if you didn't know the story, you'd be convinced this is one hell of a post apocalyptic movie.

This is such a great opening sequence. Everything in the tunnels looks outlandish like we’re watching a fantasy movie almost, along with the music, and when McGinn kicks open the door it’s like oh shit, we’re in New York.

"who is that?" "Saint Michael" "who is it!?" "SAINT MICHAEL!" "and what did he do?" "He cast Satan out of paradise!" That Part is legendary!

This opening makes me realize Scorsese could do a kickass Mad Max movie.

As an Irish Catholic this hits different with the drums and flute

The best is when you learn Hellcat Maggie was a real woman who filed her teeth, wore metal claws, and lead an all female division of a gang.

One of the best opening scenes of all time. The stopping of the music while door was kicked is a solid art.

My favorite part of the whole movie is when he asks his son what did Saint Micheal do. He says cast Satan out of Paradise. Where the battle takes place is Paradise Square. He's alluding to Bill as Satan.

I love how he uses a crucifix and a sword and his weapons. That's one cool priest

If I was a professional fighter I would definitely play this song as my entrance music when walking towards the ring... same entourage included.

Daniel Day Lewis vs Liam Neeson. The best of British vs the best of Irish. Mega grudge.

It feels like some kind of post-apocalypse Mad Max universe

Just an endlessly fascinating opening. The setting in the dark tunnels of the first couple minutes, the weapons, attire, religious rituals, and especially the haunting war drums and flute initially conjure up thoughts of an ancient, or medieval, Druidic or other Celtic hideout prior to a fight against a Roman or Anglo-Norman army. But then you see the tenements as the fighters emerge from the tunnels, and the gates open to reveal... 19th-century New York. Truly mind-boggling and stirring.

This is just a testament to how brilliant this movie is. Here you have Priest Vallon, not even in the movie a good 20 minutes and has more character than a lot of cardboard cutouts that pass for characters in movies lately.

Must be the best opening to a film ever

the original gangsters

In my opinion, Liam Neeson has got to be one of the greatest actors of all time. I see him as a great, invincible warrior and a loving father at the same time.

Brendon Gleeson is a hell of an actor, with a tough and respectful presence!

loved how he kicked the door open,

the fife and drum song is by Otha Turner..

interesting to note that the rabbit in dead rabbits comes from a similiar irish word meaning someone not to be fucked with, and was picked up by non irish speakers as the word rabbit. and in our slang as in others, dead is an intensifier, like you're dead kind, or you're dead right.

Love this track. That aggressive marching snare, and the flute with it's uneven, almost primitive sounding notes just sounds like the harbinger of crazy shit going down, absolutely based.

The moment I first saw Monk's weapon, I instantly thought it was one of the coolest weapons I'd ever seen in film. It's 'cause of this movie that I found out that such a unique club is called a shillelagh and it has a history that spans centuries. I kind of wish we'd been able to see more of Monk and his shillelagh in the film, but I'll happily take what I can get.

The ending gave me so many feels the directing was good too!

In Liam Neeson I trust...

Extremely potent music. Beautiful.

Happy 20th anniversary, Gangs of New York, my #2 favorite film! Released 12/20/2002!

I like to imagine that this is Ra's al Ghul, and its showing us how old he really is and the adventures he must of went on throughout his life

I honestly wish that this movie was more about the Dead Rabbits and their feud with Bill the Butcher instead of bland Leo and Cameron having an unnecessary love triangle. Sorry, I usually really like both actors but they were both uninteresting here.

These guys would beat the living shit out of today's punk ass gangs.

They accidentally made the first 10 minutes of this movie the most interesting 10 minutes in all 3 hours.

My dads favorite movie his grandparents came to America from Ireland. He taught me how to fight my battles be brave and tough.

No son never, the blood stays on the blade. Love that line

One of the best scenes in modern film history.

I just noticed something while rewatching this specific scene. This starts underground. Now anyone who knows Irish (or Celtic for that matter) mythology knows that the gods live underground. And also at the beginning, the father and son are talking about Saint Michael. Just something that came to my mind.

I been to New York recently.. not much has changed..

