Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction 2004

Crime

Drama

Animation

Runtime

21 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Leslie Benzies

Made by

Rockstar Games

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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction (2004). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In 1992, after five years in Liberty City, gangster Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson Young Maylay returns to Los Santos after his mother’s death in a drive-by shooting. He is intercepted by corrupt C.R.A.S.H. officers led by Tenpenny Samuel L. Jackson, who threaten to implicate CJ in the killing of a fellow police officer unless he cooperates. CJ returns to Grove Street and reunites with his brother Sean ‘Sweet’ Johnson Faizon Love, sister Kendl Johnson Yolanda Whitaker, and members of his old gang, Big Smoke Clifton Powell and Ryder MC Eiht. Discovering the Grove Street Families (GSF) have lost much of their territory, CJ restores the gang to power by helping reunite the various GSF sets who had splintered and allying himself with Cesar Vialpando—Kendl’s boyfriend and leader of the Varrios Los Aztecas gang. CJ and Cesar witness Tenpenny and the rival Ballas betray the GSF and are responsible for killing CJ’s mother. Suspecting a set-up, CJ rushes to Sweet’s aid in a showdown against the Ballas.

Sweet gets wounded in the ambush and imprisoned, while Tenpenny exiles CJ to the countryside, where he forces him to eliminate witnesses to C.R.A.S.H.’s corruption in exchange for Sweet’s safety in prison. CJ befriends an ageing hippie and marijuana farmer named “the Truth” (Peter Fonda) and Triad leader Wu Zi Mu (James Yaegashi). He participates in a street race and wins a garage in San Fierro, which he sets up to earn money, and crosses paths with the Loco Syndicate, Big Smoke and Ryder’s drug connection. Infiltrating the organisation, he identifies its leader: the affable but mysterious Mike Toreno James Woods. Alongside Cesar and the Triad, CJ destroys the Loco Syndicate’s drug factory, killing Ryder and the other leaders except Toreno, who reveals himself an undercover agent. He enlists CJ’s help in several shady operations in exchange for Sweet’s release from prison. Meanwhile in Las Venturas, CJ and Wu Zi Mu establish a casino and clash with the Mafia.

After his release, Sweet and CJ revive the GSF, drive off the rival gangs from their territory, and rebuild throughout Los Santos. Tenpenny is arrested and tried for several felonies, but the charges are dropped due to lack of witnesses, prompting a city-wide riot. CJ soon discovers Big Smoke’s hideout. The two engage in a gunfight; CJ wins, and before dying, Smoke confesses that he got caught up in money and power. Tenpenny arrives, holds CJ at gunpoint, steals Smoke’s drug money, and escapes after causing an explosion in the building. He drives off in a fire truck, followed by CJ and Sweet, but eventually loses control and crashes over the side of a bridge overlooking Grove Street. CJ and his friends watch as Tenpenny dies of his injuries, ending the riot. In the aftermath, CJ’s family and friends celebrate their success at the Johnson house. In the midst of the celebrations, CJ leaves to check on the neighbourhood.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction (2004) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

CJ returns to Los Santos after mother's death

In 1992, CJ Johnson returns to Los Santos after five years in Liberty City following his mother's drive-by death. He is intercepted by corrupt C.R.A.S.H. officers led by Frank Tenpenny, who threaten to implicate him in the killing of a fellow officer unless he cooperates. CJ faces a choice between bowing to corruption or resisting and risking deadly consequences.

1992 Los Santos

Reunion with Grove Street

CJ returns to Grove Street and reconnects with his brother Sweet, sister Kendl, and fellow gang members Big Smoke and Ryder. He discovers the Grove Street Families have lost much of their territory and must rebuild their influence. The reunion rekindles the gang's resolve to reclaim their turf.

1992 Grove Street, Los Santos

Betrayal revealed

CJ and Cesar witness Smoke and Ryder meeting with Tenpenny and the Ballas, revealing their betrayal of the GSF and the killing of CJ's mother. Shocked, CJ suspects a setup and rushes to Sweet's aid to confront the rival gang in a decisive showdown. The betrayal marks a turning point that forces CJ to confront both enemies and friends.

1992 Grove Street, Los Santos

Sweet wounded and CJ exiled

After an ambush leaves Sweet wounded and imprisoned, Tenpenny exiles CJ to the countryside. He is forced to eliminate witnesses to C.R.A.S.H.'s corruption in exchange for Sweet's safety in prison. The exile redirects CJ onto a path far from Los Santos and the GSF.

