Frank Grillo’s 2016 horror movie about a dystopian USA has pushed onto streaming charts, almost nine years after it was originally released in theaters. Grillo is best known for his action movies, from the grounded events of movies likeEnd of Watch, to his role in thecast ofCreature Commandosas Rick Flag Sr., part of the wider DC Universe.The actor is also no stranger to superhero franchises beyond the DCU, having also portrayed Crossbones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These roles, however, extend further than just his recognizable action portrayals.
Grillo’s multifaceted roles in action films and the superhero genre have also made their way to live-action TV, with him taking on the role of Bill Bevilaqua on thecast ofTulsa Kingseason 2, starring opposite Sylvester Stallone. While the DCU appears to be his current franchise focus, with plans to appear inSupermanandPeacemakerseason 2, it’s not the only ongoing franchise he’s lent his talents to.There is a dystopian horror series that he’s also well-known for, and one that’s suddenly become more popular on streaming this week.
The Purge: Election Year Is Now A Streaming Success
The Film Suddenly Appeared On Streaming Charts
Now,The Purge: Election Yearhas pushed its way onto streaming charts, becoming a success nine years after it was originally released in theaters. The third movie inThe Purgefilm series,Election Yearfollows Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell),a presidential candidate who’s targeted during the annual Purge after vowing to end the practiceupon election. She is defended by Grillo’s Frank Barnes, her head of security originally introduced in the previous film,The Purge: Anarchy. Despite a 55% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was a box office success, earning $118.6 million against a $10 million budget.
How The Forever Purge Makes Election Year Pointless
The Forever Purge is a good sequel in many ways, but in the process of telling its story, The Purge: Election Year is rendered entirely pointless.
Now,Flixpatrolreports thatThe Purge: Election Yearhas become a streaming hit on Max, growing to Number 10 on the streamer’s Top 10 movies in the US for August 17, 2025. This is the first time the movie has managed to make the list, knocking the comedy specialBill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?off the list. The movie comes in underThe Front Room,Jason Bourne, Blue Velvet, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Juror #2, The Accountant, Keeping Up with the Joneses, Den of Thieves, and Max’s Number 1 movie as of writing,A Different Man.
What The Purge: Election Year’s Streaming Success Says About The Movie
Its Popularity Has Some Alarming Timing
The Purge: Election Year’s middling reviewshaven’t deterred it from becoming a streaming success, arriving with some alarming timing when considering current events.Its popularity comes just one day after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, reflecting some fearful sentiments surrounding his upcoming presidency. While theGrillo-led movie isn’t likely to happen in real life, its popularity emphasizes some mindsets in the US at this time, bolstering the film’s popularity during a political time of the year.
A sixth movie inThe Purgefranchise is currently in development, with Grillo set to return as Frank Barnes.
The Purge: Election Year
Cast
The third film in the Purge franchise from Blumhouse, The Purge: Election Year, takes place amid a contentious election where two candidates, one who seeks to keep the purge in place and one who seeks to ban the practice across the entire United States. Candidate Roan, who lost her family during a purge night nearly two decades prior, has grown up to run for president to ensure no one ever suffers as she did. However, the current ruling administration intends to keep the status quo – and for the coming purge, it’s now open season on government officials.
