The title Purple Rain can refer to both the album and the film, and they were released on different dates.

  • The Purple Rain album by Prince and The Revolution was released on June 25, 1984.
  • The Purple Rain film was released in U.S. theaters on July 27, 1984.

So, if someone asks “when was Purple Rain released,” the answer depends on whether they mean the album (June 25, 1984) or the movie (July 27, 1984).