How to Watch The Purge: Election Year on Netflix in the US with a VPN (2026)

The Purge: Election Year (2016) is currently available on Netflix in Australia. You can find the horror movie on the official Netflix Australia page, which confirms that the title is part of the country’s streaming catalog.

However, The Purge: Election Year is not currently available on Netflix US. If you’re in the United States, you can try connecting to an Australian VPN server using Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, or NordVPN. All three providers offer Australian IP locations.

Keep in mind that changing your VPN location does not guarantee access to another country’s Netflix library. According to Netflix’s VPN guidelines, the service may recognize VPN connections and limit what you can watch.

How to watch The Purge: Election Year on Netflix with a VPN

Since Netflix Australia currently carries The Purge: Election Year, you can try connecting to an Australian VPN server before opening Netflix. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose a VPN. Private Internet Access is our first recommendation, followed by ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
2. Download and install the VPN app on your device.
3. Connect to a server in Australia.
4. Fully close Netflix if it is already open.
5. Reopen Netflix after the VPN connects.
6. Sign in with your existing Netflix account.
7. Search for The Purge: Election Year.
8. Start playback if the title appears.

Australia is a suitable location to try because the Netflix Australia listing currently displays the movie normally, including its available audio and subtitle options. All three recommended VPNs also maintain multiple server locations in Australia, although Netflix may still restrict playback over a VPN.

Best VPNs for watching The Purge: Election Year on Netflix

Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN all provide Australian server locations. Their available cities and connection options differ, so you can choose based on your preferred location.

VPN	Australia locations	Option to try first
Private Internet Access (Editor’s Choice)	Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Australia Streaming Optimized	Australia Streaming Optimized
ExpressVPN	Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Sydney – 2	Sydney
NordVPN	Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney	Fastest available Australian server

These locations come from the VPN providers’ official server directories. While all three services offer Australian connections, none can guarantee that Netflix will display The Purge: Election Year while a VPN is active.

1. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is our Editor’s Choice for this movie because it offers five Australian city locations and a dedicated Australia Streaming Optimized option.

According to the official PIA server list, the available Australian locations include Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Australia Streaming Optimized.

The Australia Streaming Optimized location is the first option to try because PIA specifically provides it for streaming performance. You can find it by opening the VPN app, selecting the server list, and searching for streaming.

If that connection does not work with Netflix, try switching to Sydney or Melbourne. Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth provide additional alternatives without changing the selected country.

PIA explains how to find these locations in its streaming setup guide. The provider also recommends clearing browser data, reconnecting to the VPN, and keeping its app updated when troubleshooting streaming problems.

PIA’s current server directory does not specify a separate physical host country for these Australian locations. The availability of an Australian server also does not mean Netflix will accept its IP address. PIA’s own guidance cautions users to comply with streaming providers’ regional restrictions and terms.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another option for connecting to Australia. Its network includes several Australian cities, giving users alternatives when they experience connection problems or slower speeds.

The official ExpressVPN server directory lists Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Sydney – 2. It also provides an automatic Australia selection.

Start with Sydney, which offers two separately listed connection options. If Netflix does not work with the first Sydney location, try Sydney – 2 or Melbourne before moving to Brisbane, Adelaide, or Perth.

ExpressVPN also documents upgraded 40Gbps server infrastructure across its main Australian city locations. Its Australia VPN page describes these locations and provides additional information about the network.

ExpressVPN does not identify these Australian locations as virtual locations hosted in another country in the server documentation reviewed. However, the documentation does not establish the physical hosting details of every individual server, so users should not assume a specific physical arrangement.

While the service provides Australian IP addresses, Netflix may still detect the connection or prevent access to region-specific movies.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN offers another way to connect to an Australian IP address, with servers spread across five Australian cities.

According to NordVPN’s Australia server page, the provider lists 237 servers across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. This figure reflects the information published on the provider’s page and may change as NordVPN updates its network.

