Movies like
Loved the vibe? Here are ten films that hit similar notes—with match scores, reasons to watch, and where to stream in the US.
The First Purge (2018) stuck because it commits to its action premise without apologizing—viewers remember set pieces and momentum as much as plot. Gerard McMurray's control of tone keeps the ride coherent. The action and horror blend is the engine: it lets the film shift registers without feeling like two different movies stitched together.
Runtime 1h 37m · ★ 6.0
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Showing 10 of 10 picks
★ 6.4 · Action · Horror · Thriller · 1h 49m
Why you'll love it
The Purge: Election Year shares The First Purge's gift for action — the 2016 film delivers horror without overstaying its welcome. Consider it required viewing once you've finished rewatching your first pick.
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★ 6.6 · Action · Thriller · Horror · 1h 30m
Why you'll love it
Much of what makes The First Purge compelling — the action, the horror — shows up in The Hunt (2020) in a slightly different form. Both films understand that dark storytelling works best when it trusts the audience.
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★ 6.9 · Action · Horror · Thriller · 1h 43m
Why you'll love it
The action energy of The First Purge is alive in The Forever Purge (2021), filtered through a different story but the same emotional register. It earns its place on this list with a dark payoff that rivals the original pick.
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★ 6.4 · Action · Science Fiction · Thriller · 1h 59m
Why you'll love it
Insurgent (2015) operates in the same action as The First Purge, but with its own distinct voice and pacing. The tense payoff will feel satisfyingly familiar without retreading the same ground.
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★ 6.6 · Horror · Thriller · 1h 43m
Why you'll love it
The Purge: Anarchy (2014) belongs to the same conversation as The First Purge — both anchor their horror in thriller emotion that doesn't let go. The dark undercurrent connects them more than any plot summary would suggest.
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★ 7.8 · Drama · Horror · Thriller · 2h 18m
Why you'll love it
If The First Purge's horror stayed with you, Rosemary's Baby (1968) delivers the same sensation through an entirely different story. The thriller through-line is the real common thread between them.
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★ 7.0 · Horror · Thriller · Crime · 2h 3m
Why you'll love it
Where The First Purge excels in horror, Scream VI (2023) doubles down on thriller to comparable effect. The tonal similarities run deep enough that watching both back-to-back feels intentional.
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★ 6.6 · Horror · Thriller · Science Fiction · 1h 55m
Why you'll love it
28 Years Later (2025) is the natural next step after The First Purge: same horror DNA, different perspective. The dark streak and thriller elevate it well above a simple genre exercise.
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★ 6.3 · Action · Science Fiction · Thriller · 1h 51m
Why you'll love it
Fans of The First Purge who respond to its action will find Repo Men (2010) immediately familiar. Both films share a thriller sensibility without ever feeling like carbon copies of each other.
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★ 6.3 · Horror · Thriller · 1h 26m
Why you'll love it
There's a reason The First Purge fans keep landing on Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI (1986) — the horror is unmistakably related even when the plots diverge. Both films operate on the same emotional frequency, especially in their third acts.
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