How to Watch the Purge

When it comes to modern horror movies, few are as relevant as James DeMonaco’s The Purge. It’s an action-horror-thriller that always feels too close to our reality.

If you’re interested in watching the series, there are a few ways to do it. The most common way is to watch the films in release order.

The First Purge (2013)

The First Purge is the first movie in a series of horror movies with an interesting premise: crime and murder are legal for a 12-hour period once a year. The idea is that this will lower crime rates and poverty.

The movie focuses on a family and their neighbors, who are all trying to survive this new world of violence. The movie also features plenty of blood and gore.

The movie takes place during an election year and shows how elected officials use the night to consolidate power and eliminate their opponents. It also shows how the Purge can be a tool of class warfare and is a great social commentary on money in politics.

The Second Purge (2014)

In a post-Rollerball/Hunger Games dystopia, the United States government allows murder to be carried out for 12 hours on one night each year. The New Founding Fathers (NFFA) deem the Purge as a way to repress crime and save the country.

Working class waitress Eva Sanchez is preparing to spend the Purge hiding in her apartment with her daughter Cali and terminally ill dad Rico. But when a paramilitary force invades their building, they are forced to sell themselves to be Purge victims for a rich family.

Meanwhile, married couple Shane and Liz are stranded outside after their car is stolen by a masked biker gang. They are rescued by LAPD sergeant Leo Barnes, who is on a Purge mission of his own.

The Third Purge (2016)

In a future America, the New Founding Fathers promote an annual event called the Purge. It's a day when laws are suspended and pretty much anything is legal.

The Third Purge is the latest installment in the franchise, and it's definitely worth checking out if you enjoy action movies. In fact, this film is one of the best in the series so far.

Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell) is running for president, and she wants to end the Purge nights. But Roan is opposed by the NFFA and their candidate, Minister Edwidge Owens, who want to continue the Purge night.

As she runs, Roan is accompanied by Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo), her head of security. But they are betrayed by her assistants, Chief Couper and Eric, who allow a paramilitary force led by Earl Danzinger to attack their house.

The Fourth Purge (2017)

The Purge series is set in a dystopian America where once a year, all crime, including murder, is legal for 12 hours. The concept is scary enough, but the franchise also explores race and class as well as political machinations.

The first Purge film, released in 2013, starred Ethan Hawke and became a modest success. It was followed by two more movies, plus a TV show.

The fourth movie, The Purge (2017), rewinds back to 2017 to explore the origin of the Purge and its political ramifications. It focuses on the first experimental Purge that was implemented by the New Founding Fathers of America in Staten Island.

The Fifth Purge (2019)

The fifth installment of the wildly popular Purge franchise jumps another decade into the future. It’s now centered on rural Texas, and after the 12 hours of Purge night have come to an end, a bloodthirsty group decides to keep killing people.

The series has taken a much more political turn, commenting on issues like immigration and class divisions in America. This one takes on those themes head-on, focusing on the struggle of Latino immigrants in contemporary America.

Director Everardo Gout brings fresh flavor to this entry, which is written by series creator James DeMonaco. The film also features a strong cast, including Ana de la Reguera and Tenoch Huerta.

The Sixth Purge (2020)

The Purge series is a mixed bag, but it strikes a pretty interesting balance between its premise and the themes it explores. While the first film seemed like it was particularly set in the idea of purging as a cathartic event, subsequent entries often leaned more towards telling stories and cautionary tales about America's current society.

The sixth Purge film will take a step forward in time and follow Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) seventeen years after the events of the first movie. He's now serving as Secret Service agent protecting Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), who is running for president and wants to end The Purge.

The Seventh Purge (2020)

The seventh film in the Purge franchise takes place seventeen years after the first movie, where Leo Barnes is a Secret Service agent protecting presidential hopeful Senator Charlie Roan. After she wins the race, Roan tries to stop the Purge night restriction that kept politicians of a certain status safe.

While the political movement to end the Purge has failed, a group of Purgers continue to ignore the rules and murder people. The movie is scheduled for release in July 2020, but has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’re eager to watch the latest instalment of this horror franchise, there are a few ways you can do so. Fortunately, you can watch the movies on Netflix, Hulu, or Sling TV.

The Eighth Purge (2021)

The Purge series is one of the most successful horror film franchises of all time. It centers around a dystopian near-future in which all crimes are legalized for one night each year.

The original film launched in 2013 and has since led to four other movies and a two-season TV drama. Each film has its own distinct tone and style, while also remaining consistent in the overall plot.

In the fourth movie, The Purge: Election Year (2016), a political movement aims to put an end to the annual Purge. This leads to the NFFA taking off their gloves and removing protections for high-level politicians.

Now, eight years later, The Forever Purge (2021) picks up where the previous movie left off. It stars Josh Lucas, Ana de la Reguera and Tenoch Huerta as a family who live on a ranch near the border between Mexico and the United States.

The Ninth Purge (2022)

The Purge series of films is one of the highest-grossing horror franchises ever. It started in 2013 with The Purge and spawned two sequels, plus a TV series.

The premise is that an alternate America is ruled by the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) after an economic collapse and social unrest. They institute a political system with ultra-nationalist, and sometimes religious undertones.

To supposedly help America transition into a new phase of prosperity, they institute an annual event known as the Purge. It allows all crime, including murder, to be legal for a 12-hour period every year.

The NFFA's main goal is to "free" people of their sinister and violent urges, which they say will cut down on crime and poverty. It's a good idea, but it also seems like a cruel way to go about it.

The Tenth Purge (2023)

In the first movie of the franchise, a wealthy family (James Sandin and his wife Mary) is terrorized by murderers. This leads the NFFA to propose a law that allows all crime, including murder, for a single night each year.

The premise of this satanic holiday from hell is terrifying. It’s basically a 12-hour period in which all citizens are allowed to commit crimes without consequence, and the NFFA claims it would reduce homelessness.

The problem is that while this is a cool concept, it would require a country-wide surveillance system with near-perfect functionality to enforce. That’s a lot of work for very little gain.