[This story contains major spoilers about the ending of Leave the World Behind, now streaming on Netflix.]
Plenty of people tried to talk Leave the World Behind director Sam Esmail out of his film’s controversial ending — even Esmail tried to talk himself out of his film’s controversial ending.
But the filmmaker responsible for projects including Mr. Robot ultimately stayed the course, and now, just as he anticipated, the ambiguous conclusion to his apocalyptic thriller has left audiences divided. Adapted from Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel of the same name, Esmail’s iteration, which quickly topped Netflix’s top 10 list when it debuted Dec. 8, follows Amanda and Clay Sandford, played by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, who take their children Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) and Archie (Charlie Evans) on a weekend getaway to Long Island. While there, the owners of their luxe home rental, Gh Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) return, citing a blackout back in the city.
Plenty of people tried to talk Leave the World Behind director Sam Esmail out of his film’s controversial ending — even Esmail tried to talk himself out of his film’s controversial ending.
But the filmmaker responsible for projects including Mr. Robot ultimately stayed the course, and now, just as he anticipated, the ambiguous conclusion to his apocalyptic thriller has left audiences divided. Adapted from Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel of the same name, Esmail’s iteration, which quickly topped Netflix’s top 10 list when it debuted Dec. 8, follows Amanda and Clay Sandford, played by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, who take their children Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) and Archie (Charlie Evans) on a weekend getaway to Long Island. While there, the owners of their luxe home rental, Gh Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) return, citing a blackout back in the city.
- 12/20/2023
- by Lacey Rose
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Things were going so well for "Leave the World Behind." Netflix's latest psychological thriller/disaster film hit the service on December 8, 2023, and promptly dominated the most-watched charts, claiming the top spot in 85 countries around the world as of December 11 (according to streaming data aggregator FlixPatrol). Directed by "Mr. Robot" creator Sam Esmail, the film also managed to impress critics, succeeding where other Netflix thrillers such as the disappointingly muddled "Reptile" failed.
The movie holds a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing, with critics praising Email's direction and the film's overall tone, which manages to establish a creeping sense of dread throughout. The performances were also singled out as a highlight, which is hardly surprising considering "Leave the World Behind" features one of the best casts yet assembled by Netflix. With Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, and Kevin Bacon, even if the script and direction were complete rubbish,...
The movie holds a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing, with critics praising Email's direction and the film's overall tone, which manages to establish a creeping sense of dread throughout. The performances were also singled out as a highlight, which is hardly surprising considering "Leave the World Behind" features one of the best casts yet assembled by Netflix. With Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, and Kevin Bacon, even if the script and direction were complete rubbish,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Actor Denzel Washington was cast in director Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind before he was replaced by Mahershala Ali. Initially, however, the author of the book that inspired the feature was very intrigued by Washington in the main role.
How ‘Leave the World Behind’ author Rumaan Alam felt about the Denzel Washington casting Denzel Washington | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Director Esmail’s upcoming Leave the World Behind feature is based on the Alam novel of the same name. Although greatly inspired by the source material, Esmail shared that his movie might differ greatly from the novel. This was intentional, as Esmail didn’t want to create a complete duplicate of Alam’s work.
“I’m not a fan of making a carbon copy of the book,” Esmail said in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. “What I wanted was to create this standalone piece so that you could read...
How ‘Leave the World Behind’ author Rumaan Alam felt about the Denzel Washington casting Denzel Washington | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Director Esmail’s upcoming Leave the World Behind feature is based on the Alam novel of the same name. Although greatly inspired by the source material, Esmail shared that his movie might differ greatly from the novel. This was intentional, as Esmail didn’t want to create a complete duplicate of Alam’s work.
“I’m not a fan of making a carbon copy of the book,” Esmail said in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. “What I wanted was to create this standalone piece so that you could read...
- 11/25/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Updated, 9:15 Am: We’re getting an expanded look at Leave the World Behind, the apocalyptic thriller starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke, and executive produced by the Obamas’ Higher Ground. It’s everyone for themselves when a massive cyberattack occurs and the world starts collapsing around them. Netflix released the official trailer for the film today. Check it out above.
Previous, Oct. 2: Netflix has dropped a first-look trailer for Leave the World Behind, the apocalyptic thriller starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke. Check it out qabove.
“There’s no going back to normal,” Ali’s character G.H. Scott warns Amanda and Clay Sandford as a massive cyberattack begins taking a horrifying toll on the world.
The film makes its world premiere October 25 as AFI Fest’s opening-night pic, with a red carpet gala at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. It...
Previous, Oct. 2: Netflix has dropped a first-look trailer for Leave the World Behind, the apocalyptic thriller starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke. Check it out qabove.
“There’s no going back to normal,” Ali’s character G.H. Scott warns Amanda and Clay Sandford as a massive cyberattack begins taking a horrifying toll on the world.
The film makes its world premiere October 25 as AFI Fest’s opening-night pic, with a red carpet gala at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. It...
- 10/24/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke’s Amanda and Clay Sandford get a fateful midnight knock at the door in the teaser trailer for Netflix’s Leave the World Behind, which dropped Monday.
“In my line of work, you have to understand the patterns that govern the world. That can help you see the future,” Mahershala Ali’s G.H. Scott says.
Scott and his wife, Ruth, played by Myha’la Herrold, claim to be the owners of the home the Sandfords rented for the weekend, and ask to take shelter with the family that night. Soon enough, the Sandfords and their teenage children are taking refuge from a cyberattack that grows beyond a New York City blackout to become more terrifying by the minute.
“There’s no going back to normal,” Scott tells the Sandfords, as their family must come to terms with their place in a collapsing world.
“Haven’t...
“In my line of work, you have to understand the patterns that govern the world. That can help you see the future,” Mahershala Ali’s G.H. Scott says.
Scott and his wife, Ruth, played by Myha’la Herrold, claim to be the owners of the home the Sandfords rented for the weekend, and ask to take shelter with the family that night. Soon enough, the Sandfords and their teenage children are taking refuge from a cyberattack that grows beyond a New York City blackout to become more terrifying by the minute.
“There’s no going back to normal,” Scott tells the Sandfords, as their family must come to terms with their place in a collapsing world.
“Haven’t...
- 10/2/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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