Exploring Leave the World Behind: One of the Best World Ending Movies on Netflix?

Leave the World Behind, the chilling apocalyptic thriller from Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, has arrived on Netflix, quickly sparking conversations about the Best World Ending Movies On Netflix. Starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke, the film plunges two families into a fight for survival amidst an inexplicable blackout, forcing them to confront a reality where normalcy is irrevocably lost. Technology malfunctions mysteriously, wildlife behaves erratically, and the characters must navigate a world teetering on the brink of collapse. This atmospheric tension, exploring societal breakdown through a technological lens, positions it as a compelling entry in the genre.

Esmail, serving as both writer and director, shared his motivation with Netflix: “I had been interested in doing a disaster movie for a while, and I specifically wanted to do one surrounding a cyber attack because I don’t think a lot of people have a concrete idea of what that would look like or how detrimental it would be, not just in America, but globally.” He further elaborated on his fascination with “the impact of technology on society… I really do think it dramatically changed the way we interact and evolve as people.” This focus on a plausible, modern catalyst for societal collapse sets Leave the World Behind apart. The film adapts Rumaan Alam’s bestselling 2020 novel, with Alam serving as an executive producer alongside notable names like Barack and Michelle Obama, Tonia Davis, Daniel M. Stillman, and Nick Krishnamurthy.

What is Leave the World Behind About?

This apocalyptic thriller centers on Amanda (Academy Award winner Roberts) and her husband Clay (Academy Award nominee Hawke), who rent a luxurious Long Island home for a weekend getaway with their children, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Their escape is abruptly shattered by the arrival of two strangers in the night: G.H. (Academy Award winner Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold). They bring news of a mysterious cyberattack and seek refuge in the house they claim is theirs. As communication grids fail and strange events escalate, the two families must confront a looming disaster that grows more terrifying by the minute. They are forced to grapple with their prejudices, fears, and ultimately, their places in a world rapidly falling apart. Produced by Esmail Corp, Red Om Films, and executive produced by Higher Ground Productions, the film explores themes of race, class, and survival under extreme duress.

From Page to Screen: Adapting the Bestselling Novel

Yes, Leave the World Behind is based on Rumaan Alam’s critically acclaimed, National Book Award-nominated 2020 novel of the same name. Esmail recounted his immediate connection to the source material: “I read it in one sitting and then reread it a few hours later — the first time as a fan and the second time imagining it as a movie.” He praised Alam’s character-centric approach, stating, “What Rumaan did so well with this story is that he kept it centered on these characters and the journey they’re all on, and I found a way to expand upon my obsessions while translating it into a cinematic experience: What if technology was the driver behind this collapse?”

Alam expressed his confidence in Esmail’s vision: “There’s a trust you have to establish with people as an artist, and in my first conversation with Sam, I trusted him and felt I understood him as an artist.” He found the script preserved the novel’s core emotional truth while offering a fresh perspective: “It felt as if I was seeing this story I had come up with being reborn, yet the emotional truth remained the same. It showed me that I had chosen a creative partner who enriched the story, deepened it, and created a different experience, but one with the same destination.” Alam reassured fans of the book, “I have many colleagues and friends who are also novelists who’ve had their hearts broken in Hollywood. I never had that experience working on this project. I always felt like my book was in great hands.” One significant change was making Ruth G.H.’s daughter instead of his wife, a decision both Alam and Esmail felt added a crucial generational perspective.

The Mystery of the Deer and Technological Collapse

A particularly unsettling element highlighted in the film involves the local wildlife. In one tense scene, Clay’s attempt to fix the television is interrupted by the sight of a large herd of deer surrounding the house, standing unnervingly still and silent. Even when Rose approaches, the normally skittish animals remain frozen. This unnatural behavior underscores the pervasive sense of wrongness and the breakdown of the natural order, mirroring the technological chaos unfolding. Is it a side effect of the cyberattack, or something more ominous? The film leaves viewers pondering the exact nature of the catastrophe.

