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The Purge

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The Purge

R

Released Jun 7, 2013

1h 25m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

157 Reviews

36%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In an America ravaged by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government sanctions an annual 12-hour period during which all criminal activity -- including murder -- is legal. James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) and his family face the ultimate test when an intruder drags the vicious outside world into their home. James, Mary (Lena Headey) and their two children struggle to survive the night while trying not to turn into monsters like the ones they are striving to avoid.

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Critics Consensus

Half social allegory, half home-invasion thriller, The Purge attempts to make an intelligent point, but ultimately devolves into numbing violence and tired clichés.

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Sarah Marshall

Bitch Media

For all its willingness to serve the viewer generous dollops of violence, noise, and terror, The Purge is oddly lacking in energy.

Feb 11, 2021

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

... though the film struggles to flesh out this rather Dystopian concept (something nearly every futuristic film has these days), it succeeds in its gripping suspense and romantic eye for violence.

Rated: C+

Sep 7, 2017

Full Review

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

An entertaining and deeply unsettling premonition of the state the US's obsession with guns may leave it in.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 5, 2017

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

The big thing with this film is the same thing with every film in this genre; it's extremely predictable and the characters do things they would never do in real life.

Rated: C+

Aug 20, 2024

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Introduces an entirely fresh and interesting premise and universe, only to completely squander that potential with a generic home-invasion thriller.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 20, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Whereas DeMonaco tries to say something is deeply wrong with a society that needs to purge its violent impulses, it’s unsettling to sit in a crowd that completely misses the point.

Rated: 1.5/4

Sep 6, 2022

Full Review

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Anthony

Perhaps in 2013, it was a good movie but watching it with today's standards, this movie felt like it didn't have the same edge to it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Vin R

Really good movie. Expressed emotions and all that, just no big plot and didn't keep me on edge. I love gorey and bloody films though!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

Full Review

Matt O

“Interesting Idea, Just Didn’t Hit Like I Hoped” – 2.5/5 The Purge had me hooked with the idea alone, one night a year where all crime is legal? That’s wild. I was expecting something intense, maybe even a little thought-provoking. But instead of showing what’s going on out in the world, most of the movie just takes place inside one house. It kind of felt like a cool idea got turned into a basic home invasion movie. There are some suspenseful scenes and a few good moments, and I liked Ethan Hawke in the lead. But the characters didn’t make the smartest choices, and I was hoping the movie would explore more of the chaos outside, not just stay in one spot the whole time. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad movie, it’s watchable, and the idea is strong. But it left me wanting more. I guess that’s why they made sequels that dive deeper into the world, which honestly might be worth checking out if you liked the concept but felt this one fell short.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

Patrick S

Unique story, action/horror/suspense movie enjoyable watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/22/25

Full Review

E6 E

Just another home invasion thriller, this one particularly boring.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

Full Review

Mark M

So incredibly slow moving and boring. The premise is interesting, which is why I checked it out. Takes forever for things to actually happen. This didn't build the suspense - just irritated the hell out of me. I kept asking myself why I was bothering to continue. I made it to the end - what a complete waste of time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

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James DeMonaco

Director

Ethan Hawke

James Sandin

Lena Headey

Mary Sandin

Adelaide Kane

Zoey Sandin

Max Burkholder

Charlie Sandin

Edwin Hodge

Bloody Stranger

The Purge: Official Clip - Home Invasion

2:12

The Purge: Official Clip - James Fights Back

2:42

The Purge: Official Clip - Time for Lockdown

2:42

The Purge: Official Clip - I'd Like to Have a Word

1:58

The Purge: Official Clip - No More Killing Tonight

2:00

The Purge: Official Clip - Thank You for Your Sacrifice

2:18

The Purge: Official Clip - Please Just Let Us Purge

2:46

The Purge: Official Clip - No One Was Helping

2:04

The Purge: Official Clip - You Are Going to Die Tonight

2:24

The Purge: Official Clip - The Freaks Are Coming In

2:53

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Synopsis

In an America ravaged by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government sanctions an annual 12-hour period during which all criminal activity -- including murder -- is legal. James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) and his family face the ultimate test when an intruder drags the vicious outside world into their home. James, Mary (Lena Headey) and their two children struggle to survive the night while trying not to turn into monsters like the ones they are striving to avoid.

Director: James DeMonaco
Producer: Jason Blum, Sebastien K. Lemercier, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller
Screenwriter: James DeMonaco
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Platinum Dunes, Blumhouse, Why Not Productions
Rating: R (Strong Disturbing Violence|Some Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 7, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2013
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SRD, DTS

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