The Purge
Movie, 2013, The Annual Purge, Set in 2022
The Purge is #1 of 6 in release order and #2 of 6 in chronological order in the The Purge.
The story
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.
The Purge recap
In 2022, James Sandin has grown rich selling home security systems for the annual Purge, when all crime is legal for twelve hours. He locks down his house with his wife Mary and children Zoey and Charlie. Zoey's older boyfriend Henry, whom James disapproves of, sneaks in and tries to kill James, and is shot dead. Charlie sees a wounded stranger begging for help in the street and opens the house to him. A gang of masked, wealthy young people arrives, led by a polite young man, and demands the family hand the stranger over or they will break in. James and Mary capture the stranger and prepare to surrender him, then change their minds.
The Purge ending explained
The gang breaks in, and James kills several of them before he is stabbed by their leader. The Sandins' neighbours, jealous of their wealth, kill the gang, then turn on Mary and the children. The stranger saves them and holds the neighbours at gunpoint, and Mary refuses to let anyone else die. The siren sounds, the Purge ends, and Mary sends the neighbours away. James dies.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Purge
The Purge is streaming on Prime Video and Peacock in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 5.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 41%
Where it fits
- Release order: first, before The Purge: Anarchy.
- Chronological order: after The First Purge, before The Purge: Anarchy.
What to watch before The Purge
Nothing. The Purge is the first of the The Purge essentials, so it's the place to start.
Cast
- Ethan Hawke as James Sandin
- Lena Headey as Mary Sandin
- Max Burkholder as Charlie Sandin
- Adelaide Kane as Zoey Sandin
- Edwin Hodge as Bloody Stranger
- Rhys Wakefield as Polite Leader
- Tony Oller as Henry
- Arija Bareikis as Mrs. Grace Ferrin
- Tom Yi as Mr. Cali
- Chris Mulkey as Mr. Halverson
- Tisha French as Mrs. Halverson
- Dana Bunch as Mr. Ferrin
Directed by James DeMonaco.