The film “Leave the World Behind” has risen to the No. 1 spot on the Netflix film rankings, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics and viewers. The apocalyptic drama, starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Kevin Bacon, follows a society that unravels after technological infrastructure starts to collapse.
The film, produced by Higher Ground Productions, the company founded by former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, is an adaptation of the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam. Despite reaching the top spot on the streaming service’s charts, “Leave the World Behind” has faced criticism for its 140-minute runtime and polarised response from viewers.
On social media, viewers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the film’s length, with some calling it a “cynical mess” and criticizing its narrative. Additionally, the film’s audience score on Rotten Tomatoes stands at just 42 percent, while the critics’ score is 75 percent positive.
Elon Musk has also been in the spotlight for his complaint about a Tesla “inaccuracy” featured in the film, leading to further discussion and memes on social media.
“Leave the World Behind” is followed by the body-swap comedy “Family Switch” on the Netflix charts. The latter has sparked controversy among viewers due to a scene depicting what some have referred to as an “incestuous” kiss.
Both “Leave the World Behind” and “Family Switch” are currently available for streaming on Netflix.