Parents' Guide to

Left Behind

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Reboot of faith-based indie hit is confused and awkward.

Movie PG-13 2014 110 minutes
Left Behind Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 13+

Based on 5 parent reviews

age 16+

Violent, Incoherent movie that fumbles faith beliefs

For most Christians, the 'rapture' is a significant misinterpretation of scripture, and this movie promulgates those errors. (The Bible clearly states that those 'Left Behind' are the good.) Besides these confusing items on Christianity, this movie attempts to fairly accurately portray a decay of the world with disaster, some gory images. There is also depictions of illegal drug use. Probably OK for mature children who have good solid roots in their beliefs.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
age 12+

Stupid, ham-fisted propaganda

Everything about this movie is clumsy, offensive, and narrow-minded.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (16):

Directed by legendary stuntman Vic Armstrong, LEFT BEHIND is a bigger-budget but subpar reboot of the faith-based indie hit from 2000, itself based on a series of best-selling novels. Everything revolves around the simultaneous fear of -- and desire for -- The Rapture. But the movie's crucial flaw is that the filmmakers want to create sympathetic characters out of those who were deemed sinners and thus not delivered to God. Viewers are supposed to like them but not want to be like them (even though they all fly first class).

Aside from that faulty conceit, the movie, on a pure thriller level, is a massive collection of awkward, poorly written character moments and supposedly spectacular set pieces that are stretched far too thin. The big moment is over in just a few seconds, and the rest is all a bad disaster film. Certainly there are profound, spiritual movies in the world and movies that could enhance your faith, but Left Behind preaches only to the converted.

Movie Details

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