Leave the World Behind is one of Julia Roberts’ most interesting movies, but it also creates a strange paradox involving the actor. Roberts’ recent trend of thriller movies has been exciting for her career, including Leave the World Behind.
The movie follows a wealthy family, led by Amanda (Roberts) and Clay (Ethan Hawke), who rent a remote Airbnb to escape the city. However, the owner of the home, George (Mahershala Ali), soon arrives claiming that there is some sort of attack happening in the outside world.
The thriller became one of Netflix’s most-watched movies of all time and featured a terrific performance from Roberts. However, it also included a curious detail that creates an intriguing paradox.
Leave The World Behind’s Julia Roberts Paradox Explained
Roberts Exists As An Actor And A Character In This World
Leave the World Behind addresses the fear of the collapse of society, but it also suggests that the reality of the movie Julia Roberts is starring in also includes the actor Julia Roberts. Amid all the mystery and suspense, Leave the World Behind includes a subplot about Amanda and Clay’s young daughter, Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), trying to finish binge-watching Friends.
Roberts is meant to be playing a character, but the movie establishes the possibility of Julia Roberts, the actor, existing in this story.
Within the context of the movie, which takes place in the present day, Friends has been over for decades. However, devoted fans of the show will remember that Roberts actually appeared in an episode of Friends. She played Chandler’s love interest, Susie Moss, in the season 2 episode, “The One After The Superbowl, Part 2”.
This creates an interesting question of what would happen when Rose was watching the second season of Friends and her mother suddenly appeared in the show. Of course, Roberts is meant to be playing the character of Amanda, but the movie establishes the possibility of Julia Roberts, the actor, existing in the same world as Amanda.
It’s a confusing paradox to consider, but hardly the only time such a thing happened. In The Martian, the Council of Elrond from The Lord of the Rings is mentioned despite Sean Bean, who played Boromir in that scene, being present in The Martian. Even Friends does this when it mentions Die Hard and later has Bruce Willis playing Paul.
This so-called “celebrity paradox” may feel like a plot hole and can spiral when you think about it too much, but it is the kind of thing that comes up with something as tied to pop culture as Friends is.
Why Friends Plays Such A Big Role In Leave The World Behind
Rose’s Obsession With The Show Speaks To The Grand Themes Of The Movie
The use of Friends as an ongoing aspect of the movie may seem strange, especially as it plays into the ending of Leave the World Behind. With the world outside collapsing, Rose discovers a lavish home with a bunker stocked with food and necessities, including the DVD box set of Friends.
When everything they fear comes to pᴀss, Rose finds a way to find comfort, predictability, and closure, making her happy in this harrowing moment.
The movie ends with Friends‘ iconic theme song playing as Rose finally sits down to enjoy the show’s finale. The upbeat song juxtaposes the devastating situation unfolding in the outside world. It makes for a memorable ending, but the importance of the show lies in the broader themes of the movie.
Leave the World Behind sees this isolated group of people seeking safety and comfort as they are faced with an uncertain future. What becomes more apparent is that such ᴀssurances are impossible. When everything they fear comes to pᴀss, Rose finds a way to find comfort, predictability, and closure, making her happy in this harrowing moment.
The use of Friends also speaks to the value people put on media as a source of comfort. She finds a bunker that could provide safety for her and her family, but her only concern in that moment is the show. It is a dark and satirical message that has become one of the most discussed aspects of Leave the World Behind.