Julia Roberts as Amanda Sandford observes unsettling deer behavior in the apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind on Netflix

Filming Locations: Creating the Apocalyptic Setting

The luxurious yet isolating house central to the plot is a real location. Exterior shots and some interior scenes were filmed at a property in Old Westbury, New York. Esmail sought specific features: an open-plan kitchen and living room to facilitate dynamic camera movement, and a pool visible from the kitchen. To achieve complex shots, including those that appear to move through walls and floors, the production team meticulously built near-identical replicas of the home’s rooms on soundstages in Bethpage, NY. Esmail explained the location’s appeal to Tudum: “It had such a personality in terms of how it was laid out, this hallway with windows that could oversee the pool… it just also, for us as filmmakers, gave us license to be able to move the camera, and interesting angles where I don’t think we could have gotten away with that in other homes.”

Star-Studded Cast Navigating the Apocalypse

The film boasts a powerhouse cast, bringing depth and complexity to the characters grappling with the end of the world as they know it.

Julia Roberts portrays advertising executive Amanda Sandford facing a crisis in the Netflix movie Leave the World Behind

Julia Roberts as Amanda Sandford

Amanda is a sharp, successful advertising executive from New York City craving an escape. Her impulsive weekend rental sets the stage for the unfolding drama. When the homeowners, G.H. and Ruth, arrive seeking shelter during the blackout, Amanda’s initial reaction is one of suspicion and territoriality. Though sometimes perceived as privileged, her core motivation becomes protecting her family at all costs. Roberts, who also produced the film, found the character compellingly complex: “She’s just a wildly challenging character… complicated and surprising… There are a lot of fine lines in making her understood, but not too unlikeable.” Esmail, having directed Roberts in Homecoming, felt she was perfect: “Julia has the uncanny ability to channel the humanity out of any character, regardless of how flawed they may be.”

Mahershala Ali portrays the well-connected G.H. Scott navigating a mysterious blackout in Leave the World Behind

Mahershala Ali as G.H. Scott

G.H. Scott is a sophisticated financial advisor whose intuition tells him the city-wide blackouts are more than a simple power outage. He brings his daughter Ruth to their Long Island vacation home, only to encounter the Sandfords. Ali, celebrated for his versatile performances in films like Moonlight and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, brings a grounded presence to G.H. Esmail noted, “Mahershala’s poignant everyman quality mixed with his undeniable charisma… was what G.H. needed, a deep-hearted accessibility that lets him be your avatar into the story.” Ali embraced the challenge: “I think what attracted me to this character was that I wasn’t sure if I could do it… I was excited about the challenge of bringing this character to life.”

Ethan Hawke plays the easygoing but helpless Clay Sandford in the face of disaster in Leave the World Behind

Ethan Hawke as Clay Sandford

Clay Sandford, Amanda’s husband, is a media studies professor whose easygoing nature contrasts with his wife’s intensity. However, when the crisis hits and technology fails, Clay finds himself largely helpless and passive. Hawke, a four-time Oscar nominee, portrays what Esmail calls “one of the more fascinating characters.” Esmail elaborated, “Clay… upends everything you’d expect from the patriarch… What Ethan did with him is so difficult… he took a character that disappoints himself and his family… but instead of begrudging him for it, you instantly relate to him.” Hawke reflected on the role’s difficulty: “I think the most interesting aspect about Clay is how much I don’t enjoy playing him! … Clay represents that in its most egregious form: somebody who means well and does nothing.”

Myha'la Herrold as the observant and outspoken Ruth Scott in Netflix's Leave the World Behind

Myha’la as Ruth Scott

Ruth, G.H.’s 25-year-old daughter, provides a sharp, millennial perspective. She isn’t afraid to challenge the assumptions and behaviors of the older characters, including her father and Amanda. Myha’la, known for roles in Industry and Bodies Bodies Bodies, impressed Esmail with her range: “Ruth is written as this really sort of brazen, overly confident person, but then there are quiet moments where her fears get the best of her. Myha’la has the range to effortlessly move from one extreme to the other.” As mentioned, changing Ruth from G.H.’s wife (in the book) to his daughter allowed the film to explore generational differences in reacting to the crisis. Myha’la commented, “Her generation interacts with technology and media in a different way… she becomes this interesting intersection of wealth, race, gender, age.”

