Claim: Daniel-Day Lewis was in movies.

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 nonfiction 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 .   The film is set in 1862 and follows fictional gang leader Bill `` The Butcher '' Cutting -LRB- Daniel Day-Lewis -RRB- in his roles as crime boss and political kingmaker under the helm of `` Boss '' Tweed -LRB- Jim Broadbent -RRB- . The film culminates in a violent confrontation between Cutting and his mob with the protagonist Amsterdam Vallon -LRB- Leonardo DiCaprio -RRB- 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 .