Watch The Purge in release order: The Purge (2013), The Purge: Anarchy, The Purge: Election Year, The First Purge and The Forever Purge. The First Purge (2018) is a prequel about the first experiment on Staten Island, so story order starts there. The TV series (2018 to 2019) is optional.
- Titles
- 6
- Films
- 5
- Series
- 1
- Watch time
- 23 hours
- Box office
- $536 million
- Avg IMDb
- 5.9
Purge movies in release order
Here is every Purge title in the order it came out, 2013 to 2021: 5 films and 1 series.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Purge | 2013 | Film | 1h 25m | 5.8 |
| 2 | The Purge: Anarchy | 2014 | Film | 1h 43m | 6.4 |
| 3 | The Purge: Election Year | 2016 | Film | 1h 49m | 6 |
| 4 | The First Purge | 2018 | Film | 1h 37m | 5.2 |
| 5 | The Purge | 2018 | Series | 14h 18m | 6.6 |
| 6 | The Forever Purge | 2021 | Film | 1h 43m | 5.4 |
Purge timeline: movies in chronological order
The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.
| # | Title | Set in | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The First Purge | Staten Island, 2014 | 2018 |
| 2 | The Purge | 2022 | 2013 |
| 3 | The Purge: Anarchy | 2023 | 2014 |
| 4 | The Purge | Purge Night and after | 2018 |
| 5 | The Purge: Election Year | 2040 | 2016 |
| 6 | The Forever Purge | After the Purge returns | 2021 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 5 titles here. In release order you start with The Purge (2013); in story order you start with The First Purge, set in Staten Island, 2014, which came out 5 years later.
First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns The Purge into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Where to start
Start with The Purge and go in release order.
The whole thing is 23 hours. At two hours a night that is about 12 evenings.
The three highest rated: The Purge (6.6), The Purge: Anarchy (6.4), and The Purge: Election Year (6).
Every Purge movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 2013 · Film · 1h 25m · 2nd in story order
The Purge
Given the country's overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion.
Why it matters: One family's Purge Night; the place to start.
- Starring
- Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, and Max Burkholder
- Director
- James DeMonaco
- Box office
- $91 million on a $3 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 41%
No. 02 · 2014 · Film · 1h 43m · 3rd in story order
The Purge: Anarchy
One night per year, the government sanctions a 12-hour period in which citizens can commit any crime they wish -- including murder -- without fear of punishment or imprisonment. Leo, a sergeant who lost his son, plans a vigilante mission of revenge during the mayhem. However, instead of a death-dealing avenger, he becomes the unexpected protector of four innocent strangers who desperately need his help if they are to survive the night.
Why it matters: Purge Night on the streets; introduces Leo Barnes.
- Starring
- Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, and Zach Gilford
- Director
- James DeMonaco
- Box office
- $112 million on a $9 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 58%
No. 03 · 2016 · Film · 1h 49m · 5th in story order
The Purge: Election Year
Two years after choosing not to kill the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Leo Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlene Roan, the front runner in the next Presidential election due to her vow to eliminate the Purge. On the night of what should be the final Purge, a betrayal from within the government forces Barnes and Roan out onto the street where they must fight to survive the night.
Why it matters: A senator runs to end the Purge.
- Starring
- Elizabeth Mitchell, Frank Grillo, and Mykelti Williamson
- Director
- James DeMonaco
- Box office
- $119 million on a $10 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6 · Rotten Tomatoes 55%
No. 04 · 2018 · Film · 1h 37m · 1st in story order
The First Purge
To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the others, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.
Why it matters: The experiment on Staten Island; the earliest story.
- Starring
- Y'lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, and Joivan Wade
- Director
- Gerard McMurray
- Box office
- $137 million on a $13 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 55%
No. 05 · 2018 · Series · 14h 18m · 4th in story order
The Purge
Set in a dystopian America ruled by a totalitarian political party, the series follows several seemingly unrelated characters living in a small city. Tying them all together is a mysterious savior who’s impeccably equipped for everything the night throws at them. As the clock winds down with their fates hanging in the balance, each character is forced to reckon with their pasts as they discover how far they will go to survive the night.
