American Ninja Warrior

For other uses, see Ninja Warrior (disambiguation).
For the most recent season from 2024, see American Ninja Warrior season 16.

American Ninja Warrior
Genre
Based onSasuke
by Ushio Higuchi
Directed by
  • Jay Hunter
  • Patrick McManus[1]
Presented by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons16
No. of episodes235
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time36–128 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseDecember 12, 2009 (2009-12-12) –
present (present)
Related
American Ninja Challenge
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

American Ninja Warrior (sometimes abbreviated as ANW) is an American sports entertainment reality show based on the Japanese television reality show Sasuke, which also serves as a successor of American Ninja Challenge. It features a set of obstacle courses in various cities, which competitor attempt to conquer. The obstacle courses are divided into Qualifiers courses, Semifinals courses, and a four-part Finals course which is based at Las Vegas Strip (sometimes called Mount Midoriyama). The competitor who finishes all the courses in the fastest time wins a cash prize of $1,000,000. Starting with season 10, if one remaining competitor fails on any of Finals course parts but has completed it more than the others in the fastest time, they win a consolatory $100,000 prize. The show is hosted by Matt Iseman (the show's moderator) and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila. To date, only three competitors have won the main cash prize: Isaac Caldiero, Drew Drechsel, and Vance Walker (who is the only competitor to do it twice). Furthermore, Geoff Britten, Daniel Gil, and Caleb Bergstrom are the only three runners-up who have achieved Total Victory.

The series premiered on December 12, 2009, on cable channel G4. For the first three seasons, the show only screened a single qualifying and semifinals course while the top contestants travelled to Japan to compete at the Sasuke seasons' finals course. In 2012, the show changed its format by creating the fixed Finals course in Las Vegas and moved to NBC for its fourth season. In 2020, following COVID-19 restrictions, the show abolished the usual format and filmed a shorter season in St. Louis studio with no live audience. Production for the 13th season resumed in traditional format. In 2023, the series was renewed for 15th and 16th seasons, which are filmed simultaneously. The 15th season premiered on June 5, 2023, while the 16th season premiered on June 3, 2024.[2][3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference ANWN McManus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Peter White (March 29, 2023). "American Ninja Warrior Lands Bumper Renewal Order At NBC With Taller Mega Wall Among Format Changes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Peter White (March 18, 2024). "NBC Sets Summer Premieres For Return Of Reality Slate Including 'AGT' & 'American Ninja Warrior'; 'Hot Wheels' & 'LA Fire & Rescue' Not Returning". Deadline Hollywood.