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Movies / On DVD / Left Behind - The Movie
Left Behind - The Movie

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Left Behind - The Movie (2001)

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Reviews Counted:41

Fresh:5

Rotten:36

Average Rating:3.1/10

Consensus: Poor production values, slow pacing, and an implausible story makes Left Behind a movie only for the faithful.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for violence

Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins

Genre: Religious

Theatrical Release:Feb 2, 2001 Limited

Box Office: $3,237,899

Synopsis: In one chaotic moment, millions people around the world suddenly disappear leaving their clothes, wedding rings, eye glasses and shoes in crumpled piles. Mass confusion hits while vehicles suddenly... In one chaotic moment, millions people around the world suddenly disappear leaving their clothes, wedding rings, eye glasses and shoes in crumpled piles. Mass confusion hits while vehicles suddenly unmanned veer out of control, fires erupt and hysteria breaks out as the living stare in disbelief and fear at the empty places where their loved ones were just seconds before. This is the rapture that God has planned as the first sign to begin the unraveling of the end of time. Enter airline pilot Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson), a tall, ruggedly strong and good-looking man in his early 40s. His flying career has kept him away from his family (wife and two children) causing a strain in his marital relationship which consequently pushes his wife Irene into devoting herself to her church and religious beliefs. Rayford begins to desire one of his attractive and intelligent flight attendants (Hattie) and is about to take it one step forward when, in the middle of one of his flights to London, England, the rapture occurs.

Cameron 'Buck' Williams (Kirk Cameron), a young, good-looking and ambitious television reporter, is in the middle of an investigative report that brought him to Israel. There he interviewed famed scientist Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig about his breakthrough food growth formula that would make any type of soil (from desert to frozen ice caps) arable. This formula would enable Israel to barter for world peace. In the midst of this interview, Israel is besieged by a full-scale surprise air attack which suddenly explodes in mid-air causing absolutely no harm or casualties to Israel.

Buck, deeply perplexed by the phenomenon, is further intrigued when his ex-Pentagon friend, Dirk Burton, hints at a massive conspiracy to obtain world domination (using Dr. Rosenzweig's secret formula) headed by two evil tycoons Jonathan Stonagal and Joshua Cothran. Buck sets out on a mission to get to the truth. While on this mission, Buck finds himself on Rayford's flight to London, England where he experiences the 'rapture' first hand. He later enlists the help of Dirk's eclectic band of computer 'geeks' (after Dirk is mysteriously murdered) to sort out Dirk's conspiracy facts encrypted on a miniature DVD disc

Rayford returns home from the chaotic 'raptured' flight to find his wife and 11-year old son Raymie gone. His feisty 20-year old daughter Chloe (Janaya Stephens) is still alive and was out driving her Isuzu truck when the rapture took place. Joined by her father and Buck, they work together to find the truth and to search for their missing family. [More]

Starring: Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Chelsea Noble, Colin Fox

Starring: Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Chelsea Noble, Colin Fox, Gordon Currie, Janaya Stephens, Clarence Gilyard

Director: Vic Sarin

Director: Vic Sarin
Screenwriter: Alan McElroy, Paul Lalonde, Joe Goodman
Producer: Paul Lalonde, Ralph Winter, Joe Goodman, Peter Lalonde, George Tirl, Bobby Neutz
Studio: Cloud Ten Pictures

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Release:

Oct 31, 2000

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Reviews for Left Behind - The Movie

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z)
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One of the better efforts, up there with Don Murray's The Cross and the Switchblade.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
02/02/01
Joe Baltake
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee

The loosely scripted story is further burdened with clunky dialogue and performances, shoddy continuity, and, well, Kirk Cameron.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
02/26/01
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

An exceedingly poorly made motion picture.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
02/05/01
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Left Behind will leave many Christians scratching their heads in bewilderment should they grow curious enough -- or bored enough -- to watch it.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
02/01/01
Al Brumley
Al Brumley
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Solid, unexceptional mix of thrills and human drama.

Full Review Source: Mr. Showbiz | comment Comment
02/01/01
Cody Clark
Cody Clark
Mr. Showbiz
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

While the book has its share of contrivances ... This 95 minute movie rushes over everything so quickly, that the plot holes look an awful lot bigger.

Full Review Source: Flint Journal | comment Comment
02/05/01
David Forsmark
David Forsmark
Flint Journal

A Christian fundamentalist film styled as a grade-B sci-fi action thriller.

Full Review Source: Nitrate Online | comment Comment
02/05/01
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
Nitrate Online

It's pretty spooky but director Vic Sarin, screenwriter Allan McElroy are unable to sustain much suspense or credibility.

Full Review Source: Calgary Sun | comment Comment
03/02/01
Louis B. Hobson
Louis B. Hobson
Calgary Sun

For all its intimations of fire and brimstone, the film isn't remotely frightening, and the high-school-level acting doesn't help.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
02/02/01
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There are various absurd developments that will have most everyone chuckling, rolling their eyes or simply getting up and leaving after too many such occurrences.

Full Review Source: Screen It! | comment Comment
02/05/01
Jim Judy
Jim Judy
Screen It!

Nearly unendurable.

comment Comment
02/05/01
Tom Keogh
Tom Keogh
Film.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

We're asked to buy Kirk Cameron as a hardcore journalist covering an international crisis in the Middle East?

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
02/20/01
Jeremiah Kipp
Jeremiah Kipp
Filmcritic.com

The storytelling is heavy-handed, the plot convoluted, the direction inconsistent, the acting wooden and the effects cheesy.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
03/05/01
Bruce Kirkland
Bruce Kirkland
Jam! Movies

Might be extremely effective while preaching to the converted, but it's no great shakes as secular entertainment.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
02/07/01
Joe Leydon
Joe Leydon
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A little hard to believe.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
01/17/01
Ann Limpert
Ann Limpert
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A classic case of preaching to the converted, this relentlessly boring movie is unlikely to appeal to anyone except hard-core fans of Christian sci-fi.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
02/02/01
Lou Lumenick
Lou Lumenick
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This picture's b-movie values probably play better on video than in theaters.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
02/05/01
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The only thing "Left Behind" made me want to do was pray that it would soon be over.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
02/07/01
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

The movie's script, acting, and production values are not up to the standards of mainstream Hollywood theatrical productions, but it is filmed with a lot of sincerity.

Full Review Source: Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies | comment Comment
01/29/01
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

It may have seemed plausible on paper, but Left Behind, the conspiracy-laden, Christian-themed thriller that has sold five million copies in book form, just looks ludicrous on screen.

comment Comment
02/02/01
John Monaghan
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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