New York Ninja (2021): Cast, Ratings, Plot & Where to Watch
New York Ninja is a 2021 crime thriller directed by Kurtis Spieler, starring Don Wilson as John Liu / The Ninja (voice), John Liu and Ginger Lynn Allen. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes. Its Echo Score is 51/100. Stream it on Eternal Family and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it on Fandango At Home.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- Kurtis Spieler
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Vinegar Syndrome
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is New York Ninja About?
The premise of New York Ninja without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Driven by vengeance after the tragic loss of his wife, a man trains to become a deadly ninja, pursuing her killers through the vibrant and dangerous streets of New York City. This action film, initially abandoned in 1984, was rediscovered and completed years later by Vinegar Syndrome.
New York Ninja Themes & Keywords
· 30 tags- new york city
- ninja
- manhattan new york city
- loss of wife
- pregnancy
- murder
- knife throwing
- world trade center manhattan new york city
- year 1984
- city in title
- murder of a pregnant woman
- helicopter
+18 more Show fewer
- murder of wife
- newspaper headline
- ferry
- abduction
- one fights many
- overturned car
- throwing star
- sex in a car
- armed robbery
- explosion
- limousine
- vigilante justice
- vigilante
- breaking the fourth wall ending
- fake wig
- husband wife relationship
- ends with a freeze frame
- title spoken by character
Where to Watch New York Ninja
Stream it on Eternal Family and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 11
Rent or buy 1
New York Ninja Cast & Characters
Don Wilson leads the cast as John Liu / The Ninja (voice), with John Liu as John Liu / The Ninja and Ginger Lynn Allen as Nita Liu (voice). Directed by Kurtis Spieler; 30 actors are credited in all.
- Director Kurtis Spieler
- Don Wilson as John Liu / The Ninja (voice)
- John Liu as John Liu / The Ninja
- Ginger Lynn Allen as Nita Liu (voice)
- Matt Mitler as Freddy Cufflinks (voice)
Also Starring in New York Ninja
· 26 more- Leon Isaac Kennedy Det. Jimmy Williams (voice)
- Michael Berryman The Plutonium Killer (voice)
- Linnea Quigley Randi Rydell (voice)
- Vince Murdocco Jack "The Cameraman" (voice)
- Cynthia Rothrock Det. Janet Flores (voice)
- Sharon Mitchell Woman on Train (uncredited)
- Mike Pollock Additional Voice (voice)
- Wayne Grayson Rattail (voice)
- Tom Wayland Switchblade (voice)
- Adrienne Meltzer Randi Rydell
- Bill Timoney The Pale Man (voice)
- Ryan Andes Additional Voice (voice)
- Dan Becker Additional Voice (voice)
- Lee Baptiste Street Lion (voice)
- Zihan Zhao The Kid (voice)
- Richard Buckingham Clark Rattail
Show all 30 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Barrett Leddy Additional Voice (voice)
- Robb Moreira The Mayor (voice)
- Darius Churchman Ricco (voice)
- Nicholas Corda Additional Voice (voice)
- Hollis Fox Additional Voice (voice)
- Sarah Smithton Additional Voice (voice)
- Lori Gardner Phillips Additional Voice (voice)
- Ben Wayland Additional Voice (voice)
- Finn Wayland Additional Voice (voice)
- Robert Turano Man on Train (uncredited)
New York Ninja Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 51/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in story & flow (40).
New York Ninja Echo Score Breakdown
New York Ninja delivers a nostalgic 1980s aesthetic but is hampered by technical shortcomings and uneven storytelling. Reviewers note the film's charmingly cheesy visuals and period‑specific set pieces, yet repeatedly criticize the poor dubbing, limited plot development, and subpar performances. The result is a polarizing experience that appeals chiefly to fans of cult B‑movies, while others find little merit beyond its retro novelty. Consequently, the film receives a mixed overall appraisal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of art and craft, the film presents an authentic 1980s visual palette with recognizable New York locations and competent restoration that enhances picture quality. However, critics point to clunky editing, uninspired cinematography, and a lack of stylistic ambition. The production design succeeds in evoking its era, yet the overall technical execution feels uneven, yielding a moderately positive but restrained assessment.
- Character & Emotion 45
When evaluating character and emotion, the acting is widely perceived as flat and hampered by atrocious dubbing, resulting in laughably bad performances. Some reviewers enjoy the accidental humor of the exaggerated gang members and voice cameos, yet the depth and chemistry remain minimal. The net impression is a largely negative view of the film's character work, softened only by its camp appeal.
- Story & Flow 40
Regarding story and flow, the plot is described as thin, repetitive, and lacking clear narrative momentum. Reviewers cite a missing or poorly conveyed script, resulting in a dull experience that fails to sustain engagement. While the premise of a vigilante ninja in 1980s New York offers potential, the execution does not deliver sufficient originality or coherence, leading to a low assessment.
- Sensory Experience 60
The sensory experience blends strong nostalgic elements, such as cheesy 80s synth music and vivid New York backdrops, with a severely flawed audio track. Critics praise the restored visuals and atmospheric locations but condemn the new dubbing and sound design as jarring. This mixture of appealing visual style and disruptive audio yields a moderately positive sensory rating.
- Rewatch Factor 55
Rewatch value is seen as contingent on the viewer's appetite for retro camp and unintentional humor. Some users anticipate repeat enjoyment due to the film's goofy charm and nostalgic allure, while others find the limited story and repetitive scenes diminish replay appeal. Overall, the movie offers modest incentive for another viewing, reflecting a mixed but slightly favorable rewatch factor.
New York Ninja Plot Summary
What happens in New York Ninja from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
John Liu, a sound technician for a New York City television news station, learns that his wife Nita Liu is pregnant, only for her to be murdered by knife-wielding thug Freddy Cufflinks. Grief-stricken and hungry for answers, Liu is assaulted by a street gang, but fights them off with a desperate, clenched resolve. He seeks out Detective Jimmy Williams, who tells him the authorities are doing all they can, yet Liu remains unsatisfied and restless, unable to let the murder slide into the background noise of a crowded city.
Full summary
The whole story of New York Ninja, scene by scene
New York Ninja Trailers & Videos
The trailer of New York Ninja.
How Well Do You Know New York Ninja?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the profession of the main character, John Liu, before he becomes a vigilante?
New York Ninja Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “Нью-йоркский ниндзя” and “纽约忍者”.
- Also known as
-
- Нью-йоркский ниндзя
- 纽约忍者
- Ninja z New Yorku
- 뉴욕 닌자
- נינג'ה ניו יורק
- Nowojorski ninja
Seen New York Ninja?
Movies Like New York Ninja
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja USA and Ninja in Action.
New York Ninja FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of New York Ninja, each answered in a sentence.
How long is New York Ninja?
New York Ninja runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was New York Ninja released?
New York Ninja was released on October 2, 2021.
Who directed New York Ninja?
New York Ninja was directed by Kurtis Spieler.
More films by Kurtis Spieler Who is in the cast of New York Ninja?
New York Ninja stars Don Wilson as John Liu / The Ninja (voice), John Liu as John Liu / The Ninja and Ginger Lynn Allen as Nita Liu (voice), among 30 credited actors.
Where can I watch New York Ninja?
In the US, New York Ninja is streaming on Eternal Family, Fandango at Home Free and Fawesome and available to rent or buy on Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
Does New York Ninja have a post-credit scene?
No. New York Ninja has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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