7 Movies Like ‘Leave the World Behind’ If You Love the Apocalyptic Thriller

It’s the end of the world as we know it! Did you check out Netflix’s new apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind and find yourself wanting more? Thankfully, there is plenty more where that came from.

Based on a novel by Rumaan Alam and directed by Sam Esmail, Leave the World Behind follows two families stuck in the same house during a catastrophic attack on the United States.

In the movie, the Sandford family has rented a luxurious home for a brief vacation. But, after a strange excursion and power outage, the owners of the home return with claims that there’s been an attack and they need to seek refuge.

The thriller features an all-star cast with Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Myha’la.

In an interview with Decider’s Anna Menta, Myha’la opened up about working with her co-stars. “I felt an immediate chemistry with Julia [Roberts]. She really embraced me. She understood that I came to give my all, and so she gave it right back to me.”

Curious to watch more movies like Leave the World Behind? Here are seven movies that will remind you of the apocalyptic thriller.

1. Bird Box

   Based on the 2014 novel by Josh Malerman, Bird Box follows Malorie Hayes (Sandra Bullock) as she tries to guide herself and two children to safety from mysterious entities that cause people who look at them to take their own lives. This movie is perfect for those who liked the scarier aspects of Leave the World Behind.

   WHERE TO STREAM BIRD BOX

2. Take Shelter

   Did the family scenes in Leave the World Behind pull on your heartstrings? The 2011 psychological thriller Take Shelter will do that, and more. Michael Shannon plays a family man plagued by apocalyptic visions. As he begins to take precautions to protect his family, he starts his question his own sanity.

   WHERE TO STREAM TAKE SHELTER

3. Knock at the Cabin

   Need a scare? M. Night Shamalyan’s 2023 thriller Knock at the Cabin tells the story of a family who’s vacationing at a remote cabin and find themselves held hostage by four strangers claiming that they must make the ultimate sacrifice to prevent an impending apocalypse. Well, that’s a lot of pressure.

   WHERE TO STREAM KNOCK AT THE CABIN

4. White Noise

   If you related most to Rose’s quest to see the Friends finale while the world is ending around her, then White Noise is calling you. Based on the 1985 novel by Don DeLillo, the absurdist comedy-drama follows a professor and his family as they navigate an airborne toxic disaster. Come for Adam Driver, stay for the absolute madness.

   WHERE TO STREAM WHITE NOISE

5. How It Ends

   In How It Ends, a man fights through an apocalyptic event while journeying home to his pregnant wife. The story is dark and filled with violence and betrayal. This is one to watch if you’re looking for some intense action sequences and a solid amount of eye candy.

   WHERE TO STREAM HOW IT ENDS

6. The Day After Tomorrow

   A classic! The Day After Tomorrow opens with a climatologist being ignored by the United Nations after presenting his evidence for an impending environmental disaster, followed by the development of a major store. Now, citizens are scrambling to protect themselves and their loved ones. Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum, and Dennis Quaid… The movie is a must!

   WHERE TO STREAM THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW

7. Contagion

   After 2020, who hasn’t done a recent rewatch of Contagion? Steven Soderbergh‘s 2011 thriller follows several different perspectives during the spread of a deadly virus that turns into a worldwide pandemic. Like Leave the World Behind, the movie has an all-star cast with Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, and more.

   WHERE TO STREAM CONTAGION