1992-1993 Los Santos countryside

Allies and a new hustle in San Fierro

CJ befriends The Truth and Wu Zi Mu, expanding his network beyond his old neighborhood. He participates in a street race and wins a garage in San Fierro, which he uses to build a money-making operation. This move also brings him into contact with the Loco Syndicate.

During exile San Fierro

Infiltrating the Loco Syndicate

With Cesar and the Triad, CJ infiltrates the Loco Syndicate and identifies its leader, the affable yet enigmatic Mike Toreno. They destroy the drug factory and kill Ryder and the other leaders, while Toreno reveals himself as an undercover agent. Toreno then recruits CJ for covert operations in exchange for Sweet's release.

During operations Loco Syndicate drug factory

Toreno’s deal broadens CJ’s world

Toreno's shadowy deals pull CJ into a series of missions across the region, with Sweet's release hanging in the balance. CJ accepts the risks, strengthening his resolve to oppose both rivals and corrupt officials. The arrangement expands CJ's operations beyond Los Santos.

After Loco Syndicate incident Various locations

Las Venturas casino arc

In Las Venturas, CJ and Wu Zi Mu establish a casino and clash with the Mafia, expanding their influence and wealth. The casino arc brings new dangers and alliances as CJ diversifies his criminal empire. This chapter adds a different city and a higher-stakes game to his roadmap.

After Sweet's release Las Venturas

Reviving the Grove Street Families

After his release, Sweet and CJ revive the Grove Street Families, driving rival gangs from their territory and rebuilding across Los Santos. They consolidate control over more neighborhoods and restore the GSF's strength. The city begins to feel safer as the gang's influence returns.

After release Los Santos

Tenpenny arrest, riot, and Smoke's hideout

Tenpenny is arrested and tried for felonies, but the charges are dropped due to a lack of witnesses, triggering a city-wide riot. CJ locates Big Smoke's hideout and prepares for the inevitable confrontation. The tension between corrupt authority and street power reaches a boiling point.

Riot period Los Santos

Final confrontation with Big Smoke and Tenpenny escape

CJ and Smoke engage in a gunfight; Smoke confesses that money and power corrupted him, and he dies. Tenpenny arrives, holds CJ at gunpoint, steals Smoke's drug money, and escapes in a fire truck. CJ and Sweet pursue, setting up the dramatic chase that closes the arc.

During riot Smoke’s hideout, near Grove Street

Tenpenny's demise and riot ends

Tenpenny crashes off a bridge while pursued by CJ and Sweet and dies from his injuries, ending the riot. In the aftermath, CJ's family and friends celebrate at the Johnson house as the neighborhood begins to recover. The victory feels fragile, but it marks a turning point for Grove Street.

After riot ends Grove Street / Johnson house, Los Santos

Epilogue: CJ checks on the neighborhood

CJ leaves the Johnson house to check on the neighborhood, a quiet reminder that his vigilance over Los Santos is ongoing. The closing moments hint at ongoing threats and the need for unity in Grove Street. The community's resilience becomes the lasting legacy of his leadership.

Epilogue Los Santos

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction Characters

Explore all characters from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction (2004). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Carl 'CJ' Johnson (Young Maylay)

CJ returns to Los Santos after his mother's death and is drawn back into street life to restore Grove Street. He is fiercely loyal to his family and friends, and willing to make tough choices to reclaim their neighborhood. His arc navigates manipulation by authorities, shifting gang loyalties, and the moral costs of leadership.

🎯 Protagonist 🏘️ Family loyalty

Sean 'Sweet' Johnson

Sweet is CJ's brother and a leader within Grove Street who seeks to keep the family together. He is wounded during the Ballas ambush and later imprisoned, becoming a catalyst for CJ's actions and the gang's redemption arc.

🛡️ Family leader 🧭 Reluctant strategist

Kendl Johnson

Kendl is CJ's sister who provides stability and helps maintain family ties. She supports rebuilding the Grove Street network and acts as a bridge between different factions and the community.

🤝 Family liaison 🧭 Community connector

Big Smoke

Big Smoke is a Grove Street leader who betrays the gang by colluding with Tenpenny and the Ballas. His ambition and ambition-driven choices contribute to the gang's downfall, until his confrontation with CJ.

💎 Power-seeking 🐍 Double-dealer

Ryder

Ryder is a Grove Street member who becomes entangled with drug networks and the corrupt operations around Tenpenny. His actions reveal the corrosive lure of money and power within the gang world.

🔥 Gang member 🧪 Drug trade

Tenpenny

Officer Frank Tenpenny is a corrupt authority figure who coerces CJ into working for him and manipulates law enforcement to serve his own interests. His schemes trigger riots and a deadly pursuit of power.

