Leave the World Behind

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Leave the World Behind

R

Released Nov 22, 2023

2h 20m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

74%

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159 Reviews

36%

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5,000+ Ratings

In this apocalyptic thriller from award-winning writer and director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot), Amanda (Academy Award winner Julia Roberts) and her husband Clay (Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke), rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Their vacation is soon upended when two strangers -- G.H. (Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha'la) -- arrive in the night, bearing news of a mysterious cyberattack and seeking refuge in the house they claim is theirs. The two families reckon with a looming disaster that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.

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Critics Consensus

An exceptionally well-acted apocalyptic thriller, Leave the World Behind steadily draws the viewer in despite its leisurely pace and somewhat simplistic messaging.

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Audience Says

After a pretty strong start, Leave the World Behind loses its way, fumbling an interesting premise with unlikable characters, unbelievable dialogue, and a disappointing ending.

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Lillian Crawford

Empire Magazine

The tension is breathless and well-constructed, but since they begin with the dial at eleven, there is nowhere to go throughout the film’s exhausting 140 minutes.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 15, 2024

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Rafer Guzman

Newsday

The end of the world is always a valuable thought experiment; it makes us start asking important questions. Alam’s book wondered: “What if?” But Esmail’s movie mostly wants to know: “How come?”

Rated: 2/4

Dec 20, 2023

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Wenlei Ma

PerthNow

We’re not in control, but Sam Esmail is of his startling, character-driven doomsday story about what happens when there’s the very real possibility everything is about to end.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 19, 2023

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Nelson Acosta

Koimoi

In these times when people see more differences than similarities, it feels important to remember that even when you probably don’t like most people you meet, we are the only thing we have for each other.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 3, 2024

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William Schwartz

Book & Film Globe

a devious film in that it’s just barely mysterious and intriguing enough that you want some kind of explanation, no matter how obvious it becomes that the explanation is going to be incredibly stupid.

May 4, 2024

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Armond White

National Review

The most insolent executive-office musing ever committed to film -- a full-out assault on the nation’s people.

Apr 12, 2024

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Steven

Really tense and thought provoking movie that is also a lot of fun, like early Spielberg.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

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Remzy

The last scene made me smile.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/25/23

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Robyn K

Film was well made and the acting was terrific. The subject matter, however, was quite perturbing...as it is so close to what we're potentially really facing. People, wake up and smell the coffee...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/23/23

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Sergio N

After a pretty good start this movie losses it's way. The characters are annoying, the dialogues are dull and the ending is the worst of it all. Ohh, and couldn't be missed the usual pandering against white people.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

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Brett C

I love these kinds of movies, and this one was worth watching, but it seems like the characters could have gone deeper and the ending could have made sense. Overall, it was great spectacle and worth streaming—I might even watch again—but I was hoping we'd see some form of realism in how to prepare or react to these kinds of events, or at least some kind of coming together of the characters. The deer though? Loved that creepy storyline whether it made sense to me or not.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

Full Review

Dakota C

movie was okay up until the very end. way to throw the whole movie away. thanks for wasting 2 hours of my life. if i could rate this zero stars i would

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

Full Review

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Sam Esmail

Director

Julia Roberts

Amanda Sandford

Mahershala Ali

G. H. Scott

Ethan Hawke

Clay Sandford

Myha'la Herrold

Ruth Scott

Kevin Bacon

Danny

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Leave the World Behind: First Look

2:10

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Leave the World Behind: Final Trailer

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Leave the World Behind: Trailer 1

2:08

Leave the World Behind: Teaser Trailer

1:29

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Synopsis

In this apocalyptic thriller from award-winning writer and director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot), Amanda (Academy Award winner Julia Roberts) and her husband Clay (Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke), rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Their vacation is soon upended when two strangers -- G.H. (Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha'la) -- arrive in the night, bearing news of a mysterious cyberattack and seeking refuge in the house they claim is theirs. The two families reckon with a looming disaster that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.

Director: Sam Esmail
Producer: Sam Esmail, Marisa Yeres Gill, Lisa Roberts Gillan, Chad Hamilton, Julia Roberts
Screenwriter: Sam Esmail
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Red Om Films, Esmail Corp., Netflix Studios, Higher Ground Productions
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Brief Bloody Images|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 22, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 8, 2023
Runtime: 2h 20m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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