Realising that the target audience for its new game, The Warriors, is way to young to actually know anything about the movie, Rockstar games has issued a wealth of information in an attempt to culturally enlighten gamers. The information below is extensive but useful in realising how influential a violent movie can become, we wonder if its creators were ever blamed for inciting teen crime...
For the first official in-game images follow the screens tab above.
The Warriors: Cultural Icon
For true fans, The Warriors is more than just a cool movie. Since its theatrical release in 1979, Walter Hill's NYC gang epic has made an indelible mark on contemporary urban culture. Not just another teen movie, for those lucky enough to see The Warriors in the theatre it marked a moment of uncertainty and fear at the end of 70s. By 1979, New York, along with most large US inner cities, were considered lawless, urban wastelands ruled by gangs and wasted youth.
Long considered a cult classic, The Warriors is actively championed by cinema purists and guys who love movies. Shot entirely on location on the streets of New York, the cinematography masterfully captured the concrete jungle of the neighborhoods of New York from its deserted alleyways, wide streets and grimy subways. From John Woo to Quentin Tarantino, directors praise The Warriors as a quintessential New York film. It is rumored that for years Eddie Vedder had Luther's classic "Waaarrriors, come out to plaaaay..." line on his answering machine for years. From Shaquille O'Neal to the Method Man, The Warriors is the movie for guys who love movies.
The central themes of the The Warriors like loyalty, trust and surviving on the streets have permeated all areas of pop culture from movies, music, fashion, art, and, now, video games.
The Warriors: Film
It debuted at number one quite unexpectedly. It came out of nowhere and all the kids went to see it. - Walter Hill
War looms over New York City when The Warriors are wrongly accused of killing Cyrus, leader of the Riffs, the biggest gang in New York.
In order to survive, the Warriors must make their way from the Bronx back home to Coney Island. Between them and safety are 20 miles and 60,000 gang members. The streets are owned by these armies of the night and there's no turning back - the Warriors must fight for their lives as danger lurks around every corner.
Its initial 1979 theatrical release, The Warriors has spawned legions of fans and decades of imitators. The Warriors became a wildfire word-of-mouth success among a young crowd and debuted at number one at the box office. Hundreds of screaming kids attended the matinee premier in Times Square. Within five years, fans were dressing up like characters from the movie and lining up for midnight movie screenings of The Warriors in Paris.
[The Warriors] set a template for a certain kind of action picture - the characters express themselves through movement rather than through dialogue...there was a kind of exhilaration in watching as Walter hill and these actors just sort of expanded on the American action archetype. Because you have to remember, action heroes in those days weren't kids... John Wayne was still grinding out movies... it was probably a fairly subversive movie for a major movie studio...pretty exciting stuff. - Elvis Mitchell (on The Warriors)
Countless showings on cable and years of word-of-mouth rentals has earned The Warriors a lasting place in the history of American cinema and pop culture exposing an entire generation to NYC gang life. There are Warriors theme parties and collectors hunt bootleg Warriors action figures on eBay. Thousands have swarmed the internet to prevent a potential remake.
The Warriors: Cultural Impact
Fan Sites
In-depth information about The Warriors has been available on dedicated fan sites since the internet began. Check out the following sites for chat rooms, message boards, original and DVD reviews, gang info, stills, sound clips and cast bios. Hardcore fans will find information about deleted scenes and expanded content like trivia, web games, merchandise/memorabilia and image galleries (fans dressed as the warriors, action figures, etc.).
10 Best Moments Of The Warriors
The Warriors: Fashion
Fashion and specialist magazines often take inspiration from the gangs and characters of The Warriors.
Last year, Shepard Fairey of GIANT (Andrew the Giant has a posse) launched his super deluxe hardcover magazine Swindle. The first issue featured multiple spreads of models dressed as each gang from The Warriors.
The Warriors: Hip Hop
The Warriors has been referenced in hip-hop lyrics. Signatures lines like come out and plaaaaaayyy and caaaaan youuuu digggg it? have permeated both mainstream and underground rap and hip-hop. A handful of classic hip hop videos have featured moments from The Warriors rallying die hard fans.
Here are a few tracks that mention The Warriors:
WU-TANG CLAN - Shame on a Nigga
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
MOP - Warriorz
(Interscope)
D12 - Fight Music
(Interscope)
FREDDY FOX - Gangstarr
Militia Part 2
FAT JOE - Gangbanging Interlude
Jealous Ones Envy
MC TWIST & DEF SQUAD
Comin' Thru Like Warriors
LLOYD BANKS - S/T
Warriors
ICE-T - B-Side
6 In the Morning 12"
WYCLEF JEAN - Diallo
THE WARRIORS: HIP HOP: MUSIC VIDEOS
2PAC - California Love
(Interscope)
1995
In the original Mad Max version of 2PAC's California Love video, comedian Chris Tucker rallys the troops saying "Caaaan youuuuu dig it?"
CRAIG MACK- Flava In Your Ear (remix video)
(Bad Boy)
1994
In Craig Mack's Flava In Your Ear video, Puff Daddy references The Warriors breathing new life into the line, Baaaad Boy, come out to plaaaaayy...
The Warriors: Hip Hop: Underground Mix Tapes
Major label and independent hip-hop artists come together for an underground hip hop mixtape series based around The Warriors (Damon Dash/Brucie B).
Warriors: Parties
The Warriors is annually revisited as a party theme, especially around Halloween. Last summer at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, fans gathered for a Q&A session with cast members Michael Beck (Swan), Deborah Van Valkenberg (Mercy) and David Harris (Cochise)
Last Halloween, Williamsburg and Brooklyn alike hipsters came together for a one-of-a-kind Warriors Halloween party featuring Afrika Bambaata on the wheels of steel. Partygoers were photographed for the event. Here are a select few partygoers that dressed as gangs from the Warriors:
Warriors: NYC Bike Messenger Race
In August 2002, over 800 bicyclists descended upon New York City in the form of 89 gangs. The goal was to recreate the epic journey of The Warriors from the Bronx to Coney Island.
During the all night race some riders got lost, blood was shed, the police were outwitted in this epic convergence of some of the city's best and most dedicated cyclists.
If you happen to be in New York this month, check out a screening of WARRIORS: THE BIKE RACE directed by Christopher Ryan, Michael Green and Jesse Epstein at the Bicycle Film Festival Saturday, May 14th at 7pm.
For more photos and info, check out:
https://www.jasonnocito.com/warriors/thumbnails.html
https://www.nybma.com/events/warriors/index.htm
https://www.bikecult.com/works/wrenches.html
Warriors: Toys
Just like the cult of Planet of the Apes fans, die-hard enthusiasts collect bootleg toys based on characters from the Warriors. SSUR in NYC (www.ssurempirestate.com) has been an outpost for collectors worldwide that come to New York looking for Warriors goods.
Warriors: Clothes, Accessories, etc.
Throughout the past decade, underground clothing companies and internet-based retailers have produced t-shirts, pins, sweatshirts, jackets and related accessories based on The Warriors. Here is an example of a patch recently available for sale on E-Bay and related websites.
Warriors: Movies (influence)
The atmospheric cinematic style of The Warriors helped establish the techniques of American independent film by making them appealing to a mainstream audience. In the years following, every major studio and director that could still get a film made in Hollywood would capitalize on this youth trend subsequently launching icons of their own (Matt Dillon, Kurt Russell) into action and dramatic films of their own.
The Outsiders
1983
Warner Brothers
Over the Edge
1979
Orion
Class of 1984
1982
Citadel Films - Canada
Rumblefish
MCA/Univeral, 1983
Bronx Warriors
1983
Escape from New York
1981
