57 best Netflix movies to watch (and 24 to skip)

Leave the World Behind

Release Year: 2023

Director: Sam Esmail

Cast: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, and Kevin Bacon

Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke lead the cast of this tense psychological thriller based on the book of the same name by Rumaan Alam. Roberts and Hawke play a married couple who take their family on what they believe will be a pleasant holiday, only to find it interrupted by the owners of the house they've rented. 

When Mahershala Ali’s character shows up late one night with his daughter (Industry star Myha'la) they bring with them ominous news about a blackout. Despite their initial mistrust, the two families must work together to find a way to survive and understand the sudden breakdown in tech, including phones, television, and even electricity. 

It's a timely film that had many viewers wondering if a mass technological blackout could happen at the same scale in real life. Although some people were dissatisfied with Leave the World Behind, particularly the ending, I think it's an especially gripping apocalyptic thriller that will keep you guessing. Sam Esmail really does a great job at maintaining the tension throughout the film, and given it has a runtime of more than 2 hours, that's not an easy feat to accomplish.

Verdict: WATCH