It has been over 40 years since Walter Hill’s The Warriors was released on February 9, 1979. The film, based on a 1965 Sol Yurick novel of the same name, is still the epitome of stylized 1970s New York City gang films. Despite the controversy that resulted in a hefty loss of advertising and a limited theatrical run (more on that soon), The Warriors almost grossed its $4 million budget opening weekend. It brought in $16.4 million within its first six weeks.
Cyrus (Roger Hill), the leader of a gang called The Gramercy Riffs, meets with other NYC gangs at a midnight gathering to discuss a proposed alliance that would strengthen control against law enforcement. Although Cyrus’s idea for a truce is met with applause, another gang leader, Luther (David Patrick Kelly), shoots him dead, resulting in a huge uproar from everyone. Unfortunately for a Coney Island-based gang called The Warriors, the murder has been pinned on them, and The Riffs call for vengeance.
As all of the gang members disperse, aiming to hunt The Warriors down, we follow the main surviving members – Swan (Michael Beck), Ajax (James Remar), and Snow (Brian Tyler) – and a woman they meet along the way (Mercy, played by Deborah Van Valkenburgh). They have to make their way home to Coney Island while encountering some of the city’s baddest gangs. Guiding everyone through the night is the soothing voice of a radio DJ (Lynne Thigpen), updating the city on the latest news and gang battles.
Gangs
Each gang has its unique style, both in fighting and fashion, which sometimes adds a touch of unexpected fantasy. Although there were over twenty gangs represented in the film, here are six of the best:
The Baseball Furies
Wearing New York Yankee baseball outfits and face paint, The Baseball Furies (or, simply, The Furies) chase The Warriors with bats. Although they never say a word, The Furies are undoubtedly the most memorable and creepiest foe.
The Lizzies
This all-female gang lures and trap members of The Warriors, telling them that they are the ones everyone believes to have killed Cyrus. Luckily for our titular gang, these ladies may be badass but missed their shot. Literally.
The Orphans
Although The Orphans are less than revered among the other gangs, they are undoubtedly memorable. Living up to their name by wearing basic green shirts and old baggy jeans, The Orphans demand that the rival gang remove their vests before walking through their territory. This doesn’t end well for the lowly gang, as Swan eventually throws a molotov cocktail, killing one of the members.
The Hi-Hats
Mimes. Suspender and top hat-wearing mimes from Soho, even. This is one gang we oh-so-badly wanted to see in action.
The Punks
Don’t let the adorable denim dungarees fool you; these guys are no joke. The Punks are ready for a hand-to-hand brawl and are one of the toughest gangs The Warriors have to face.
The Rogues
After their leader starts this whole mess, The Rogues stay out of the fight until the very end when they confront The Warriors on a Coney Island beach. However, The Warriors never have to fight The Rogues head-on, as they are taken care of by Cyrus’s gang, The Riffs.
Controversy & Reception
Although by today’s standards, The Warriors is relatively tame, it was met with much controversy upon its release. The film’s original poster featured the tagline: “These are the armies of the night. They are 100,000 strong. They outnumber the cops five to one. They could run New York City.” As one can imagine, some found that to be terrifying.
A few showings of the film were plagued by violence, which resulted in killings and vandalism. While talking to The Village Voice, Walter Hill explains, “For many troubled young people, The Warriors would mean seeing a part of themselves reflected onscreen for the very first time.”
Related: 8 of the Most Controversial Horror Films Ever Made
Following the outrage and concern over inciting violence, Paramount pulled the film from several theaters and heavily stripped content from radio and TV ads. Security was added to hundreds of theaters, and they were not forced to show the films despite studio contracts.
The Warriors did not exactly win over critics at the time, either. The film was met with mostly negative reviews, but it did have one important fan: President Ronald Reagan. He told actor Michael Beck that it was screened at (or, from the safety of…) Camp David and he quite enjoyed it.
Despite all the negative press and reviews, The Warriors is a cult classic today and is looked back on quite fondly. It currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 89% from critics and 88% from the audience, with a domestic gross totaling $22,490,039. The film saw an Ultimate Director’s Cut Blu-ray release in 2007.
Video Games
While the film never received a sequel, Rockstar Games released a video game of the same name on October 17, 2005, for PlayStation 2. The beat ’em up survival game starts three months before the events in the film and features original characters and cast. The game goes much more in-depth into the gangs and locations, giving unnamed film characters names and backstories. It was very positively received and made an estimated $37 million worldwide.
The title faced its own controversy in the form of a lawsuit brought on by Roger Hill, who played Cyrus. The actor sued Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar for $250,000 for using his likeness without permission. Hill passed away in 2014 without resolution.
Another game was released in 2009 for Xbox Live Arcade, titled The Warriors: Street Brawl. This side-scrolling brawler was developed by CXTM and didn’t get the same positive reviews as Rockstar’s game. It featured six playable characters and had the same plot as the film, seeing the gang members return to the safety of Coney Island.
Remake & TV Series
Director and producer Tony Scott (Top Gun) was planning a remake of the film before his death in 2012. While Scott intended to keep the core story, he wanted to move the setting to L.A. and do away with the more stylized gangs, such as The Furies and Hi-Hats. He told MTV in 2005, “It’s very different from what the original is like. I love the original, but this is a very different tone and a very different feel. The encounters will be more like ‘Kingdom of Heaven.’ It will be the Warriors stacking up against 3,000 gang members.”
Related: An Interview with ‘The Warriors’ Director Walter Hill
In a 2015 interview, director Mark Neveldine (Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance) expressed interest in taking the helm for a remake, saying it’s “in rights hell at the moment.” He also addressed the fact that the controversy from the original opening still haunts the film, saying, “there’s been fear at some studios like ‘We make this movie today, and gangs are gonna go wild!'”
The latest news on The Warriors coming back is on the small screen. Anthony and Joe Russo, the brothers who directed four MCU films, including the upcoming Avengers: Endgame, would like to adapt the movie into a television series for Hulu. Other than confirmation that the Russo brothers will direct the pilot, no further details are available.
We hope you enjoyed looking back at such an unforgettable and classic film. We’ll leave you with this must-see video from Rolling Stone, which shows members of the lead cast taking that iconic subway ride home 36 years later.
Do you think The Warriors should be remade? Are you looking forward to the Hulu series? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and on social media!
