With Grand Theft Auto 6 now less than six months away, anticipation for Rockstar Games' next major release has reached a fever pitch. Set to return players to the neon-drenched streets of Vice City, a locale first introduced in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and revisited in Vice City Stories, the game promises an expansive open-world experience. Players will step into the roles of Jason Duval, an Army dropout, and Lucia Caminos, a Liberty City native, embarking on a narrative filled with thievery and conflict in a world reportedly 2.5 times larger than its predecessor.
Rockstar Games has long established a connection with crime cinema, with the Grand Theft Auto series consistently drawing stylistic and atmospheric inspiration from heist films, crime dramas, and thrillers. Titles such as Scarface, Heat, Boyz n the Hood, The Sopranos, Point Break, The Town, and Fast Five have all influenced the franchise. Grand Theft Auto 6 appears to continue this tradition, with its Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque protagonists and a setting evocative of iconic media.
To help bridge the wait for GTA 6's November 19 release, several films and television series offer a glimpse into the inspirations behind Rockstar's upcoming title and capture the essence of the Vice City setting.
Florida's Wild Side
Michael Bay's 2013 crime comedy Pain & Gain mirrors Grand Theft Auto 6's apparent embrace of Florida's unique culture. The film follows a trio of Miami bodybuilders whose get-rich-quick scheme devolves into a criminal conspiracy. Its portrayal of ridiculous characters pursuing fortune through ill-advised actions, coupled with its blend of dark humor and criminal incompetence, feels akin to a live-action Grand Theft Auto parody. The narrative is based on true events and captures a version of Florida that seems to echo Rockstar's vision for the game's Leonida setting.
Iconic Criminal Duos
Arthur Penn's 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde is a foundational work in the "lovers on the run" crime narrative and serves as a clear comparison for GTA 6's central pairing of Lucia and Jason. The film's depiction of two outlaws against the world, its blend of violence, dark comedy, social commentary, and anti-establishment tone, has influenced countless crime stories.
Joseph H. Lewis's 1950 noir classic Gun Crazy predates Bonnie and Clyde as an early example of the "lovers on the run" trope. It stars Peggy Cummins and John Dall as two gun-obsessed individuals whose relationship descends into a life of robberies. The film's focus on the characters' relationship and its groundbreaking action sequences, such as a single-take bank robbery, contribute to its enduring, modern feel.
Undercover Operations and Mysteries
While distinct in genre, the spy comedy series Burn Notice (2007) offers a humorous take on Miami life that may appeal to Grand Theft Auto fans. The show follows a burned CIA spy who takes on odd jobs in Miami, often with the help of eccentric companions. Its client-of-the-week format and its setting in a city known for its colorful characters make it a fitting appetizer for GTA 6.
Steven Soderbergh's 1998 crime comedy Out of Sight, starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, adapts an Elmore Leonard novel. The film features a suave bank robber and a U.S. Marshal who find themselves in a complicated situation. Its blend of crime thriller and comedy, set partly in Miami, aligns well with the tone often found in Grand Theft Auto.
Arthur Penn's 1975 neo-noir Night Moves, starring Gene Hackman, explores a detective mystery that unravels into corruption and deception, with a Florida Keys setting. The film captures a sense of unease and moral decay within a seemingly beautiful locale, an atmosphere that resonates with the potential tone of GTA 6's Leonida.
Criminal History and Aspiration
The documentary series Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami (2021) delves into the rise of a significant cocaine trafficking operation in Miami, offering a real-world context for the criminal enterprises depicted in Grand Theft Auto. Through interviews and archival footage, the series portrays the excess and eccentric characters of South Florida during the height of the cocaine boom, providing insight into why Florida remains a compelling setting for Rockstar. The documentary, alongside its predecessor Cocaine Cowboys (2006), offers a crash course in the criminal history that has shaped Vice City.
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) is a crime drama that follows a stunt driver turned bank robber trying to provide for his new family, and a police officer entangled in departmental corruption. The film's narrative structure and themes of individuals struggling against a seemingly insurmountable world echo elements found in the Grand Theft Auto series, particularly its multi-character perspectives.
Defining the Vice City Aesthetic
Michael Mann's seminal 1984 cop drama Miami Vice significantly shaped the portrayal of undercover police work in South Florida during the drug trade era. Its stylish aesthetic, iconic music, and portrayal of undercover officers are directly referenced in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, with developers incorporating nods such as Sonny Crockett's signature vehicles. While GTA 6 may not be set in the 1980s, its pre-order bonuses, like the Vintage Vice City pack, hint at a continued aesthetic influence.
These films and shows not only provide entertainment while players await Grand Theft Auto 6 but also illuminate the rich cultural and cinematic influences that have shaped Rockstar's approach to creating the vibrant, crime-ridden world of Vice City.