Leave the World Behind
Stream
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.
What critics thought
Sam Esmail's apocalyptic thriller earns broadly favorable notices for its sustained dread and sharp social commentary, but critics split sharply on whether the film earns its ambiguity or simply leaves its characters — and audience — stranded. The ending in particular proved divisive, with some finding it a bold provocation and others a deflating punchline.
“It plays like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but without the supernatural element and with a thick vein of social critique running throughout. What happens may be extreme, but it feels based on mundane reality.”
Michael O'Sullivan·The Washington Post
“every change made for the adaptation happens to be for the worse. ... the film doesn't demonstrate any kind of interest in, or affection for, its characters. ... This feels more like a collection of cool ideas than scenes that belong to the same emotional and consequential continuum.”
Bilge Ebiri·Vulture
“After a while, the movie plays like a bulleted list of everything wrong with America ... the narrative tension dulls into passivity, both for us and for the characters”
Alissa Wilkinson·The New York Times
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Sam EsmailDirector
Julia RobertsAmanda Sandford
Ethan HawkeClay Sandford
Mahershala AliG.H. Scott
Myha'laRuth Scott
Farrah MackenzieRose Sandford
Charlie EvansArchie Sandford
Kevin BaconDanny
Vanessa AspillagaSalvadora
Orli GottesmanTaylor
Alexis Rae ForlenzaDanny's Daughter
Josh DrennenCrow
Erica ChoJocelyn
Mac QuayleComposer
Tod CampbellCinematographyLeave the World Behind
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.
What critics thought
Sam Esmail's apocalyptic thriller earns broadly favorable notices for its sustained dread and sharp social commentary, but critics split sharply on whether the film earns its ambiguity or simply leaves its characters — and audience — stranded. The ending in particular proved divisive, with some finding it a bold provocation and others a deflating punchline.
“It plays like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but without the supernatural element and with a thick vein of social critique running throughout. What happens may be extreme, but it feels based on mundane reality.”
Michael O'Sullivan·The Washington Post
“every change made for the adaptation happens to be for the worse. ... the film doesn't demonstrate any kind of interest in, or affection for, its characters. ... This feels more like a collection of cool ideas than scenes that belong to the same emotional and consequential continuum.”
Bilge Ebiri·Vulture
“After a while, the movie plays like a bulleted list of everything wrong with America ... the narrative tension dulls into passivity, both for us and for the characters”
Alissa Wilkinson·The New York Times
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Sam EsmailDirectorJulia RobertsAmanda SandfordEthan HawkeClay SandfordMahershala AliG.H. ScottMyha'laRuth ScottFarrah MackenzieRose SandfordCharlie EvansArchie SandfordKevin BaconDannyVanessa AspillagaSalvadoraOrli GottesmanTaylorAlexis Rae ForlenzaDanny's DaughterJosh DrennenCrowErica ChoJocelynMac QuayleComposerTod CampbellCinematographyStream