According to veteran TV writer and producer Steven Bochco, this film served as one of the inspirations for his ground breaking series Hill Street Blues (1981).
Most of the movie was shot on location, and the area really was so dilapidated that set designers barely had to do anything to make it look so apocalyptic.
The experiences of real life former NYPD Detectives Thomas Mulhearn and Pete Tessitore served as inspiration for the original screenplay by Heywood Gould. It is reported that Paul Newman spent some time with Mr. Mulhearn, getting into character for Officer Murphy. Thomas and Pete, along with other ex-cops helped add to the authenticity of the experiences documented in "Fort Apache the Bronx".
According to her autobiography, Pam Grier, who played the murderous hooker, was originally considered for the female lead part of Isabella.
During production residents of the Bronx protested the film claiming it would show the Bronx badly and ignore the good qualities. Moreover, local Bronx community groups also allegedly threatened to sue the production because of the way the picture was going to depict the Bronx and its ethnic minorities such as African Americans and Puerto Ricans. Because of this, the picture starts with a disclaimer in the prologue and script changes to the screenplay were made. After its release, protests happened both in New York and in other cities.