left behind movie review 2023

‘Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist’ Review: Kevin Sorbo Steps Into Nicolas Cage’s Shoes for Sequel, After Rapture of Previous Movie’s Entire Cast

The latest installment in the rapture franchise provides efficient filmmaking at times, but doesn't offer much movie rapture on the way to an altar-call epilogue.

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

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If you see just one thriller this year in which a climactic car chase is followed by the director-star breaking character to deliver a five-minute sermon straight into the camera — followed by three more minutes of Mike Huckabee leading viewers in prayer to accept Jesus into their hearts, before the end credits roll — then make it “ Left Behind : Rise of the Antichrist,” the latest in a series of apocalyptic films based on the bestselling Christian book series.

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In this sequel, we’re told the world is quickly going to hell, following the disappearance of all the world’s true Christians, although there’s not much filmic evidence of that beyond the sight of trash bags adrift in the streets on the rare occasions the Canadian shoot ventures outdoors. The chaos is established via CNN-style newscasts conducted by the film’s other leading man, chiseled, cocky TV anchor Cameron “Buck” Williams (Greg Perrow), who, having been established as the one principled newsman alive, starts looking into the nefarious forces trying to seduce and subject the United Nations and entire globe.

In real life, Sorbo is a polarizing enough personality that there could be a few non-evangelicals sneaking into showings for the purpose of a hate-watching. (The actor is so dedicated to right-wing trolling that, on release weekend, he made yet another sneering joke about the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi.) But anyone showing up in search of unintended laughs, because of his participation or because they have fond memories of snickering at no-budget Christ-sploitation movies like 1972’s “A Thief in the Night” at church camp, may be disappointed to find that “Rise of the Antichrist” rarely rises to pure camp.

It sports attractive lensing, dialogue that occasionally has a little snap to it, and even some decent directing of a few of the performances … including Sorbo’s own. That’s especially true in one nicely low-key, church-set scene where the actor performs alongside his real-life wife (Sam Sorbo, very good), both playing characters who lost their spouses in the rapture. His screen presence here has a naturalistic sweetness that feels at surprising odds with the snarky meanness of Sorbo’s social media persona as God’s Angry Man.

Much of the film is spent implicitly or explicitly painting the government’s and news media’s pandemic-era policies or reporting as hoaxes, establishing public fear or gullibility that provided a nice setup for Satan to really do his thing in end-times to come. (In this universe, there’s not even a Newsmax or an OAN left behind to question, let alone own, the libs.)

When the principal antagonist, in the form of Romanian big-wig Nicolae Carpathia (Bailey Chase), finally shows up for what amounts to only about 10 minutes of screen time, we know he’s the Antichrist because a thrilled television reporter tells viewers he’s getting the most enthusiastic greeting of anyone since Obama. (Boo, hiss.) Actually, Carpathia doesn’t appear to have any of the charisma expected of a guy who’s going to seduce the world; he resembles a much more hard-assed Ron DeSantis, crossed with a Bond villain.   

Reviewed at AMC Santa Anita, Santa Anita, Calif., Jan. 28, 2023. Running time: 128 MIN.

• Production: A 101 Films Int'l, Fathom Events presentation of an Amcomri Entertainment, Stonagal Pictures production. Producers: Paul Lalonde, Michael Walker, Jason Wan Lin, Ed Clydesdale, John Duffy, Kevin Sorbo, James Quattrochi. Executive producers: Paul McGowan, Larry Howard, Andy Lyon, Neal McDonough.
• Crew: Director: Kevin Sorbo. Screenplay: Paul Lalonde, John Patus, Jessica Parker. Editor: Chris Bragg. Music: Tyler Bragg.
• With: Kevin Sorbo, Neal McDonough, Bailey Chase, Corbin Bernsen, Greg Perrow, Sarah FIsher, Sam Sorbo, Charles Sndrew Payn, Stafford Perry.

