The Purge: Election Year can still feel pointed because it turns political fear, division and violence into the machinery of a horror thriller. That is an interpretation of the film, not a prediction about real politics: writer-director James DeMonaco said he wrote the screenplay in 2014, before he knew who the 2016 presidential candidates would be.
What The Purge: Election Year is about
Released in 2016, The Purge: Election Year is the third film in the franchise. Senator Charlie Roan is a presidential candidate who wants to abolish the annual Purge, a night when violence is legal in the story’s United States. As the next Purge begins, Roan and Leo, her head of security, are forced to fight to survive.
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![The Purge: Election Year [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61JlPiZfqYL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Purge: Election Year [Blu-ray] | $8.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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![The Purge: Election Year [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bndB2QJ5L._SL160_.jpg)
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The Purge: Election Year [Blu-ray] | $9.44 | Buy on Amazon |
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![The Purge: Election Year [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61670ayUI0L._SL160_.jpg)
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The Purge: Election Year [Blu-ray] | $13.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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![The Purge: Election Year [Region 1] [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61MUGa2dtZL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Purge: Election Year [Region 1] [Blu-ray] | $8.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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![The Purge: Election Year (Steelbook) [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digitial HD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-cw4uEemL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Purge: Election Year (Steelbook) [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digitial HD] | $89.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Universal lists James DeMonaco as both writer and director, and Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Edwin Hodge, Joseph Julian Soria and Betty Gabriel among the cast. The distributor classifies the film as thriller, horror and suspense; it is rated R for disturbing bloody violence and strong language. Universal’s current film page gives a runtime of 1 hour 45 minutes. Its 2016 home-video announcement instead lists 1 hour 49 minutes for Blu-ray and DVD, so the runtime depends on which official listing you consult.
Why it can still feel uncomfortably timely
The film’s premise puts an election, a candidate’s campaign and state-sanctioned violence in the same frame. That combination gives the story a political charge that can resonate beyond its release moment. But the Purge is fictional, and the film is not evidence that real-world politics are following its plot.
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What DeMonaco said about the film
In an interview published October 3, 2016, DeMonaco said he wrote the screenplay in 2014, before knowing who the presidential candidates would be. Asked about the film as a cautionary tale, he said: “I hope people see the bullying tactics and what someone with this kind of fear and hatred could impose upon a society.” He also described the films as reflecting society as he saw it, including class and race struggle. Those are the writer-director’s stated intentions and perspective, not a neutral finding or an agreed interpretation.
That distinction is useful when revisiting the movie: its timing may invite comparisons with current events, but those comparisons belong to viewers. The film’s lasting force rests in how its fictional world dramatizes the consequences of fear and division—not in any claim that it forecast a particular election or political outcome. DeMonaco discussed his origins and intentions in this Fandango interview.
Where to watch or buy the film
As listed on Universal Pictures At Home, the film is available for digital purchase or rental and in 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital, Blu-ray + Digital and DVD editions. The digital purchase is a limited license governed by the retailer’s terms; it is not the same as owning a physical disc. Availability and terms can vary by retailer, and the listing does not establish subscription-streaming availability.
| Format | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Digital purchase or rental | Convenient playback through a retailer; a purchase is subject to that retailer’s limited-license terms. |
| 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital | Choose this edition if your equipment supports the formats and you want the listed combination. |
| Blu-ray + Digital | A disc-and-digital option; check the listing for the terms attached to its digital copy. |
| DVD | A physical-disc choice for compatible DVD players. |
Universal also lists franchise collections. Its Purge Ultimate Collection page describes a set containing five films—The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy, The Purge: Election Year, The First Purge and The Forever Purge—plus both seasons of the television series. Check the specific retailer’s listing for the edition, stock and terms available where you live; current prices, transfer comparisons and region coding are not established by Universal’s general listings.
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What the home-video release includes
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment announced Digital HD for September 20, 2016, followed by Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on October 4, 2016. Those are historical release dates, not a guarantee of current availability. The 2016 announcement lists deleted scenes and two featurettes: “Inside The Purge,” with interviews about the film’s cultural relevance, and a Leo character spotlight on Frank Grillo rehearsing stunts and examining the character’s weapons.
The same announcement specifies a 2.40:1 widescreen aspect ratio. Its Blu-ray audio options are listed as English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/Dolby Digital Plus 2.0 and Spanish/French DTS Digital Surround 5.1; subtitles are listed in English SDH, Spanish and French. DVD audio is listed as English Dolby Digital 5.1/2.0 and Spanish/French Dolby Digital 5.1. Packaging and specifications may differ by edition, so verify the exact listing if those details matter to your setup.
Quick Recap
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