Why it matters: Several stories over Purge Night; optional.
- Starring
- Gabriel Chavarria, Jessica Garza, and Hannah Emily Anderson
- Creator
- James DeMonaco
- Scores
- IMDb 6.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 42%
- Episodes
- 20 across 2 seasons
No. 06 · 2021 · Film · 1h 43m
The Forever Purge
All the rules are broken as a sect of lawless marauders decides that the annual Purge does not stop at daybreak and instead should never end as they chase a group of immigrants who they want to punish because of their harsh historical past.
Why it matters: The Purge refuses to end.
- Starring
- Ana de la Reguera, Josh Lucas, and Willow Beuoy
- Director
- Everardo Gout
- Box office
- $77 million on a $18 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 48%
Purge box office and budgets
The 5 Purge films with reported numbers have grossed $536 million worldwide on about $53 million in combined budgets, roughly 10 times what they cost. The biggest is The First Purge at $137 million, 26% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by The Purge: Election Year ($119 million) and The Purge: Anarchy ($112 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to The Purge, which made 30 times its $3 million budget. The weakest was The Forever Purge at 4.3 times its $18 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Purge movies
Across 6 rated titles, The Purge averages 5.9 on IMDb. The top of the list is The Purge at 6.6, then The Purge: Anarchy (6.4) and The Purge: Election Year (6). At the bottom: The First Purge (5.2) and The Forever Purge (5.4). Money and quality don't line up perfectly: the highest grosser, The First Purge, is only the 6th best rated.
- The Purge6.6 · RT 42%
- The Purge: Anarchy6.4 · RT 58%
- The Purge: Election Year6 · RT 55%
- The Purge5.8 · RT 41%
- The Forever Purge5.4 · RT 48%
- The First Purge5.2 · RT 55%
Who appears in the most Purge movies
Edwin Hodge leads with 3 appearances as Bloody Stranger and The Stranger, ahead of Frank Grillo (2). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwin Hodge | Bloody Stranger / The Stranger | 3 | The Purge (2013) to The Purge: Election Year (2016) |
| Frank Grillo | Sergeant / Leo Barnes | 2 | The Purge: Anarchy (2014) to The Purge: Election Year (2016) |
Purge directors and creators
3 filmmakers have directed or created The Purge; James DeMonaco has the most, with 4.
- James DeMonacoThe Purge (2013), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), The Purge: Election Year (2016), and The Purge (2018)
- Gerard McMurrayThe First Purge (2018)
- Everardo GoutThe Forever Purge (2021)
How long it takes to watch every Purge movie
All 6 titles add up to 23 hours: 8 hours of film and 14 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 12 two-hour evenings, or 3 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is The Purge: Election Year at 1h 49m.
The 4 best rated films: The Purge: Anarchy, The Purge: Election Year, The Purge, and The Forever Purge.
Everything takes about 4 weeks.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Purge movies in?
Watch The Purge in release order: The Purge (2013), The Purge: Anarchy, The Purge: Election Year, The First Purge and The Forever Purge. The First Purge (2018) is a prequel about the first experiment on Staten Island, so story order starts there. The TV series (2018 to 2019) is optional.
How many Purge movies and shows are there?
There are 6 titles in the The Purge franchise: 5 films and 1 series, released from 2013 to 2021.
How long does it take to watch all the Purge movies?
About 23 hours for all 6 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first Purge title in chronological order?
The First Purge, set in Staten Island, 2014. In release order the first is The Purge (2013).
What is the best Purge movie?
By IMDb score, The Purge (2018) at 6.6, followed by The Purge: Anarchy at 6.4.
What is the highest-grossing Purge movie?
The First Purge (2018), with $137 million worldwide. The Purge films have made $536 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Purge movies?
Edwin Hodge, in 3 of them as Bloody Stranger.
What is the longest Purge movie?
The Purge: Election Year, at 1h 49m.
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