Menahem Golan’s “Enter the Ninja” (1981) has a title sequence where a ninja provides a demonstration, ranging from kicks to weapons preparation, as the opening credits unravel.
Leave it to Golan, the infamous businessman and canny filmmaker, for knowing what his audience wants and insists on giving them right away.
We meet our ninja, a man named Cole, played by Franco Nero, who is visiting a friend in Manila, where nefarious business practices are occurring. When Cole’s best friend is murdered, he goes on a one-man war against a sleazy business tycoon, Charles Venarius (played by the wonderful character actor, Christopher George, the lead of the 1976 drive-in smash, “Grizzly”).
There’s also a rival ninja named Hasegawa, played by Sho Kosugi, the true star of the film and the breakout who not only followed this series, but numerous martial arts thrillers inspired by it.
Another major star of the film is Mike Stone. The Maui-born martial arts sensation who was originally hired to play Cole and, reportedly due to lack of acting experience (though likely Golan’s belief that a movie star should carry this), he was replaced by Nero but wisely kept on the film as the fight choreographer and ninja double.
I’m a fan of Nero, who has obvious gravitas and a cool accent as a leading man (he was perfect playing a Castro-like villain in the 1990 “Die Hard 2”). However, to put it mildly, Nero gives the role his all, but he’s not believable as a ninja, and it’s obvious when Stone was brought in to double him.
The decision to have Nero’s deep vocals dubbed is as ridiculous as the unnaturally chipper voice that replaced him.
Kosugi, with his intense, Toshiro Mifune-level stare and intimidating presence, is the real deal and so is Stone, whose imprint on the film is undeniable. I wish Kosugi were in “Enter the Ninja” more, as his character makes a strong entrance but doesn’t get to take center stage until the film is nearly over.
In addition to his obvious martial arts showcases, Kosugi is also excellent as the disproving father in “Aloha Summer” (1988) and as The Assassin in “Blind Fury” (1990), the better-than-expected American remake of the essential “Zatoichi” (1962-1989) film series.
In addition to love scenes and a romantic subplot the film has no idea what to do with, there are also war flashbacks, indicating that Golan and Globus were visibly chomping at the bit to start their “Missing in Action” franchise (1984-1988).
Golan’s film is completely ridiculous and wildly entertaining, easily one of the best of the Cannon Films titles unrelated to their arthouse fare (where the 1985 “Runaway Train” and the 1987 releases “Barfly” and “Street Smart” rank among their proudest releases).
Sure, the dialogue is risible, and the plot is by-the-numbers, but when you have multiple shots of ninjas diving headfirst off a waterfall in slow motion, the lack of a fresh story can mostly be forgiven.
“Enter the Ninja” is credited, in film textbooks, as well as the 2014 documentary “Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films,” for igniting a ninja craze in the U.S. and in video stores. I’d argue that Eric Van Lustbader’s 1980 bestselling novel “The Ninja” and choice moments from the top-rated 1980 TV mini-series “Shōgun,” as well as the growing appeal of martial arts movies in the U.S., were also the reason.
I vividly recall a 1-800 ad that aired in the late 1980s on TV after midnight, which showed a karate-kicking, black-attired ninja, running through the woods and doing flips over bridges – a narrator stated that “you, yes, YOU,” could become like the warrior on your TV set!
How? By sending $100 to the address listed on screen, in order to obtain a massive book that reveals all the secrets of the ways of the ninja. Despite asking my mom about it the following morning, I have yet to obtain a copy.
Enter the Ninja (1981) pic.twitter.com/NPWLUwpvAp
— Retro Recall (☥) (@RetroMoviesDB) January 16, 2026
Whatever the reason for the fascination with all things masked, aikido-trained shadow warriors, Golan’s film and his Cannon Films (co-founded by his partner, Yoram Globus) exploited the notion, in this and many other films that followed.
The best and worst thing about “Enter the Ninja” is that it’s hilarious and rarely on purpose.
What came next? For starters, the unrelated “Revenge of the Ninja” (1983) and the hall of fame guilty pleasure, “Ninja III- The Domination” (1984), which all starred Kosugi, whose plays different ninja characters in each. From Cannon Films, the Michael Dudikoff “American Ninja” franchise followed, as did a Kosugi-starring TV series called “The Master” (1984).
“Enter the Ninja” isn’t great art, but it’s a fun B-movie and a well-made Cannon Film. There are better ninja and martial arts films that came before and after it, but where else can you see Nero explain to the villain, in a badly dubbed voice, “My friend, a ninja doesn’t kill, He eliminates and only for defensive purposes,” then kick the crud out of them?
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