The new Netflix film Leave The World Behind starring Oscar winners Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali is the latest movie to explore what the end of the world might look like.
Directed by Mr Robot creator Sam Esmail, the plot puts the blame firmly at the feet of technology, which is weaponised by America’s enemies to cause planes to fall from the sky, Teslas to become self-aware and animals to start acting strangely.
Apocalyptic films have long been a popular film genre, going back decades with the likes of 1959’s On The Beach about the aftermath of nuclear war starring Ava Gardner and Fred Astaire, as well as 1968’s Planet of the Apes, in which apes have evolved to become the dominate species.
For apocalypse afficionados, the fun is in the way in which the world ends, and these six films leave you wondering if they could possibly come true. Warning, spoilers below.
Leave the World Behind, Netflix
Starring: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke
How does the world end? Technological terrorism
What happens? When Amanda Sanford (Roberts) and her family leave New York and head to the coast for a relaxing weekend, the first red flag is the local survivalist clearing out the grocery store with water and canned goods. The second is the oil tanker that ploughs into the beach they’re all sunbathing on.
When George Scott (Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la Herrold) turn up at the house claiming it is theirs and being unforthcoming about what they know about the blackout that drove them from the city, it is clear something big is afoot.
How realistic is it? Pretty solid. The reactions of the characters to their situations are believable, with their anxiety (as well as that of the audience) growing with the building sense of doom and confusion.
Snowpiercer, Amazon Prime
Starring: Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Song Kang-ho
How does the world end? Failed climate engineering
What happens? Seventeen years after an attempt to reverse climate change triggered a new ice age, the last humans on earth live aboard a train which continually circumnavigates the globe.
The train is a microcosm of society, with the wealthy in large carriages at the front, and poorer people crammed into windowless trucks at the back.
One of the tail-end passengers, Curtis Everett (Evans), leads a rebellion that starts working its way up the train past armed guards towards the engine room where the mysterious and reclusive Wilford (Ed Harris) oversees the segregation.
How realistic is it? While the idea of a world-traversing train isn’t realistic, the segregation by class and wealth onboard is devastatingly spot on.
World War Z, Netflix
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz
How does the world end? Viral infection
What happens? A virus takes over the world turning people into zombies; and not slow-moving zombies like in Shaun of The Dead, but superfast ones who can climb, chase and bite with alarming alacrity.
Caught up in a wave of attacks in Philadelphia, United Nations investigator Gerry Lane (Pitt) and his family are airlifted to a US Navy warship where it’s made clear Lane needs to find a cure or his family will be booted off the boat.
When Jerusalem is overrun, Lane notices the zombies don't attack people who are sick or dying. It's a discovery that leads to a nail-biting final scene at the World Health Organisation facility in Cardiff.
How realistic is it? Given that the notion of zombies has been pretty much debunked, not . However, the idea that humankind will be left to fend for itself while the few are airlifted to safety is uncomfortably true.
Children of Men, Apple TV
Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Clare-Hope Ashitey
How does the world end? Destruction of human fertility
What happens? Global ecocide has resulted in two decades of infertility, with the war, pandemics and depression it unleashed pushing the world to the brink of collapse.
Former human rights activist-turned-bureaucrat Theo Faron (Owen) is kidnapped by Fishes, the militant immigrant-rights group his ex-wife Julian (Moore) leads, and is tasked with getting a young refugee woman named Kee (Ashitey) to safety.
Kee is the only pregnant woman on the planet and when Julian is killed, her militant successor Luke (Chiwetel Ejiofor) sets out after them in a bid to take the baby to use it as a political tool.
How realistic is it? From the streets of grimy, war-torn London to the attitude towards immigration and refugees, this film is chilling in its message.
A Quiet Place, OSN
Starring: John Krasinksi, Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe
How does the world end? Alien invasion
What happens? Aliens invade earth and set about killing everyone in their path. Unable to see, they use their exceptional hearing to navigate the planet, forcing the remaining humans to live in complete silence to survive.
Lee and Evelyn Abbott (played by real-life husband and wife John Krasinski and Emily Blunt) and their two children use sign language to communicate on their isolated farm.
When their youngest son is killed by an alien, Evelyn falls pregnant and is forced to give birth in the bath in total silence as the aliens discover their hiding place.
How realistic is it? While the threat of alien invasion is a favourite end-of-the-world trope, the main issue here is how they expected to keep a newborn baby quiet.
The Hunger Games, Netflix
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson
How does the world end? Ecological and societal collapse
What happens? The nation of Panem rises from the ashes of a series of ecological disasters which push humanity to the brink of destruction.
The survivors, divided into districts of varying degrees of poverty, go up against the Capitol but are defeated, resulting in the hunger games being held as punishment for the rebellion.
Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) is sent to the Capitol along with Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson) to represent District 12 to fight-to-the-death in an arena designed for maximum audience entertainment.
How realistic is it? Dividing the world into the haves and have-nots remains prescient, and in Katniss there is a believable and fallible everyday girl rather than a superhero.
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
The%20Hunger%20Games%3A%20The%20Ballad%20of%20Songbirds%20%26%20Snakes
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Francis%20Lawrence%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ERachel%20Zegler%2C%20Peter%20Dinklage%2C%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Tom%20Blyth%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
More from Armen Sarkissian
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
