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Steve James

Steve James

Actor, also writer · Died December 18, 1993, aged 41 · New York City, New York

Steven Wall James (February 19, 1952 – December 18, 1993) was an American actor and stunt performer. He was best-known for his roles in 1980s action films, often from Cannon Films, such as the American Ninja series, The Delta Force (1986), The Exterminator (1980), and Avenging Force (1986). He also portrayed Kung Fu Joe in the 1988 comedy/spoof film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, and its 1990 television pilot spinoff Hammer, Slammer, & Slade. Description above from the Wikipedia article Steve James, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 19, 1952
Died
December 18, 1993 (aged 41)
From
New York City, New York
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 38% in 30 days

What are Steve James' films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
37%
Bonds
25%
Self
19%
Survival
14%
Society
3%
Power
1%
Ideas
1%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 9 · Intense 9

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 9

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 13 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 9 of 15 analyzed roles.

Ally
9 of 15
Mentor
3 of 15
Hero
1 of 15
Shadow
1 of 15
Shapeshifter
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Thrilling
13
Absurd
4
Dread
4
Melancholic
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Fun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Steve James' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (24).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Steve James' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • M.A.N.T.I.S.(1994)

    as Antoine Pike

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Bloodfist V: Human Target(1994)

    as Marcus / Drew Washington

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Weekend at Bernie's II(1993)

    as Henry

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Player(1992)

    as Steve James

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • McBain(1991)

    as Eastland

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Mister Johnson(1990)

    as Aliu

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Hammer, Slammer, & Slade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Kung Fu Joe

  • Street Hunter(1990)

    Writer · as Logan Blade

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Riverbend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Maj. Samuel Quentin

  • American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt(1989)

    as Curtis Jackson

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • I'm Gonna Git You Sucka(1988)

    as Kung Fu Joe

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Hero and the Terror(1988)

    as Robinson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf(1988)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Be Good(1988)

    as Coach Ned Sanders

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • American Ninja 2: The Confrontation(1987)

    as Sgt. Curtis Jackson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Shuffle(1987)

    as Hood #3

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Avenging Force(1986)

    as Larry Richards

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • C.A.T. Squad(1986)

    as Bud Raines

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • P.O.W. the Escape(1986)

    as Johnston

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Delta Force(1986)

    as Bobby

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • To Live and Die in L.A.(1985)

    as Jeff Rice

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • American Ninja(1985)

    as Cpl. Curtis Jackson

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Weird Science(1985)

    as Guy at Table (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Mask(1985)

    as Hospital Intern

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Mohammed 'Boogaloo' Brown

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Atlanta Child Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Policeman #1

  • The Flamingo Kid(1984)

    as Renaldo

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Fatal Vision (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as U.S. Marshal

  • The Brother from Another Planet(1984)

    Stunt Coordinator · as Odell

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Ghostbusters(1984)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Abuse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Dr. Bennett

  • Vigilante(1982)

    as Ptl. Gibbons

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Hanky Panky(1982)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Soldier(1982)

    as Soldier's Force

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Fighting Back(1982)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach Cassius Isley

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Muggable Mary, Street Cop(1982)

    as Park Slasher - Rapist

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Ragtime(1981)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Wolfen(1981)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Arthur(1981)

    as Man Outside Tie Store (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Fort Apache the Bronx(1981)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Times Square(1980)

    as Dude

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Exterminator(1980)

    as Michael Jefferson

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • He Knows You're Alone(1980)

    Stunts · as Young Man

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Dressed to Kill(1980)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Wanderers(1979)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Warriors(1979)

    as Baseball Fury

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Oliver's Story(1978)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Wiz(1978)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Obsessed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Police Officer

  • The Land That Time Forgot(1974)

    as First Sto-Lu

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Education of Sonny Carson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Stunts

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1974 to 1994; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

The Warriors (1979)

$22M worldwide

Highest rated

The Warriors (1979)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19741994

Peak 1986 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 52: 38 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score34thWriting1 of 52: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleOther crew13 of 52: 11 only other crew, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

52 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1970s7 · 3 acting · 4 crew1980s37 · 30 acting · 9 crew1990s8 · 8 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 24 roles
7484

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Steve James' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 43; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 29th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor, writer

Street Hunter (1990)

81st percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Warriors (1979)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 51/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 64, detractors 32. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Steve James' work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 75 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles38–71 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 78 · intenseMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 72 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Steve James work with?

People who share at least 2 of Steve James' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Menahem Golan shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers