Decoding the Apocalypse: Inside *Leave the World Behind*, A Must-Watch Among The World Ending Movies on Netflix

Leave the World Behind, the chilling apocalyptic thriller now streaming on Netflix, has captivated audiences with its unsettling premise and stellar cast. Starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke, this film from Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail delves into the chaos that erupts when an inexplicable blackout throws the world into disarray. For fans of The World Ending Movies On Netflix, this psychological thriller offers a unique, unnerving take on survival, technology failure, and human behavior under extreme pressure. As two families are forced to confront a collapsing reality from a secluded Long Island home, the film explores themes of trust, denial, and the fragility of modern life, where there is truly no going back to normal. The mysterious malfunction of technology and the increasingly strange behavior of wildlife, like the eerily silent deer, are just some of the disturbing signs that something profound and terrifying is unfolding.

Writer and director Sam Esmail shared his vision with Netflix, explaining his long-standing interest in disaster narratives, particularly those centered around cyberattacks. “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,” Esmail said. He is deeply fascinated by the impact of technology on society and how it has fundamentally altered human interaction and evolution. The film powerfully adds to the roster of the most famous film that explore societal collapse.

Based on the critically acclaimed 2020 novel by Rumaan Alam, the film benefits from Alam’s involvement as an executive producer, alongside Barack and Michelle Obama, Tonia Davis, Daniel M. Stillman, and Nick Krishnamurthy.

What is Leave the World Behind About?

In this tension-filled apocalyptic thriller, directed by the award-winning Sam Esmail, the story begins with Amanda (played by Academy Award winner Julia Roberts) and her husband, Clay (Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke), seeking a peaceful weekend getaway at a luxurious rental home on Long Island with their children, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Their idyllic vacation is shattered when two strangers, G.H. (Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold), arrive unexpectedly late at night. They bring news of a mysterious, widespread cyberattack that has paralyzed the country and claim the house they are staying in is theirs, seeking refuge from the unfolding crisis.

As the inexplicable events escalate, from technology failing completely to unsettling environmental anomalies, the two families are forced into close quarters, grappling with fear, suspicion, and the dawning realization that the world as they know it is rapidly collapsing. The film masterfully portrays their struggle for survival and their reckoning with their own vulnerabilities and places in a world teetering on the brink. This compelling narrative solidifies Leave the World Behind‘s place among powerful Netflix apocalyptic movies. The film is a production of Esmail Corp, Red Om Films, and executive produced by Higher Ground Productions, bringing a high level of pedigree to this survival thriller.

From Page to Screen: The Book Adaptation

Yes, Leave the World Behind is a cinematic adaptation of Rumaan Alam’s bestselling and National Book Award-winning 2020 novel. Sam Esmail was instantly captivated by 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,” Esmail recounted. He admired how Alam kept the focus squarely on the characters’ emotional journey amidst the escalating chaos, while Esmail saw an opportunity to explore his own fascinations with technology’s role in societal collapse through a cinematic lens. “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 found the ideal creative partner in Esmail, feeling an immediate sense of trust and artistic understanding during their initial conversation. He expressed his satisfaction with the adaptation process, a stark contrast to the often challenging experience novelists face in Hollywood. “When he sent me the script, it felt as if I was seeing this story I had come up with being reborn, yet the emotional truth remained the same,” Alam stated. He felt Esmail enriched and deepened the story, creating a distinct yet ultimately aligned experience for the audience. For book lovers, Alam’s assurance was clear: “I always felt like my book was in great hands.”

Mysteries Unfolding: The Deer and Other Strange Occurrences

One of the most unsettling elements in Leave the World Behind is the bizarre behavior of the deer. A particularly eerie scene depicts a herd of silent, staring deer surrounding the rental house, their usual skittishness completely absent. Rose, one of the children, cautiously approaches them, but they remain motionless, adding to the growing sense of dread and inexplicable phenomena. This mysterious animal behavior is just one facet of the unraveling world, highlighting that the crisis extends beyond human technological failure, suggesting deeper environmental or perhaps even biological disruptions. The film uses these anomalies effectively to build suspense and underscore the characters’ lack of understanding about the true nature of the collapse.

Eerie scene of silent deer surrounding a house in the world ending movie Leave the World Behind

Behind the Scenes: Filming Locations

The distinctive house featured in Leave the World Behind is a real location. Exterior shots and some interior scenes were filmed at a property in Old Westbury, New York. Director Sam Esmail had specific requirements for the house’s layout, particularly an open kitchen and living area for dynamic camera movement, and a pool visible from the kitchen. To facilitate the film’s unique visual style, which includes ambitious shots that navigate through walls and floors, the production team constructed near-identical replicas of rooms from the actual house on soundstages in Bethpage, NY.

