During a championship baseball match, the three brothers hear that their grandfather in Japan is in trouble, and head out to help him, conceding the match. When they arrive in Japan, they must use all their powers to defend him against his ancient enemy, who has returned to exact revenge.
Instead of exalting physical grace and virtuosity, this film's slapdash action sequences resort repeatedly to the old trick of accelerating the action to the speed of a silent-film chase.
– Stephen Holden,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
rotten:
Clearly made with an eye on the international market, this movie is set for the most part in Japan, shrewdly adding a female ninja to the three boys, thus broadening the potential demographics.
– Emanuel Levy,
Variety,
31 Jan 2006
rotten:
Fantasy is one thing. 3 Ninjas Kick Back is something else entirely: junk food laced with testosterone.
– John Petrakis,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Jun 2013
fresh:
3 Ninjas Kick Back is just as lively and engaging as the 1992 original
– Kevin Thomas,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Jun 2013
rotten:
3 Ninjas was a surprising box-office hit with the Saturday matinee family crowd, earning the highest cost-to-profit ratio of that year and instantly mandating this all-too-unnecessary sequel.