‘It’s so glossy and sexy!’: 10 movies (and one TV show) that inspired Grand Theft Auto

The Grand Theft Auto series has drawn heavily on films and television, borrowing their characters, visual styles, music and stories to shape its open worlds. As GTA 6 approaches, the article traces these influences across the games, showing how crime and action screen traditions helped define the series.

The examples range from *Speed* and *The Warriors* to *Scarface*, *Miami Vice*, *Goodfellas* and *Boyz n the Hood*. Rockstar developers cited *The Warriors* as a guide to gangs and run-down city settings, while *Miami Vice* informed *Vice City*’s lighting, colour and weapons research. The article also links *Goodfellas* to the series’ focus on brotherhood and betrayal, and notes that Ray Liotta voiced *Vice City* protagonist Tommy Vercetti.