For the first connection, open NordVPN and select Australia to let the app choose an available server. You can also select a specific city if you prefer to control the connection location.

If you have trouble accessing Netflix, try another Australian server or switch between Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

NordVPN also includes SmartPlay, a feature designed to improve streaming compatibility while maintaining VPN encryption. According to its official SmartPlay documentation, the feature activates automatically when you connect through the NordVPN app. You do not need to enable it separately.

NordVPN’s Australian server documentation does not provide an individual physical hosting location for every server. SmartPlay also does not guarantee that Netflix will show The Purge: Election Year when you connect to Australia.

What to do if The Purge: Election Year does not appear

If The Purge: Election Year does not appear in Netflix search results after connecting to Australia, your browser may still have older location information, or Netflix may have detected your VPN connection. Try these steps:

1. Close Netflix completely.
2. Disconnect from the VPN.
3. Reconnect to Australia.
4. Try another server or location in the same country.
5. Clear Netflix cookies and your browser cache.
6. Open a private or incognito browser window.
7. Reopen Netflix and sign in again.
8. Search for The Purge: Election Year.

For Private Internet Access, start with Australia Streaming Optimized and then try Sydney or Melbourne. ExpressVPN users can switch between Sydney, Sydney – 2, and Melbourne. NordVPN users can connect to another Australian server or select a different city such as Brisbane.

If the movie still does not appear, Netflix may be restricting the catalog because of the VPN connection. You can also check the Netflix guide to missing movies for other possible explanations, including profile restrictions and regional licensing changes.

Netflix may detect the VPN

A VPN changes the public IP address Netflix sees when your device connects to the service. For example, connecting to an Australian VPN server generally gives Netflix an Australian IP address instead of your regular US address.

However, Netflix can recognize VPN connections and may limit access to movies or shows that are licensed only in particular countries.

Netflix explains in its VPN support documentation that users connecting through a VPN may only see movies and shows for which Netflix has worldwide distribution rights.

That means an Australian IP address alone does not guarantee access to The Purge: Election Year, even though Netflix Australia’s public title page confirms the movie’s availability.

Trying another Australian server may help with a connection problem, but Netflix may continue restricting playback. No VPN provider can guarantee access to every Netflix regional catalog.

Can you use a Netflix ad-supported plan with a VPN?

No. Netflix currently states that its ad-supported experience does not support VPN connections.

If you use a Netflix plan with ads, you may encounter a VPN or proxy error when trying to watch a movie while connected to Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, or NordVPN.

Netflix confirms this limitation in its VPN troubleshooting instructions, which explain that users with ad-supported plans need to disconnect from their VPN.

An ad-free Netflix subscription avoids this particular plan restriction, but Netflix can still detect VPN connections and limit regional content.

Does changing the VPN location change your Netflix account?

No. Connecting to an Australian VPN server does not automatically change your Netflix account, email address, password, or existing profiles.

Your VPN changes the IP address that Netflix sees. It does not modify your subscription credentials or turn your US account into an Australian account.

You can continue using your existing Netflix login information after connecting to another country. However, the movies and shows Netflix displays may depend on licensing rights, VPN detection, account settings, and other regional restrictions.

For reference, the Netflix US title page and current US streaming listings do not confirm availability for The Purge: Election Year, while the Australian page currently lists the movie. These catalogs can change independently of your account information.

Which VPN should you use?

Private Internet Access is our first recommendation because it offers a dedicated Australia Streaming Optimized location alongside servers in five Australian cities. This gives users several connection options, although Netflix compatibility is not guaranteed.

ExpressVPN is a useful alternative because it offers multiple Australian city locations, including two Sydney entries. NordVPN also provides five Australian city choices and includes SmartPlay, which activates automatically when you connect.

Netflix Australia currently carries The Purge: Election Year, making it the verified international region for this guide. However, Netflix licensing agreements, VPN detection, and server availability can change, so an Australian VPN connection does not guarantee that you can play the movie from the United States.