The Warriors (1979)
-
94% of critics liked it
(32 reviews) -
86% of users liked it
(71,852 ratings)
Walter Hill's hip, super-stylized action film unfurls in a dystopian near-future, when various gangs control New York City. Each gang sports a unique moniker ('The Warriors,' 'The Baseball Furies,' 'The Rogues'), with a costume underscoring its "theme"; each, in… More Walter Hill's hip, super-stylized action film unfurls in a dystopian near-future, when various gangs control New York City. Each gang sports a unique moniker ('The Warriors,' 'The Baseball Furies,' 'The Rogues'), with a costume underscoring its "theme"; each, in turn, is also responsible for one geographic area. Hill sets up the landscape as a massive, violent playground - replete with bridges, vacant subway tunnels, parks, abandoned buildings and the like, all ripe for exploration and adventure. As the tale opens, the titular Coney Island has traveled to the Bronx to attend a city-wide meeting of all gangs; at that event, however, the psychotic leader of a rival gang, The Rogues (David Patrick Kelly of Dreamscape) assassinates the head of the city's foremost gang, but The Warriors are pegged as culpable. This sends the gang fleeing through the labyrinthine city. With every thug in Manhattan in vicious, homicidal pursuit, they must also overcome all obstacles in their way. Throughout, Hill keeps the onscreen violence absurd, exaggerated and unrealistic, downplaying death to an extreme degree; despite this fact, the film sparked a massive amount of controversy and an ugly backlash for allegedly inciting violence and destruction in several theaters where it initially played. James Remar, Michael Beck and Deborah Van Valkenburgh lead the ensemble cast. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Directed By
- Walter Hill
- Written By
- David Shaber, Walter Hill, Sol Yurick
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Cult Movies
- In Theaters
- Feb 9, 1979 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
Critic Reviews
-
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Walter Hill's vibrant 1979 adaptation of Sol Yurick's 1965 novel - based loosely on an ancient Greek story called "Anabasis" - is a classic cinematic record of New York City circa 1979.
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Cartoonishly violent, insanely moody and pointless.
-
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
A cult film that deserves its reputation.
-
Clint Morris, Brag Magazine
The Warriors Rule! One of the best action-thrillers of the 70s!
-
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Yeah, it's really good.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Michael Beck
as Swan
-
James Remar
as Ajax
-
David Patrick Kelly
as Luther
-
Thomas G. Waites
as Fox
-
Dorsey Wright
as Cleon
-
Deborah Van Valkenburgh
as Mercy
-
Mercedes Ruehl
as Policewoman
-
Brian Tyler
as Snow
-
David Harris
as Cochise
-
Tom McKitterick
as Cowboy
-
Marcelino Sánchez
as Rembrandt
-
Terry Michos
as Vermin
-
Roger Hill
as Cyrus
-
Johnny Barnes
as Turnbull A.C.'s
-
Steve Chambers
as Baseball Fury
-
Doran Clark
as Lizzies
-
Laura Delano
as Lizzie
- Hubert J. Edwards
- André Engel
-
Marvin Foster
as Turnbull A.C.'s
-
Michael Garfield
as Rogue
-
Gregory Cleghorne
as Gramercy Riffs
-
Paul Greco
as Orphan
-
Eddie Earl Hatch
as Punk
-
Irwin Keyes
as Police
-
Sonny Landham
as Police
-
Lisa Maurer
as Lizzie
-
George Lee Miles
as Gramercy Riff
- Jaime Perry
-
Rob Ryder
as Baseball Fury
-
Jeff Scott
as Prom Date
-
Larry Silvestri
as Police
-
J.W. Smith
as Turnbull A.C.'s
-
John Snyder
as Gas Station Man
-
Lynne Thigpen
as D.J.
-
Joel Weiss
as Rogue
- Billy Anagnos
- Craig R. Baxley
- Gary Baxley
-
Leon Delaney
as Punk
-
Frank Ferrara
as Police
-
Harry Madsen
as Baseball Fury
-
Vic Magnotta
as Police
-
Brian Taylor
as Snow
- Carrotte
- Tommy Huff
-
Mike James
as Gramercy Riff
- Don Ritchie
- Donna Ritchie
-
Jerry Hewitt
as Baseball Fury
- Konrad Sheehan
-
Victoria Vanderkloot
as Lizzy
-
Steve James
as Baseball Fury
- William Williams
-
Harold Miller
as Rogue
-
John Gibson
as Baseball Fury
-
Jeffrey Michael
as Turnbull ACs




