Leave the World Behind is now streaming on Netflix, and viewers have been taking to social media to voice one very specific complaint about the apocalyptic thriller starring Julia Roberts: It’s too damn long.
Directed by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, the film centers on Roberts and Ethan Hawke as a husband and wife whose vacation is disrupted by Mahershala Ali bearing news of terrifying cyberattack. While the premise has a compelling hook, even positive reviews for Leave the World Behind that this thing is long. With a runtime of two hours and 21 minutes, viewers seem to think the film could’ve used some editing even if they mostly liked it.
“Enjoyed this year’s Xmas apocalypse from Netflix (Leave the World Behind),” Chris Humphreys wrote. “A small film, with a real sense of foreboding. As all too common, too long.”
Enjoyed this year’s Xmas apocalypse from Netflix (Leave the World Behind). A small film, with a real sense of foreboding. As all too common, too long. No issue with the ending. Good (perhaps not intended) joke about the colour options of a certain EV too.
— Chris Humphreys
(@roubaixcc) December 11, 2023
“It’s a suspenseful, engaging view that was perhaps stretched a lil too long,” MALI wrote. “It will grow on you, and then you might get tired of it. However, it’s worth the watch cuz the performance was brilliant.”
The
– Leave The World Behind : 75%
It’s a suspenful, engaging view that was perhaps stretched a lil too long. It will grow on you, and then you might get tired of it. however, it’s worth the watch cuz the performance was brilliant. #LeaveTheWorldBehind #Netflix #movie pic.twitter.com/ahlNHAQqKj
— M A L I (@SamaliTimi) December 9, 2023
Other people were not so generous as the “too long” complaints were even more viscerally noted in the negative reviews:
“Just finished that Leave the World Behind movie and I’m so mad,” Victoria tweeted. “Like what happened. It was so long too lmao.”
just finished that leave the world behind movie and i’m so mad. like what happened. it was so long too lmao
— victoria (@pieszeckistann) December 9, 2023
You can see more reactions below:
Leave the World Behind is very good but 45 minutes too long.
— Drew (@DrewOfBorg) December 9, 2023
Watched leave the world behind and almost turned it off 10 times, was way too long but interesting and the ending smh…. Wasn’t bad just sad and disappointing for the characters lol
— mel| wembley n4/5&7
(@melwnst) December 10, 2023
Leave the World Behind is too long too contrived too boring.
— laichungleung (@laichungleung) December 10, 2023
Watched Leave the World Behind and it was eh. Overly long. Unlikeable characters and left too many unanswered questions. Good premise and themes with some good suspense moments tho. 6/10
— L. Banner (@MuzikMinded) December 9, 2023
This movie is waaay too long, don’t understand the hype behind it
Leave The World Behind I’ll give it a 6/10— Ndlovukazi enebatha (@ZikhonaPK) December 8, 2023
saw Leave the World Behind yesterday purely on the basis of the 60 second clip posted by nflix.
and its 2.5 hours that im not getting back.
just a really bad movie with very strange performances, and a decent idea that was dragged on for wayyyy too long.
— novichok on the lattice (@mean_free_heart) December 11, 2023
Do not watch Leave the World Behind on Netflix. It’s way too long, confusing, goes nowhere, has nothing but red herring, and the ending is a slap in the face. Avoid.
— Mixin’MattyB (@PostCompletist) December 10, 2023
4 out of 10 is what the film Leave the World Behind deserves on @netflix . A film that is too long and movie that longs for better writing and directing and the worst ending in film history. It started out well and fell apart. Don’t waste your 2 hours.
— Shubz (@shubz64) December 11, 2023
Here’s the official synopsis:
Amanda (Academy Award winner Julia Roberts) and her husband Clay (Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke), rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Their vacation is soon upended when two strangers — G.H. (Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) — arrive in the night, bearing news of a mysterious cyberattack and seeking refuge in the house they claim is theirs.
Leave the World Behind is available for streaming on Netflix.