The Warriors is a 1979 crime film based on a book by Sol Yurick inspired by a Greek novel called Anabasis. The film wasn’t very popular with the public or critics when it was first released, but it has become a classic over time. It has led to the creation of comic book series, remakes, video games, and more.

There are actual gang members in the film.

At the start of the film, different New York gangs gather in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The leader of the most potent gang there, Cyrus, speaks about putting their differences aside and uniting. 

But he is shot and killed during the process. To make this possible, the filmmakers asked real gangs to act as extras, making the scene feel real.

Walter Hill had some personal ideas for the movie that were rejected.

At first, Walter Hill wanted the Warriors gang to be made up of African Americans. But the producers refused his suggestion, saying that it would make the African American community look bad.

The film has a lot of the same features as a Western.

While the idea of gangs or “posses” fighting each other is a classic Western theme, it’s essentially the most essential part of The Warriors. But instead of taking place outside a saloon, it’s set on the streets of New York.

It’s not as violent as many modern films.

Compared to today’s films, even those meant for children, The Warriors isn’t that violent. The film is rated R, but this is probably more due to bad language and adult content than the violence.

Apart from the killing of Cyrus at the start of the film, most of the other violence shown is non-lethal hand-to-hand combat between the gangs. 

Vermin Was Supposed To Die But Managed To Act His Way Out Of It.

At first, Terry Michos’s character, Vermin, was supposed to be killed by the all-female gang the Lizzies. However, Terry Michos wanted to make his character more memorable and, therefore, get more screen time.

Fox was initially supposed to be with Mercy, not Swan.

In the original script, Fox was supposed to be in love with Mercy, but the two actors didn’t have much chemistry, so Swan was given the role of Mercy’s lover. This worked out well because Thomas G. Waites, who played Fox, was fired just eight weeks into filming for getting into a fight with Walter Hill.

They removed his character from the film by having a police officer throw him into an oncoming train during a fight. His name is not listed in the credits because he asked for it to be removed.

Two different actors played Fox.

After Thomas G. Waites was fired for his disruptive behavior on set and unwillingness to cooperate, the filmmakers had to find a new Fox. 

They found a body double who covered his face as much as possible. 

Sol Yurick’s Book Is Based On An Ancient Greek Story

The film was based on Sol Yurick’s novel, but Yurick’s work was inspired by the Ancient Greek story Anabasis by Xenophon of Athens. Anabasis is a seven-volume book from 370 BC, and the title means The March of the Ten Thousand or The March of the Country.

The Baseball Furies are a real gang.

The Baseball Furies were scary enough with their painted faces, baseball uniforms, and bats, and they’re also based on a real gang. The name referenced an uptown gang from the 1970s known as Second Base.

Instead of painted faces and baseball uniforms, they wore Letterman jackets with “Second Base” on the back. The movie even gives a nod to the real gang when the New York Boppers are told that the Warriors are “on Second Base.”