The First Purge

Name: The First Purge
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: July 4, 2018
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Aaron V. Williamson, Christian Robinson, Chyna Layne, Cloé Xhauflaire, David Breda

2018

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Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 147 Ratings

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4.6

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4.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 147 Ratings

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The First Purge (Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 4, 2018 | R

Starring: Aaron V. Williamson, Christian Robinson, Chyna Layne, Cloé Xhauflaire, David Breda, Geoff Schuppert, Jermel Howard, Jessica Bell, John P. McGinty, Joivan Wade, Kristen Solis, Lauren Vélez, Lex Scott Davis, Maria Rivera, Marisa Tomei, Melonie Diaz, Mo, Mugga, Omari Hardwick, Patch Darragh, Qurrat Ann Kadwani, Rotimi, Rotimi Paul, Steve Harris, Y'lan Noel

Movie Facts:

The first three Purge films (The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy, and The Purge: Election Year) made over $215 million in combined domestic box office.

Summary: To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the marginalized, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spreadTo push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the marginalized, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.… Expand

Director: Gerard McMurray

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Alan Zilberman

Jul 4, 2018

The result is an unabashedly violent B-movie throwback, the sort director John Carpenter used to make, with moments that resonate with real life. Read full review

Randall Colburn

Jul 3, 2018

The First Purge is every bit as nakedly, hysterically symbolic as its predecessors. But if there’s one thing that the current political climate is teaching us, it’s that a subtle touch isn’t always the solution. Read full review

Mark Olsen

Jul 4, 2018

It’s not difficult to decipher where McMurray and DeMonaco’s true allegiances are, but by delivering the story within the framework of genre cinema at its most trashy and garish, the filmmakers convey any message as a bit of rough pleasure amid the kicks and thrills of a movie. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Jul 3, 2018

Even the most ardent fan could find its bluntness uncomfortably timely: In our build-that-wall moment, a story about a government-sponsored plan to cull poor minorities feels less like political satire than current-affairs commentary. Read full review

Jim Slotek

Jul 5, 2018

The First Purge has a lot of narrative and unsubtle subtext to cram into a movie that’s barely 90 minutes long. In fact, its big, violent finish notwithstanding, a lot of it is quite dull and its pacing inconsistent. Read full review

Nick Romano

Jul 4, 2018

While trying to hit the basic markers that have come to define a Purge film, The First Purge comes up empty when mining real-life tragedies as the backdrop for a summer movie. Read full review

Carla Meyer

Jul 4, 2018

First Purge further lessens the drama by offering a hero and villains too mercenary to care about. Read full review

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User Reviews

dairia

Feb 24, 2019

purge is film where theres bad government that dislikes the poor and wants the rich to become spiteful and disrespect the poor so they can stop giving money to people who can't work or has low wage work.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Armywild

Jul 23, 2018

La película buena, la trama es original, sin embargo pudieron explotar mejor los argumentos del inicio de la purga,el inicio y final muy bien, desarrollo algo lento hasta poder ver acción Así que un 7 es mas que suficiente

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Ralfbergs

Aug 25, 2020

If you liked other Purge movies in the series, I think you will like this one too. It kinda shows how the whole Purge started and what was idea behind it. It kind of also tries to make social commentary about situation in Usa, but in general yeah, nothing impressive, but if you like otherIf you liked other Purge movies in the series, I think you will like this one too. It kinda shows how the whole Purge started and what was idea behind it. It kind of also tries to make social commentary about situation in Usa, but in general yeah, nothing impressive, but if you like other Purge movies, you will like this one too. If you don't, then nothing new to expect here… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

whoischarlotte

Jul 9, 2018

I understand why they made a Purge prequel, it was interesting to see how it came to be. As predicted, it was politically driven. But the film itself was pretty dull and didn't remain interesting.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Rebecca31

Jul 8, 2018

It's purging season everyone. You've seen the Purge, you've seen the Purge two, you probably haven't seen the Purge three but now it's prequel time so buckle up for the very first Purge. Directed by Gerard McMurray and written by John DeMonaco, the same guy who wrote all the other purgeIt's purging season everyone. You've seen the Purge, you've seen the Purge two, you probably haven't seen the Purge three but now it's prequel time so buckle up for the very first Purge. Directed by Gerard McMurray and written by John DeMonaco, the same guy who wrote all the other purge movies. Also starring a bunch of actors who I'm not bothering to name, it's a purge movie, do you really care who's in it? Crazy, masked, knife wielding psychopaths, innocent victims and the evil corporate suits, yep it's a purge movie alright.

The controversial experiment created by the new founding fathers of America (NFFA) is ready for a trial run in Staten Island. The experiment promises to reduce crime to below 1% for the rest of the year as long as people can release all their anger and rage in one night. Staying on the island for the purge is optional yet the majority simply couldn't afford to leave. On top of that, those who do stay are offered payment and others are strongly encouraged to participate with the promise of even more financial rewards depending on how much they participate. Very much taking advantage of the oppressed and marginalized. Participants must also wear tracking chips and high tech contacts for recording the first purge. They also make the wearer look like zombies, which adds to the horror theme, so bonus. Yet much to the disappointment of the NFFA the purge doesn't have the high level of participation expected at first. But when a whole group of new gangs show up and quickly escalate the purge it becomes apparent that this is more than just a sociological experiment.

Gives everything you expect from a purge movie, extreme violence, violence while wearing masks and an unnecessary amount of jump scares. Although I think most of them came from the same person. One dimensional characters in a mediocre film. When it finally gets going it's entertaining in the moment but very forgettable afterwards. I would say this should put an end to the purge franchise but if there's one thing these low budget horror movies can do successfully it's make a lot of money. Recommended for fans of the purge franchise.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TVJerry

Jul 10, 2018

The original movie in this series featured gripping action and a compelling concept: all crimes (including murder) are permitted one nite a year. The 2 sequels are pretty bad and this 3rd continues the slide in quality. It's set in the US, where a new super-conservative party has come intoThe original movie in this series featured gripping action and a compelling concept: all crimes (including murder) are permitted one nite a year. The 2 sequels are pretty bad and this 3rd continues the slide in quality. It's set in the US, where a new super-conservative party has come into power and announces the "experiment" to deal with growing national problems. This paranoid political premise drains even more life from the series. What I wrote in my review of the last one still applies: "Once again, the situations are absurd and the action is mostly dull and uninventive. Some of the auxiliary scenes are artistically shot or visually inventive, but that doesn’t elevate the quality. It’s not exciting. It’s not scary. It’s a disappointment." These films have just become an excuse for gratuitous violence.… Expand

8 of 8 users found this helpful80

masscraft

Jul 15, 2018

Just like the last Purge movie, this is an extremely racially biased liberal hit piece. All the good guys are black or some other minority while all the bad guys are white. They even go so far as to put the white guys in KKK hoods and pseudo-Nazi uniforms this time. The hero’s are a mix ofJust like the last Purge movie, this is an extremely racially biased liberal hit piece. All the good guys are black or some other minority while all the bad guys are white. They even go so far as to put the white guys in KKK hoods and pseudo-Nazi uniforms this time. The hero’s are a mix of brutal gang banger drug dealers "with good hearts" and others "held down by the man". The government that starts the Purge is the NFFA, supported by the NRA, of course. It’s a mountain of sick, twisted liberal garbage at a time when minority employment is at historic lows. Movies like this keep black people on the dependent democratic plantation and do nothing but stir the racial hatred magnified during the Obama regime. Garbage.… Expand

7 of 13 users found this helpful76

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