Leave the World Behind | Rotten Tomatoes

Leave the World Behind

R

Released Nov 22, 2023

2h 20m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

TRAILER

for Leave the World Behind: Final Trailer

List

Leave the World Behind: Final Trailer

1:00

Leave the World Behind: Trailer 1

2:08

Leave the World Behind: Teaser Trailer

1:29

View more videos

73%

Tomatometer

160 Reviews

35%

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Netflix

Stream Now

Netflix

Watch Leave the World Behind with a subscription on Netflix.

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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.

Read Audience Reviews

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

CJ Sheu

The News Lens International

The film has more impossible shots than the Harlem Globetrotters.

Mar 6, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

Remzy

The last scene made me smile.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/25/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

Ian S

a perfectly adequate movie with a few solid scenes, and a whole lot more background scenes while reading news articles and checking scores.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/17/24

Full Review

Juan. S

Nothing special. Kinda boring. Acting was wack.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

Full Review

Callum D

Don't waste your time; I wasted mine for you to save you the hastle!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/11/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Sam Esmail

Director

Julia Roberts

Amanda Sandford

Mahershala Ali

G. H. Scott

Ethan Hawke

Clay Sandford

Myha'la Herrold

Ruth Scott

Kevin Bacon

Danny

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Leave the World Behind: First Look

2:10

View more videos

67%

63%

Knock at the Cabin

TRAILER

for Knock at the Cabin

89%

38%

The Royal Hotel

TRAILER

for The Royal Hotel

14%

32%

Vindicta

55%

33%

Mercy Road

TRAILER

for Mercy Road

15%

29%

In the Fire

TRAILER

for In the Fire

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

What to Watch This Week: Poor Things, The Boy and the Heron, and More

Leave the World Behind: Final Trailer

1:00

Leave the World Behind: Trailer 1

2:08

Leave the World Behind: Teaser Trailer

1:29

View more videos

View more photos

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: Rumaan Alam, Tonia Davis, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Daniel Stillman
Screenwriter: Sam Esmail
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Esmail Corp., Red Om Films, Higher Ground Productions, Netflix Studios
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

Most Popular at Home Now