Despite being a post-apocalyptic movie starring Julia Roberts and produced by the Obamas, it feels likeLeave the World Behindhas been forgotten by viewers. This Barack and Michelle Obama-associated 2023 Netflix release was writer-director Sam Esmail’s powerful follow-up to his acclaimed TV seriesMr. Robotand an excellent adaptation ofRumaan Alam’s original novel.
With a stacked cast including Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Kevin Bacon, thoughLeave the World Behindwas a notablycontroversial film, it hasn’t maintained much cultural relevance in the years since. Although it boasts a powerful message that’s only become more relevant,the film has largely faded from the public conversationand deserves more attention from viewers.
What Leave The World Behind Is About & How The Obamas Were Involved
The Societal Collapse Relevant Within Today’s Political Landscape
Leave the World Behindwas a post-apocalyptic story that explores society in a state of total collapseas phones, television, and other technologies all begin to break down. With Julia Roberts as Amanda Sandford, a mother who arranges a weekend getaway with her husband, Clay, and kids, Archie and Rose, a world-ending event turns this family’s vacation on its head.
After an apparent cyberattack knocks off their devices, the Sandford family is forced into a tense confrontation with the mysterious owners of the house they are renting, and their trust for one another begins to unravel as the seriousness of the situation starts to reveal itself. With the pleasantries of everyday life starting to erode, fear and suspicion take hold.
This thought-provoking story was co-produced by the Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions, a company that has built its reputation on tackling urgent social and political issues. Whether it’s through documentaries exploring class dynamics in the U.S. likeAmerican Factoryor historical biopics on important figures likeRustin, Higher Ground has been behind many challenging productions since its founding in 2018.
Considering the Obamas' involvement, it’s no surprise thatLeave the World Behindtackles complex themes and goes beyond simple entertainmentto be a thoughtful reflection on the fragility of modern life. This film addresses the deeply rooted divides in society and how a major crisis can expose hidden tensions and prejudices.
Part of the power of Leave the World Behind was that it didn’t spell everything out.
With a slow-burning narrative and ambiguous tone, part of the power ofLeave the World Behindwas that it didn’t spell everything out and allowed viewers to make their judgments about how it addresses real-world political tensions. Much in the way Esmail’s TV seriesMr. Robottackled complex power struggles,Leave the World Behinddelved into societal anxieties.
Leave The World Behind’s Reception & Controversy Explained
Not Everyone Was A Fan Of How The Netflix Film Ended
The reception toLeave the World Behindwas mostly positive, as critics praised its thrilling slow-burn narrative, excellent performances, and thought-provoking messaging. With an undercurrent of social critique running through the entire film, it’s easy to see why this doomsday story would strike a chord with politically engaged viewers seeking some nuanced reflection on trust in the modern era.
WithJulia Roberts delivering one of her most restrained and compelling performances, she received praise for capturing the quiet tensions of being caught in the midst of a society in total freefall. However, not everyone was happy with how the film played out, and its ending in particular garnered controversy among some viewers and critics.
Rather than provide viewers with any clear answers, the ending ofLeave the World Behindleft much to interpretation and reflected the real-life uncertainty of people in crisis. With Amanda still searching for her missing daughter, Rose, the movie’s final scene revealed thatRose was in their neighbor’s bunker and had stumbled across a DVD of the final season ofFriends.
Watching the last episode ofFriendshad been Rose’s goal throughout the entire movie, and rather than search for her remaining family, she chose to just sit back and enjoy the episode while the show’s iconic theme tune played. This was an unexpected and surreal conclusion that divided audiences.
Julia Roberts actually guest-starred in “The One After the Super Bowl,” a season 2 episode ofFriends,where she portrayed Susie Moss, a former classmate of Chandler Bing.
While some audiences viewed this jarring ending as a clever commentary on the nature of escapism in modern times, others were left frustrated and annoyed, as there were so many lingering questions that hadn’t been answered. Still, as a film that waspacked with clever references and allusionsto different media, the ending was, in its own way, appropriate.
Why Leave The World Behind Is Actually Pretty Great
The Lack Of Resolution In The Ending Made Perfect Sense Thematically
Despite some backlash,Leave the World Behindwas one of the most unique and ambitious Netflix movies of the past several years. By refusing to give any easy answers, the story was all the more effective as itlampooned modern society’s obsession and overreliance on technology, media consumption, and mindless distractions.
The power of the film was that it invites discussion rather than resolution and forces viewers to examine their own relationship with tech. In an era dominated by neatly packaged and overexplained narratives,Leave the World Behinddared to embrace uncertainty, which pairs perfectly with the Obamas' politically conscious production ethos and stands as an underappreciated movie that’s worth revisiting.
