Questions
Who directed The Warriors and when did it come out?
Walter Hill directed the film, which he co-wrote with David Shaber, and it was released on February 9, 1979.
Is The Warriors based on a book?
Yes. It is based on Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel The Warriors, which was itself inspired by Xenophon’s ancient Greek work Anabasis.
What is the movie actually about?
A Coney Island street gang is framed for murdering a respected gang leader and has to fight its way home across New York City after being blamed.
Where did the famous "Warriors, come out to play" line come from?
Actor David Patrick Kelly reportedly improvised the taunt under the boardwalk, clinking together discarded beer bottles as he delivered "Warriors, come out to play-ee-eh."
How much did the movie cost and how much did it make?
It was made on a roughly $4 million budget and went on to earn about $22.5 million at the box office.
Who is Cyrus and what does he propose?
Cyrus, leader of the Gramercy Riffs, calls a huge gang summit and proposes a citywide truce and alliance, pointing out that the gangs outnumber the police three to one.
How big was the gang meeting in the film?
The gathering brought together 100 gangs, with each sending nine unarmed delegates to Van Cortlandt Park.
Who are the main Warriors?
They include Cleon (Dorsey Wright), Swan (Michael Beck), Ajax (James Remar), Fox (Thomas G. Waites), Rembrandt (Marcelino Sánchez), Cochise (David Harris), Cowboy (Tom McKitterick), and Vermin (Terry Michos).
How did Michael Beck get cast as Swan?
Walter Hill reportedly cast Beck after seeing him in an Israeli film called Madman.
Was there drama on set with any of the cast?
Reportedly Thomas G. Waites, who played Fox, clashed with Hill over working conditions, and after his death scene was shot mid-production he asked to have his name removed from the credits, though he and Hill later reconciled.
Who are the Lizzies?
The Lizzies are an all-female gang that seduces members of the Warriors in order to lure them into an ambush.
Who plays the DJ whose voice guides the story?
Lynne Thigpen provides the voice of the radio DJ who tracks the Warriors’ journey across the city.
Is it true the movie was linked to real violence in theaters?
Yes. Its initial release was tied to sporadic vandalism and three killings, leading Paramount to pull all radio and TV ads and offer to cover security costs at theaters.
How does the movie end?
The Warriors finally make it back to Coney Island, and the film closes with Swan, Mercy (Deborah Van Valkenburgh), and the others walking down the beach as the sun rises.
Was there ever a Warriors video game?
Yes. Rockstar Games released a beat-em-up based on the film in 2005 that expanded the gang’s backstory.
What is the Ultimate Director’s Cut?
The 2005 Ultimate Director’s Cut added comic book style transitions that Walter Hill had originally envisioned for the movie.
