Netflix’s new star-studded thriller LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND opened the AFI Fest with its World Premiere at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday and the audience was wowed. Think the phenomenal viral hit that Netflix’s Birdbox became in 2018, Leave The World Behind is about to have the same hold over audiences as Birdbox did.
In this apocalyptic thriller from award-winning writer and director Sam Esmail, Amanda (Julia Roberts) and her husband Clay (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. ( Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la) — arrive in the night, sharing news of a mysterious cyberattack and seeking refuge in the house they say they own. A series of revelations and shocking truths bring these two families closer together while their world as we know it is severed from the globe. 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.
If the all-star cast wasn’t enough, the cleverly written story and cinematography depict our present-day world, with misconceptions and attitudes we might face on a daily, but throw us into the what-if of being cut off from the rest of the planet. Without a doubt, the psychologically gripping thriller wins thanks to the razor-sharp dialogue, exceptional direction, and stellar performances by Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Myha’la.
Leave the World Behind” is poised to be one of this year’s standout titles, destined to ignite extensive discussions and captivate audiences.
“Leave the World Behind will follow Netflix’s established dual-release approach, with a limited theatrical release scheduled for November 22nd, followed by its availability for streaming on Netflix starting December 8th.