The franchise began in 2013 with The Purge, directed by creator DeMonaco, who also directed two of the sequels and wrote the screenplays for all films in the series. A fifth installment, The Forever Purge, was released on July 2, 2021. In addition to the films, the franchise has spawned a twenty-episode television series which premiered on September 4, 2018, and concluded on December 17, 2019; DeMonaco wrote its pilot episode.
The franchise has received a mixed critical reception, but has grossed over $450m overall, against a combined production budget of $53m.[1]
The film depicts a wealthy family who acquired their wealth by selling security systems for use during the annual purge.
Despite mixed reviews, the film grossed $89.3 million during its run, far surpassing its $3 million budget. The film was turned into a scare zone in 2014 for Universal Parks & Resorts annual Halloween Horror Nights due to its success.
Unlike the first Purge film, which was set entirely in one house during the carnage, Anarchy follows a waitress and her daughter who go out to the Los Angeles area during the annual purge, eventually running into an anti-purge group who offers them some protection.
The film was met with generally mixed reviews, though many critics agreed it was a large improvement over the first film, and was a box office success, grossing $111.9 million compared to its $9 million budget.
The film takes place during a presidential election year in the United States. The election is between a member of the New Founding Fathers against a senator who wants to end the annual purge after losing her family as a teenager in the purge.
The film received mixed reviews from critics and went on to gross over $118 million worldwide against a budget of $10 million, becoming the second highest-grossing film of the series.
In September 2016, James DeMonaco, who wrote and directed every film in the series thus far, stated that the fourth film would be a prequel to the trilogy. The film shows how the United States got to the point of accepting the Purge.[8]
The film takes place in the New York City borough of Staten Island. As the title suggests, it is about the very first Purge in the United States, which is done as an experiment to combat crime and poverty. The island is completely locked down for those who choose to participate and those who do wear contact lens with a built in camera during the purge and will be paid $5,000 for staying in Staten Island, along with receiving additional money for full participation.
In February 2017, DeMonaco announced that a fourth installment was in development. DeMonaco returned to write the script, while Jason Blum, Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form returning to produce the film with Sébastien K. Lemercier.[9] In July 2017 it was announced that Derin Jacob was signed to direct the film, and shooting began in September 2017 in Buffalo, New York.[10] The film was released on July 4, 2018, to mixed reviews from critics and went on to gross over $137 million worldwide on a $13 million budget, becoming the highest grossing entry in the franchise.[11]
In October 2018, The Purge creator James DeMonaco stated that the fifth film was set to be the last in the series, stating that "it will be a really cool ending, how we take this one home."[12]
In August 2019, it was announced that Everardo Valerio Gout will direct the film.[2] The film was initially scheduled to be released in the United States on July 10, 2020, by Universal Pictures.[13] In May 2020, the film was delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] In July 2020, the film was rescheduled for July 9, 2021.[15][16] In April 2021, it was moved forward a week to July 2, 2021.[17]
The film takes place eight years after Election Year where the Purge has been reinstated by the re-elected New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA). In response to eight years without a Purge, an anti-immigration hate group known as The Forever After Purge continue to Purge beyond the end of the purge, proceeding to wipe out the government and take over major cities in the country to commence what they call a "purification" of the country, which primarily targets both immigrants and the upper class.
