The Purge Movies In Order: The Ultimate Chronological Timeline & The Latest Update On Purge 6

The Purge franchise has cemented its place as one of the most provocative and successful dystopian horror series of the modern era. The concept—a single 12-hour period of lawlessness where all crime, including murder, is legal—is a chilling reflection of societal fears and has spawned five feature films, a two-season television series, and a highly-anticipated new installment. If you are looking to dive into this brutal universe, understanding the correct viewing order is essential to fully grasp the evolution of the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) and the resistance against them.

As of December 2025, the franchise continues to expand. The latest and most exciting news confirms that franchise creator James DeMonaco is actively developing the next film, tentatively titled The Purge 6, promising a return to form and the comeback of a fan-favorite character. This guide provides the definitive list for watching the movies in both the order they were released and the order they occur within the terrifying Purge Universe timeline.

The Definitive Purge Universe Timeline (Chronological Order)

For viewers who want to follow the story of the NFFA’s rise and fall, starting with the very first "experiment" and ending with the national nightmare that becomes "The Forever Purge," the chronological order is the most rewarding. This timeline jumps back and forth from the release order, offering a deeper understanding of the political and social context behind the annual 12-hour period of lawlessness.

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1. The First Purge (2018)

   In-Universe Year: 2017

   This prequel is the true starting point of the Purge chronology. It details the very first "experiment" with the Purge, confined to Staten Island, New York, under the direction of the NFFA and its lead sociologist, Dr. May Updale (known as "The Architect"). The government uses the event as a social experiment to lower crime and unemployment. The film focuses on local drug lord Dmitri Cimber (Y'lan Noel) and activist Nya Charms (Lex Scott Davis) as they fight for survival against the NFFA's sinister manipulation, which includes sending in professional mercenaries to boost the body count when citizens fail to embrace the violence.

2. The Purge (2013)

   In-Universe Year: 2022

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   The original film jumps ahead five years after the Staten Island experiment, showing the Purge as a fully national, accepted annual event. The story is a contained home-invasion thriller centered on the wealthy Sandin family—James Sandin (Ethan Hawke), Mary Sandin (Lena Headey), and their children—who live in a gated community. Their high-tech security system is breached when their son Charlie Sandin allows a wounded "Stranger" into their home, making them a target for a group of masked, polite Purgers.

3. The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

   In-Universe Year: 2023

   Moving out of the confines of a single home, Anarchy explores the chaos on the streets of Los Angeles. The film introduces the franchise's most popular character, Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo), an off-duty Sergeant on a personal mission of revenge. He reluctantly becomes the protector of a group of citizens, including Eva Sanchez, her daughter Cali Sanchez, and a couple named Shane and Liz, who are caught on the streets when their armored car breaks down. This movie reveals the darker truth that the NFFA uses the Purge to systematically eliminate the poor and disenfranchised.

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4. The Purge Television Series (2018–2019)

   In-Universe Year: 2027–2031 (Estimated)

   The two-season TV series provides a broader, more detailed look at the years between major film events, focusing on the build-up to the Purge and its lasting psychological effects. It explores different storylines in various locations, including the rise of anti-Purge resistance movements and the moral dilemmas faced by ordinary citizens.

5. The Purge: Election Year (2016)

   In-Universe Year: 2040

   Set 17 years after Anarchy, this film brings back Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo), who is now the head of security for Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell). Senator Roan is a presidential candidate whose platform is based entirely on abolishing the Purge—a personal mission after her family was murdered during a Purge night years earlier. The NFFA attempts to assassinate Roan during the annual event, forcing Barnes to protect her on the streets of Washington D.C., leading to a climactic battle over the future of the country.

6. The Forever Purge (2021)

   In-Universe Year: Post-2040

   The latest installment takes place after the events of Election Year, which resulted in the Purge being reinstated. The central characters are Adela (Ana de la Reguera) and Juan (Tenoch Huerta), a Mexican immigrant couple seeking a better life in Texas. The plot revolves around a rogue movement of Purgers who decide that the annual 12-hour event is not enough, declaring a "Forever Purge" that continues past the official siren. This escalation forces Adela, Juan, and the wealthy Tucker family (including Josh Lucas's Dylan Tucker) to flee across the border to safety.

The Purge Movies in Release Date Order

If you prefer to experience the franchise as the audience did, watching the films in their release order is the best choice. This method allows you to appreciate how the scope of the movies expanded, moving from a claustrophobic home invasion to a city-wide chase, and finally to a national and then continuous crisis. The release order also allows you to see the evolution of the franchise's budget and political commentary.

• The Purge (2013)
• The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
• The Purge: Election Year (2016)
• The First Purge (2018)
• The Purge Television Series (2018–2019)
• The Forever Purge (2021)

What We Know About The Purge 6: The Latest Update

The events of The Forever Purge left the United States in a state of perpetual violence, suggesting a definitive end to the annual 12-hour period. However, the dystopian horror franchise is not over. As of December 2025, a sixth film is officially in development, with franchise creator James DeMonaco returning to write the script.

The working title or rumored title for the new installment is often cited as The Purge 6: Reckoning, though this has not been officially confirmed by Universal Pictures or Blumhouse Productions. The most significant update is the expected return of a fan-favorite character: Leo Barnes, played by Frank Grillo. DeMonaco has stated that the next film would bring back Barnes and explore a new, fractured America.

The plot of The Purge 6 is expected to take place several years after The Forever Purge. The country has been divided by class, ideology, and sexual orientation, with each group being assigned a specific territory. The new film will explore how a Purge would function in a country that is no longer a unified nation but a collection of segregated states, offering a fresh, high-concept take on the dystopian lore.

Key Entities and Lore of The Purge Franchise

The topical authority of the Purge universe is built on a foundation of political commentary and chilling world-building. Understanding these core entities is key to appreciating the films' deeper narrative:

• New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA): The totalitarian political party that takes control of the U.S. government and institutes the annual Purge as a way to "cleanse" the nation and lower crime rates.
• The Annual Purge: A 12-hour period (7 PM to 7 AM) on March 21st, where all emergency services are suspended, and all crime is legalized. The NFFA claims it is for "catharsis," but it is a tool for class-based population control.
• Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo): Introduced in Anarchy, he is the central heroic figure of the middle trilogy, first seeking revenge and then becoming a political bodyguard for Senator Charlie Roan. His likely return in Purge 6 is a major development.
• Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell): The anti-Purge presidential candidate who survives an assassination attempt by the NFFA in Election Year and successfully abolishes the Purge, only for it to be reinstated later.
• Dmitri Cimber (Y'lan Noel): The resourceful protector who fights back against the NFFA's mercenaries during the first-ever Purge experiment in The First Purge.
• The Forever Purge: The concept of an unofficial, never-ending Purge that begins after the official 12-hour period ends, forcing the U.S. government to declare martial law.
• James DeMonaco: The creative mastermind behind the entire franchise, writing all five films and directing the first three. His return for The Purge 6 is a massive vote of confidence for the series' direction.

Whether you choose to follow the gritty realism of the release order or the expansive political narrative of the chronological timeline, the Purge franchise offers a disturbing and thought-provoking look at a society on the brink. With The Purge 6 on the horizon, the dystopian action-horror series is far from finished.