7 Gripping Movies Like Leave the World Behind for Fans of Apocalyptic Thrills
Leave the World Behind (2023) captivated audiences with its chilling blend of apocalyptic tension, psychological drama, and family dynamics. The film follows the Sandford family as their idyllic vacation turns into a nightmare when a cyberattack disrupts society, and strangers arrive with ominous warnings. If you’re craving more stories that explore survival, distrust, and the fragility of human connections in the face of catastrophe, this list of 7 movies like Leave the World Behind is your ultimate guide. From eerie isolation to societal collapse, these films deliver heart-pounding thrills and thought-provoking narratives.
1. A Quiet Place (2018)
Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski | Director: John Krasinski
Streaming: Netflix

In a post-apocalyptic world where sightless aliens hunt by sound, the Abbott family must live in silence. Their struggle to protect their children while navigating a shattered society mirrors Leave the World Behind’s themes of parental desperation and invisible threats. The film’s tension thrives on quiet moments—a creaking floorboard, a stifled scream—much like the eerie silence of a world without Wi-Fi or answers.
Why Fans Will Love It:
- Family First: Like the Sandfords, the Abbotts prioritize their children’s safety over all else, even as trust in outsiders erodes.
- Unseen Dangers: Both films weaponize ambiguity—whether it’s alien predators or a nameless cyberattack—to keep audiences guessing.
Key Moment: Emily Blunt’s childbirth scene, where silence isn’t just survival—it’s agony.
2. It Comes at Night (2017)
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Carmen Ejogo | Director: Trey Edward Shults
Streaming: Prime Video

A family hides in a remote cabin during a deadly pandemic, only to face greater danger when another family begs for shelter. Paranoia escalates as resources dwindle and secrets surface, echoing Leave the World Behind’s exploration of “us vs. them” dynamics.
Why Fans Will Love It:
- Claustrophobic Suspense: The cabin’s tight quarters amplify distrust, much like the confined vacation home in Leave the World Behind.
- Moral Gray Areas: Both films ask: Is survival worth sacrificing your humanity?
Key Moment: A chilling nightmare sequence that blurs reality and fear.
3. The Road (2009)
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee | Director: John Hillcoat
Streaming: Prime Video

A father and son traverse a barren, ash-covered wasteland, avoiding cannibalistic gangs and scavenging for scraps. The bleak landscape and focus on familial bonds mirror Leave the World Behind’s stark portrayal of a collapsing world.
Why Fans Will Love It:
- Parental Sacrifice: Viggo Mortensen’s character, like Julia Roberts’ Amanda, grapples with how much truth to share with their child.
- Hopelessness as a Character: The film’s unrelenting grimness parallels the creeping dread of Leave the World Behind.
Key Moment: The father teaching his son to use a gun—a heart-wrenching lesson in survival.
4. Take Shelter (2011)
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain | Director: Jeff Nichols
Streaming: Prime Video

Curtis (Shannon), a blue-collar worker, builds a storm shelter after apocalyptic visions haunt him. His family questions his sanity as he prepares for an ambiguous catastrophe, mirroring Leave the World Behind’s themes of uncertainty and gaslighting.
Why Fans Will Love It:
- Mental Health Allegory: Is Curtis a prophet or unhinged? The film keeps you guessing, much like the ambiguous threats in Leave the World Behind.
- Family Strain: Jessica Chastain’s portrayal of a wife torn between doubt and loyalty resonates with Ruth’s skepticism in Leave the World Behind.
Key Moment: A storm sequence that leaves viewers—and characters—wondering what’s real.
5. Coherence (2013)
Starring: Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling | Director: James Ward Byrkit
Streaming: Prime Video

A comet’s passing fractures reality during a dinner party, creating alternate versions of the guests. The film’s exploration of paranoia and collapsing social norms mirrors Leave the World Behind’s disintegration of trust.
Why Fans Will Love It:
- Reality Unraveling: Both films use cosmic or technological events to destabilize “normalcy.”
- Ensemble Tension: Friends turn foes as secrets and alternate realities surface.
Key Moment: Characters debating whether to trust their own doppelgängers.
6. Bird Box (2018)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes | Director: Susanne Bier
Streaming: Netflix

An unseen force drives people to suicide if they look at it. Malorie (Bullock) flees with her children, blindfolded, through a desolate landscape. Like Leave the World Behind, the film balances external threats with internal conflicts—who can you trust when the world ends?
Why Fans Will Love It:
- Parental Ferocity: Sandra Bullock’s performance mirrors Julia Roberts’ desperation to protect her family.
- Sensory Deprivation: Both films use blindness (literal or metaphorical) to heighten tension.
Key Moment: The harrowing river escape, where every sound could be lethal.
7. Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Starring: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff | Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Streaming: Prime Video

A family’s cabin getaway is interrupted by strangers demanding an unthinkable sacrifice to avert the apocalypse. The moral dilemma—save humanity or protect your family—echoes Leave the World Behind’s ethical tightrope.
Why Fans Will Love It:
- Home Invasion Horror: Both films trap families in vacation settings where outsiders dictate their fate.
- Existential Choices: Would you believe strangers claiming to know the end is near?
Key Moment: A haunting news montage that validates the strangers’ claims.
Conclusion: Why These Films Echo Leave the World Behind’s Haunting Allure
From the silent terror of A Quiet Place to the reality-bending chaos of Coherence, these seven films tap into the same nerve-shredding tension that made Leave the World Behind unforgettable. They ask uncomfortable questions about trust, sacrifice, and what we’re willing to do when the rules of society crumble.
Pro Tip for Your Next Watch Party: Dim the lights, silence your phones (meta, right?), and debate afterward: Could you make the hard choices these characters face? Let us know which film left you breathless—or hiding under a blanket!