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For a first watch, see The Purge (2013), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), The Purge: Election Year (2016), The First Purge (2018), then The Forever Purge (2021). That is theatrical release order, which introduces the prequel after the audience knows the franchise’s premise. If you would rather follow events in the fictional timeline, start with The First Purge.
What order should I watch The Purge movies in?
The release order is the clearest choice for first-time viewers. It preserves the way the series introduced its world and later returned to the origins of Purge night.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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| 3 |
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- The Purge (2013)
- The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
- The Purge: Election Year (2016)
- The First Purge (2018)
- The Forever Purge (2021)
This sequence follows the five-film lineup listed in Universal Pictures At Home’s five-movie collection and the release-order guide from Radio Times.
What is the chronological order of The Purge universe?
For a timeline-focused rewatch, use the story years below. The years are the sequence given by Radio Times; the series’ placement is a broad span, not an episode-by-episode calendar.
#1 Best Overall
- The First Purge — 2017
- The Purge — 2022
- The Purge: Anarchy — 2023
- The Purge television series — placed between Anarchy and Election Year, broadly 2027–2031
- The Purge: Election Year — 2040
- The Forever Purge — 2048
The guide’s timeline makes the distinction easy to remember: The Purge was the first film released, but The First Purge is the earliest story installment. The gap between the first story and the original film is five years; the main film timeline then moves from 2022 to 2023, before jumping to 2040 and 2048.
Where does The Purge TV series fit?
The two-season series is optional if you only want to watch the films. In the Radio Times timeline, it falls after Anarchy and before Election Year. Universal’s Ultimate Collection includes all five films and both seasons.
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- Season one follows seemingly unrelated people reckoning with their pasts.
- Season two focuses on the year between Purges.
The series broadens the setting beyond the films’ central characters, but it is not required to follow the five-movie story.
Why release order and story order differ
The First Purge is a prequel: it was released fourth, but its story takes place first. Its Staten Island experiment shows the fictional origin of the annual event. The earlier films establish the premise before the prequel looks back at how Purge night began.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe movies also change scale and focus rather than following one unbroken group of protagonists. The first film centers on a wealthy family’s home; Anarchy moves into Los Angeles streets; and Election Year follows a senator campaigning to end the Purge. Sergeant Leo Barnes, introduced in Anarchy, returns in Election Year. A 2022 analysis in Crime, Media, Culture discusses these shifts and the political framing of the franchise, including the experiment’s escalation when participation falls short.
Which watch order should you choose?
| Watch path | Sequence begins | Best suited to | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release order | The Purge (2013) | First-time viewers who want the release experience | The fictional history begins later than it does in-universe. |
| Chronological order | The First Purge (story set in 2017) | Rewatchers and viewers who prioritize timeline order | Begins with a later-made prequel and changes the reveal sequence. |
What is the Purge in the films?
The franchise’s fictional premise is an annual twelve-hour period during which crime is legal. The stories use that premise to explore violence, inequality, social control and political power; the fictional government’s claims about the event are part of the story, not real-world evidence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you buy a collection of the films?
Universal lists a five-film collection containing all five movies, with 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD formats listed. The separate Ultimate Collection lists all five films and both television seasons, with DVD and digital formats. These are distributor catalog listings; current retailer stock, prices and streaming availability can vary.
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- Halloween 3-Movie Collection (Blu-ray + Digital)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
