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The Purge: Election Year

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for The Purge: Election Year R 2016 1h 51m Action Mystery & Thriller Horror Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 163 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
As a young woman, Sen. Charlie Roan survived the annual night of lawlessness that took the lives of her family members. As a presidential candidate, Roan is determined to end the yearly tradition of bloodlust once and for all. When her opponents hatch a deadly scheme, the senator finds herself trapped on the streets of Washington, D.C., just as the latest Purge gets underway. Now, it's up to Leo Barnes, her head of security, to keep her alive during the next 12 hours of mayhem.
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The Purge: Election Year

The Purge: Election Year

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Critics Consensus

It isn't particularly subtle, but The Purge: Election Year's blend of potent jolts and timely themes still add up to a nastily effective diversion.

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Critics Reviews

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Ed Potton The Times (UK) Oct 10, 2016
3/5
More interesting than most popcorn thrillers. Go to Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Aug 28, 2016
2/5
The Purge: Election Year feels like a franchise that is running out of ideas. Go to Full Review Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) Aug 25, 2016
2/5
DeMonaco serves up plenty of chases, shoot-outs and gory killings but, amid all the mayhem, he soon loses sight of the political subtext. Go to Full Review Zach Pope Zach Pope Reviews Aug 7, 2023
Fun Horror Action but AWFUL Villain characters that annoy you through the entire runtime. Go to Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Aug 24, 2022
2/5
Whether DeMonaco is visualizing a reflection of our current condition or providing a cautionary tale, his dependency on his high-minded message ultimately drowns out the drama. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Apr 11, 2022
1.5/4
DeMonaco's movie provides his audience with the very thing the movie seems to condemn: mindless, uninhibited aggression. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 15, 2026 The Purge: Election Year = a *2.5* star movie! See more B P @Bradster69 Sep 14, 2026 Not Bad, but Not My Favorite See more Santiago T @RT38046141 Sep 3, 2026 I am biting my nails they entire way! The focus on charlie roan was such a clever choice. WATCH IT NOW!! See more Chris S @Janomi Aug 10, 2026 The Purge: Election Year has plenty to like because pushing the Purge concept directly into national politics feels like a natural evolution for the series. The movie gives the world more shape by showing the system being challenged, defended, and used as a weapon of power. Frank Grillo remains a strong anchor as Leo Barnes. His shift from revenge-driven survivor to protector works well, and Grillo brings enough toughness and focus to keep the story moving. Elizabeth Mitchell also gives Senator Roan a clear moral purpose, making the anti-Purge side feel more central. The Purge-night imagery is memorable, from patriotic masks to violent street displays, and the resistance angle adds scale to the world. The political commentary is effective but heavy-handed, and the movie is not subtle about its message. Still, Election Year has strong ideas, striking visuals, and enough tension to make it watchable. See more J H @UpstateNYThriller Jul 22, 2026 8/10 Good purge movie Woman whose family is murdered on purge night, runs for office to try and overturn the purge. Someone on her security detail betrays her The black girls, and Frank Grillo are in it from that other purge. One of the best purges, they have to protect the senator who’s running for president and hunt down the current president. No likes yet See more Andrew A @rt_andrew Apr 24, 2026 A solid step up from the first two. See more Read all reviews
The Purge: Election Year

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Cast & Crew

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James DeMonaco

Director

Frank Grillo

Leo Barnes

Elizabeth Mitchell

Senator Charlie Roan

Mykelti Williamson

Joe Dixon

J.J. Soria

Marcos

Betty Gabriel

Laney Rucker

Movie Clips

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The Purge: Election Year

The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Purge Patrol The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Purge Patrol 1:54 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - All-American Murder The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - All-American Murder 2:45 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - One More Move The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - One More Move 2:29 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Pequeña Muerte is Back The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Pequeña Muerte is Back 2:58 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - They've Come to Kill You The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - They've Come to Kill You 2:57 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Y'all Need to See This The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Y'all Need to See This 2:53 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - A Man of God and Gun The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - A Man of God and Gun 2:11 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Church Massacre The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Church Massacre 2:37 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Born Again Through Blood The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Born Again Through Blood 1:52 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Killing Party in the USA The Purge: Election Year: Official Clip - Killing Party in the USA 2:33 Now Playing View more videos

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The Purge: Election Year

The Purge: Election Year: Trailer 2 The Purge: Election Year: Trailer 2 2:25 Now Playing The Purge: Election Year: Trailer 1 The Purge: Election Year: Trailer 1 2:27 Now Playing View more videos
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The Purge: Election Year

The Purge: Election Year (2016) The Purge: Election Year (2016) The Purge: Election Year (2016) The Purge: Election Year (2016) Elizabeth Mitchell as Charlene Roan in "The Purge: Election Year." (L-R) Edwin Hodge and Joseph Julian Soria in "The Purge: Election Year." (L-R) Frank Grillo as Sergeant and Elizabeth Mitchell as Charlene Roan in "The Purge: Election Year." A scene from "The Purge: Election Year." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As a young woman, Sen. Charlie Roan survived the annual night of lawlessness that took the lives of her family members. As a presidential candidate, Roan is determined to end the yearly tradition of bloodlust once and for all. When her opponents hatch a deadly scheme, the senator finds herself trapped on the streets of Washington, D.C., just as the latest Purge gets underway. Now, it's up to Leo Barnes, her head of security, to keep her alive during the next 12 hours of mayhem.
Director
James DeMonaco
Producer
Jason Blum, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Sebastien K. Lemercier
Screenwriter
James DeMonaco
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Platinum Dunes, Blumhouse Productions
Rating
R (Strong Language|Disturbing Bloody Violence)
Genre
Action, Mystery & Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 1, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$79.0M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Datasat, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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