I can't imagine anyone having heard of this movie without having heard of the backstory -- heck, the movie itself bragged about this inspiration in the opening scene IIRC.

I got into the movie as a teen when, pretty much out of nowhere, they decided to release a PS2 game on the IP, and I fell in love with the hammy B action and ridiculous outfits that looked like they belonged at a dragshow moreso than a gang war.