Left Behind - The Movie (2000)

16% of critics liked it
(43 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(18,761 ratings)

In the Holy Bible, the Book of Revelations speaks of an event called "The Rapture," in which it is believed God will call those who have been saved to Heaven, while those who have not repented their sins will remain on Earth. Authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have written a series of novels… More In the Holy Bible, the Book of Revelations speaks of an event called "The Rapture," in which it is believed God will call those who have been saved to Heaven, while those who have not repented their sins will remain on Earth. Authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have written a series of novels based upon the premise of how the Rapture would affect ordinary people in the modern world, and Left Behind is the first feature film to be adapted from their work. Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson) is an airline pilot whose relationship with his wife has gone sour; she responds by devoting more of her time and energy to the church, while he ponders having an affair with an attractive flight attendant, Hattie Durham (Chelsea Noble). In the midst of a flight to London, a number of their passengers mysteriously disappear, and chaos takes hold as a number of vehicles on the ground and in the air are suddenly unmanned. Meanwhile, Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron), a television journalist, is pondering the rash of sudden disappearances as he works on a report about Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig (Colin Fox), an Israeli scientist who has devised a formula that would make any soil on earth easy to cultivate. However, Cameron wonders if there's more to Rosenzweig than he first imagined when he discovers the doctor is in cahoots with two multi-millionaires who plan to broker the invention to promote their own agenda of international domination. Produced by Cloud Ten Productions, a Christian filmmaking concern, Left Behind was released with an unusual marketing strategy -- the film was made available on home video in October 2000, with a theatrical release scheduled to follow in February 2001. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Vic Sarin, Victor Sarin
Written By: Alan McElroy, Paul Lalonde, Joe Goodman
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Faith & Spirituality, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jan 26, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Oct 31, 2000
Studio: Cloud Ten Pictures

Critic Reviews

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
In the end, or maybe in the beginning, it won't merely be the unfaithful on the screen who will feel left behind.
Joe Leydon, Variety
Might be extremely effective while preaching to the converted, but it's no great shakes as secular entertainment.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
An exceedingly poorly made motion picture.
Tom Keogh, Film.com
Nearly unendurable.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
One of the better efforts, up there with Don Murray's The Cross and the Switchblade.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
A competently made film hampered by wooden performances and a script that has a few too many 'Gee whiz' moments of dialogue.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Mix of apocalyptic book series and the Bible.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
These folks get eternity in heaven, while I'm stuck here watching the Left Behind trilogy. I'm calling my rabbi.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
The special edition DVD turns out to be a full-screen version of the film, not widescreen. This makes it seem like a made-for-TV movie.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Lame dialogue and acting is rescued by interesting plot and characters.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Atuações ridículas em um filme absurdo.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Whoa.
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
The storytelling is heavy-handed, the plot convoluted, the direction inconsistent, the acting wooden and the effects cheesy.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dan S

Not terrible, but obviously very flawed and the acting isn't the greatest.
Jason O

I haven't ever read any of the Left Behind books, but I've heard a lot about them. I got to watch the movie, and it's not the best religious-type movie I've ever seen, but it's not bad. Kirk Cameron stars as one of the people who have been 'left… More
I haven't ever read any of the Left Behind books, but I've heard a lot about them. I got to watch the movie, and it's not the best religious-type movie I've ever seen, but it's not bad. Kirk Cameron stars as one of the people who have been 'left behind' after the revelation. A lot of people start mysteriously disappearing and a bunch of people are trying to figure out why. The people who have been left behind have to find a way to find out what has happened and then try to change themselves in order to have a chance to make it after the 7 year tribulation without getting involved in the anti-christ's plan to take over the world. I thought "Left Behind" was a good movie. The only thing I didn't like about it was that I thought it ended all of a sudden without getting enough of the story in. Other than that, this movie has a lot of meaning to it and I recommend anybody to watch it, especially if you've been reading the series of books. If you don't get a chance to see the movie now, it's supposed to be coming to theatres sometime in early 2001. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000.
Curtis L

not very memorable.