The First Purge is a 2018 American dystopian action horror film directed by Gerard McMurray.

The prequel that recounts events that led up to the first Purge event. 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.

The First Purge stars Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, and Steve Harris. Written and co-produced by James DeMonaco, it marks the first film of the series not to be directed by him.

The First Purge was released on July 4, 2018, by Universal Pictures. It has grossed over $137 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing entry in the franchise. This film opened the door for the short lived TV show.

I could wax poetic about the very obvious political statements this film attempts to make, but I won’t in this post. However, I sill say The First Purge has some of the most impressively cool imagery in modern horror.