This scene is about transitioning 1500 years of Irish history, from the old world and striving at full speed and with all the courage to go into the new modern world that awaits them. Even if they do not survive, they must enable their next generations to succeed and fulfill their best potential

Who is it!? St Michael! Who! He cast satan outta paradise...... Good boy.

1. The Gangs Of New York. 2. Kingdom of Heaven. In both films Liam played The Warrior Father who went into battle at the start of both films, only to get Mortally Wounded & His Son in each film carry on His Legacy! Very Shakespearean 👌🙅🤔!

@Miguel Amaya It's a mark of honor before going out to battle. Also, the razor is passed down to the boy when he's a man & it carries the memory of his father on it, both literally (the blood) & figuratively. Might've been what Priest Amsterdam's own father did with too.

I believe they cast Neeson as Priest Vallon because while the role of Priest was very small as far as screen time was concerned, they still needed him to loom over the entire film, to be an unforgettable presence, so the audience doesnt forget why Amsterdam is doing what he's doing. Who better to leave an impression on us than one of the great actors of our generation?

When I went to see this with the family, my mom thought we were in the wrong theatre, seeing as how this is the intro to movie called “Gangs of New York.” She probably thought it was like a mobster movie.

when i watched this movie for the first time i hadnt seen a trailer or even heard of it. it was on a long list of pirated movies i got from a friend when torrenting was popular.i was bored one night and decided to watch "gangs of new york" thinking there would be drive by shootings with bloods & crips. Not what I expected but after finishing the movie i immediately rewatched the opening battle. there are very few movies this great out there

Damn good intro...my respects to Scorsese

Back when Liam unleashed the full might of his Irish accent

this song gives me goosebumps such a great film!!

This film half makes me wish I was Irish hahaha

I love the shot of the scene with the priest with the wine and it pans to some of the soldier’s in the light in the background. 2:16

you know its a good movie when the priest is liam neeson and he's readying for a good ol'fashion gang war

I believe that piercing wind instrument was referred to as a tin whistle. Combined with the drum it makes a great anthem for the Dead Rabbits to march to. This is the most memorable scene in an awesome movie. Daniel Day is invredible as Bill the Butcher; an incredible villain based on a real historical figure. As Bill in GNY and Daniel Plainview in _There Will Be Blood_ he is unmatched.

The blood stays on the blade for a family keepsake when young Valon gets older, he can look at the blade and his father's blood will still be on it, he's always there.

This movie better and better every time I watch again ....

I loved this movie

Amazing detail there...love how the last note of the fife/tin whistle is seamlessly blended into the creak of the door as it is kicked open. One my the most hype intros in all of the gangster movie genre.

Martin Scorsese you legend.

When you face the upcoming exam.......

One of my favorite movie's of all time!!

One of the best cult classics of all times! It is a timeless masterpiece brought to life by master actors like DDL, Liam "I will find you" Neeson and one of DiCaprio's break-out performances. Watch in any era and it still feels fresh, captivating and mesmerized by it!

Never really took it this way until now. But Monk kicking the door open pretty much was heard as an echo throughout the five points. Symbolized as “Let’s get it on” that even the Natives heard it. Lol they just looked out their windows and said “LETS GO BOYS” 💪

Damn this is some fine film making

st michel defend us in battle and protect us from evil God bless the christians Archangel michel leader of the angels

And Liam is 100% Irish and was boxer before getting into acting...having him as the priest was perfect casting, just as Daniel Day Lewis was for Bill (even though he wasn't the first choice)

We just started watching this movie in my high-school AP U.S. history class. This scene and the fight scene fallowing captivated me. Thanks for posting it.

'Blood stays on it' A message that penetrates the entire movie. When the blood is wiped, it is forgotten, as if no one even knew that the blood was there. It's about remembering it. Not letting it go into being forgotten. So the blood stays on it, so that it will pass on to generations.

I remember that sequence of questions over a saint's image from my own Irish Catholic relations when I was a child : "Who is that?" "What did he do?" That moment in the scene spoke to me.

So many great actors in one film. And Scorsese directing. Holy crap.

