Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Purge

  • 20132013
  • RR
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
220K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,655
53
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Rhys Wakefield in The Purge (2013)
Given the country's overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion.
Play trailer2:33
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller

A wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legal.A wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legal.A wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legal.

IMDb RATING
5.7/10
220K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,655
53
  • Director
    • James DeMonaco
  • Writer
    • James DeMonaco
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Lena Headey
    • Max Burkholder
Top credits
  • Director
    • James DeMonaco
  • Writer
    • James DeMonaco
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Lena Headey
    • Max Burkholder
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 842User reviews
    • 383Critic reviews
    • 41Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos2

    Version 1
    Trailer 2:33
    Version 1
    Jason Blum: A Brief History of Blumhouse
    Clip 3:46
    Jason Blum: A Brief History of Blumhouse

    Photos105

    Edwin Hodge in The Purge (2013)
    Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, and Max Burkholder in The Purge (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    James DeMonaco in The Purge (2013)
    The Purge (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ethan Hawke
    Ethan Hawke
    • James Sandinas James Sandin
    Lena Headey
    Lena Headey
    • Mary Sandinas Mary Sandin
    Max Burkholder
    Max Burkholder
    • Charlie Sandinas Charlie Sandin
    Adelaide Kane
    Adelaide Kane
    • Zoey Sandinas Zoey Sandin
    Edwin Hodge
    Edwin Hodge
    • Bloody Strangeras Bloody Stranger
    Rhys Wakefield
    Rhys Wakefield
    • Polite Leaderas Polite Leader
    Tony Oller
    Tony Oller
    • Henryas Henry
    Arija Bareikis
    Arija Bareikis
    • Mrs. Grace Ferrinas Mrs. Grace Ferrin
    Tom Yi
    Tom Yi
    • Mr. Calias Mr. Cali
    Chris Mulkey
    Chris Mulkey
    • Mr. Halversonas Mr. Halverson
    Tisha French
    Tisha French
    • Mrs. Halversonas Mrs. Halverson
    Dana Bunch
    • Mr. Ferrinas Mr. Ferrin
    Peter Gvozdas
    • Dr. Peter Buynakas Dr. Peter Buynak
    John Weselcouch
    John Weselcouch
    • Freak Interruptingas Freak Interrupting
    Alicia Vela-Bailey
    Alicia Vela-Bailey
    • Female Freakas Female Freak
    David Basila
    David Basila
    • Georgeas George
    • (uncredited)
    Boima Blake
    • Freak #1as Freak #1
    • (uncredited)
    Nathan Clarkson
    Nathan Clarkson
    • Freakas Freak
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • James DeMonaco
    • Writer
      • James DeMonaco
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Purge: Anarchy
    6.4
    The Purge: Anarchy
    The Purge: Election Year
    6.0
    The Purge: Election Year
    The First Purge
    5.2
    The First Purge
    The Purge
    6.5
    The Purge
    The Forever Purge
    5.4
    The Forever Purge
    The Purge: 2024
    3.5
    The Purge: 2024
    The Purge: Survival
    The Purge: Survival
    Purge
    7.0
    Purge
    Purge
    2.7
    Purge
    Insidious
    6.8
    Insidious
    Sinister
    6.8
    Sinister
    The Conjuring
    7.5
    The Conjuring

    Storyline

    Edit
    In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity-including murder-becomes legal. The police can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin's (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide. —Universal Pictures
    • violence
    • killing spree
    • class differences
    • survival
    • suburb
    • 221 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Reminder all emergency services will be suspended for a 12-hour period during the purge.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for strong disturbing violence and some language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director James DeMonaco was asked why the film began with footage of multiple purges taking place outdoors - yet he opted to have all purging occur inside one family's home. He responded, "we only had 19 days to shoot and $2.7 million to work with". If he ever got a chance to do a second one, he vowed it would be more like Escape from New York (1981).
    • Goofs
      For a while in the middle of the movie, James has a shaped goatee and moustache, which he does not have during the rest of the movie.
    • Quotes

      Mary Sandin: We are gonna play the rest of this night out in motherfucking peace. Does anyone have a problem with that?

