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), Anarchy (2014), and Election Year (2016).
DeMonaco's first produced screenplay was the Robin Williams comedy Jack (1996), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Personal life DeMonaco grew up in Staten Island, New York. He spent eight years in Paris, France, that led him to "put a microscope" on his life after seeing the difference in the relationship toward guns and violence in Paris compared to New York. DeMonaco is of Italian descent.
He and his wife, a doctor, were almost killed by a drunk driver in Brooklyn. In anger, his wife said "I wish we could all have one free one [a murder] a year", something which helped inspire the Purge series.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Producer 1996 Jack 1998 The Negotiator 2005 Assault on Precinct 13 2006 Skinwalkers 2009 Staten Island 2013 The Purge 2014 The Purge: Anarchy 2016 The Purge: Election Year 2018 The First Purge 2021 The Forever Purge This Is the Night 2025 The Home 2026 The Last Kiss
Television Year Title Writer Creator Producer Notes 1999 Ryan Caulfield: Year One 2005 HBO First Look Himself 2007 The Kill Point Wrote 2 episodes 2009 Crash Wrote 3 episodes 2018-19 The Purge Wrote 3 episodes
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