A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Positive Messages
very little
Violence without repercussion; the idea of "the purge" is still argued about, but with less force and less interesting results. Politicians seek to reduce the population by aiming the purge at the poor, while the poor show their mettle by trying to help others. Strikes against racism by showing images of hate and fear, like cloaked KKK members; but it also celebrates violence against violence.
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Positive Role Models
a little
The main character is an African American woman who's portrayed as purely good and strong -- she opposes the purge and turning to crime or drugs to climb out of poverty. She advocates that there's always another way, and that we must keep trying. She cares for her younger brother and looks after some neighbors. Unfortunately, she's also drawn to a drug dealer. Other characters are grievously flawed.
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Heavy guns and shooting, with many deaths. Blood sprays and spatters. Stabbing. Throat slashed with blade. Fighting and punching. A man fights with two women who are trying to kill him. Flaming car crash. Neck-snapping. Choking. Flamethrower, with man on fire. Some jump scares. A teen boy tries to use a gun to kill someone during the purge but doesn't shoot. A masked man grabs at a woman's crotch against her will.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
Quick but graphic sex scene: A man (naked bottom shown) thrusts between a woman's legs. Some women appear to be prostitutes. Women are objectified at a party.
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Language
a lot
Very strong language includes many uses of "f--k" and "motherf----r," the "N" word," "s--t," "p---y," "ass," "goddamn," "balls," "hell," and "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation).
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
A main character is a drug dealer. Quick scenes of characters smoking pot and snorting cocaine. One character is loosely portrayed as a drug addict. Women drink from a flask stolen (comically) from a priest's office.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The First Purge is the fourth movie in the popular Purge series -- and the first prequel, showing the beginning of the whole thing. Unsurprisingly, there's a ton of violence: killings, guns and shooting, strangling, stabbing and slashing, blood spurts/sprays, jump scares, and more. A brief but graphic sex scene shows a man's naked bottom thrusting between a woman's legs. Women are objectified, and some appear to be prostitutes. A man tries to grab a woman against her will. Language includes many uses of "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," the "N" word, and more. A main character, supposedly a good guy, is a drug dealer. There are brief scenes of drinking and drug use, as well as references to addiction. Despite the subject matter, audiences craving smart, sophisticated social commentary should look elsewhere. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
In THE FIRST PURGE, a brand-new political party, the New Founding Fathers of America, ascends to power, promising prosperity. One of their big ideas, spawned by sociologist Dr. May Updale (Marisa Tomei), is a 12-hour period in which all crime will be legal. Citizens will get out their aggressions and be fine the rest of the year. This "purge" is tested on Staten Island, where the population is generally below middle-class. Drug lord Dmitri (Y'lan Noel) doesn't trust the purge, while his ex-girlfriend, Nya (Lex Scott Davis), protests in the streets. Her younger brother, Isaiah (Joivan Wade), who's begun dealing drugs, secretly wants to participate in the purge; he was attacked and cut by the psychotic Skeletor (Rotimi Paul) and wants revenge. When the purge eventually begins, very little goes as expected -- but the night quickly turns deadly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The First Purge's violence. Is it necessary to make the movie's point? Do you think the movie celebrates or condemns violence?
What do you think of the idea of the purge? Would it really lower crime and lessen poverty? What are the arguments for and against it?
How does the movie view the rich and the poor? Politicians and regular people? How are these characters shown? With which did you identify? Do you consider any of the characters role models? Why or why not?
How are drugs and drug dealers depicted? Do they come across as cool? Dangerous? Are there consequences for using or dealing drugs? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 4, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: October 2, 2018
- Cast: Marisa Tomei, Lex Scott Davis, Y'lan Noel
- Director: Gerard McMurray
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Female actors, Black actors, Latino actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong disturbing violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use
- Last updated: May 28, 2024
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