The Purge movies are a series of American horror films created by James DeMonaco. The films are produced by Blumhouse Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.
This series is a fictional series in which a totalitarian government in the near future implements an annual event known as “The Purge.” During this time, all crime is legal for a 12-hour period, including murder. The films follow different characters during their experience with The Purge.
The first film in the series made its way into theatres in 2013 and was a box-office success. After the release of the first film, it was quickly followed up with a sequel the next year. The third and fourth installments in the series were released in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
The fifth movie was delayed from an original July 2020 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was theatrically released on July 2, 2021.
The Purge is a perfect series if you are looking for a crime, horror, and thriller all rolled into one. This series is not for the faint of heart, as it can sometimes be quite graphic. Nevertheless, The Purge movies are definitely worth watching if you are looking for a good horror movie series. We suggest you watch The Purge Movies In order.
What if I told you that in the near future, all crimes would be legal for one night every year? No law enforcement, no 911, no hospitals. An annual 12-hour window when you could commit any crime you want without consequence. Would you do it?
This is the premise of The Purge movies. To date, there are five films in The Purge franchise. The first three movies occur on the same night, while the fourth jump ahead to the next year. The fifth movie is a prequel before the first Purge night.
List of All The Purge Movies in Release Order
- The Purge (I) (2013)
- The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
- The Purge: Election Year (2016)
- The First Purge (2018)
- The Forever Purge 5 (2021)
The Purge (I) (2013)
Director: James DeMonaco | Stars: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane | Writer: James DeMonaco | Countries of origin: United States, France | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 25 minutes. | Release Date: June 7, 2013 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are horror, sci-fi, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA | Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Platinum Dunes, Blumhouse Productions | Budget: The budget of the movie was $3 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $89 million.
The first movie in the series is The Purge, released in 2013. The movie is set in the year 2022 and follows a family who is home during the annual Purge event.
The family consists of James Sandin (Ethan Hawke), his wife Mary (Lena Headey), and their two children, Zoey (Adelaide Kane) and Charlie (Max Burkholder). The family is home during the Purge, but when a man seeks refuge from outside violence, they must decide whether or not to help him. The film was directed and written by James DeMonaco and was a box-office success.
Due to the increased crime rate and prisons, the government has developed a new law. This law allows any and all crimes, including murder, to be legal for 12 hours yearly. The first Purge movie is set In 2024 and follows a family trapped in their home during the Purge. This family must now survive the night as the criminals come out to play.
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The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
Director: James DeMonaco | Stars: Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez | Writer: James DeMonaco | Countries of origin: United States, France | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 43 minutes. | Release Date: July 18, 2014 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, horror, sci-fi, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA | Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Platinum Dunes, Blumhouse Productions | Budget: The budget of the movie was $9 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $111 million.
The second movie in the series is The Purge: Anarchy, released in 2014. The movie is set on the same night as the first film but follows a different group of characters.
The movie follows a young couple, Shane (Zach Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez), who are trying to make their way to safety. However, when their car runs out of gas, they are forced to seek refuge with a group of strangers. The movie was once again directed and written by James DeMonaco and was a box-office success.
The second movie in the series is set in 2023 and is a continuation of the first installment. The movie follows a group of people who are out in the streets during the Purge. This group must now find a way to survive the night as the criminals are hunting them. In this movie, Leo’s story is shown; he has planned to take revenge on the person who killed his son.
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The Purge: Election Year (2016)
Director: James DeMonaco | Stars: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria | Writer: James DeMonaco | Countries of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 49 minutes. | Release Date: July 1, 2016 | Language: The language is English, Russian, and Afrikaans. | Genres: The movie genres are action, horror, sci-fi, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA | Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Platinum Dunes, Blumhouse Productions | Budget: The budget of the movie was $10 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $118 million.
The third movie in the series is The Purge: Election Year, which was released in 2016. The movie is set two years after the events of the second film and follows a politician, Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), who is campaigning to end the Purge.
However, when the night of the Purge arrives, Roan must fight for her life and those around her. The movie was once again directed and written by James DeMonaco and was a box-office success.
The third movie in the series is set in 2024 and follows Senator Charlie Roan. Roan is a presidential candidate who is against the Purge. When the Purge night comes, she must now fight for her life as the criminals are after her. This movie is also connected to the first two movies as it features Leo, who is now part of a resistance group, and his mission to protect Roan.
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The First Purge (2018)
Director: Gerard McMurray | Stars: Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Steve Harris | Writer: James DeMonaco | Countries of origin: United States, China, Japan | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 37 minutes. | Release Date: July 4, 2018 | Language: The language is English, French, and Spanish. | Genres: The movie genres are action, horror, sci-fi, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Buffalo FilmWorks- 370 Babcock Street, Buffalo, New York, USA | Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures, Platinum Dunes | Budget: The budget of the movie was $13 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $137 million.
The fourth movie in the series is The First Purge, released in 2018. The movie is a prequel that shows how the Purge started.
The movie follows a group of people taking part in a social experiment that will allow them to purge for 12 hours without legal consequences. However, they must fight for their lives when the night goes wrong.
