<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $100 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $193.8 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Gangs of New York is a 2002 American epic period drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, set in the mid-19th century in the Five Points district of New York City . The screenplay is by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, and Kenneth Lonergan . It was inspired by Herbert Asbury's 1927 non-fiction book, The Gangs of New York . It was made in Cinecittà, Rome, distributed by Miramax Films and nominated for numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture, among nine other Oscar nominations . </P> <P> The film is set in 1863 and follows fictional gang leader William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day - Lewis) in his roles as crime boss and political kingmaker under the helm of "Boss" Tweed (Jim Broadbent). The film culminates in a violent confrontation between Cutting and his mob with the protagonist Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his allies, which prefaces the real - life New York Draft Riots of 1863 . It was released on December 20, 2002 and grossed $193 million worldwide . </P>

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