Untitled sixth Purge film
In June 2021, producer Jason Blum stated that he intends to make additional Purge films and that he is working on convincing DeMonaco to continue the story. The producer stated that he would not make more without the filmmaker's collaboration. DeMonaco later stated that up until four months previous he had intended The Forever Purge to be the final film in the franchise. The filmmaker stated that one day he woke up with another idea where he could "flip this thing upside down and we can continue...in a way that people can enjoy." DeMonaco confirmed that he is working on the script, while stating that whether it is made, depends on the reception to the previous film.[18]
In September 2021, in an interview with Nightmare on Film Street, DeMonaco stated that the story for Purge 6 includes Frank Grillo reprising his role as Leo Barnes.[19] The story includes a worldwide Purge, an idea that he had originally intended for a third season of now-cancelled television series.[20] By September, DeMonaco had completed the script and signed on to additionally serve as director; while Grillo officially signed on to reprise his role in the franchise. The film will take place 10 years after The Forever Purge, in 2059, while the portrayal of the dystopian "tribalized" America will be different in this film, referencing Escape from New York as an influence, and following Barnes in the midst of the Second American Civil War as he is sent on a mission through various Purge states.[21][22][3]
In May 2017, it was reported that Syfy and USA Network would premiere the series in 2018.[23] On February 26, 2018, it was announced that Gabriel Chavarria and Jessica Garza were cast as the leads in the upcoming series.[24] On November 6, 2018, USA Network renewed the show for a second season,[25] which premiered October 15, 2019, with 10 episodes and follows up from the events of the first season. In an interview with Scream, The Purge television series showrunner Thomas Kelly stated that a heist film set on Purge Night has been considered; this plot point was later used in the series' second season.[26] On May 13, 2020, the USA Network canceled the series after two seasons.[27]
Recurring cast and characters
List indicator(s)
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in a recurring role.
An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
A indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio.
In 2014, following an economic collapse and rising social unrest, a political organization named The New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) is formed and is voted into office. The organization establishes a new totalitarian government and a police state. In 2016, the NFFA devises a plan to help stabilize American society and later in 2017, the 28th Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified.[28][29] This amendment establishes a 12-hour event known as "The Purge" which would take place from 7 PM on March 21 to 7 AM on March 22 wherein all crime becomes legal. Before the Purge begins, the Emergency Broadcast System (the predecessor to the Emergency Alert System, which returned for unexplained reasons) is activated with rules and a prayer saying "Blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn" before ending with "May God be with you all".
Rules
The rules for the annual Purge are as follows:
Sirens blare throughout the land to signal the start and end of The Purge.
All police, fire, and emergency medical services are suspended for the duration of the Purge.
The president, first family, and government officials of rank 10, are granted immunity from the Purge, meaning that they must not be harmed. (This was revoked in Election Year to permit the murder of a political opponent).
Only Class 1–4 weaponry is permitted, while Class 5 weaponry (such as explosives) is prohibited.
Violations of any Purge rules will result in public execution.
Emergency broadcast system message
Below is how the Emergency Broadcast System announces the Purge' commencement in the first two films:
This is not a test.
This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of the Annual Purge sanctioned by the U.S. Government.Weapons of class 4 and lower have been authorized for use during the Purge. All other weapons are restricted.Government officials of ranking 10 have been granted immunity from the Purge and shall not be harmed.Commencing at the siren, any and all crime, including murder, will be legal for 12 continuous hours.Police, fire, and emergency medical services will be unavailable until tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. when The Purge concludes.Blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn.
May God be with you all.
— Purge Emergency Broadcast System
In The Purge: Election Year, the rule granting immunity to ranking 10 officials is revoked by the NFFA in order to assassinate Roan, an anti-Purge Presidential candidate who runs on a platform of overturning the 28th Amendment which, to the NFFA's distress, has achieved parity in the polls with their candidate. This change is reflected in the announcement of the final Purge's commencement as follows:
This is not a test.
This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of the Annual Purge, sanctioned by the U.S. Government.Commencing at the siren, any and all crime, including murder, will be legal for 12 continuous hours.Weapons of class 4 and lower have been authorized for use during the Purge. All other weapons are restricted.Police, fire and emergency medical services will be unavailable until tomorrow morning at 7 am.And, for the first time since its inception, no one has been granted special immunity from the Purge. No citizen or group will be exempt.Blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn.
May God be with you all.
— Purge Emergency Broadcast System
In The First Purge, taking place in 2016 on Staten Island, New York, which was blocked off from all contact due to the First Purge really being a social experiment conducted by the New Founding Fathers, providing monetary compensation of at least $5,000 to anyone who decides to stay on the island for the night, one year prior to the first nationwide Purge. Below shows the commencement speech as follows:
This Is Not a Test.
This is your Emergency Broadcast System announcing the commencement of the NFFA Social Experiment on Staten Island, NY.Weapons of Class 4 and lower have been authorized for use during the experiment.All Crime, including murder, will be legal for 12 continuous hours.Blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a Nation Reborn.