Esmail praised the chosen location, noting its inherent “personality” and features like a hallway with windows overlooking the pool. This layout provided the filmmakers with the flexibility and interesting angles necessary to achieve their visual goals, which would have been challenging in a typical residential home.

Meet the Cast

Leave the World Behind boasts a formidable ensemble cast, featuring celebrated actors in complex roles as they navigate a world on the brink.

Julia Roberts

as Amanda Sandford

About the Character: Amanda Sandford is a high-strung advertising executive from New York City craving an escape from her demanding life. She impulsively books a weekend getaway for her family in a stunning Long Island home. Her planned tranquility is shattered when the house’s owners arrive, seeking shelter from a sudden blackout. Amanda can appear privileged and narrow-minded, but beneath the surface is a determined woman whose primary instinct is to protect her family, forcing her to set aside her stubbornness in the face of crisis.

Known for her iconic performances in films like Erin Brockovich (for which she won an Academy Award) and Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts brings a compelling depth to Amanda. She also served as a producer on the film. Roberts described Amanda as “a wildly challenging character” who is “complicated and surprising.” Her desire to tackle this complex role and work with Sam Esmail again were key motivators. Esmail, having previously directed Roberts in Homecoming, immediately envisioned her as Amanda, noting her unique ability to imbue flawed characters with humanity, ensuring the audience can connect with her despite her less likable traits.

Previously In: Pretty Woman, Erin Brockovich, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Eat Pray Love, Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve, Closer, Runaway Bride, Steel Magnolias, Notting Hill

Mahershala Ali as G.H. Scott facing a world ending scenario in Leave the World Behind on Netflix

Mahershala Ali

as G.H. Scott

About the Character: G.H. Scott is a sophisticated financial advisor from New York City. His instincts tell him the widespread blackouts are part of a larger, more ominous event. He flees the city with his daughter, Ruth, heading to their vacation home—the same one the Sandfords are renting. G.H. finds himself needing to convince a skeptical and resistant Amanda of the severity of the situation.

Mahershala Ali is an acclaimed actor, recognized for his range and ability to portray complex characters across genres, from dramas like Moonlight (earning him an Academy Award) and True Detective to animated features like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Esmail was drawn to Ali for his capacity to balance poignant depth with undeniable charisma, making him perfect for G.H., who serves as an audience avatar into the unfolding crisis. Ali himself found the role a welcome challenge, particularly relating to G.H.’s background in high finance, stating, “I was excited about the challenge of bringing this character to life and finishing up each day feeling like I believed myself.”

Previously In: House of Cards, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Swan Song, Ramy, True Detective, Hidden Figures, Moonlight

Ethan Hawke portrays Clay Sandford in the Netflix film Leave the World Behind

Ethan Hawke

as Clay Sandford

About the Character: Clay Sandford is Amanda’s husband and a media studies professor. He is generally easygoing and comfortable deferring to his more assertive wife. However, when the crisis hits and technology fails, Clay is depicted as somewhat helpless and ill-equipped to handle the practical challenges of survival and problem-solving in a true emergency.

A four-time Academy Award nominee, Ethan Hawke is a versatile actor, director, and author. Esmail found Clay to be one of the film’s most fascinating characters precisely because he subverts expectations of a typical family patriarch in a crisis. Esmail noted that Clay is not presented as a flawless hero but as someone who disappoints himself and his family. Hawke’s portrayal allows the audience to relate to Clay through his vulnerabilities and shortcomings, which Esmail described as a “magic trick” rarely seen with such vulnerability on screen. Hawke admitted he found playing Clay challenging because the character embodies traits he tries to avoid, representing societal “blind spots” and the well-meaning inaction that can be relatable, making judging Clay difficult without also judging oneself.

Previously In: Dead Poets Society, Boyhood, Training Day, First Reformed, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, The Black Phone, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight

Myha'la as Ruth Scott reacting to the global collapse in Leave the World Behind

Myha’la

as Ruth Scott

About the Character: Ruth is G.H.’s 25-year-old daughter. Sharp-witted and outspoken, she doesn’t hesitate to call out the elders, whether it’s questioning her father’s evasiveness or Amanda’s apparent shortsightedness. Her perspective often clashes with the older generation’s.

