How to watch The Purge franchise in chronological order

Imagine a world where there is no crime, but for one night, every crime is legal; that's the twisted world of The Purge. A franchise created by James DeMonaco that blends horror, action, and tough social commentary. It follows a dystopian American society where the government has a bizarre way of stabilizing the society.

It does so by stirring up chaos for one night, by making every crime legal just for one night. Sounds scary, but intriguing at the same time. The franchise stands tall with six movies and a TV series, with brutal and messy consequences of the government's decisions. It is a deep dive into the politics and greed of such a society and a perfect depiction of a world with no rules.

If this film is something that interests you and it is suggested that you follow proper chronology while watching the franchise. You can follow the traditional route of following the series by date of release, or you can watch it prequel-first and watch the entire fiasco unfold in front of your eyes.

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How to watch The Purge franchise in chronological order

The film stars big Hollywood names like Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey, along with Edwin Hodge, Gabriel Chavarria, and Adelaide Kane. The actual chronology of the franchise 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)

After the success of the film series, the makers decided to create an anthology TV series by the same name that aired in September 2018. It ran for two seasons before being cancelled in May 2020.

But instead of following the path taken by many, you can choose the path less travelled. Instead of watching the movie series based on release dates, you can watch it based on the story. Think of it as a Purge-themed buffet that will help you follow the story and make sense of many things that will follow. So, buckle up and learn how to purge properly.

1) The First Purge (2018)

The film is the fourth in the series, but it is the one where it all began. It is here that the New Founding Fathers of America created a holiday where crime was legal. For 12 hours, Staten Island became a hotspot for the most twisted experiment ever: stay home and receive $5000, or roam free around town and unleash the demon inside you.

The goal for the politicians was to see if human chaos could be toyed with, and they messed around and found out. The film sets the stage for the movie franchise and explores the moral rot that led to the disturbing events.

2) The Purge (2013)

Here is where we meet the protagonists through whose eyes fans see how twisted the experiment is: the Sandin family. They are one of the affluent, secure, and happily ignorant families who have no idea what the world has become. They learn it the hard way on Purge night when they discover that their 'ultra-secure' home isn't any safer than other houses.

They get a nasty reminder that wealth can't save you if the law is suspended. The film is very tense with minimalist horror; it's as if Home Alone was directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

3) The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

After exploring a family, the viewers are taken to the streets of Los Angeles, where everything has gone haywire. The city is laced with death squads, human hunting auctions, and resistance groups. It is here that the viewers are introduced to the protagonist Leo Barnes.

He, just like many others in the city, intended vengeance, but had a change of heart and ended up becoming a messiah of the civilians, particularly for Eva and her daughter Cali. The message of the film is that The Purge isn't just restricted to the rich neighbourhood, but has become systemic.

4) The Purge: Election Year (2016)

This film explores the political aspect of the movie. In the movie, viewers meet Senator Charlie Roan, a childhood survivor of the horrific Purge nights. He is running for president, and his campaign revolves around his anti-Purge program.

But the NFFA isn't too happy about it, so they decide to deal with Roan most creatively; they legalize political assassinations that night. Roan becomes a target and the moral compass of the film.

5) The Forever Purge (2021)

Just when you thought the nightmare was over, you are hit with the reality that it never was over. The Purge was never contained and has become eternal. As it is accurately said that once the tiger tastes blood, it will want nothing more, in the same way the society has become addicted to the Purge.

There are Xenophobic groups are high on a rampage, and the vigilantes who wait for the Purge night like a child waiting for Christmas start getting greedy, and their hunger for more than one night increases. The few sane Americans are fleeing the madness. Everything is rapidly moving towards an apocalyptic time where lawlessness and society are on a collapse.

Bonus: The Purge TV series (2018-2019)

If you liked watching the movies, then the TV series will feel like a bonus. It is an anthology series with two seasons, fully loaded with mayhem. Season 1 is set in 2027 (only one and a half years to go) and focuses on death cults, revenge plots, and elite parties. Season 2 has the same concept and is set around 2036-37, showing how societal wounds can fester if not solved in time.

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The best part about watching a franchise chronologically is the thematic evolution that unfolds. Plus, it is a treat for all the nerds who enjoy following timeline orders. With this franchise, if you follow the order listed above, you will see the origin, the mayhem, and the result unfold in such a way that you will almost feel like you are a part of the entire process.

A fun fact about the franchise is that although The Forever Purge was supposed to be the last film of the series, it seems like producer Jason Blum is not done with the franchise just yet, so good news for all the fans, another sequel is in the making.