May God be with you all.
— Staten Island Purge Emergency Broadcast System
Impact
Within the film series, the Purge has resulted in crime and unemployment rates plummeting to 1% and a strong economy. Although it's thought to be used as an act of catharsis for the U.S. populace, it's actually used as a method of artificial population control, as the unemployed poor in slum neighborhoods as well as some working-class people are usually the main targets. In Election Year, a character notes that sneaking up on a Black man on Purge night is a particularly foolish action, suggesting that Black people are used to being targets on this night. By this time it has also increased tourism as foreigners enter the US solely to participate in the Purge.
Timeline of events
Below is the fictional timeline played out in the franchise:
2014: Rising unemployment and a housing crisis leads to the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) being elected to become the most powerful political party in the United States.
2016: NFFA chief of staff Arlo Sabian and sociologist Dr. May Updale announce a controversial social experiment to take place on Staten Island where for 12 consecutive hours, all crime will be legalised, and citizens will be allowed to release their inhibitions in any way they choose, including murder, a practical examination of a thought experiment developed by Updale.
March 21–22, 2016: The NFFA Social Experiment occurs in the New York City borough of Staten Island as a "NFFA Social Experiment", dubbed "The Purge" by Sabian on suggestion of a crazed drug addict named Skeletor. After the majority of the inhabitants of Staten Island (minus Skeletor) engage in low-level crimes such as peace disturbance (loud parties), disorderly conducts (vandalism, looting, public drug use, public intoxication, and sex acts) misdemeanors (illegal street racing), and small felonies rather than high-level ones such as murder, Sabian has several masked mercenary groups deployed to kill citizens around Staten Island, masquerading as other citizens. After Updale discovers that the NFFA sabotaged the experiment to eradicate the poor and "minorities" to save the expense of social programs, justifying a national Purge to be implemented the following year, Sabian has her taken to Staten Island and executed. After the NFFA declare the purge a success, President Bracken authorises Annual National Purges.
March 21–22, 2017: The first national Purge occurs. Occurring as a national experiment to determine whether the Purge can be implemented nationwide. After the success, the 28th amendment is ratified imposing a national Purge annually.
March 21-22, 2018: The First Annual Purge occurs.
March 21–22, 2022: National acceptance of the Purge; the Sandin family saves the life of homeless man Dante Bishop, while the family patriarch, James Sandin, is killed by the purgers and the Sandin's jealous neighbours. Elsewhere, Charlie Roan's family is killed by another batch of purgers, leaving her as the only survivor.
March 21–22, 2023: Carmelo Johns forms an anti-NFFA resistance movement with Dante as his partner. Leo Barnes considers murdering the man who accidentally killed his son, but was not arrested due to an error, before changing his mind at the last minute.
March 21, 2027–March 21, 2028: European countries have some plans of adopting a Purge night of their own in the future after seeing the success of the event in America.
March 22, 2036–March 22, 2037: Former NFFA surveillance employee Esme Carmona publicly exposes the NFFA's misdeeds before being illegally executed moments after the ending of the Purge.
March 21–22, 2040: Dante saves the life of independent presidential candidate Charlie Roan, who seeks to end the purge, alongside Barnes, her security chief.
March 21–22, 2041: With the purge outlawed, would-be Purgers are arrested en-masse.
November 6, 2048: The NFFA are re-elected, who state their intentions to reinstate the purge to resume the following year, citing an increase in crime and immigration as justification.
March 21–22, 2049: The purge returns after a nine-year absence. After the purge is supposed to end, anti-immigration hate group and NFFA offshoot the Purge Purification Force (PPF) organize a "forever purge" across America. Canada and Mexico open their borders for asylum seekers looking to escape the "forever purge" for six hours, while the NFFA is permanently disbanded. After purgers defeat a military base in El Paso, Mexico closes the border early, leaving many survivors stranded at the border, allowing them to be mercilessly slaughtered by purgers, as a new resistance movement forms against them.[30]
2059: As the Second American Civil War rages, Leo Barnes embarks on a mission across the remapped Americas' "tribalized" states, where various independent Purges are taking place.
