5 end of the world movies like Leave the World Behind that will make you super paranoid

Leave the World Behind left a lasting mark on the millions of people who watched the Netflix Original film when it released in December 2023, with many wondering if the movie, which is based on a novel by Rumaan Alam, could be foretelling the future.

Some people just loved how the apocalyptic thriller made them feel, keeping them on edge throughout its lengthy 2+ hour runtime. If you're a fan of end-of-the-world stories, especially those that will make you feel paranoid long after the credits roll, then you might want to check out some of these other films, most of which are currently streaming on Netflix.

Awake (2021)

I don't know about you, but going to sleep is one of my favorite parts of the day, so imagining a world where people can't sleep anymore is downright terrifying. Most of us have experienced moments where we couldn't sleep and the eye-burning tiredness of it all made us feel insane.

Well, the 2021 film Awake starring Gina Rodriguez takes that premise and cranks it up to the extreme. A global catastrophe not only makes it impossible for people to sleep, it also wipes out electronics across the globe. Rodriguez plays a former soldier named Jill who discovers her daughter (Barbie star Ariana Greenblatt) could be the cure.

Bird Box (2018)

Sandra Bullock and Trevante Rhodes star in this paranoia-inducing film based on Josh Malerman's novel of the same name. Similar to A Quiet Place, Bird Box operates in an apocalyptic world where people cannot use one of their senses to get by, in A Quiet Place it was sound and in Bird Box it's sight.

An invisible entity begins terrorizing people by showing them their worst fear. If you see it, you immediately kill yourself. The only way to get around is to blindfold yourself, which is what Malorie (Bullock) does in an effort to get her and her children to a safe haven. You can go ahead and skip Bird Box Barcelona though.

The Impossible (2012)

The Impossible is not actually an apocalyptic film but often feels like it just because of the high-stakes disaster and it'll make you plenty paranoid considering it's the only movie on this list that is based on a true story, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Directed by J.A. Bayona, who also directed the recent acclaimed Netflix Original The Society of the Snow (which will make you never want to fly again), The Impossible follows a family trying to survive the massive tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004. Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and a young Tom Holland star in the film which is currently on Netflix.

I Am Mother (2019)

This Australian cyberpunk film starring Hilary Swank as an android named "Mother" is perfect for anyone looking for a more futuristic take on the end of the world. I Am Mother is about a future where humanity has gone extinct and a robot is tasked with repopulating the earth, beginning with raising a human daughter she has grown since her embryo stage. But when another human shows up, the "Daughter" begins to suspect that everything her "Mother" taught her might be a lie.

Sunshine (2007)

Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans, and Rose Byrne star in this underrated sci-flick from 28 Days Later director/writer duo Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. Released in 2007, Sunshine revolves around the frightful concept of the sun dying and spelling the end of humanity.

Hoping to reignite the dying star, a crew of eight men and women travel into space with plans to use a special nuclear fission device to save earth. The discovery of a distress beacon and a lost spaceship threatens to jeopardize the entire mission. Sunshine isn't currently streaming, but you can rent or purchase the film from digital retailers like Apple and Amazon.