I LOVE THIS MUSIC

Liam Nesson isn't killing anyone in the opening sequence of this movie.

one of the great opening movie sequences of all time. Daniel Day Lewis was beyond a genius in this. How he didn't win an oscar for this is a joke.

The flute and drums are from a documentary called "Land where the blues began" look it up.

The blood stays on the blade. Are we ever going to greet ourselves in peace?

"Some of it I half remember, and the rest? The rest I took from dreams." I believe this line is kind of an acknowledgment or homage to Asbury's book. It sets the tone for those who know the actual history well. Luc Sante's book 'Low Life' is 'Asbury's 'Gangs' without the myths and sensation. A must for anyone interested in the Five Points and the things in history some would rather not acknowledge.

What an opening scene. Fabulous.

That's some heavy gang war! Really great movie! I really love John Reilly! Amazing actor!

Yo this movie is so gangster, Especially bill the butcher took every thing like a g haha

My favorite scene from the movie. Thanks for posting.

BTW, the drum and Fife music is played by a African American group out of Mississippi, Otha Turner, per Marty Scorcesse.

I discovered this film when I was 14 and loved it so much I watched it every weekend until I was 17. Now, at 29, whenever I do decide to put it on it's so great. There's never been a more unconventional but amazing opening.

Excellent, the difference between the cabin and outside... Love it

3:22 - 3:37 one of the best shots in film history

the shots with Happy Jack in this scene and in the fight scene make me sad after watching this movie. he really seemed like a loyal right hand man. was sad seeing him working for Billy the butcher and ending the way he did.

such an epic ending to this clip. love this movie. one of DiCaprio's finest acting jobs.

Song - Shimmy She Wobble

That intro music is so fuckin hard!!!

1:52 IT'S TIME TO SHAKE AND BAKE BABY.

2:05 a brief cameo by Marlon Brando from ❤️ of Darkness / Apocalypse Now!

Priest Vallon fought like a true, dedicated, fanatically die hard Irish Warrior of old, of that late Medieval-Renaissance Era (late 1200s till mid 1600s), back when the Scottish Highland trained Irish Gallowglass mercenaries were a force to be reckoned with, perhaps the most fearsome fighting men in all of Europe & generally regarded as the Western European Samurai, such was their amazing skill with blade weapons, savage ferocity & sheer toughness in combat (unparalleled shock troops, save that of the Scots Highlanders & Swiss pikemen). And as brave, powerful, fierce, zealous & admirable as Priest Vallon was not even he could emulate such primevally motivated battlefield fierceness along with this primal disregard for death that was invariably displayed in do or die, face to face battlefield scenarios by that older Gaelic Warrior breed (the Irish Gallowglass & Scottish Highlanders!). Yet with that said the Priest fought like a real badass warrior, & died a true champion, thus leaving a renowned & venerated legacy in his wake (one of mythological dimensions). What a great scene, powerfully riveting & viscerally inspired, driven ominously yet gloriously by that basic steady beat in seamless conjunction with that deceptively blood rousing flute. Definitely taps into these ancient primal chords (of the type that the besieged & outnumbered can most especially relate to).

Out of the entire og crew, The Cat is the only one that marches with the son at the end. She's loyal to the end.

-Well, well, Monk. Are you with us or not? -For the last time, Vallon, I'm with you if the money is right. -I'll give you ten per notch. -Ten? -You'll have my word. -Ten per notch? -Per _new_ notch. -Then I'm your man.

Terminal boots recreated this soo perfectly HAHAHA

That music is haunting

Drummer just jammin out while the fife player tries to figure out how to play.

This movie was great but the ending felt very anti-climactic. I mean, both sides get ready to fight once again but then the navy f**ks everything up and spoils it.

Love this movie to bits. Make me proud to have Irish in me. Erin go bragh

I would ride to battle with this song in the back ground

This song is playing in my head 24/7

I used to be scared as a little kid whenever my families watch this movie..

Is that Dr. Steve Brule?

“Who is it?” “Saint Michael” “And what did he do?” “He cast satan out of Paradise!” “Good boy”

I absolutely love this movie. This as an opening scene, unreal!!