The Purge: Anarchy Is The Best & Worst Thing To Happen To The Horror Franchise

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As a huge horror fan, I remember being really blown away by The Purge: Anarchy. It definitely took the franchise to another level, but looking back, it also kind of started a pattern that’s stuck with the series ever since. The original The Purge from 2013 was a real surprise hit for Blumhouse, and it cemented their reputation for delivering fresh, exciting horror. The whole concept was so open-ended, it felt like this series had a really bright future ahead of it.

A year later, The Purge: Anarchy came out and raised the stakes with more intense scares and a more detailed look at the film’s dark future. It set the standard for all the subsequent movies, becoming the foundation for the entire Purge series. Plus, it was another huge hit in theaters for Blumhouse.

While the Purge series continued with several sequels, none of them reached the same level of quality as the original Anarchy. Though later films made more money, the franchise ultimately became predictable due to a lack of fresh concepts. In a way, Anarchy was both the high point and the beginning of the decline for the entire series.

The Purge: Anarchy Gave The Franchise A Future

Despite being released just a year after the first film, The Purge: Anarchy is surprisingly good. Often, sequels – particularly those made quickly – struggle to come up with fresh concepts. Many horror sequels fall flat because they simply repeat what already happened in the original, offering nothing new.

Unlike the first movie, Anarchy doesn’t hold back and feels like a logical next step in the story. It effectively raises the stakes and expands on the basic ideas presented in The Purge. While the original film only suggested the political forces at play, Anarchy directly shows how those forces operate.

When it comes to exciting moments, Anarchy truly lives up to its name by focusing on action. While it doesn’t build tension quite like the first movie, it replaces those scares with a more over-the-top style of storytelling. This change is central to what makes the Purge series unique – it successfully blends horror and action in a way that few other franchises do.

Every film that followed the first Purge movie – including the prequel – adopted the more chaotic and action-packed style of Anarchy. This shows how successful the sequel was, as it essentially became the model for all future installments. It’s clear the creators had a larger plan for The Purge franchise than what was initially presented in the first, straightforward film.

Anarchy Created The Repetitive Purge Formula

While Anarchy definitely improved the Purge series, it also created a pattern that’s become predictable. Like The Purge: Election Year and The First Purge, it shifts the violence from people’s homes to public streets.

Look, the films in the middle of this series try to say something about the world, and I appreciate the effort. But honestly, it gets old fast. The social commentary feels really shallow – like they’re just hitting you over the head with obvious points. And because the movies aren’t exactly philosophical to begin with, these repetitive, surface-level attempts at satire or political messaging just become grating after a while. It feels like they keep hammering the same ideas without really digging any deeper.

The story primarily revolves around surviving the night, but this central idea feels weak without further development. While Election Year and The First Purge hint at interesting concepts, they ultimately get lost within the established Anarchy formula. Ironically, the very freedom of the Anarchy concept actually holds the series back.

The Forever Purge attempts to revitalize the series in a way not seen since the film Anarchy, but it may not be enough to reignite audience interest. Unfortunately, the movie suffered financially, becoming the lowest-grossing installment, likely due to the pandemic. However, this could also suggest that viewers are losing interest in the series’ direction, especially as it deviates from the style of Anarchy.

A New Purge Movie Is Just What Hollywood Needs

Despite their flaws, The Purge films are incredibly profitable for Blumhouse. Every movie in the series has been a financial win, largely because they’re made with very low budgets compared to most Hollywood productions. Given recent struggles at the box office, this success should encourage the studio to make another Purge movie quickly.

A new Purge movie focusing on a more intimate story could be made relatively inexpensively – under $10 million – and potentially be very profitable. It’s surprising Hollywood hasn’t capitalized on this, especially given the popularity of horror and the established brand recognition of The Purge, which could easily draw viewers.

To revitalize the Purge series, it’s crucial to move beyond the established formula. This creative shift will not only keep the films interesting but also ensure the franchise remains profitable, especially given recent box office performance. The Forever Purge demonstrated continued audience interest, but Blumhouse needs to make strategic creative choices to successfully revive the series.

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2025-11-10 00:39