Gangs of New York (2002)

Gangs of New York (2002), directed by Martin Scorsese, is a powerful historical drama that delves into the gritty, violent underworld of New York City during the mid-19th century. The film is set against the backdrop of the violent clashes between rival gangs and the political corruption of the time, with the looming American Civil War and rising immigrant tensions providing a rich historical context.
The film opens in 1846 with a bloody gang battle in the Five Points district of Lower Manhattan. Priest Vallon (played by Liam Neeson), the leader of the Irish immigrant gang known as the Dead Rabbits, is killed by Bill “The Butcher” Cutting (played by Daniel Day-Lewis), the ruthless leader of the nativist gang, the Native Americans. Young Amsterdam Vallon (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), Priest’s son, witnesses his father’s death and is sent away to an orphanage.
Sixteen years later, Amsterdam returns to the Five Points with a desire for revenge against Bill. He infiltrates Bill’s gang and works his way up, all while plotting to avenge his father. Along the way, he falls for Jenny Everdeane (played by Cameron Diaz), a skilled pickpocket and former lover of Bill. As Amsterdam gains Bill’s trust, he struggles with his own internal conflict, torn between seeking revenge and becoming part of Bill’s world.
The film culminates in an epic showdown between the gangs during the Draft Riots of 1863, a chaotic period when anti-immigrant sentiment and anger over the Civil War draft exploded into violence in the streets of New York.