The Purge: Election Year (2016)
Two years after choosing not to kill the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Leo Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlene Roan, the front runner in the next Presidential election due to her vow to eliminate the Purge. On the night of what should be the final Purge, a betrayal from within the government forces Barnes and Roan out onto the street where they must fight to survive the night.
Details
Budget
$10,000,000
Rating
6/10 (5282 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Why Not Productions, Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Platinum Dunes, Dentsu Entertainment, Fuji Television Network, Man in a Tree Productions
About The Purge: Election Year
Set two years after the events of its predecessor, "The Purge: Election Year" continues the dystopian narrative where all crime, including murder, is legal for a 12-hour period annually. This installment focuses on Senator Charlene Roan, a presidential candidate committed to ending the Purge. She runs on a platform directly opposing the New Founding Fathers' policy, which has been in place for two decades. The film positions itself around the political machinations surrounding this controversial event.
The plot follows Senator Roan, guarded by former police sergeant Leo Barnes, as they face the dangers of the Purge night. A betrayal within the government forces them onto the streets, where they must survive the night amidst the chaos and violence that ensues. The narrative explores themes of political corruption and the fight against a system that condones brutality.
Critically, the film received mixed reviews, with a 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 55/100 on Metacritic. The audience score on IMDb is 6.0 based on over 120,000 votes, aligning with its 6 out of 10 on TMDB from over 5,000 votes. Despite varied reception, it builds upon the established universe of "The Purge" franchise, continuing to develop its core premise within an electoral context.
"The Purge: Election Year" falls into the action, horror, and thriller genres, with keywords such as "dystopia," "sequel," and "legalized murder" highlighting its thematic content. The film maintains the franchise's blend of social commentary with intense survival sequences.
Why you might be searching for The Purge: Election Year
People search for "The Purge: Election Year" to find details about this installment of the franchise, especially its political storyline involving Senator Roan and her anti-Purge campaign. Viewers are often looking for information on Frank Grillo's return as Leo Barnes and how the film expands on the concept of the annual Purge.
What reviewers are saying
One reviewer suggested that the film franchise, including "The Purge: Election Year," has shown an improvement in quality with each new installment, noting that the first film had a good premise but lacked a strong story, which improved significantly by the third film.
Read the full reviewAnother reviewer noted that this film is the best-looking entry in the franchise and expressed satisfaction with Frank Grillo's return, though they felt it was a step down from its predecessor, "Anarchy."
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream "The Purge: Election Year" on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock Premium. It is also available to rent or buy on platforms like Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
"The Purge: Election Year" is a fictional political action horror film, not based on a true story.
At the end of "The Purge: Election Year," Senator Charlie Roan wins the presidential election by a landslide, after surviving the Purge night and preventing her assassination. The New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) candidate, Minister Edwidge Owens, is spared by Roan, who believes defeating him in the election is more impactful than his death. The film concludes with news reports of NFFA supporters initiating violent uprisings across the country in response to Roan's victory.
"The Purge: Election Year" received mixed reviews from critics, with a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which describes it as a "nastily effective diversion" with a blend of "potent jolts and timely themes." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a B+.