The New #1 Movie on Netflix Is Such an Intense Watch from Beginning to End

It’s only been a few days since the new thriller Leave the World Behind (starring Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke) premiered on Netflix. And it didn’t take long for the book-turned-movie-adaptation to take the number one spot on the streamer’s top ten movies list, knocking The Super Mario Bros. Movie down to number two. 

Based on the best-selling novel written by Rumaan Alam, Leave the World Behind follows a family who rents out a home in Long Island to enjoy some time away from the city. But their getaway soon takes a strange turn when two strangers (claiming to be the house owners) knock on the front door and announce there’s been a blackout across New York City—and they need to stay the night.

From start to finish, Leave the World Behind is a gripping watch that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Just ask PureWow’s VP of News and Entertainment, Philip Mutz, who had this to say about the new thriller: “This is one of the most intense films of the year. Roberts and [Mahershala] Ali do such a great job of creating tension so thick you can cut it with a knife.”

He continued, “Without giving anything away, the ending is certain to be divisive. I personally found it infuriating but I can easily see a world where fans of the film love the final moment.” Consider us locked in.