What Does the Ending of Leave the World Behind Really Mean? The ending of Leave the World Behind leaves audiences pondering the deeper implications of the disaster and its impact on human connections. Netflix’s apocalyptic thriller, featuring Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali, concludes with many unanswered questions. What is causing the apocalypse in the film? Why are the deer behaving so strangely? And how does Friends fit into the story?
Some questions find answers, while others remain open to interpretation. Here, we aim to shed light on the film’s conclusion and explore various theories to help clarify its meaning.
Despite its complexities, Leave the World Behind proved to be a major success on Netflix, becoming one of the platform’s most-watched movies with 143.4 million views.
The film leaves several mysteries unresolved, from the enigmatic screeching noise to the fates of Archie and Rose. We’ll delve into the key elements of the ending and provide insight based on writer/director Sam Esmail’s comments on the film’s pivotal moments.
What Happens to Rose in the Final Act?
In the movie’s final segment, which unfolds in five parts, Amanda and Clay’s son Archie wakes up to find his teeth falling out while their daughter Rose goes missing.
GH and Clay seek help from their neighbor Danny, who offers little assistance beyond a warning to return home. Meanwhile, Amanda and Ruth search for Rose but find only evidence of widespread devastation, including explosions in New York and gunfire in the distance.
Rose finds her way into an abandoned house that she noticed earlier. Inside, she discovers a “doomsday bunker” equipped with food, water, beds, and electricity—plus a well-stocked DVD collection. She chooses to watch the final season of Friends as the film ends.
The inclusion of Friends serves as “pure escapism” for Rose, according to Esmail. “In moments of crisis, when we lose sight of our common humanity and feel isolated, we seek comfort,” he explained.
The ending, while ambiguous, aligns with the book’s open-ended nature. The film provides a potential explanation but leaves many questions unanswered.
What Caused the Apocalypse in Leave the World Behind?
The morning after the blackout, Amanda receives a notification suggesting that “hackers” caused the power failure but cannot access further details. It becomes evident that this is more than just a power outage, and GH may have insider knowledge.
Clay encounters a drone dropping leaflets with Arabic text reading “Death to America.” Later, Danny reveals similar leaflets were distributed with Korean or Chinese text. GH connects this to a three-stage military strategy that involves:
- Isolation: Power outages and satellite hacking.
- Synchronised Chaos: Covert attacks and misinformation, such as the piercing noise and varied leaflets.
- Coup d’etat: If successful, the country would collapse on its own.
GH’s analysis points to a well-orchestrated plan to destabilize a nation from within. Although this provides a framework for the apocalypse, the identity of those behind it remains unclear. Danny speculates it could involve multiple adversaries of the U.S., but this remains uncertain.
The Emergency Alert System reveals the extent of the crisis, including attacks on major cities and elevated radiation levels. Despite the bleak situation, Esmail offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even in the darkest times, there is always a possibility for hope.
How Does Leave the World Behind Differ from the Book?
One significant change in the adaptation is transforming GH and Ruth from an older Black couple to a father-daughter duo. Apart from this adjustment, the film closely follows the book’s events but expands on certain aspects, like a Tesla pile-up and a beach plane crash. Leave the World Behind offers a haunting exploration of societal collapse through the lens of an isolated family drama.
The Friends subplot, where Rose struggles with the lack of Internet to finish the show, is a new addition for the film. The book’s ending, in contrast, involves Rose gathering supplies and heading home.
Author Rumaan Alam supports this change, noting its effectiveness and the way it reflects the power of media and escapism in the face of crisis.
What Happened to Archie in Leave the World Behind?
The loud, piercing noise in the film may be linked to Archie’s teeth falling out. Danny suggests it could be a radiation-based microwave weapon, supported by the alert system’s warning of elevated radiation levels. In Leave the World Behind, the characters face an apocalyptic crisis that challenges their understanding of safety and security.
Esmail describes the noise and Archie’s condition as elements of a nightmarish scenario where inexplicable things occur. Though Archie survives, his fate remains uncertain.
What Was the Significance of the Deer in Leave the World Behind?
The increasing number of deer around the house adds to the film’s unsettling atmosphere. While their specific role isn’t explained, Esmail uses them to enhance the eerie mood. “Deer are typically peaceful, so turning that image into something menacing adds to the film’s tension,” he said.
Will There Be a Sequel to Leave the World Behind?
The ambiguous ending may suggest a potential sequel, but since the book doesn’t have a follow-up, a sequel seems unlikely at this point. Although the film has been a hit on Netflix, there’s no confirmation of a second installment yet.