In the first The Purge film, the annual event allowing all crime for 12 hours is called the Purge.
The film presents a dystopian United States where, for one night each year, emergency services and law enforcement are suspended. During that period, all crime, including murder, is legally permitted. The policy is presented by the fictional government as a way to release social aggression and reduce crime during the rest of the year.
The event begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 7 a.m., giving it a twelve-hour duration. A frequent mix-up is treating “the Purge” as the name of the entire film series only; within the story, it specifically refers to the annual lawless period. The first movie concentrates on one family defending its home during the event.
The Purge was released in 2013, directed by James DeMonaco, and starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey. Its premise later expanded into sequels and a television series.