The Purge
The Purge is an American anthology media franchise centered on a series of dystopian action horror films distributed by Universal Pictures and produced by Blumhouse Productions and Platinum Dunes, which are written and in some cases also directed by James DeMonaco, who was inspired by a Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "The Return of the Archons". The films present a seemingly normal, crime-free America in the near future. However, the country is a dystopia which observes an annual event known as "the Purge", in which all crime, including murder, is legal for a 12-hour period.
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 an eponymous television series created by DeMonaco, who also wrote its pilot episode; made of two seasons, each acting as mostly self-contained stories in the same universe as the films, it premiered on September 4, 2018, and concluded on December 17, 2019.
All installments in the franchise, including the television series, have received mixed reviews from critics, who frequently praised the action, tension and performances but criticized the writing; the franchise's prominent social commentary on issues such as violence, politics, class conflict and race was noted, although a number of critics felt that they were undermined by the violence and formulaic writing. All of the films were commercially successful, with each film making several times its cost in revenue. The films have grossed over $500 million overall against a combined production budget of $53 million.
Films
''The Purge'' (2013)
The Purge stars Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin Hodge, Rhys Wakefield, Tony Oller and Arija Bareikis.The film, set in the year 2022, depicts the struggle of a wealthy family who acquired their wealth by selling security systems for use during the annual purge after one of their children aids a civilian targeted by the event's participants.
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.
''The Purge: Anarchy'' (2014)
The Purge: Anarchy stars Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez, Zoë Soul and Michael K. Williams, while Edwin Hodge briefly reprises his role of "The Stranger" from the first movie.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 generally received mixed reviews, but many critics believed that it was much better than the first film, and it was a box office success as it grossed $111.9 million, recovering its $9 million budget by more than ten times.
''The Purge: Election Year'' (2016)
The third film was released on July 1, 2016. Frank Grillo and Edwin Hodge reprise their roles from the previous film and are joined by Elizabeth Mitchell, who plays Senator Charlie Roan. On October 6, it was announced that James DeMonaco would be back for the third film to write and direct, while producers Sébastien K. Lemercier, Blumhouse Productions' Jason Blum, and Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form would also be back. Shooting began on September 16 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The film, set in 2040, takes place during a presidential election year in the United States wherein a senator runs for the presidency in an effort to end the annual purge after her family was murdered during the event when she was a teenager.
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.
''The First Purge'' (2018)
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.The film, set in 2016, takes place in the New York City borough of Staten Island and explores the origins of the carnage in the United States, which was done as an experiment to combat crime and poverty. The only place in which the Purge is occurring, Staten 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. However, when Staten Island's residents take advantage of the experiment by committing minor criminal activity such as small felonies, misdemeanors, infractions, petty crimes, and disorderly conducts, corrupt NFFA officials become determined to get the expected results through illegal methods.
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 returned to produce the film with Sébastien K. Lemercier. In July 2017, it was announced that Gerard McMurray was signed to direct the film, and shooting began in September 2017 in Buffalo, New York. 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.
''The Forever Purge'' (2021)
In October 2018, James DeMonaco, the creator of The Purge, stated that the fifth film was set to be the last film in the series, stating that "it will be a really cool ending, how we take this one home."The film takes place eight years after Election Year, in 2048 and 2049, and the Purge has been reinstated by the re-elected New Founding Fathers of America. In response to eight years without a Purge, an anti-immigration hate group which is known as The Forever After Purge continues the Purge after the end of the purge, proceeding to wipe the government out, take control of major cities in the country and commence what it calls a "purification" of the country. The primary targets of the group's purification campaign are immigrants and members of the upper classes.
In August 2019, it was announced that Everardo Valerio Gout will direct the film. The film was initially scheduled to be released in the United States on July 10, 2020, by Universal Pictures. In May 2020, the film was delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, the film was rescheduled for July 9, 2021. In April 2021, it was moved forward a week to July 2, 2021. The film grossed $77 million worldwide against its $18 million budget.
Untitled sixth 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.In September 2021, in an interview with Nightmare on Film Street, DeMonaco stated that the story for the film includes Frank Grillo reprising his role as Leo Barnes. The story includes a worldwide Purge, an idea that he had intended for a third season of the now-cancelled television series. 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.