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• DVD & Streaming

Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist

• Christian , Drama

Content Caution

In Theaters

• January 26, 2023
• Kevin Sorbo as Rayford Steele; Greg Perrow as Cameron “Buck” Williams; Charles Andrew Payne as Pastor Bruce Barnes; Neal McDonough as Jonathan Stonagal; Bailey Chase s Nicolae Carpathia; Corbin Bernsen as Steve Plank; Sam Sorbo as Amanda; Sarah Fisher as Chloe; Stafford Perry as Dirk; Braeden Sorbo as Connor

Home Release Date

• March 10, 2023
• Kevin Sorbo

Distributor

• Fathom Events

Movie Review

Thanos didn’t do it this time.

No, when millions of people simply vanished from the face of the Earth on one otherwise fine day, it wasn’t the result of an Infinity Stone-gloved snap . The experts would certainly scoff at that potential explanation. Why, that’s almost as silly (they would say) as believing the disappearances were because of the Rapture .

But if it’s not a Marvel movie and it’s not the biblical End Times, what is it? And could it happen again?

Intrepid reporter Buck Williams aims to get to the bottom of this global mystery. But he’s not getting much help. His boss wants him to stop asking so many questions already.

“The news? It’s no longer about the truth,” Buck gripes to his girlfriend, Chloe Steele. “It’s about the message. As if we’re afraid that [viewers] can’t handle the truth.”

Chloe and her grieving dad, Rayford, are focused on one terrible truth: Half of their family is gone now. Ray’s wife, Irene; and son, Raymie; vanished with all those millions of others. Again, the world has no explanations.

But here’s the thing: Irene told Ray that this very thing would happen. In fact, this very thing was prophesied literally 2,000 years ago. And while the experts say it wasn’t the Rapture, Ray suspects that maybe—just maybe —it was.

But if the vanishings were the Rapture, that means that other, darker forces are at work, too.

The world feels like it’s collapsing in the wake of the vanishings. Violent crime has risen exponentially. Suicides are up tenfold. Stepping into the chaos is Jonathan Stonagal—creator of Eden, the biggest social network in the world. He’s (ahem) generously offered to allow the world to use Eden as a new worldwide banking system—a conduit, he says, to ease financial panic and ensure the world’s citizens get what they need.

All he needs to make that happen is buy-in from two foot-dragging countries: Israel, which needs a Mideast peace treaty in order to sign on; and Romania.

But Romania’s charismatic leader, Nicolae Carpathia, wants some extra-special assurances from Stonagal before he climbs on board.

And those conditions will be a beast to meet.

Positive Elements

We offer a tip of the hat to Buck Williams, a popular cable news personality who returns to his investigative journalistic roots here. He’s unwilling to accept expert talking points on face value, and he’s determined to find out what’s really going on. When a second wave of vanishings allegedly strikes, Buck is immediately suspicious. And his investigations lead to some truly revelatory information. Buck risks both his career and life to bring those revelations to light.

He’s not alone. Buck is joined in his truth pursuit by Dirk, a conspiracy-minded hacker; and Connor, a born-again newbie at Buck’s cable network. All three are willing to go to significant lengths to expose the rotten roots behind Eden, and not all of them make it to the credits.

Speaking of credit, let’s also give some to Ray and Chloe and Bruce Barnes, a pastor of New Hope Church who was inexplicably (but not unexpectedly) left behind. All three had heard about the Rapture well before it happened. Pastor Barnes had even studied it thoroughly. ( Religiously , you might say.) All three—and millions of others—had rejected the truth lurking behind that Rapture, that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

We’ll get into the more explicitly spiritual journeys our protagonists find themselves on in the section below. But here, let’s just acknowledge that it takes courage to admit when you’re wrong.

And while must of the world continues to live in denial, these three, along with a few others we meet, understand that they rejected a truth that they should’ve not just accepted, but embraced and cherished. And by the movie’s end, they and others are determined to follow a new, harder path, and to bring as many other people as they can along with them.

Spiritual Elements

Obviously, Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist is explicitly Christian. It’s based on Tim LaHaye’s and Jerry Jenkins’ incredibly popular Left Behind book series, which itself was based on how many interpret the book of Revelation and other prophetic Scriptures. It’s not the only interpretation—but it likely represents the most popular understanding among many evangelical Christians today.

And certainly, most of the events we see here are intended to point straight back to Scripture. For example: When characters wonder about Eden’s role in biblical prophecy, Pastor Barnes points back to Revelation 13:16-17, which indicates that “no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Another example: We hear 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 quoted, where the Apostle Paul talks how during the Rapture the dead will “rise first,” followed by the living. Punctuating that truth, one character digs up a grave of a departed loved one to confirm that, yes, Paul was right. We could point to many, many other instances, but that gives you a flavor.

While Rise of the Antichrist stresses that the bad times are just beginning—we haven’t even hit the hardcore tribulations yet—they’re ramping up. A narrator reminds us, “Jesus told us that the world would hate Christians” as the film shows a vandalized church. “All Souls Matter” is scrawled on its marquee. Inside, the accusation “God is dead” is scrawled on the walls in red paint, and a pig’s head with a crown of thorns hangs on the cross.

“Why do people who don’t even believe in God suddenly hate Him so much?” The narrator speculates. “Because they have nobody else to blame it on.”

But some moments of spiritual beauty take place in the midst of that destruction and persecution. A pastor offers hope and encouragement via video, even though he himself was Raptured. “Whatever you have to face on Earth,” the pastor says, “It’s not too late. You can still spend eternity in heaven.” Several people commit to Christ during the course of the movie, most reciting a version of the Sinner’s Prayer. Pastor Barnes admits, “I may have given up on God, but I’m humbled to know that God hadn’t given up on me.”

We hear other Bible verses read and see well-used Bibles on screen. Some characters, pre-conversion, refer to the Bible as “that stupid book” and its adherents to “religious wackos.” Chloe tells her father, “I’m really not in the mood for church,” and hangs up on him; but a kindly woman manipulates circumstances to bring Chloe to church anyway. A Jewish man talks about his own faith while wearing a kippah, and we hear a few references to the Dome of the Rock, the Islamic holy site sitting where Solomon’s Temple once was. We learn that Solomon’s Temple was originally built right next door—and there are plans (in the film) to build a massive temple on the real original site.

Sexual Content

In the books, former pilot Rayford Steele admits that he had a “roving eye” before the Rapture, and we meet the flight attendant upon whom his eye landed.

Hattie visits Ray unexpectedly at his home, wearing a work outfit that reveals her back and a good deal of leg. She wraps her arms around Ray’s neck suggestively, but Ray extracts himself. “What almost happened between us, it doesn’t matter now,” he tells her. “I’ve accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and you cannot find the truth without Him.”

Chloe and Buck are also dating, but the most physical affection we see between the two of them is an occasional hug or touch.

Violent Content

A man dies in an explosion. Three people are murdered—shot to death. (Guns are fired elsewhere, too.) We hear that one of Buck’s coworkers supposedly committed suicide (though the movie insinuates that that’s likely not true).

Someone is attacked by a knife-toting mugger. The would-be thief knocks the victim down and cuts her arm, and we see a bit of blood. (Later, the victim is told that the cut doesn’t even require stitches—just a bit of antibiotic. We see the wound a bit more as it’s treated.) She sprays the mugger’s face with mace, and he eventually runs off.

We learn that Pastor Barnes was also attacked by the same folks who vandalized his church. He’s lying down in a pew when Ray finds him—not, apparently, knocked out, but nursing a bruised jaw.

We see news clips indicating the world’s chaos and violence—though the most actual violence we see seems to be sequestered to scenes of fires burning in the street and riot police brandishing batons and whatnot. Buck also confronts his boss over horrific footage of people jumping to their deaths being used on his show. We, however, do not see that footage.

We do see the feet of an otherwise unseen character inching to what appears to be a building ledge as the narrator tells us about a drastic rise in suicides. On a news program, we learn that murders have risen by 300%, and suicides are up by 1,000%. (It’s being called a “pandemic of evil.”)

The finale of the film includes a high-speed car chase.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear two uses of the word “h—.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Stonagal and Nicolae Carpathia sip what seems to be whiskey as they discuss their conspiracy to, essentially, take over the world’s entire financial system.

Other Negative Elements

Rise of the Antichrist has been updated, obviously, from the original books (written in an age before social media was a thing). We hear plenty of references to more modern events, especially COVID (both overt and more subtle nods). And while those more political allusions are not necessarily “negative,” depending on your point of view, they’re certainly pervasive.

When a handful of characters ask Pastor Barnes who or what they can trust in this age of misinformation, Barnes tells them this:

“Trust God. Trust Jesus. Trust the Bible. And for literally anyone else, take what they’re saying to you and weigh it against the word. And then you pray, pray, pray. For God’s help, not to be led astray.”

It’s in moments like these when Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist , is at its strongest—when it leans into the ultimate truth of the movie, and the greatest truth of all. It’s at its best when the characters are on their knees, just like the rest of us should always be.

Rise of the Antichrist has some other strong moments in it, as well. The writing can feel crisp and even funny; it clips along at a reasonably good pace, as a thriller should. And it comes with some pretty decent acting, too. (Neal McDonough, who plays Stonagal, is always a riveting presence on screen, be it in secular or spiritual movies.)

But it’s still a bit uneven. For me, the movie’s socio-political allusions slowed down the pace and felt not just unnecessary, but distracting. And fans of the book—presumably the primary audience for Rise of the Antichrist —may find the movie’s departures from LaHaye’s and Jenkins’ work distracting.

I’d like to see this series continue. The Left Behind books were such a phenomenon back in the day. And because they were written as apocalyptic adventure thrillers, the source content lends itself to cinema. Rise of the Antichrist feels like a modest step up from the Left Behind movies that came before—but I think that future iterations can be better yet.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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Actor who plays pastor in new 'left behind' film opens up about why he left the church.

An actor who took on the role of a pastor struggling with his faith in the new rapture film "Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist" said it's ironic how he was cast in the role.

Identifying himself as a lapsed Christian who left the Church but still holds onto spirituality, Actor Charles Andrew Payne told The Christian Post about his upbringing in the Catholic Church and what led him away from the institution. 

In the film, released in theatres Thursday, Payne is a narrator throughout each scene and also plays the role of Pastor Bruce Barnes, who doesn't lead a life according to what he preaches from the Bible at the start of the film. 

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Growing up, the 56-year-old actor attended church religiously. But negative church experiences drove him away. He recalls being turned off by the pastors he encountered, who he said did not practice what they preached. Now, he says he'd rather believe in God and spirituality without religious church observance to avoid what he calls "sinful humanity" within churches. 

"I do believe in a higher power," he said.

"Some people say 'the universe.' Some people say 'God' — whatever you want to call it. And I recognize that there is something happening in the world that's bigger and greater than myself now," Payne said.  

Payne's remarks come as declining church attendance has impacted many denominations in recent decades. The rising trend of deconstructing from the faith has led some prominent believers to announce they've either left the faith entirely or left the Church or institutional religion in recent years. 

The actor detailed major issues in the churches he was involved in that led him to leave and never look back.

As someone who grew up in the church, Payne said it was only natural that he would be heavily involved because he was raised by his grandparents, one of which was a devout Christian.  

"The first book I learned how to read was the Bible. But, as I got older, I will freely admit that I found areas that I couldn't fully buy into," he said. "Did I have spiritual leaders in the Church that I saw were not necessarily walking the walk based on what they were preaching? Yes. And this kind of made me a little bit disillusioned. So, I stepped away from the Church, but not from my relationship with God."

"Specifically, church leaders that focus on constantly raising funds or reminding people to tithe or trying to make them feel guilty for not tithing enough, etc., I found that a bit problematic. You don't know everyone's situation, and it looks bad optically when you are always asking for more funds, and then after church, you drive away in your Mercedes." 

Payne said the churches he experienced were overly focused on material things and not spirituality. 

"I don't have to be part of the Church. I think my relationship with God is my relationship with, you know, whatever you want to call it. It is solid and strong," Payne said. 

"My relationship with the Church; not so much. Because human frailty, human ego and human opinion sometimes get conflated in their way when the Bible should be the true spiritual message." 

Throughout the film, Payne's character battles with his faith as a pastor who is left behind on earth following the rapture — which causes a large sum of Christians, including his entire family, to disappear from the earth to be taken up to Heaven.