💼 Corrupt official 🕵️ Mastermind

Mike Toreno

Toreno is an undercover agent whose true loyalties are murky. He enlists CJ for various covert operations, using the guise of control and information to influence events.

🕵️ Undercover agent 🧭 Moral ambiguity

Cesar Vialpando

Cesar is the leader of Varrios Los Aztecas and a key ally to CJ and Kendl, forming strategic alliances that help reclaim territory for the Grove Street Families.

🤝 Ally 🗺️ Street liaison

The Truth

The Truth is a laid-back marijuana farmer who provides CJ with guidance and shelter in the countryside, offering a counterpoint to the crime-focused city life.

🌿 Mentor figure 🚜 Countryside ally

Wu Zi Mu

Wu Zi Mu is the Triad leader who teams up with CJ and Cesar, helping to dismantle rival drug networks and expand their influence in San Fierro.

🧭 Alliance builder 🗺️ Cross-cultural ally

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction Settings

Learn where and when Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction (2004) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1992

The events unfold in 1992, a period marked by street gang conflicts, political corruption, and shifting alliances. The timeframe anchors CJ's return, the C.R.A.S.H. pressure, and the rise and fall of rival factions. The early 1990s West Coast crime backdrop drives the plot and character decisions.

Location

Los Santos, Liberty City, San Fierro, Las Venturas

The story centers on Los Santos, the Grove Street neighborhood and home turf of CJ. The narrative expands beyond to the countryside after CJ's exile, and later moves through San Fierro and Las Venturas, illustrating a broad, multi-city crime world. The settings contrast gritty neighborhood life with larger crime networks and opportunities, like a casino in Las Venturas.

🏙️ Urban landscape 🚦 Turf wars 🗺️ Multi-city settings

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction Themes

Discover the main themes in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction (2004). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🤝

Loyalty and Betrayal

The narrative centers on loyalty to family and the Grove Street Families, tested by betrayals from trusted allies. Tenpenny, Smoke, and Ryder complicate CJ's path with manipulation and covert deals. CJ must navigate shifting loyalties, choosing between personal safety and standing with his crew. The theme shows how trust and betrayal shape the course of a community under pressure.

💰

Power and Money

Wealth and influence drive much of the conflict, from drug money to gambling ventures in Las Venturas. CJ infiltrates networks to reclaim territory while others chase fortune through illicit means. Tenpenny's corruption is sustained by money and leverage, culminating in theft of drug money and social unrest. The pursuit of wealth exposes the moral costs of crime and ambition.

⚖️

Corruption of Authority

Law enforcement is depicted as a corrupting force, embodied by Tenpenny and the C.R.A.S.H. officers who coerce CJ. Toreno's undercover status reveals the gray area of justice and loyalty within official power. Indictments collapse due to a lack of witnesses, fueling a city riot that tests the public's faith in institutions. The theme questions the legitimacy of power when used for manipulation.

🌆

Community Revival

CJ leads the revival of the Grove Street Families and the reclamation of their turf, signaling a renewal of the community. Alliances are rebuilt and neighborhoods regain a sense of pride amid restored order. The ending highlights resilience and communal celebration at the Johnson home, emphasizing hope after turmoil.

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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction Spoiler-Free Summary

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In the sun‑bleached sprawl of Los Santos, 1992 feels both alive and on edge. The city hums with a restless mix of street culture, low‑rider chrome, and the lingering echo of radio‑filled block parties, while an undercurrent of unease crackles through every neighborhood. A sudden drive‑by shooting on Grove Street Families’ turf ignites a chain reaction, turning ordinary rivalries into high‑stakes confrontations and setting the stage for a volatile power struggle that will define the opening days of this turbulent saga.

Returning home after years away, _Carl “CJ” Johnson_ is thrust back into a world that has shifted in his absence. He steps through the familiar cracked door of his childhood home to find his mother’s loss still fresh, his brother _Sean “Sweet” Johnson_ still commanding respect, and his sister _Kendl Johnson_ caught between loyalty and longing. The once‑dominant Grove Street Families now show signs of fragmentation, and familiar faces—Big Smoke and Ryder—hover on the periphery, hinting at both nostalgia and the challenges of rebuilding what was once a tight‑knit community.

Against this gritty backdrop, the tension mounts as old alliances are tested and new threats loom. Communication frays, streets become chessboards, and every glance carries the weight of unspoken danger. The atmosphere is thick with the promise of redemption, rivalry, and the relentless pursuit of control, inviting viewers to wonder how CJ will navigate the delicate balance between family duty and the relentless pull of the city’s unforgiving rhythm.