Leave the World Behind: Everything we know about the Netflix film

A family’s seemingly idyllic vacation is upended by a dire threat claiming that a cyberattack will happen soon and collapse the world as they know it in the upcoming Netflix movie Leave the World Behind, based on the acclaimed novel by Rumaan Alam.

Along with many of the other exciting upcoming films slated for a release this fall on Netflix, Leave the World Behind boasts an all-star cast that includes Academy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts and Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali. Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke and Industry star Myha’la Herrold also star in the film, which is directed by the award-winning writer and director Sam Esmail, of Mr Robot fame.

If all of that has you excited for the new thriller, you’re in luck, because it’ll be here on December 8, 2023, exclusively on Netflix. The novel, Alam’s third overall, was published in 2020 and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction.

Leave the World Behind cast

Previously, Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali had been announced for the film. Deadline reports that Ethan Hawke; Myha’la Herrold, and Charlie Evans have also been added to the cast.

Deadline reported in September 2021 that Ali would replace Denzel Washington in the film. Hawke and Roberts will play a married couple, Amanda and Clay, with Evans playing their son, Archie, and Farrah Mackenzie playing Rosie. Herrold will play the daughter of Ali’s character, George. Kevin Bacon has also joined the cast as Danny.

Here is the full cast list so far:

• Julia Roberts as Amanda
• Ethan Hawke as Clay
• Mahershala Ali as George “G.H.” Washington
• Kevin Bacon as Danny
• Myha’la Herrold as Ruth Washington
• Farrah Mackenzie as Rosie
• Charlie Evans as Archie

What is Leave the World Behind about?

Leave the World Behind is an apocalyptic thriller with a plot line a little similar to this year’s earlier hit, Knock at the Cabin, which itself was based on The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay.

Like Cabin, Leave the World Behind focuses on a family on vacation when they’re interrupted by strangers claiming the world as they know it is about to end due to a cyberattack.

Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke play a couple renting a luxurious weekend home with their children, played by Charlie Evans and Farrah Mackenzie. Mahershala Ali and Myha’la Herrold play the strangers, a father and daughter, who show up at the house seeking refuge—in the house they claim is actually theirs. It’s any frequent Airbnber’s worst nightmare.

Hopefully, this movie won’t follow in Knock at the Cabin‘s footsteps in terms of book accuracy. M. Night Shyamalan’s film strayed too far from its source material, to the detriment of the overall story. I hope Leave the World Behind hews closer to the book its based on

Netflix released the first official teaser for the film on October 2. Watch it for yourself below.

In addition to the teaser, the streamer shared new photos that include our first look at the stars, including Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and more.

Add Leave the World Behind to your Netflix watchlist now. Catch the premiere on December 8, 2023.