The film starred Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, and Steve Harris. The movie was directed by Gerard McMurray and written by James DeMonaco and was a box office success.
The fourth movie in the series is a prequel to The Purge Trilogy and is set in 2027. The movie follows the events that led to the first Purge night. This movie shows how the government came up with the idea of the Purge and how it was first implemented. According to American fathers, Purge will be a way of catharsis, which will reduce the crime rate in the following years.
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The Forever Purge (2021)
Director: Everardo Gout | Stars: Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Josh Lucas | Writer: James DeMonaco | Countries of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 39 minutes. | Release Date: July 2, 2021 | Language: The language is English and Spanish. | Genres: The movie genres are action, horror, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Ontario, California, USA | Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures, Platinum Dunes | Budget: The budget of the movie was $18 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $76 million.
All the rules are broken as a sect of lawless marauders decides that the Purge should be permanent in The Forever Purge. It is a movie that depicts the real end game of what happens when the government’s “final solution” for a crime-free society goes horribly wrong.
The film starred Ana De La Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, and Josh Lucas. The movie was directed by Everardo Gout and written by James DeMonaco.
The fifth and final movie in the series is set in 2030 and is also a continuation of The First Purge. This movie is now the tenth year since the first Purge night. The movie follows a group of people who get stranded in a remote town during the Purge. This group must now find a way to survive the night as the criminals are after them.
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Movies in order by IMDB Rating
| Movies | Rating on IMDB |
|---|---|
| The Purge (I) | 6.4/10 |
| The Purge: Anarchy | 5.7/10 |
| The Purge: Election Year | 6.0/10 |
| The First Purge | 5.2/10 |
| The Forever Purge 5 | 5.4/10 |
Other Movies like The Purge Series
- A Quiet Place (2018)
- The Strangers (2008)
- Don’t Breathe (2016)
- Evil Dead (2013)
- The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
- You’re Next (2011)
- Chucky franchise (1988–present)
- Saw franchise (2004–2017)
- Night of the Living Dead franchise (1968–present)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise (1974–2013)
FAQs
Are All of The Purge Movies Part of The Same Series?
Yes, all of the Purge movies are part of the same series. The first three movies in the series are connected and follow a timeline. The fourth and fifth movies in the series are prequels and are not connected to the first three movies.
How Many Purge Movies are There?
To date, there are 5 movies in the Purge series. The Purge (2013), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), The Purge: Election Year (2016), The First Purge (2018), and The Forever Purge (2022)
Are the purge movies connected?
The first 3 movies in the series are connected and follow a timeline. The first Purge movie is set in the year 2022, while the second movie, The Purge: Anarchy, is set in 2023. The third movie, The Purge: Election Year, is set in 2024. The fourth and fifth movies in the series, The First Purge and The Forever Purge are prequels and are not connected to the first three movies.
Do You Need To Watch The Purge Movies In Order?
No, you don’t need to watch the Purge movies in order. However, if you want to follow the story, it is recommended that you watch the movies in chronological order.
What is the message behind The Purge?
The message behind The Purge is that violence begets violence. The idea behind the Purge is that if people are given one night where they can commit any crime without consequences, they will purge their anger and aggression and be more docile for the rest of the year.
What are The Purge rules?
The rules of The Purge are that all crime is legal for one night, from 7 pm to 7 am. This includes murder, rape, robbery, and any other crime you can think of. There are no consequences for any crime committed during this time, and the police will not intervene. The only exception to this rule is that government officials are not allowed to be killed. Other than that, nothing goes on during The Purge.
Who is exempt from The Purge?
Government officials are the only ones who are exempt from The Purge. Everyone else is fair game, no matter their age, race, or socioeconomic status. This includes children, which is one of the most controversial aspects of The Purge. Many people argue that children should not be allowed to be victims or perpetrators of crime, but the government sees them as equal participants in The Purge.
What happens if you break a purge rule?
Though back in The First Purge, explosives and incendiary devices are strictly forbidden, we see in the fourth installment that some people choose to break this rule. The punishment is death if you are caught breaking a rule during The Purge. This is usually carried out by the government forces who patrol the streets during The Purge.
How do you survive a purge?
The best way to survive a purge is to stay indoors and lock all the doors and windows. If you must go outside, avoid areas with a lot of activity and try to blend in with the crowd. It is also important to be aware of your surroundings and be ready to run or hide if necessary. Finally, it is always helpful to have a plan and know where you will go if things get too dangerous.
Where Can You Watch Purge Movies and Series?
The Purge movies are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, while the TV series can be watched on USA Network.
Conclusion
The Purge is a series of movies and a TV show that explore what would happen if all crime was legal for one night. The series is full of suspense and horror and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
If you are looking for a movie or TV show that will make you think, then The Purge is definitely for you. This series is not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely worth watching. That’s the end of the article! Thanks for reading.
Hey, My name is Charles Eames, I am a designer, filmmaker, and lover of photographic arts. And I usually write about movies, Famous/Influential People. I am running this blog with my girlfriend Bernice.