Leave the World Behind is a thought-provoking and suspenseful film that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
Netflix’s Leave the World Behind was released on the streaming service across the United States today, December 8, 2023. The film stars Julia Roberts (Amanda Sandford), Mahershala Ali (G.H. Scott), Ethan Hawke (Clay Sandford), Kevin Bacon (Danny), Charlie Evans (Archie Sandford), Farrah Mackenzie (Rose Sandford), and Myha’la Herrold (Ruth Scott). The film was written and directed by Sam Esmail. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
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Leave The World Behind Movie Quotes
Leave The World Behind Parents Guide
In Netflix’s Leave The World Behind: 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. Based on the National Book Award-nominated novel by Rumaan Alam, LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND is produced by Esmail Corp, Red Om Films, and executive produced by Higher Ground Productions.
Leave The World Behind Age Rating Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what concerned parents need to know about the age ratings of the series before letting their younger children watch Netflix’s Leave the World Behind.
Language: Leave the World Behind contains strong language, with profanity used throughout. Lookout words include f*ck, sh*t, b*tch, a**, dumba**, and d*mn.
Mature Content: The biggest lookout in the film, other than the stronger language, is the violence and frightening scenes and the apocalyptic nature of the plot. Some disturbing scenes include planes crashing, boats sailing on land, explosions and bombs, dead bodies, guns, crashing vehicles, and other weapons pointed at other characters, and general chaos. There is a bloody scene that shows a character pulling out their own teeth and another showing a severed arm. The film does not contain any nudity, but there is some sexual content. In one scene, a character is shown masterbating underneath their blankets. There are also discussions about sex and other sexual references. The movie also contains drug use, showing characters smoking marajuana, and a teen vapes. Alcohol use and smoking are also shown in the film.
Age Rating of the Movie Leave the World Behind: Netflix Originals Leave the World Behind movie ratings has an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America – MPAA ratings – for language, sexual content, drug use, and brief bloody images and the parental guidelines advisory recommends it for mature audiences, an older audience, an adult audience, young people, young adults, older kids, and teens aged 17 years and older. The suggestion of parental guidance or a legal guardian (adult guardian) for this restricted R category is highly suggested for young children, teenage children. and younger viewers under 17 years of age in this R-rated motion picture for adult material. The minimum age recommendation is 17 years old.
Overall Thoughts
Leave the World Behind, released today on Netflix, is a gripping adaptation of Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel of the same name. Directed by Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) and starring Oscar-winning actors Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali, the film follows a New York couple, Amanda and Clay, who take a luxurious vacation in Long Island with their young daughter and teenage son in a secluded rental home. Their idyllic getaway turns into a nightmare when a blackout plunges the world into chaos and two strangers arrive at their doorstep seeking refuge.
The film’s strength lies in its masterfully crafted atmosphere of suspense and paranoia. Esmail expertly builds tension through subtle hints of a looming disaster and possible end of the world, leaving viewers constantly on edge in the immersive experience. The lack of information about the outside world further amps up the anxiety, as the characters grapple with their own fears and suspicions.
The performances in Leave the World Behind are consistently excellent. Roberts and Hawk are captivating as the couple whose relationship becomes strained under pressure, showcasing a range of emotions from fear and vulnerability to anger and distrust. Ali has terrific chemistry with Roberts, both delivering dialogues that will send chills down the audience’s spines. The young actors, Charlie Evans and Myha’la Herrold, hold their own against the seasoned cast, delivering nuanced portrayals of children caught in a terrifying situation.
The film’s ambiguous ending, however, is likely to leave some viewers frustrated. The lack of resolution and explanation regarding the nature of the disaster leaves more questions than answers. While this ambiguity can be interpreted as an invitation for reflection and discussion, it may also feel unsatisfying for those who prefer a clear-cut conclusion.
Overall, Leave the World Behind is a thought-provoking and suspenseful film that will stay with you long after the credits roll. It offers a chilling glimpse into the fragility of our civilization and the human capacity for both fear and compassion in the face of unknown threats.