    • Crazy credits
      At the end Credits there are radio broadcasting about the Purge Night.
    • Connections
      Edited into Everything Wrong with...: Everything Wrong with The First Purge (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Clair de Lune
      Written by Claude Debussy

      Arranged by Alfred Reed

      Performed by Symfonický orchester Slovenského rozhlasu (as Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra)

      Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

      Published by Klams Music & Co, Inc.

    User reviews842

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Wasted potential, just a generic home invasion film.
    From the producers of Paranormal Activity (as is all horror films these days) The Purge tells the story of a near future were crime is at an all time low and unemployment stands at under 1% of the US population, to compensate for one night a year all crime (including murder) is legal for 12 hours allowing society some kind of release.

    The film revolves around the Sandin family who are confronted by a group of college students hunting a man on the night of the Purge who the family had allowed into their home after lockdown. The Purgers (lead by Rhys Wakefield) drastically try to break into the family's home causing James (Ethan Hawke) and Mary (Lena Headey) to protect their children from the invaders in order to survive the night.

    The main problem with the film is the premise itself, whilst interesting is filled with flaws and holes that just make the whole idea ridiculous. Such as what happens to the serial killers and career criminals of this world? Do they just control their urges to kill or steal for the other 364 days until the next Purge, as well what if someone has a heart attack on the night of The Purge? Is it just a case of bad luck you chose the wrong night to need medical care?

    Despite the flaws of the premise, the film repeatedly ignores the possibilities of the premise, instead of exploring the ideas behind the Purge or the events that occur on the night of the Purge from different perspectives and situations. Instead the film settles for a typical home invasion story that although done well, is nothing we haven't seen done in many other films. The Purge in the end seems to only be the premise of this film to stop the age old question of "Why don't they just call the police?" in home invasion films.

    To the films credit it is quite subtle, there's a running theme that the Purge is just an excuse for the upper classes to exterminate the poor, driven by all the attackers wearing prep school blazers and the person they are chasing wearing dog tags around his neck. The film also contains some strong performances, especially from Ethan Hawke (Training Day, Lord of War) and Lena Headey (Dredd, Game of Thrones) who carry the film throughout. The film also has a twist near the end which allows the audience to get inside the heads of the people during this night.

    That cant be said for the leader of the Purger's played by Rhys Wakefield (Sanctum, Home and Away)whose performance is slightly cringe worthy, hes trying to be psychotic yet in control of the proceedings but it just comes across as a amateur dramatics' version of The Joker. He just never seems like a really threat and just a creepy next door neighbour.

    The film also contains some bizarre and just plain weird set pieces, such as the families' son who builds a spy camera on a chard baby doll on the top of a rhino tank from Warhammer 40,000. The thing looks like a demented contraption from Sid's bedroom in Toy Story.

    Overall, The Purge is an OK home invasion film, there are moments of suspense and a couple of jump scares are effective. The wasted potential of the premise is the films main downfall which could have lead to a more effective and possible original film then what we got in the end.
    helpful•207
    68
    • dannyobrien247
    • Jun 10, 2013

    FAQ2

    • How plausible is the premise of this film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 7, 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Vigilandia
    • Filming locations
      • Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Platinum Dunes
      • Blumhouse Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $64,473,115
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $34,058,360
      • Jun 9, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $89,328,627
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Box Office: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Rules Again as ‘Firestarter’ Flames Out
    Box Office: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Rules Again as ‘Firestarter’ Flames Out
    May 15Variety Film + TV
    TVLine Items: Resident Evil Series Teaser, Josh Kelly Joins Gh and More
    TVLine Items: Resident Evil Series Teaser, Josh Kelly Joins Gh and More
    May 12TVLine.com

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Rhys Wakefield in The Purge (2013)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of The Purge (2013) in Australia?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.