‘3 Ninjas’ is one of the most notable series of family martial arts comedies released in the 90s. The story follows three brothers who become ninjas after being trained by their grandfather each summer and eventually grow strong enough to take on various “villains.” The movies really aren’t that deep and mostly center around the ideas of teamwork and family, and despite not being critics’ favorite, the franchise was successful enough, so the ‘3 Ninjas’ series today consists of 4 movies in total. Today, we’re going to take a trip down memory lane and give you a reason to be nostalgic about simpler times as we present you with the ‘3 Ninjas’ watch order.
All 4 ‘3 Ninjas’ movies in release date order
The first ‘3 Ninjas’ movie was released in 1992, and it wasn’t exactly well-received by the critics. The story and the cast’s performance were criticized, but the target audience loved the movie enough to warrant a series of sequel installments. The movie also performed well at the box office. As is the case with many similar series, each subsequent movie got lower marks from the critics and earned less than the predecessor. Still, let’s take a look at the ‘3 Ninjas’ franchise in release date order:
- ‘3 Ninjas’ (1992)
- ‘3 Ninjas Kick Back’ (1994)
- ‘3 Ninjas Knuckle Up’ (1995)
- ‘3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain’ (1998)
Are all ‘3 Ninjas’ movies connected? What’s the best way to watch them in order?
Even though the cast members eventually changed, all ‘3 Ninjas’ movies are connected and take place within the same continuity. Different installments have different stories and different supporting characters, but the common overarching theme of family, teamwork, and martial arts is omnipresent in the franchise. Of course, what truly makes ‘3 Ninjas’ movies a series is the fact that three brothers have a central role in all of the movies. As far as the best way to watch the movies goes, it’s best to watch them in release date order.
‘3 Ninjas’ movies in chronological order
‘3 Ninjas’ has a fairly straightforward timeline, but the chronological order of movies was messed up due to the first and second installments being shot back-to-back. for some reason, the second installment was released after the third installment. This is what makes the chronological order of ‘3 Ninjas’ movies a bit confusing, but fear not, we have you covered:
- ‘3 Ninjas’ (1992)
- ‘3 Ninjas Knuckle Up’ (1995)
- ‘3 Ninjas Kick Back’ (1994)
- ‘3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain’ (1998)
1. ‘3 Ninjas’ (1992)
Three brothers, Samuel (Michael Treanor), Jeffrey (Max Elliott Slade), and Michael (Chad Power) spend every summer with their Japanese grandfather, who trains them in the mystic art of being a ninja. Eventually, the brothers are ready to graduate, and each is assigned a nickname according to his personality. Samuel is dubbed “Rocky” due to his cool head, Jeffrey is dubbed “Colt” due to his speed and hot temper, and Michael is dubbed “Tum-Tum” because he is a bit slow. When the boys return from their grandfather, they accidentally become involved in their father’s FBI operation, and they definitely put their ninja skills to a good test.
2. ‘3 Ninjas Knuckle Up’ (1995)
Chronologically, this is the second installment in the ‘3 Ninjas’ series; the old cast returns once again to their grandfather, and over the summer break, they witness the Native Americans protesting against the waste industry that keeps dumping toxic chemicals near their homes. The boys will utilize their new-found ninja skills to take on the industry and make some positive changes.
3. ‘3 Ninjas Kick Back’ (1994)
Chronologically, this is the third movie in the series, and this is also the first movie in which the majority of the main cast was replaced, with only Max Elliot Slade returning to reprise his role as Colt. Three brothers were sent to Japan by their father to deliver a ceremonial dagger to their grandfather’s friend, Mori Tanaka. However, they soon discover that Tanaka has been injured and the dagger has been stolen by an evil ninja named Koga.
4.‘3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain‘(1998)
In the last installment in the franchise, Colt, Rocky, and Tum-Tum visit Mega Mountain, a popular theme park, with their friend Amanda. However, the day takes a drastic turn when the park is taken over by an ex-military villain named Medusa and her bumbling sidekick, Lothar. Medusa demands a lot of money from the park’s owners, and she traps the park attendees as hostages.
Where to watch the above-mentioned movies?
The first movie in the franchise, ‘3 Ninjas,’ can only be rented or bought on Apple TV store, Amazon Prime Video, or Google Play. The rest of the series can also be streamed on Tubi, with the last installment ‘3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain’ also being available for streaming at DirecTV.
Will there be more ‘3 Ninjas’ movies?
As of December 2023, there is no news regarding the ‘3 Ninjas’ franchise, and a reboot or additional sequel seems highly unlikely. The franchise was successful when it came to the box office for the first two installments, but the last two delivered significantly less money to the investors. In any case, we will update you with new information as soon as we know something.
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