Introduction to New York City

Gangs of New York is an American historical film released in 2002. The film shows the history of gang struggles in New York's Fifth District in the mid-19th century. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and was inspired by the 1928 Herbert Asbury novel of the same name. Distributed by Miramax Pictures, it has been nominated for multiple awards including an Academy Award. The movie opens in 1846 and quickly jumps to the 1860s. Irish immigration and the American Civil War are the background of the film.