American Ninja - Watch Order: Main Timeline
This watch order focuses on the connected narrative spanning the first four films, following the saga from Joe Armstrong's introduction through his partnership with Sean Davidson. The timeline progresses naturally from Joe's mysterious origins to the culminating team-up in the fourth film.
By excluding the unrelated fifth film, this watch list provides a more cohesive viewing experience that follows the core characters and their interconnected battles against various ninja threats across different global locations.
American Ninja
Joe Armstrong, an orphaned drifter with little respect for much other than martial arts, finds himself on an American Army base in The Philippines after a judge gives him a choice of enlistment or prison. On one of his first missions driving a convoy, his platoon is attacked by a group of rebels who try to steal the weapons the platoon is transporting and kidnap the base colonel's daughter.
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
On a remote Caribbean island, Army Ranger Joe Armstrong saves an old friend from the clutches of "The Lion", an evil super-criminal who has kidnapped a local scientist and mass-produced an army of mutant Ninja warriors.
American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt
Jackson is back, and now he has a new partner, karate champion Sean, as they must face a deadly terrorist known as "The Cobra", who has infected Sean with a virus. Sean and Jackson have no choice but to fight the Cobra and his bands of ninjas.
Other Film Series
Airport
A 1970s disaster movie franchise featuring airline catastrophes and all-star ensemble casts.
Jack Ryan
CIA analyst Jack Ryan becomes an unlikely action hero in this Cold War thriller trilogy based on Tom Clancy's novels.
Lethal Weapon
A buddy cop action series following the partnership between unstable detective Martin Riggs and veteran sergeant Roger Murtaugh through four films.
Lone Wolf and Cub
A legendary samurai saga following Ogami Ittō and his son Daigoro as they travel Japan seeking vengeance and justice.
Maze Runner
A dystopian sci-fi trilogy following Thomas and the Gladers as they escape the maze and uncover the truth about their post-apocalyptic world.
Missing in Action
A Chuck Norris action trilogy following Colonel James Braddock's missions to rescue American POWs in Vietnam.