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.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.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.
- Awards
- 1 win & 12 nominations total
Alex Barber
- Kid Beachgoer
- (uncredited)
Madison Jessica Bennett
- Kid Beachgoer
- (uncredited)
Sebastian Deerkop
- Beach Goer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Summary
Reviewers say 'Leave the World Behind' delivers a suspenseful experience with standout performances from Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali, and striking cinematography. The film's examination of societal themes, like technology dependence and racial tensions, is highlighted, though some find these elements overly pronounced. The ending sparks debate; some commend its ambiguity and realism, while others deem it unsatisfying and abrupt. Despite varied opinions, the film's tension and atmosphere are widely appreciated, making it a compelling, thought-provoking watch.
Featured reviews
A prophetical nightmare about the inevitable consequences of our way of living in the 21st century.
A dysfunctional family with emotionally drained bonds between them, with patterns of social arrogance, mistrust and racism in their relation to another couple, each trapped in a doom-like situation, without a point of return to normal. The way they successfully describe the evolution of a global apocalypse here is disturbing, but absolutely true. It's likely that it won't come with a Big Bang, but with a whimper, a creeping process, which no one is able to understand or control, during everything looks like normal, but under the surface, invisible, everything has already changed with fatal consequences. The occuring events are enigmatic and the uneasiness resulting from that is perfectly shown by camera movements, montage of sequences and sound design.
Nature is out of balance, natural and technical ressources come to an end, our total slavish dependance on digital gadgets makes us vulnerable, a perfect target. Ignorance won't help us out. It's devastating that many of the viewers are already unable to get the crystal clear message of this movie. They prefer to continue, ignore and entertain themselves with stupid sitcoms.
That's what the end is telling us! And that's why they don't get it.
A dysfunctional family with emotionally drained bonds between them, with patterns of social arrogance, mistrust and racism in their relation to another couple, each trapped in a doom-like situation, without a point of return to normal. The way they successfully describe the evolution of a global apocalypse here is disturbing, but absolutely true. It's likely that it won't come with a Big Bang, but with a whimper, a creeping process, which no one is able to understand or control, during everything looks like normal, but under the surface, invisible, everything has already changed with fatal consequences. The occuring events are enigmatic and the uneasiness resulting from that is perfectly shown by camera movements, montage of sequences and sound design.
Nature is out of balance, natural and technical ressources come to an end, our total slavish dependance on digital gadgets makes us vulnerable, a perfect target. Ignorance won't help us out. It's devastating that many of the viewers are already unable to get the crystal clear message of this movie. They prefer to continue, ignore and entertain themselves with stupid sitcoms.
That's what the end is telling us! And that's why they don't get it.
Started out with lots of promise for a thoughtful, tense thriller. But unfortunately that didn't come to pass. And unfortunately the ending didn't make up for the thin soup we were asked to digest for the previous hour and a half.
I can't even say the acting was terrific, because it just seemed so . . . Adequate. And the direction was off and on, with some really good moments but way too many closeups of faces just wordlessly. . . Looking.
Bless them all for trying but it just didn't hold my attention. Although I hung in there until what I hoped would be a revelatory and redeeming ending. But alas, no.
I can't even say the acting was terrific, because it just seemed so . . . Adequate. And the direction was off and on, with some really good moments but way too many closeups of faces just wordlessly. . . Looking.
Bless them all for trying but it just didn't hold my attention. Although I hung in there until what I hoped would be a revelatory and redeeming ending. But alas, no.
Amanda and Clay take their kids for a weekend break in luxury home. On The first night, communications break down, and a strange man and woman appear at the front door, claiming to be the home owners.
It's only right that I start by saying, I didn't care for the book, I read it back in January, I couldn't get into it, the film adaptation, however, I rather enjoyed.
We've all seen end of the world films before, it put me in mind of Children of Men, War of The Worlds, The Stands etc, I don't think this is as memorable, or as poignant, but it's worth seeing.
I liked some of the imagery, the ship, the flamingos, and I did like the strangeness, the curiousness of it, at no point do you seem to know what's going on. Teslas at the end of the world, that was funny.
It's so interesting seeing Roberts playing a character like Amanda, I only just finished watching pretty woman, Vivian is sassy, but cute and pretty sweet, nice to see her playing someone a little more unpleasant, I really did enjoy her scenes with Ruth.
That ending.....no comment.
I could watch Mahershala Ali in anything, he's such a fine actor, Ethan Hawke very good also.
