Unveiling Netflix's Apocalyptic Thriller: Leave the World Behind

Highlights

"Leave the World Behind," directed by Sam Esmail and featuring Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, is Netflix's newest entry in the awards race. The film revolves around two families who are compelled to endure an apocalyptic event together within the confines of a single house.

Netflix acquired "Leave the World Behind" in a fiercely contested bidding war. The film is helmed by Higher Ground Productions, the production company owned by Barack and Michelle Obama. With previous Oscar nods for films such as "The Irishman" and "Mank," Netflix aspires to clinch the coveted Best Picture award with this latest offering.

Netflix has been actively pursuing its first Academy Award for Best Picture over the past few years. Despite having two films, David Fincher's Mank and Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7, in the running in 2021, they ultimately lost to Chloé Zhao's Nomadland. The following year, Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog was defeated by Sian Heder's CODA, produced by rival streamer/studio Apple TV+. Last year, Edward Berger's All Quiet on the Western Front won four awards but fell short of winning the grand prize, which went to the Daniels' Everything Everywhere All at Once. Now, Netflix's latest endeavor to achieve gold rests in the hands of Sam Esmail, the creator of "Mr. Robot," who will be directing the adaptation of Rumaan Alam's novel Leave the World Behind. Despite his background in television, Esmail hasn't directed a film since the 2014 indie rom-com Comet, and he joins the Netflix awards race alongside David Fincher and Bradley Cooper in a star-studded apocalyptic thriller.

What is Leave the World Behind about?

A spontaneous family vacation to Long Island is planned by Amanda (Julia Roberts) and her husband, Clay (Ethan Hawke), along with their two children. Initially, everything goes well until their cellular reception suddenly ceases, and an elegant couple, G.H. (Mahershala Ali in pre-Blade form) and Ruth (Myha'la), appear to inform them that the house they are staying in actually belongs to them. G.H. reveals that they had intended to go to the city but had to turn back due to an unexplained incident. Upon checking the updates on TV, they discover that the United States has been targeted by a series of cyberattacks and power outages. With no other option available, the unfamiliar families are forced to coexist in the house while witnessing the disintegration of the world around them.

When is Leave the World Behind Coming Out?

On July 20, 2020, Netflix acquired the rights to Alam's novel, beating out heavy competition from Apple, MGM, and other major studios in a heated bidding war. From the very start, Roberts was set to both star in and produce the film, alongside Denzel Washington, who unfortunately had to drop out due to conflicting schedules and was subsequently replaced by Ali. Adding to its star-studded lineup, the movie is also being produced by Higher Ground Productions, the renowned media company owned by Barack and Michelle Obama. Completing the cast are talented actors Kevin Bacon, Farrah Mackenzie, and Charlie Evans.

Similar to their previous awards contenders, Netflix will follow a platform release strategy with a limited theatrical run starting on November 22, followed by its streaming premiere on December 8. This approach was first utilized with Martin Scorsese's gangster epic The Irishman in 2019, marking Netflix's initial attempt to enter the Academy Awards race. One of the key conditions of Scorsese's deal with Netflix was ensuring a significant theatrical release prior to the streaming premiere. Consequently, The Irishman debuted in around 100 theaters in early November 2019, with plans to gradually reduce the number to zero once it became available for streaming at the end of the month. However, Netflix took a different approach by expanding the film's theatrical release to a total of 500 theaters, reaffirming their commitment to the cinematic experience. Notably, Netflix recently revived Hollywood's legendary Egyptian Theatre to serve as a venue for showcasing their original content.

Is this Finally Netflix's Year at the Oscars?

The Irishman started Netflix's esteemed film legacy by garnering ten Academy Award nominations, including nods for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. However, despite its accolades, the film did not secure victory in any of its categories. Subsequently, the presence of "Netflix Original Film" has become increasingly prevalent in award conversations, with the streaming platform consistently producing at least one noteworthy contender each year.

Netflix films that have been nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards:

2019: Roma

2020: The Irishman, Marriage Story

2021: Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7

2022: Don't Look Up, The Power of the Dog

In 2023, Netflix presents a diverse lineup of films, including the sports biopic NYAD featuring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, and the crime drama Pain Hustlers starring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans. The question remains whether this varied selection of movies will help Netflix win the coveted grand prize they have been striving for, or if they will ultimately compete against each other.

Surprisingly, Netflix's recent awards contender, Don't Look Up (2021), shared similarities in theme and audience reception with Leave the World Behind. However, it appears that Leave the World Behind has managed to improve upon its predecessor by embracing a more subtle approach to its subtext and overall tone. Having already established himself as a unique voice in television through acclaimed shows like Mr. Robot and Homecoming (which also starred Julia Roberts), Esmail's sensibilities are expected to seamlessly carry over to the realm of narrative features. While it would be unfair to judge his filmmaking talent solely based on his debut film almost a decade ago, the trailer for Leave the World Behind suggests that Esmail has effortlessly transitioned into this exciting new phase of his career.

Leave the World Behind

Release Date December 8, 2023Cast Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha’la Herrold, Kevin BaconWhere to watch Netflix