The Warriors is a 1979 American action crime thriller film directed by Walter Hill. Based on Sol Yurick‘s 1965 novel of the same name, it was released in the United States on February 9, 1979. The film centers on a fictitious New York City street gang who must travel 30 miles (48 km), from the north end of the Bronx to their home turf in Coney Island in southern Brooklyn after they are framed for the murder of a respected gang leader.
After reports of vandalism and violence, Paramount temporarily halted its advertising campaign and released theater owners from their obligation to show the film. Despite its initially hostile reception, The Warriors has since become a cult film and has been reappraised by film critics. The film has spawned several spinoffs, including video games and a comic book series.
In his book about the film, author Sean Egan summarized its appeal: “Whereas the milieu of The Warriors was usually only depicted in motion pictures as an examination of a social problem, this movie portrayed life from the street gang’s point of view. It was a noticeable but revolutionary approach that struck a chord with the urban working class, especially it’s adolescent subset.
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