I get why some dislike it, and on another day it may have driven me round the twist, but this afternoon, I enjoyed it.
7/10.
It's only right that I start by saying, I didn't care for the book, I read it back in January, I couldn't get into it, the film adaptation, however, I rather enjoyed.
We've all seen end of the world films before, it put me in mind of Children of Men, War of The Worlds, The Stands etc, I don't think this is as memorable, or as poignant, but it's worth seeing.
I liked some of the imagery, the ship, the flamingos, and I did like the strangeness, the curiousness of it, at no point do you seem to know what's going on. Teslas at the end of the world, that was funny.
It's so interesting seeing Roberts playing a character like Amanda, I only just finished watching pretty woman, Vivian is sassy, but cute and pretty sweet, nice to see her playing someone a little more unpleasant, I really did enjoy her scenes with Ruth.
That ending.....no comment.
I could watch Mahershala Ali in anything, he's such a fine actor, Ethan Hawke very good also.
I get why some dislike it, and on another day it may have driven me round the twist, but this afternoon, I enjoyed it.
7/10.
I'm happy I didn't listen to the bad reviews here and skipped this movie. It's very well made.
And yes, it raises more questions than it answers, but this is how it would be during an apocalypse or cyber attack. You wouldn't know what's going on and wouldn't trust anyone fully, you could only rely on some bits and pieces of information.
It wasn't boring at all, very engaging actually. The fact that most questions that come to mind when watching it are not answered, leave you thinking about what you would do and even question things in life you take for granted.
This movie is only uncomfortable for those who don't wanna use their imagination and own thoughts and expect a movie to put every answer in their mouths.
I haven't seen such a thought provoking, elegant yet unsettling movie in a long time!
Oh and by the way... the big question everyone has, what's actually going on is answered at the end, just pay attention to the conversation in the car and the computer screen.. It's all there.. What happens after? Well, finally a movie that allows you to use your own thoughts.
And yes, it raises more questions than it answers, but this is how it would be during an apocalypse or cyber attack. You wouldn't know what's going on and wouldn't trust anyone fully, you could only rely on some bits and pieces of information.
It wasn't boring at all, very engaging actually. The fact that most questions that come to mind when watching it are not answered, leave you thinking about what you would do and even question things in life you take for granted.
This movie is only uncomfortable for those who don't wanna use their imagination and own thoughts and expect a movie to put every answer in their mouths.
I haven't seen such a thought provoking, elegant yet unsettling movie in a long time!
Oh and by the way... the big question everyone has, what's actually going on is answered at the end, just pay attention to the conversation in the car and the computer screen.. It's all there.. What happens after? Well, finally a movie that allows you to use your own thoughts.
This movie was a case of throwing some many angles against the wall to see if any of them stuck. None did! This, at first, drew me in with it's trailer. It claimed it was a thriller and I was intrigued. I've never been dissapointed from an Ethan Hawke, Julia Roberts or Kevin Bacon film performance. This movie, however, changed that! The concept, of this film, seemed interesting in an 'end of the world' way but there were so many different elements going on and none of them seemed to have any linear connection (Perhaps the chaos of the script was intended to be an enhancement of the chaos of the plot) anyhow if you're looking to be dissapointed in a movie this film is for you.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe picture of the waves in the upper bedroom changes during the movie. The tide is rising. Same applies for the black and white picture in the living room which resembles a changing Rorschach' picture.
- GoofsAiring on the television is the outdated Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). This was an emergency warning system used in the United States from 1963 to 1997, at which point it was replaced by the Emergency Alert System (EAS) which became operational on January 1, 1997.
However, it is against FCC regulations to use the EAS and its related tones in TV and movies. NBCUniversal was fined $530,000 in 2014 for airing an Olympus Has Fallen trailer that used real EAS alerts.
Its likely the movie used the old EBS alerts to get around that issue.
- Quotes
Amanda Sandford: We fuck each other over all the time, without even realizing it. We fuck every living thing on this planet over and think it'll be fine because we use paper straws and order free-range chicken. And the sick thing is, I think deep down we know we're not fooling anyone.
- SoundtracksThe Rev3nge
Written by Joey Bada$$ (as Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott), Powers Pleasant, Sucuki (as Tim Friedrich), Adam Pallin, and Gregor Sperzel
Performed by Joey Bada$$
Courtesy of Pro Era/Cinematic Music Group and Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment
- How long is Leave the World Behind?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime2 hours 18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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Top Gap
What was the official certification given to Leave the World Behind (2023) in Australia?
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