The Purge is a 2013 American dystopian horror film written and directed by James DeMonaco and is the first installment in The Purge franchise. The film stars Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane and Max Burkholder as a family held hostage during The Purge, an event during which all crime is legalized for 12 hours. Despite mixed reviews, the film was commercially successful, grossing $89.3 million, far surpassing its $3 million budget.