The Warriors (1979)
88%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Warriors is a cinematic masterpiece that transcends the action genre and instead delivers a visually stunning ballet of male violence. While some may criticize the occasional failures of conception and dialogue, Hill’s visual elaboration of the material is nothing short of brilliant. The night-blooming, psychedelic shine of the film is both surrealistic pop art and sentimentalized pandering to the attitude of “us against them,” making it a rousing piece of pulp entertainment. The dark sense of humor and adventure, combined with the catchy 1970s score and soundtrack, will forever lie at the center of its appeal. It’s no wonder that The Warriors has become an influential survivalist thriller and a renowned cult classic, and it’s definitely in my TOP 5 of “all-time greatest movies.
The Warriors is like a dance-off, but instead of dancing, it’s a bunch of dudes fighting each other. It’s not really an action movie, but more of a visual spectacle. Some people love it, some people hate it, but either way, it’s definitely a cult classic. Plus, the soundtrack is pretty catchy. If you’re into survivalist thrillers and schlocky exploitation movies, then this is the film for you. Just don’t expect too much dialogue or deep meaning. It’s all about the stylized male violence, baby!
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
96th Street IRT Subway Station, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence and language
Year of Release
1979
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 9, 1979 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2005
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Michael Beck, James Remar, Dorsey Wright, Brian Tyler, David Harris, Tom McKitterick, directed by Walter Hill, written by Walter Hill, David Shaber, Sol Yurick, action, R rating, Lawrence Gordon produced, Paramount Pictures distributed, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Roger Ebert, Dave Kehr, Pauline Kael, Ernest Leogrande, Andrew Sarris, David Parkinson, Michael Ventura, Alistair Lawrence, Matt Brunson, Marina Hirsch, Mike Massie, directed by Walter Hill
Worldwide gross: $22,490,471
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $97,804,607
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,032
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,665,715
US/Canada gross: $22,490,039
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $97,802,728
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 766
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,529,675
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,349,544
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 775
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $4,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,394,853
Production budget ranking: 1,436
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,367,128
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $71,042,626
ROI to date (est.): 265%
ROI ranking: 511
James Remar – Ajax
Dorsey Wright – Cleon
Brian Tyler – Snow
David Harris – Cochise
Tom McKitterick – Cowboy
Self – Walter Hill (Director)
Lawrence Gordon – Producer
Walter Hill – Writer
David Shaber – Writer
Sol Yurick – Writer
Director(s)
Walter Hill
Writer(s)
Walter Hill, David Shaber, Sol Yurick
Producer(s)
Lawrence Gordon
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (6)
No matter what impression the ads give, this isn’t even remotely intended as an action film. It’s a set piece. It’s a ballet of stylized male violence.
March 7, 2021 | Rating: 2/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The Warriors admits to failures of conception (occasional) and dialogue (frequent), but there is much of value in Hill’s visual elaboration of the material.
March 7, 2021
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
There’s a night-blooming, psychedelic shine to the whole baroque movie.
January 3, 2018
Pauline Kael
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
It’s both surrealistic pop art and sentimentalized pandering to the attitude of “us against them,” the have-nots against the haves.
February 9, 2016 | Rating: 2/4
Ernest Leogrande
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
If the movie is not as dangerous as its detractors claim, neither is it as glorious and memorable as some of its less discriminating admirers would have it.
September 8, 2015
Andrew Sarris
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Mixing ironic humour, good music, and beautifully photographed suspense, it’s one of the best of 1979.
January 26, 2006
David Parkinson
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s the most exciting film in America right now — so exciting that Paramount may be forced to call it back and lock it up, like the juvenile delinquent it is.
November 5, 2021
Michael Ventura
L.A. Weekly
Often remembered for its catchy 1970s score and soundtrack, the movie’s dark sense of humor and adventure will forever lie at the center of its appeal.
September 20, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Alistair Lawrence
Common Sense Media
A rousing piece of pulp entertainment.
August 31, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
The Warriors is no more than a schlocky exploitation movie.
January 11, 2021
Marina Hirsch
Berkeley Barb
An influential survivalist thriller that would become a renowned cult classic.
August 31, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
If you’ve never seen this film, I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s definitely in my TOP 5 of “all-time greatest movies.”
August 14, 2018 | Rating: 10/10
Dante James
Film Threat…
Plot
Cyrus, the leader of the most powerful gang in New York City, the Gramercy Riffs, calls a midnight summit for all the area gangs, with all asked to send nine unarmed representatives for the conclave. A gang called The Warriors are blamed for killing Cyrus as he gives his speech. They now have to cross the territory of rivals in order to get to their own ‘hood. The Warriors slowly cross the dangerous Bronx and Manhattan territories, narrowly escaping police and other gangs every step of the way.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for The Warriors.
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