The Purge: Election Year is a 2016 American dystopian political action horror film directed by James DeMonaco. It is the third installment in the Purge franchise and stars Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Mykelti Williamson. The film follows Leo Barnes, the head of security for Senator Charlene Roan, as they fight to survive the night during the annual Purge in order to prevent her assassination. Released in July 2016, the film received mixed reviews from critics and became the highest-grossing film of the series at that time.