Movies Like Shogun Assassin (1980)

Shogun Assassin is a 1980 action, adventure film from Robert Houston with a MovieMagicScore of 6.9/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Red Shadow and Ninja Scroll.

Action Adventure

Red Shadow

2001

The secret warriors of feudal Japan were the ninja. Sent on impossible missions, the ninja were trained to work in shadows, gather information and defeat the enemy to build a world of peace. Akakage, Aokage, and Asuka are rookie ninjas under the tutelage of Shirokage. Their life is a series of perilous missions that entail intrigue, deception and intimidation.

4.8

MagicScore

Ninja Scroll

1993

Jubei is a masterless ninja who travels the land alone, lending his services to those with gold—or a worthy cause. His fearsome abilities have served him well, but a plot to overthrow the government threatens to end his wandering ways—and possibly his life.

7.8

MagicScore

Ninja Cheerleaders

2008

3 college cheerleaders use their martial arts know-how to save their Sensei from mafia kidnappers, but must keep their extra curricular activities a secret in order to make it into an Ivy League school.

4.0

MagicScore

Shogun's Ninja

1980

In the middle of the 16th century, Hideyoshi, a power hungry warlord sets out to destroy the Momochi clan. He sends his war commander in search of the clan's hidden gold only to find that two daggers are the key to the hiding place of the treasured gold. Spanning decades, the quest for the missing daggers takes Shiranui through war and ancient tradition.

6.1

MagicScore

47 Ronin

2013

Kai—an outcast—joins Oishi, the leader of 47 outcast samurai. Together they seek vengeance upon the treacherous overlord who killed their master and banished their kind. To restore honour to their homeland, the warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors.

6.2

MagicScore

An Actor's Revenge

1963

In Edo Japan, a kabuki actor seeks revenge against the three men who drove his parents to their deaths years ago.

6.6

MagicScore

Ninja Assassin

2009

Ninja Assassin follows Raizo, one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge.

6.7

MagicScore

The Octagon

1980

Scott James, a veteran martial arts expert, is recruited as the protector of the wealthy and beautiful Justine after she becomes the target of a ninja clan. When Scott finds out that his ruthless arch-nemesis, McCarn , is involved with the stealthy and dangerous criminals, he is eager to settle old scores. Soon Scott is facing off against McCarn and the entire ninja horde in an effort to take them all down.

5.0

MagicScore

Ninja in the Dragon's Den

1982

A Japanese master of ninjutsu and a Chinese expert in kung fu, put their differences aside after their master is killed by a mortal enemy.

7.7

MagicScore

#10

Ninja III: The Domination

1984

Aerobics instructor Christie Ryder becomes possessed by the spirit of an evil ninja when she comes to his aid after he was shot down.

6.1

MagicScore

#11

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx

1972

Ogami Itto battles a group of female ninja in the employ of the Yagyu clan and must eliminate a traitor who plans to sell his clan's secrets to the Shogunate.

7.3

MagicScore

#12

Iron Girl: Ultimate Weapon

2015

Set in the near future in a lawless world. Kurisu Saotome (Kirara Asuka) is a beautiful woman, but she is also a deadly bounty hunter. She wears an armored suit, possessing great power, and she is known as Iron Girl. Kurisu Saotome doesn't remember who she really is or where she comes from. To regain her memory, she continues her lonely battle.

5.2

MagicScore

#13

Shogun's Samurai

1978

Following the death of the second Tokugawa shogun, it is revealed that he was poisoned by retainers of his son Iemitsu in hopes of gaining him the shogunate despite the stammer and birthmark which undermine his respect. Iemitsu and his brother Tadanaga become bitter rivals for the shogunate, and the land is split into factions, eventually erupting into warfare. Iemitsu's mentor, his fencing instructor Yagyu, is fixated upon securing Iemitsu the shogunate and ends up betraying everyone, even his own family, in pursuit of the goal.

7.0

MagicScore

#14

Sword of the Beast

1965

Legendary swordplay filmmaker Hideo Gosha's Sword of the Beast chronicles the flight of the low-level swordsman Gennosuke, who kills one of his ministers as part of a reform plot. His former comrades then turn on him, and this betrayal so shakes his sense of honor that he decides to live in the wild, like an animal. There he joins up with a motley group who are illegally mining the shogun’s gold, and, with the aid of another swordsman, gets a chance not just at survival but to recover his name and honor.

7.5

MagicScore

#15

Unforgiven

2013

An old swordsman, his former comrade and a young braggart are hired by prostitutes to track down bandits who mutilated one of the women.

7.0

MagicScore

#16

Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice

1972

Fearless Edo-period police inspector Hanzo Itami, nicknamed The Razor, has developed his own unique way of extracting information for his inquiries. His first adventure sees him investigating his superior officer's mistress, whom he suspects of having ties with a reputed criminal on the loose.

6.2

MagicScore

#17

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai

2011

A tale of revenge, honor and disgrace, centering on a poverty-stricken samurai who discovers the fate of his ronin son-in-law, setting in motion a tense showdown of vengeance against the house of a feudal lord.

7.2

MagicScore

#18

The 47 Ronin

1941

In 1701, Lord Takuminokami Asano has a feud with Lord Kira and he tries to kill Kira in the corridors of the Shogun's palace. The Shogun sentences Lord Asano to commit suppuku and deprives the palace and lands from his clan, but does not punish Lord Kira. Lord Asano's vassals leave the land and his samurais become ronin and want to seek revenge against the dishonor of their Lord. But their leader Kuranosuke Oishi asks the Shogun to restore the Asano clan with his brother Daigaku Asano. One year later, the Shogun refuses his request and Oishi and forty-six ronin revenge their Lord.

6.9

MagicScore

#19

Caffeine

2006

A fanciful battle of the sexes ensues when the relationships of the staff and patrons of a quirky London café are unexpectedly turned upside down by sudden revelations of terribly embarrassing secrets having to do with their sexual misadventures. The food is not that good, but you can be yourselves and show yourselves for what you are: maniacs, perverts, gays, cheaters, violent old women, cross-dressers, whining singers, broken hearts... Come in, there is room!

5.6

MagicScore

#20

Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu - Day of the Departed

2016

When Cole returns to Yang's haunted temple to seek revenge on a former Airjitzu Master, he accidentally uses a powerful Dark Magic blade that unleashes the spectral forms of Ninjago's greatest villains and traps himself in the temple. The Ninja must return the ghosts to the Departed Realm before it's too late.

8.0

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Shogun Assassin?

The top films similar to Shogun Assassin by MovieMagicScore are Red Shadow (4.8), Ninja Scroll (7.8), Ninja Cheerleaders (4.0). Each shares action/adventure themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Shogun Assassin worth watching?

Shogun Assassin holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.9/10 from 176 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Shogun Assassin?

Shogun Assassin (1980) is a action, adventure film directed by Robert Houston, starring Tomisaburō Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Kayo Matsuo.

Where can I find more recommendations like Shogun Assassin?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more action recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Red Shadow Movies like Ninja Scroll Movies like Ninja Cheerleaders Movies like Shogun's Ninja Movies like 47 Ronin Movies like An Actor's Revenge

About movies like Shogun Assassin

This ranked list pairs Shogun Assassin (1980), a action and adventure film from Robert Houston, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Tomisaburō Wakayama take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

← Back to Shogun Assassin