James DeMonaco

Writing

James DeMonaco

Born 1969-10-12 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

James DeMonaco (born October 12, 1969) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for creating the Purge franchise, writing all five films in the series and directing the first three, The Purge (2013), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), and The Purge: Election Year (2016).

Acting credits

Behind the camera

The Purge poster
6.2

Given the country's overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion.

The Purge

2013

The Purge poster
6.2

Given the country's overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion.

The Purge

2013

The Forever Purge poster
6.9

All the rules are broken as a sect of lawless marauders decides that the annual Purge does not stop at daybreak and instead should never end as they chase a group of immigrants who they want to punish because of their harsh historical past.

The Forever Purge

2021

The Forever Purge poster
6.9

All the rules are broken as a sect of lawless marauders decides that the annual Purge does not stop at daybreak and instead should never end as they chase a group of immigrants who they want to punish because of their harsh historical past.

The Forever Purge

2021

The Purge: Anarchy poster
6.6

One night per year, the government sanctions a 12-hour period in which citizens can commit any crime they wish -- including murder -- without fear of punishment or imprisonment. Leo, a sergeant who lost his son, plans a vigilante mission of revenge during the mayhem. However, instead of a death-dealing avenger, he becomes the unexpected protector of four innocent strangers who desperately need his help if they are to survive the night.

The Purge: Anarchy

2014

The Purge: Anarchy poster
6.6

One night per year, the government sanctions a 12-hour period in which citizens can commit any crime they wish -- including murder -- without fear of punishment or imprisonment. Leo, a sergeant who lost his son, plans a vigilante mission of revenge during the mayhem. However, instead of a death-dealing avenger, he becomes the unexpected protector of four innocent strangers who desperately need his help if they are to survive the night.

The Purge: Anarchy

2014

The First Purge poster
6.0

To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the others, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.

The First Purge

2018

The Purge: Election Year poster
6.4

Two years after choosing not to kill the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Leo Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlene Roan, the front runner in the next Presidential election due to her vow to eliminate the Purge. On the night of what should be the final Purge, a betrayal from within the government forces Barnes and Roan out onto the street where they must fight to survive the night.

The Purge: Election Year

2016

The Purge: Election Year poster
6.4

Two years after choosing not to kill the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Leo Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlene Roan, the front runner in the next Presidential election due to her vow to eliminate the Purge. On the night of what should be the final Purge, a betrayal from within the government forces Barnes and Roan out onto the street where they must fight to survive the night.

The Purge: Election Year

2016

The Negotiator poster
7.1

The police try to arrest expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman, who insists he's being framed for his partner's murder in what he believes is an elaborate conspiracy. Thinking there's evidence in the Internal Affairs offices that might clear him, he takes everyone in the office hostage and demands that another well-known negotiator be brought in to handle the situation and secretly investigate the conspiracy.

The Negotiator

1998

Assault on Precinct 13 poster
6.2

On New Year's Eve, inside a police station that's about to be closed for good, officer Jake Roenick must cobble together a force made up cops and criminals to save themselves from a mob looking to kill mobster Marion Bishop.

Assault on Precinct 13

2005

Jack poster
6.3

Born with a rare condition that makes him age four times faster than normal, ten-year-old Jack Powell looks like a forty-year-old man. After years of homeschooling, he enters public school for the first time, eager to make friends and live like any other kid—only to discover that growing up too fast means learning some of life’s hardest lessons early.

Jack

1996

The Home poster
6.9

A troubled man starts working at a retirement home and realizes its residents and caretakers harbor sinister secrets. As he investigates the building and its forbidden fourth floor, he starts to uncover connections to his own past and upbringing as a foster child.

The Home

2025

The Home poster
6.9

A troubled man starts working at a retirement home and realizes its residents and caretakers harbor sinister secrets. As he investigates the building and its forbidden fourth floor, he starts to uncover connections to his own past and upbringing as a foster child.

The Home

2025

Skinwalkers poster
5.1

Creatures, bound by the blood of the wolf, that can kill with curses and move at lightening speed, watching the night sky for the rise of the blood-red crescent moon. They are SKINWALKERS. They feed on our flesh and thirst for the taste of human blood. The red moon signals each pack, divided by principles, hell bent to survive an ancient prophecy.

Skinwalkers

2006

No artwork available
5.1

A look inside the Hate Crimes Unit of the NYPD

Hate

2005

Staten Island poster
6.0

Sully is desperate to give his unborn son the chance he never had. Jasper wants to escape the mobsters that have infiltrated his life and business. Parmie, a local mob boss, dreams of crushing the competition. All three men live in Staten Island, and once their lives intersect, nothing will ever be the same.

Staten Island

2009

Staten Island poster
6.0

Sully is desperate to give his unborn son the chance he never had. Jasper wants to escape the mobsters that have infiltrated his life and business. Parmie, a local mob boss, dreams of crushing the competition. All three men live in Staten Island, and once their lives intersect, nothing will ever be the same.

Staten Island

2009

No artwork available
NR

A pilot program transforms crime fighting into a cash game, rewarding ordinary citizens for capturing wanted criminals. But as the nation races toward a vote to take the program nationwide, the line between hero and hunter disappears, and the country teeters on the brink of sanctioned chaos.

Vigilant

No artwork available
NR

A pilot program transforms crime fighting into a cash game, rewarding ordinary citizens for capturing wanted criminals. But as the nation races toward a vote to take the program nationwide, the line between hero and hunter disappears, and the country teeters on the brink of sanctioned chaos.

Vigilant

No artwork available
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

Red

1994

This Is the Night poster
5.4

In the summer of 1982, as all of Staten Island anticipates the opening of a blockbuster boxing movie, an Italian-American family must confront its greatest challenges.

This Is the Night

2021

This Is the Night poster
5.4

In the summer of 1982, as all of Staten Island anticipates the opening of a blockbuster boxing movie, an Italian-American family must confront its greatest challenges.

This Is the Night

2021

No artwork available
NR

The sixth installment in the 'Purge' franchise. Plot TBA.

Untitled The Purge Film