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The Complete Purge Movie Timeline: Watching All 5 Films (And Purge 6 Updates) In Order

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Are you ready to witness the dystopian nightmare from its inception to its catastrophic conclusion? As of late December 2025, the chilling Purge franchise stands as one of the most successful and politically charged horror series in modern cinema, spanning five films and a TV series. Whether you are a newcomer looking to understand the complex lore of the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) or a long-time fan seeking the latest, fresh updates on the highly anticipated Purge 6, this guide provides the definitive order for watching the entire saga, ensuring you grasp every brutal turn in the 12-hour annual event.

The films offer two primary viewing experiences: the Release Order, which follows the narrative as it was revealed to audiences, and the Chronological Order, which traces the timeline of the NFFA's rise to power and the evolution of the Annual Purge. We break down both, complete with plot summaries, box office success, and the crucial details you need to know about the next chapter featuring the return of a fan-favorite character.

The Purge Movies in Chronological Order: The NFFA’s Rise and Fall

For the most immersive experience, watching the films in the order the events occur is key. This timeline begins with the controversial, government-sanctioned 'experiment' and ends with the terrifying realization that the 12-hour window is no longer enough to contain the violence.

  1. The First Purge (2018)
    • Year Set: 2017
    • The Origin: This prequel details the very first experimental Purge, confined to Staten Island, New York. The New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA), a new totalitarian political party, introduce the "experiment" as a means to reduce crime rates to below one percent for the rest of the year.
    • Key Plot: The government offers citizens large sums of money to participate in the violence. When participation is low, the NFFA secretly deploys paramilitary mercenaries to artificially inflate the body count, revealing the true, sinister intention of the Purge: a systematic culling of the poor and lower classes.
    • Box Office & Reception: Grossed $137.1 million worldwide on a $13 million budget, proving the franchise's enduring financial success.
  2. The Purge (2013)
    • Year Set: 2022
    • The Home Invasion: The film that started it all. Set five years after the Staten Island experiment, the Purge is now a nationwide annual event.
    • Key Plot: The story focuses on James Sandin (Ethan Hawke), a wealthy security system salesman whose affluent family is trapped in their home when their son allows a wounded, unhoused man to enter. They are then targeted by a masked gang of privileged "Pugers" who demand the man be handed over, leading to a brutal home invasion.
    • Box Office & Reception: A massive hit, grossing $89.3 million worldwide against a tiny $3 million budget, demonstrating the power of its high-concept premise.
  3. The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
    • Year Set: 2023
    • The Streets Erupt: The franchise expands its scope from a single house to the streets of Los Angeles. This film introduces Sergeant Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo), an off-duty LAPD officer intending to use the Purge to seek revenge for his son’s death.
    • Key Plot: Barnes becomes the reluctant protector of a group of citizens whose car breaks down just as the Purge begins. The film heavily features the class warfare aspect, showing how the wealthy hunt the poor, and introduces anti-Purge resistance movements.
    • Box Office & Reception: Grossed $111.9 million worldwide, cementing Frank Grillo as a franchise cornerstone and receiving better critical reviews for expanding the world-building.
  4. The Purge: Election Year (2016)
    • Year Set: 2040
    • The Political Fight: Set 17 years after Anarchy, the Purge's political themes come to the forefront. Leo Barnes is now the head of security for Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), an anti-Purge presidential candidate whose family was killed on a previous Purge night.
    • Key Plot: The NFFA lifts the rule protecting high-ranking government officials to eliminate Senator Roan before the election. Barnes and Roan must survive the night on the streets of Washington D.C., leading to a climactic standoff that aims to end the annual ritual forever.
    • Box Office & Reception: The highest-grossing film in the series, earning $118.6 million worldwide, proving the audience's appetite for the political commentary.
  5. The Forever Purge (2021)
    • Year Set: 2048
    • The Lawless Aftermath: Set eight years after the events of Election Year, the annual Purge has been reinstated. The film follows a Mexican immigrant couple, Adela and Juan, working on a Texas ranch.
    • Key Plot: After the 12-hour Purge ends, a group of extremist "Forever Purgers" refuse to stop, believing the ritual should be continuous to "cleanse" the country of non-native-born citizens. As America descends into chaos, the couple must race to the border to seek refuge in Mexico, which has opened its borders to American refugees.
    • Box Office & Reception: Grossed over $77 million worldwide, serving as a powerful, action-heavy commentary on immigration and xenophobia, and seemingly ending the Purge law once and for all.

The Purge Movies in Release Order: The Original Viewing Experience

If you prefer to watch the films as they were originally released in theaters, following the evolution of the franchise's scope and budget, this is your list. This order allows you to experience the world-building from the confined home-invasion setting to the expansive, city-wide anarchy.

  1. The Purge (2013)
  2. The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
  3. The Purge: Election Year (2016)
  4. The First Purge (2018)
  5. The Forever Purge (2021)

The Purge Television Series (Optional Viewing)

For those seeking even more depth, the Purge television series (2018–2019) is also part of the official canon. The two-season show is set between Anarchy and Election Year, offering intertwining storylines that explore the lives of various characters over a single Purge night. It delves deeper into the societal and economic impacts of the event, offering a rich tapestry of LSI details for the franchise lore.

The Latest Update on The Purge 6: Frank Grillo’s Return Confirmed

The biggest news for fans of the dystopian horror universe is the confirmed development of the sixth, currently untitled film, often referred to as The Purge 6. Franchise creator James DeMonaco, who has written all five previous installments, has provided fresh and highly specific updates as of late 2025.

The Purge 6 Plot and Character Details

DeMonaco has confirmed that the script for The Purge 6 is complete and is now in the hands of producer Jason Blum. While Universal has not yet officially greenlit the film, the creator’s vision is clear and ambitious. The film’s tentative plot moves beyond the annual 12-hour event and focuses on a radically fractured American society.

  • A Fractured America: The core premise of the new film is that America has been irrevocably divided, not just by race or class, but by political ideology, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs.
  • Reduced Population: The country is described as a land with a significantly reduced population, where different states or regions have been sectioned off based on these extreme, opposing ideologies.
  • The Return of Leo Barnes: Critically, Frank Grillo is set to reprise his role as Sergeant Leo Barnes, the character who became the moral compass of the franchise in Anarchy and Election Year. DeMonaco stated that he would not make the sixth film without Grillo's return, indicating Barnes will be central to the new narrative.
  • The Setting: The setting is described as a "re-mapping of America," suggesting a post-apocalyptic, politically charged landscape where the Purge's effects have become permanent and institutionalized.

The creative team has described the film as a final, definitive statement on the franchise, with DeMonaco aiming to bring the entire saga to a close. While there is no official release date as of today, the completed script and the confirmed return of Frank Grillo suggest that production announcements could be imminent, offering fans a fresh wave of dystopian terror to look forward to in the near future.

The Complete Purge Movie Timeline: Watching All 5 Films (And Purge 6 Updates) In Order
purge movies in order
purge movies in order

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