Netflix viewers shocked after discovering 'real message' in Leave The World Behind

With Christmas now less than two weeks away, I'm sure many of us are hunkering down on our sofas to watch some proper good telly.

One of the latest flicks added to Netflix, Leave The World Behind, has had a whole lot of buzz surrounding it ever since it first dropped on the streaming platform last Friday (8 December).

Since then, viewers have been left beyond shocked after discovering what they reckon is the 'real message' at the heart of the film. Check out the trailer here:

The official premise for Leave The World Behind reads: "A family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a mysterious blackout.

"As the threat grows more imminent, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in this collapsing world."

Boasting a star-studded cast including the likes of Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon, the flick is directed and produced by Sam Esmail and based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam.

While it was first released in limited theatres last month (November 22), the anticipated psychological-thriller was finally made available to stream from the comfort of your sofa last week and fans clearly couldn't wait to give it a watch.

Netflix

Apart from being 'disturbed to the core' and slightly 'cheated' by the ending - Netflix viewers reckon they've cracked the somewhat cryptic meaning that runs through the film.

Now, in case you haven't managed to watch it yet, we don't give too much away but the movie basically ends with the characters trying to escape a bunch of weird goings on in the city and hiding out in a bunker.

Mum Amanda (Roberts) is out looking for her daughter Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), who has gone missing.

In the final scene we see Rose finally find the bunker and pick up a DVD of the final season of Friends, which she then puts on.

As the opening theme song kicks in, the credits roll.

While some were baffled by the ending, others believe there's a ton of symbolism at bay there.

Netflix

One fan wrote: "Movie is scary with how it matches real time. People say the ending is us, seeking comfort in TV and entertainment while the world crumbles."

Another hypothesises that the ending sends a message about us finding 'distraction in entertainment' while the world 'crumbles' around us.

They added: "Keep us distracted by entertainment etc, then when you take away what distracts us from really understanding situations and ppl around us the world would more than likely crumble. And we wouldn’t know how to survive without the distractions they’ve given us.

"Something crazy happens in the world we’re all talking about it one minute then the next we move on."

What do you make of it?

Leave The World Behind is currently available to stream on Netflix.