Leave the World Behind
Leave the World Behind

Leave the World Behind

2023Movie140 minEnglish

A family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices—and two strangers appear at their door.

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Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes62%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users76%
Director: Sam EsmailGenres: Thriller, Mystery, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

A family's getaway to a luxurious Long Island home takes a sinister turn when the owners, a mysterious older couple, arrive seeking refuge from an unexplained blackout. As communication systems fail and terrifying events unfold, both families must confront their deepest fears and confront a looming threat that could signify the end of the world.

Critical Reception

Leave the World Behind garnered a mixed to positive reception from critics, who largely praised its atmospheric tension, stylish direction, and compelling performances, particularly from Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali. However, some critics found the plot to be somewhat disjointed or predictable, and the film's ambiguous ending was a point of contention.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unsettling atmosphere and strong performances.
  • Criticized for a narrative that sometimes struggles to maintain momentum.
  • The film's exploration of societal collapse and modern anxieties resonated with many.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's suspenseful build-up and the thematic exploration of modern-day anxieties and reliance on technology. Some viewers found the ending to be unsatisfying or too open-ended.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam, which was shortlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

10 reviews
Dean

Dean

Just another stupid American movie...
MarciaClarke

MarciaClarke

This movie is watchable but pretty dull for an end of the world movie. The whole mystery woo woo sound track through the first half is heavy handed and detracted from any actual suspense. The biggest problem with the movie overall is that I...
hamfaceman

hamfaceman

For the most part Leave the World Behind, an adaptation of the novel by the same name directed by Mr. Robot's Sam Esmail. Some good performances, especially by Ethan Hawke, and some nice tension building between the two families. There is a...
MovieGuys

MovieGuys

I'm amazed by the positive reviews this one is receiving. For me, Leave the World Behind, feels like a stew of half baked conspiracy theories and stereotypes of modern Westerners, set against a politely apocalyptic, backdrop. People ar...
Chandler Danier

Chandler Danier

Acting! They're good. Everyone is so good and does some acting. Gets silly in the end. Fun to watch.
徐燕华

徐燕华

The movie only told us you should buy a big house for the emergency.
GeekyRedhead

GeekyRedhead

Decent film, but the ending sucks a$$. Not sure how or why they chose to end this way instead of tying up loose ends, but "Hollywood" is notorious for ruining many a movie by taking a dump on the ending. There were some fine performances, ...
BornKnight

BornKnight

Psychological thriller film written, directed and produced by Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot Series), based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam, with some alterations in the screenplay. First of all what called my attention was the ...
Brent Marchant

Brent Marchant

What would you do if you suddenly began experiencing a series of anomalous, apocalyptic-style events? With communications crippled and transportation severely hampered, it’s impossible to figure out what’s happening or how to formulate a fe...
Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/leave-the-world-behind-review-a-thought-provoking-psychological-study-on-humanity/ "Leave the World Behind intricately intertwines Sam Esmail's directorial finesse with Rumaan Alam's thou...