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The Definitive Purge Movie Timeline: Chronological And Release Order (Plus The Purge 6 Update)

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The Purge franchise has captivated and terrified audiences for over a decade, presenting a dystopian vision of America where all crime, including murder, is legal for a 12-hour period each year. This terrifying premise, designed by the fictional New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) to keep the crime rate below one percent, has spawned five films and a television series, creating a complex and often confusing timeline.

As of December 23, 2025, the franchise continues to expand, with creator James DeMonaco actively developing the highly anticipated sixth installment. Whether you are a newcomer looking to start the series or a long-time fan seeking to understand the full narrative arc, knowing the correct viewing order is essential to appreciate the chilling evolution of the annual event and the political commentary embedded in each chapter.

The Purge Movies: Complete List by Release Date

For a first-time viewer, watching the films in their original release order is often the simplest way to experience the franchise as it was presented to the public. This sequence allows you to see the scope of the Purge expand from a single-family home invasion to an all-out city-wide war and eventually a national uprising. The release order is as follows:

  • 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)

Each film builds on the political and social groundwork of its predecessor, deepening the lore of the NFFA and the societal impact of the 12-hour window of lawlessness. The original film, *The Purge*, was a contained home-invasion thriller, while later installments like *The Purge: Anarchy* and *The Purge: Election Year* broadened the scope to explore the streets and the political fight against the event.

The Purge Movies in Chronological Timeline Order

To fully grasp the narrative arc—from the Purge's initial "experiment" to its eventual national collapse—the chronological order is the superior viewing experience. This sequence reveals the origins of the event, the rise of the New Founding Fathers of America, and the ultimate consequences of their dystopian social policy. The correct chronological order is:

1. The First Purge (2018)

This film is the true beginning of the saga. It serves as a prequel, detailing the very first experimental Purge conducted by the NFFA on Staten Island, New York. The event was conceived by sociologist Dr. May Updale as a "sociological theory" to vent societal aggression and reduce the national crime rate. The film introduces the concept of the NFFA manipulating the event to eliminate lower-income populations, a theme that underpins the entire franchise. The protagonist is a local drug dealer named Dmitri, who rises to defend his community against the government-sponsored violence.

2. The Purge (2013)

Set nine years after the experimental Purge, this is the first film that was released. The story is a contained thriller centered on the wealthy Sandin family—James, Mary, and their children—who profit from selling high-tech security systems for Purge Night. Their affluent suburban home is breached when their son allows a wounded, unhoused man to seek refuge, leading to a siege by a group of masked, upper-class Purgers.

3. The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

The first film to take the action to the streets, *Anarchy* introduces the fan-favorite character Sergeant Leo Barnes (played by Frank Grillo). Barnes is an off-duty LAPD sergeant who ventures out during the Purge not to participate, but to seek revenge on the man who killed his son. He inadvertently becomes the protector of a group of vulnerable citizens, including Eva Sanchez and her daughter Cali, shifting his focus from personal vengeance to survival and heroism. This film expands the lore by introducing anti-Purge resistance movements and the wealthy elite who "hunt" the poor.

4. The Purge: Election Year (2016)

Set two years after *Anarchy*, this film continues Leo Barnes' story. He is now the head of security for Senator Charlie Roan, a presidential candidate whose platform is based on abolishing the Purge. The NFFA, seeing Roan as an existential threat, revokes the rule that protects high-ranking government officials, making her a target during the annual event. Barnes must protect Roan as they navigate a Washington D.C. where the political elite are actively trying to assassinate her to preserve their power and the Purge.

5. The Forever Purge (2021)

This film serves as the current finale of the main series, set eight years after Roan's election. Despite the Purge being outlawed, a rogue movement of "Ever After Purgers" decides that the 12-hour window is not enough, initiating a perpetual, unauthorized Purge across the country. The story follows a Mexican immigrant couple, Juan and Adela, who must escape the escalating, racially-charged violence as America descends into irreversible anarchy. The film ends with the NFFA losing control and the country essentially collapsing.

The Future of Lawlessness: The Purge 6 Update and New Timeline

Despite *The Forever Purge* feeling like a definitive conclusion, the franchise is not over. Creator James DeMonaco has confirmed he has completed the script for an untitled sixth film, commonly referred to as *The Purge 6*. The latest updates confirm that the film is actively in development and will feature the highly-anticipated return of Leo Barnes, with Frank Grillo set to reprise his role.

The Purge 6: A Divided America

DeMonaco has described the new film as a sequel to *The Forever Purge*, set 10 years after the events of the last film. The core concept is a terrifying new vision of America: a country so fractured by the "Forever Purge" that it has been remapped and divided based on ideology, sexual orientation, and race. Leo Barnes will navigate this new, balkanized United States, which has been fractured into a collection of micro-nations, each with its own rules and borders.

The film is expected to delve deeper into the political commentary that has always been the franchise's backbone, exploring themes of extreme polarization and societal breakdown. While Universal has yet to officially greenlight the project or announce a release date, the script is reportedly in the hands of the studio, and the creative team, including director James DeMonaco, is ready to move forward. This next installment promises to be the "last of the last of the last," according to Frank Grillo, offering a final, massive scope to the saga.

The Purge Franchise: Essential Entities and Topical Authority

Understanding the political and social entities is key to grasping the franchise's topical authority. The films are not just about violence; they are a chilling critique of class warfare, social inequality, and political corruption.

  • New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA): The totalitarian ruling party that institutionalized the annual Purge, claiming it was for the good of the country's economy and crime rate.
  • Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo): The central heroic figure who evolves from a vengeful LAPD sergeant to a protector and key political figure fighting to end the Purge.
  • Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell): The anti-Purge presidential candidate in *Election Year* who successfully abolishes the event, only for it to be reinstated by rogue elements.
  • Dr. May Updale: The sociologist who first proposed the Purge as a "social experiment" but quickly lost control of the violent, government-manipulated event.
  • Ever After Purgers: The extremist groups introduced in *The Forever Purge* who reject the 12-hour limit, believing the violence should continue indefinitely.
  • The Purge's Social Commentary: The central theme is the systemic elimination of the poor and marginalized, as the wealthy can afford high-tech security systems, leaving the less fortunate vulnerable to the annual slaughter.

The entire franchise, from the contained terror of the Sandin family's home in the first film to the national collapse in *The Forever Purge*, serves as a powerful, albeit brutal, exploration of what happens when a government weaponizes the concept of freedom for political and economic gain. Keeping the chronological order in mind is the best way to trace this dark, dystopian history as we await the final chapter with Leo Barnes.

The Definitive Purge Movie Timeline: Chronological and Release Order (Plus The Purge 6 Update)
purge movies in order
purge movies in order

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