On the 4th of July, a sweltering summer's night, 100,000 New York gang members gather in the Bronx as Cyrus, leader of the city's most powerful gang, proposes that they form an invincible army. When Cyrus is killed, the Coney Island Dominators (aka The Family), are framed for his murder.

Alone in enemy territory, over the course of the night, they are hunted by the police and every gang in the city. As they fight their way home, the Family discover the city's violence and mysteries, but amid the danger they stick together because the Family are the only family they know.

The Warriors is the basis of the cult movie and video game. It was among the first, most authentic, portrayal of the urban gang culture of 1960's New York.