1863. The Five Points district of New York is the most violent place in the world. Tension between American 'natives' (people born in America) and the immigrants pouring in from the rest of the world is reaching boiling point. A tension that will erupt into the draft riots, an often overlooked point in American history, in a matter of days.

The Five Points is ruled by Bill the Butcher (Day-Lewis), a proud American Native who rose to power when he slew priest Vallon (Neeson), leader of the Irish immigrant gangs, more than a decade earlier. After being raised in a Catholic boys' home following his father's defeat, Amsterdam Vallon has returned to the Five Points for revenge.

Gangs of New York is an epic tale of revenge such as only Martin Scorsese can tell. There are no 'goodies' or 'baddies'; every character is as human as the next. The brutal battles in the Five Points blend into an emotional and confronting story. It took Martin Scorsese nearly 25 years to get this story from concept to celluloid and it is worth every minute.