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

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/its-so-glossy-and-sexy-10-movies-and-one-tv-show-that-inspired-grand-theft-auto/
- Published: 2026-11-05T10:00:01+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T10:33:17+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/nov/05/its-so-glossy-and-sexy-10-movies-and-one-tv-show-that-inspired-grand-theft-auto
- Topics: Culture, Entertainment, Film, Gaming, Technology, TV

## Key points

- GTA’s worlds draw on decades of crime and action films.
- *Miami Vice* helped shape the look of *Vice City*.
- *Goodfellas* influenced its themes and casting.

## Summary

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.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.