempt to escape, Joe’s exceptional martial arts skills become apparent, and he finds himself at the center of a larger conspiracy involving international arms dealers and ninja assassins.

Joe’s past, which he struggles to remember, gradually unfolds, revealing his connections to the ninja world. With his combat skills and courage, Joe confronts the dangerous ninjas in an effort to stop their criminal activities. The final showdown takes place in a thrilling battle between Joe and the villainous ninja master.

“American Ninja” became a cult classic, notable for its over-the-top action scenes, intense martial arts combat, and 1980s action film aesthetics. It spawned a series of sequels and remains a beloved entry in the action genre for fans of martial arts films.