What Is The Order Of The Purge Movies

Okay, let's talk The Purge. You know, that movie series where all crime is legal for 12 hours? Sounds like a wild Tuesday, right?

But here's the thing. Figuring out the order of these movies is trickier than navigating a midnight run to Walmart on Purge night.

The "Official" Order (aka, What They Want You To Think)

The studio wants you to believe this is the way: The Purge (2013), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), The Purge: Election Year (2016), The First Purge (2018), and The Forever Purge (2021).

Seems straightforward, right? Chronological release order equals chronological story order. Easy peasy.

But Here's My Unpopular Opinion...

Nah. I'm gonna be that guy. The one who insists on rearranging the furniture. Because the real order, the one that makes the most sense in my slightly unhinged brain, is a bit different.

Hear me out. I think The First Purge should definitely be first. It tells the origin story, duh.

Then comes The Purge. We see the Sandins and their privileged nightmare. It’s contained. Isolated.

Next, The Purge: Anarchy explodes onto the scene. Way bigger. Way more chaotic. Frank Grillo is there being awesome.

After that, The Purge: Election Year follows. It builds on Anarchy. The political stakes are higher.

And finally, we get The Forever Purge. Because, logically, if the Purge keeps happening, eventually someone's gonna say, "Nah, let's just keep going."

So My "Better" Purge Movie Order?

Get ready to screenshot this:

1. The First Purge
2. The Purge
3. The Purge: Anarchy
4. The Purge: Election Year
5. The Forever Purge

I know, I know. You're probably thinking, "This person is insane!" And you're not entirely wrong.

But think about it! Watching the story unfold this way, you see the Purge evolve. You witness its progression from a controlled experiment to a nationwide, then potentially never-ending, catastrophe.

"It's all about the journey, man!" - Some dude, probably during the Purge.

Also, I think it makes Frank Grillo's story arc in Anarchy and Election Year flow better. He's the reluctant hero we didn't know we needed.

Ultimately, watch them in whatever order makes you happy. Maybe you like the release order. Maybe you think my order is slightly less terrible. Maybe you think all the movies are equally terrifying. Your call.

Just remember to lock your doors and stock up on popcorn. And maybe avoid discussing politics with your neighbors on Purge night... just in case.

Oh, and if you see Frank Grillo, tell him I said "hi." And that I think he should be in all the movies.

Happy purging! (But, you know, don't actually purge. That's illegal. Except for those 12 hours... but still, don't.)