Left Behind (2014)
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A family faces the terrifying reality of the Christian Rapture as people begin vanishing into thin air.
The story
University student Chloe Steele travels to New York to surprise her father, pilot Rayford Steele, only to find him missing and her mother, Irene, having recently become a proselytising Christian. While at the airport, Chloe witnesses a terrifying phenomenon where people suddenly vanish into thin air, leaving only their clothes behind. As worldwide panic ensues and looting begins, Chloe learns that her father is piloting a flight to London. Meanwhile, on the plane, several passengers and crew members also disappear, leaving Rayford to manage the remaining terrified passengers amidst a series of midair collisions and fuel emergencies.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Chloe Steele arrives in New York to surprise her father, Rayford Steele, but discovers he is away on a last-minute flight to London. While at the airport, Chloe meets reporter Buck Williams and notices signs of marital strife between her parents. Suddenly, her brother vanishes into thin air at a mall, and chaos erupts as people disappear globally. On his flight, Rayford deals with the disappearance of his co-pilot, a flight attendant, and all the children on board. After a midair collision damages his fuel line, Rayford must navigate back to New York. On the ground, Chloe finds her mother has also vanished and learns from a pastor that God has taken the believers to heaven. Chloe eventually contacts Buck, who is in communication with Rayford. She creates a makeshift runway on a road under construction and provides coordinates, allowing Rayford to make a rough landing. The survivors step out to see a world in flames, with Chloe noting that this is just the beginning.
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 110
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Vic Armstrong
- Writers
- Paul LaLonde · writer; John Patus · writer
- Cast and characters
- Nicolas Cage · Rayford Steele; Chad Michael Murray · Cameron "Buck" Williams; Cassi Thomson · Chloe Steele; Nicky Whelan · Hattie Durham; Jordin Sparks · Shasta Carvell; Lea Thompson · Irene Steele
- Genres
- Christian apocalyptic thriller; disaster; fantasy
- Themes
- Faith; End of Days; Family; Judgment
- Tone and mood
- Apocalyptic; Tense; Earnest
- Premise and plot tags
- Rapture; Aviation Disaster; Religious Thriller
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1995 novel of the same name written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
- Franchise connections
- Left Behind series
- Reception
- The film was panned by critics and received a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 12/100 on Metacritic. It was described as 'shoddily made sensationalist propaganda' and 'ignorant piece of garbage' by various reviewers, though it was praised by the original authors.
- Awards and nominations
- Razzie · Worst Picture · Nominated; Razzie · Worst Screenplay · Nominated; Razzie · Worst Actor · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The Antichrist does not appear in the film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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