Leave the World Behind writer explains film's controversial ending as major plot hole pointed out

Some people weren't best pleased with how Leave the World Behind ended especially due to the fact it came to a close with the Friends theme song.

The star-studded Netflix movie is based on Rumaan Alam's 2020 novel of the same name, but his book only provided the blueprint for producer and director Sam Esmail.

Esmail has put his own spin on the chilling apocalyptic thriller and noticeably tweaked the ending.

There will be spoilers ahead, so be warned if you're yet to watch the Netflix thriller.

The film follows couple Amanda (Julia Roberts) and Clay (Ethan Hawke) as they take their kids Rose and Archie (Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans) to a luxurious rental home in Long Island for a break.

Before they've properly unpacked, they get a knock on the door from the property's owner, G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) who say they have come back home to escape some pretty weird stuff going down in New York City.

The movie ends with Amanda and Ruth looking for Rose who has gone missing - while the pair are outside they witness explosions in the city beyond.

In the final scene, Rose finds a neighbour's bunker and stumbles across a DVD of the final season of Friends.

Her number one priority throughout all the mayhem of the film has been to watch the final episode of the sitcom, so she sits back and presses play.

The theme song of the 90s TV show kicks in and the credits begin to roll.

Netflix

We're already aware this is a huge plot hole considering Roberts had a cameo in Friends, but something else also didn't sit well with people.

Some viewers complained that it was 'abrupt' and 'didn't make sense' to a lot of people, while others pointed out they preferred the still ambiguous but neater ending in Alam's novel.

In the book, the story finishes with Rose gathering supplies from the house before presumably returning to her family.

While there is much speculation about who is behind the mayhem in Leave the World Behind throughout the film, it never actually reveals who is responsible.

But contrary to the opinion of a number of audience members, Alam thinks it was 'so satisfying' to see the action-packed movie wrap up this way.

The author, who was also an executive producer on Leave the World Behind, applauded Esmail for his creativeness.

He told Variety: "To end with the particular jolt of humour that [Esmail] does is so satisfying and so rewarding.

"It’s sort of self-reflective because he’s a filmmaker. He’s also worked in television, and he’s sort of asserting something about the power of that medium, and its hold over this one character.

Netflix

"The theatrical experience of watching this movie is so powerful because I’ve had the chance to see audiences respond to the ending three times now, and nobody really knows what to make of it. They’re like, is this funny? Is this scary? Is it really over? And I love that so much."

Alam suggested it would have been 'dissatisfying' to give film fans closure with the ending, as it's just not that kind of film.

He continued: "It’s a film that respects you as a viewer enough to not provide that.

"I have no problem with like a big disaster movie that saves the six or eight principals and reunites them in the aftermath of a disaster and allows you to be like, 'Well, everything’s gonna be okay'.

"I just don’t think this is that kind of film."

Topics: TV and Film, Netflix

Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

@livburke_