Myha’la Herrold is a rising talent known for roles in Industry, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and Black Mirror. Esmail praised her ability to embody Ruth’s complex nature, effortlessly shifting from a brazen, confident demeanor to moments of fear and vulnerability. In Alam’s novel, Ruth is G.H.’s wife, but the change to his daughter for the film, a decision agreed upon by both author and director, was made to inject a vital millennial perspective. Myha’la noted this change created an interesting character at the intersection of wealth, race, gender, and age, making her feel like a contradiction – “young and woke, but she still judges people for their background.”

Previously In: Industry, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Black Mirror, Premature, Dumb Money

Farrah Mackenzie as Rose Sandford observing strange deer behavior in Leave the World Behind

Farrah Mackenzie

as Rose Sandford

About the Character: Rose Sandford is Amanda and Clay’s younger child. Her primary concern initially is her binge-watch of Friends, which is abruptly interrupted by the blackout. She is observant and seems to be the first to notice the unsettling, inexplicable events unfolding, like the strange behavior of the deer.

Esmail was struck by the mysterious and otherworldly quality Farrah Mackenzie brought to the character in her audition. Mackenzie described Rose as living “in her own world,” curious and inquisitive, and acutely aware of the strange happenings before others fully grasp them. Feeling isolated when no one can explain what’s happening, Rose finds solace and escape in the familiar world of television, which is then taken away.

Previously In: United States of Al, Utopia, Logan Lucky

Charlie Evans

as Archie Sandford

About the Character: Archie Sandford is Amanda and Clay’s teenage son. He is typically withdrawn, often engrossed in video games with his headphones on, living within his own digital bubble. When communication and connectivity are lost, his primary obsession becomes finding a way to reconnect to the world via his phone.

Esmail saw Archie as a character struggling to relate to the physical world, comfortable only within his digital realm. While originally conceived as more of a jock, Charlie Evans’ audition impressed Esmail with his portrayal of Archie as a smart-aleck, knowledgeable type, which Esmail found to be a much better and more interesting take. Evans and Esmail connected over their shared love for thrillers and psychological films, with Evans noting influences like 2001 and Hitchcock in Esmail’s work.

Previously In: The Park, Everything’s Gonna Be Okay

Kevin Bacon

as Danny

About the Character: Danny is a local builder who knows the Scott family and worked on their Long Island house. He is also presented as a survivalist, suggesting he might be better prepared for the unfolding crisis than the Sandfords, although his motivations and approach create tension with the other characters.

Kevin Bacon, known for iconic roles in many paramount pictures most famous movies and other acclaimed films like Mystic River and Apollo 13, worked closely with Esmail to ground Danny’s character within the film’s themes of survival and family. Esmail highlighted Bacon’s skill in taking a potential stereotype – a gun-toting conspiracy theorist – and transforming him into a deeply dimensional character primarily driven by the desire to protect his family. Bacon’s ability to balance the archetype with genuine human complexity was crucial to the role.

Previously In: Footloose, City on a Hill, They/Them, The Woodsman, Mystic River, Hollow Man, Tremors, Apollo 13

The Soundtrack of the Apocalypse

Sam Esmail put significant thought into the soundtrack for Leave the World Behind, specifically aiming to use music that hadn’t been overexposed in media to avoid pre-existing associations for the audience. This was particularly important for key scenes, such as a moment where two characters share a dance.

Esmail explained his philosophy: “I’m a strong believer in trying to use music that hasn’t been used in a lot of film and TV because I do think people make associations.” He wanted the music to feel like another character in the scene. For the dance sequence, he needed a song that was danceable but not overly familiar, settling on “Too Close” by Next, which he felt was “really funny and sweet at the same time” and capable of supporting the scene’s shift from lightheartedness to darkness.

Here’s a list of every song that appears in Leave the World Behind:

• 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 stands out among The World Ending Movies On Netflix, offering a thought-provoking and deeply unsettling look at societal collapse driven by a plausible cyber threat. With strong performances from its acclaimed cast, meticulous direction by Sam Esmail, and a narrative rooted in Rumaan Alam’s compelling novel, the film serves as both a tense survival thriller and a commentary on our reliance on technology and the fragility of our modern world. It’s a film designed to make you question what would happen if the comforts and connections we take for granted suddenly vanished. Now streaming, it’s a powerful addition to the genre that is sure to spark discussion among viewers. Brace yourself for a chilling experience.