Farrah Mackenzie portrays Rose Sandford, the observant child amidst the chaos in Leave the World Behind

Farrah Mackenzie as Rose Sandford

Rose is Amanda and Clay’s younger child, whose primary concern initially is finishing her Friends binge-watch before the blackout hits. She often seems detached, living in her own world, yet she’s acutely observant of the strange occurrences. Esmail praised Mackenzie’s portrayal: “She has this otherworldly quality just in her eyes… I found myself always wondering what she was thinking.” Mackenzie described her character: “Rose kind of lives in her own world… She’s curious and inquisitive and she’s kind of the first one to realize or see the beginning of these strange happenings… I think Rose feels alone a lot of the time and that’s why she feels like she can escape into this whole other world of television.”

Charlie Evans plays Archie Sandford, the tech-reliant teenager in Leave the World Behind

Charlie Evans as Archie Sandford

Archie is the Sandfords’ teenage son, typically absorbed in video games and his phone. The loss of connectivity hits him hard, highlighting a generational dependence on technology. Esmail noted, “I think that Archie doesn’t know how to relate. He’s got his headphones on… that’s how he knows how to exist.” Actor Charlie Evans brought a unique interpretation to the role, shifting from a potential jock archetype to a “smart-aleck type,” which Esmail found much more effective. Evans, a fan of thrillers, bonded with Esmail over shared cinematic influences like Hitchcock.

Kevin Bacon as the pragmatic survivalist Danny in the apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind

Kevin Bacon as Danny

Danny is a local contractor who worked on G.H.’s house. More importantly, he’s a survivalist, seemingly better prepared for societal collapse than the vacationing families. Bacon, known for iconic roles from Footloose to Mystic River, worked with Esmail to ground the character beyond stereotypes. Esmail appreciated how Bacon “turned what could have been a clichéd stereotype of a gun-toting conspiracy theorist into a staunch family man who wanted to protect his loved ones at any cost… making Danny come to life with much more dimensionality.”

The Soundtrack Shaping the End of the World Vibe

Music plays a crucial role in setting the film’s tone. Esmail intentionally selected tracks less commonly used in film and TV to avoid pre-existing associations. He explained his approach for a key dance scene between two characters: “When you pick a song like that, it’s really going to end up being another character in the scene… ‘Too Close’ [by Next] just fit the bill. I just thought it was really funny and sweet at the same time. That scene goes from lighthearted and playful to sad and dark within a matter of a minute, so the song had to do a lot of heavy lifting.”

Here is the full list of songs featured in the Leave the World Behind soundtrack:

• Joey Bada$$ “THE REV3NGE”
• Kool & the Gang “Misled”
• Blackstreet “Never Gonna Let You Go”
• TV on the Radio “Winter”
• Next “Too Close”
• The Rembrandts “I’ll Be There for You – Theme from ‘Friends’”
• Nirvana “Breed”
• Eminem “White America”
• Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five “New York New York”
• OutKast “Roses”
• Pop Smoke “What You Know Bout Love”
• Nazar, Shannen SP “Bunker”
• Sufjan Stevens “America”
• ESG “Dance”
• ABBA “The Name Of the Game”
• Red Axes “What Is In Your Head”
• Beastie Boys “Shake Your Rump”
• Diana Ross “Upside Down”
• KPH “Welcome to the Party – Instrumental”
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps”
• LCD Soundsystem “All My Friends”
• Beck “Lost Cause”
• M83 “Kim & Jessie”
• Nancy Sinatra, Lee Hazlewood “Summer Wine”
• TNGHT “Higher Ground”
• 2Pac, Talent “Changes”

Conclusion

Leave the World Behind offers a tense, character-driven exploration of societal collapse triggered by a mysterious cyberattack. With its stellar cast, unsettling atmosphere, and thought-provoking themes about technology, human nature, and survival, it stands as a significant recent addition to the apocalyptic genre. While not a listicle itself, its gripping narrative and high production values certainly place it in the conversation for fans seeking the Best World Ending Movies On Netflix. Its focus on psychological tension and plausible modern fears makes it a chilling and memorable viewing experience. See for yourself why Leave the World Behind is generating buzz among fans of apocalyptic thrillers on Netflix. The film is now streaming.