The Biggest Differences Between the “Leave the World Behind ”Book and Movie

The movie is based on Rumaan Alam’s novel of the same name and is now streaming on Netflix

Leave the World Behind is the nerve-wracking story to take in this winter.

The 2020 novel by Rumaan Alam follows two families who are forced into close quarters when a sudden emergency befalls them. Clay and Amanda are renting a vacation home on Long Island with their teenagers, Archie and Rose.

One evening early on in their trip, the house’s owners, G.H. and Ruth, show up with news of a sudden blackout in New York City, and ask to stay in the house, where they feel they will be safer. The two couples are put to the ultimate test of truth in the face of an unknown, steadily growing crisis.

The novel’s movie adaptation, which is now streaming on Netflix, and stars Ethan Hawke as Clay, Julia Roberts as Amanda, Mahershala Ali as G.H. and Myha’la Herrold as Ruth, is subtly thrilling, just like its original source material.

"It hit on this interesting notion that in the moment of crisis, how easily we can forget our common humanity,” director Sam Esmail told PEOPLE. "At the time, that was very relevant because it was during the pandemic. But it's as relevant today with everything going on in the world. I think that was really important for us."

The movie, however, does include some changes from the book. Read on to see how the novel and Netflix film differ.

Warning: Spoilers for Leave the World Behind

A ship nearly crashes onto the beach that Clay and Amanda are visiting

In an early movie scene, Clay and Amanda’s family are spending time on the beach when a large oil steamer called White Lion suddenly barrels toward them from the water. It stops right before hitting anyone. After the beach is evacuated, Clay asks a police officer what happened. The officers replies that there have been similar groundings due to an issue with the ships’ navigation systems.

The novel plays out much more quietly, with Clay and Amanda’s family enjoying a peaceful outing on the beach, with larger hints of disaster not coming until later.

Ruth is G.H.’s daughter instead of his wife

When the pair first arrives at the house in the movie, Ruth says that she is G.H.’s daughter. She later tells Amanda that she’s still figuring out what she wants to do with her professional life. Ruth’s mother is Maya, who is an art dealer currently on a work trip in Morocco. Maya is feared dead throughout the film.

In the novel, Ruth is G.H’s wife. The couple have a daughter, Maya, who is a teacher at a Montessori school, living with her wife and two sons. Ruth spends a large portion of the book worrying about her daughter and her family, and what is happening to them.

Related: Leave the World Behind PEOPLE Review: A Nerve-Rattling Weekend with Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali

G.H. discovers a plane crash on the beach

The movie sees the characters facing the growing nationwide emergency much closer. In an added set piece, G.H. stumbles upon a shocking scene around the perimeter of his neighbor’s house and a nearby beach. Scattered on the sand are the brutal remains of a plane crash and its victims.

G.H. narrowly dodges being hit by another plane falling out of the sky. He relays what he finds to Amanda, and says that whatever is happening outside is much bigger than he originally thought.

Clay and Amanda try and leave the house much earlier

In the movie, Amanda and Clay attempt to leave the vacation house to stay with Amanda’s sister in New Jersey. When they make it to the highway, the family’s car is stuck behind a pile-up of crashed Teslas. The self-driving cars drove away from their dealership, likely due to issues with their navigation systems. The family barely escapes getting hit by more cars before they return to the house.

In the novel, while Clay does venture out into town to find out what is happening, both families largely stay put at the house. They don’t attempt to fully leave until Archie gets sick.

G.H. and Clay’s interaction with Danny is more intense

Towards the end of the movie, G.H. and Clay leave the house to find a hospital for Archie (Charlie Evans), who has suddenly started vomiting and losing his teeth. G.H. suggests going to see his contractor Danny (Kevin Bacon) for help. While the scene plays out somewhat similarly to the book, with Danny showing concern about who is behind the crisis, one major difference happens when their argument escalates. Danny pulls out a rifle when G.H. and Clay won’t leave. G.H. also pulls out a gun and Clay makes an impassioned plea for Danny to help them before Danny relents.

There is also a new scene featuring Ruth and Amanda. While the two are searching the woods for Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), they have a heart-to-heart in an abandoned shed about their fears. Outside, a stampede of deer run around, and the two find themselves surrounded by hundreds of the animals. While Ruth and Amanda have been at odds throughout the film, they team up to scare off the deer by screaming and waving their arms.

Related: Julia Roberts Sparkles in Dazzling Gucci Pumps at London Leave the World Behind Screening — See Her Look!

Friends is an important thread throughout the film

A new thread in the movie revolves around Rose, who is watching Friends on her tablet during the vacation. When the internet connection goes out before she finishes the final episode, she is distraught. In a later conversation with Archie, Rose reveals that the show is so important to her because the characters make her happy, and they give her a sense of hope.

After it’s revealed that New York City, and later other major cities, are under attack, Rose runs away and finds shelter in a nearby abandoned house. She finds a fallout bunker in the basement, stocked with food, supplies and a large collection of DVDs, including the last season of Friends. She begins to watch the final episode just as the movie ends.

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