"I grew up in the Catholic Church. But, one of the things that resonated with me with this story and the pastor that I play is that I'm a lot like him. I grew up believing fully. Then, I got to a certain age where I stopped and questioned. So now, I don't say that I'm religious. I say that I'm spiritual," Payne said.

"When it comes to pastors and people, I do think not always practicing what you preach perfectly is just human nature. And I would not be surprised if there are spiritual leaders out there who are like Pastor Barnes, talking the talk and not walking the walk. I think we know the news. We found many, many examples of that in the last few years."

In the remainder of the film, following the rapture, Payne's character develops newfound faith and begins to navigate life with others while the Antichrist has taken his place on the earth. 

"Pastor Barnes has been left behind. And so, he's one of those who is now faced with a spiritual dilemma because he's never really been a fully bought-in believer in Scripture and in the stuff that he's been preaching. But, now that the rapture has happened, he's realized that this stuff is real," Payne said.

"He's been left behind. But he sees it as an opportunity for redemption and an opportunity for hope and an opportunity to work with the people who have been left behind now and find his way, and that's kind of the ark of the story." 

Payne said that although he has stepped away from the Church, he has read through the entire Bible on many occasions.

Taking on the role of a pastor in the film helped solidify his faith in God. The movie also opened his eyes to issues with religion that exist naturally.

"When you step out into nature, you look around you; you cannot help but recognize that there is a greater divine presence in our world. But, organized religion, for me, sometimes does not seem to embrace that," Payne said.   

Payne said his beliefs about End Times and whether there will be a rapture have not changed even after he starred in the role. 

"I've read the book of Revelation. It's hard to interpret. Will there be End Times? Are we living in End Times? I am not well-informed enough to make that decision. But look around you. We know we just came through a pandemic that is not quite over yet, but it's still there. Look at the divisiveness in the world as it stands and the way human beings are treating each other," Payne said. 

"I can see why some people would say: 'hey, you know, these look like End Times.' But the Bible doesn't say when it's going to happen. So, who am I to say it's going to happen? But is it a possibility? I will never ever deny that it is highly probable that at some point something might happen." 

"Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist" was written by film producers Paul Lalonde, John Patus and Jessica Parker and directed by Christian actor Kevin Sorbo. 

The film is an adaptation of the latest installment of the "Left Behind" series, based on the bestselling books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.

The movie will remain in theaters for a limited run of five days. 

Lalonde, the film's producer and co-writer, told The Christian Post in a statement that the film is based on a "true story" that "just hasn't happened yet."

"The current political, social and global climate is creating a perfect storm for an even greater revival of interest in what the Bible says about it all," Lalonde said. "Nothing you see on the news is surprising if you have the roadmap in your hand." 

The director, Sorbo, known for his leading role as "Hercules," will appear in the film alongside Payne, Neal McDonough, Corbin Bernsen, Greg Perrow, Sarah Fisher and Sam Sorbo. 

Kevin Sorbo plays the leading role of the character Rayford Steele, which was previously played by Nicolas Cage, who starred in the original 2014 film. 

Payne said what attracted him to the role of Pastor Bruce was the role's dynamic. 

"Imagine you get up in the morning, and the people you love are no longer there. It doesn't matter whether it's religion or what have you; they're gone. How would you feel as a human being?" he asked.

"So that's the place I started from; what would I feel like? I have a wife and two children. If I got up and they were no longer here, but I was left behind, my heart [would] hurt. I cried when I thought about that. How would I respond? How would I feel, and then I transferred that, and I pushed that out onto the character."

Nicole Alcindor is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected] .

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3 Things You Should Know about 'Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist'

• Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
• Updated Feb 06, 2023

Buck Williams is an experienced television journalist who is searching for the truth in a world full of fear and lies.

Six months ago, millions of people – representatives of every country on the planet – disappeared, instantly, without a trace.

It was, Williams tells viewers, the “single most catastrophic event in all of human history.” Unfortunately, though, there are “still more questions than answers.”

Some people believe aliens caused it. Others posit that the government is behind the disappearances. Still, others believe that a new technology is to blame.

A few people even theorize that the vanishings were predicted thousands of years ago in an ancient book, the Bible

Who is right? And will Williams ever uncover the truth?

The new film Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist follows the story of Williams and others as they try to survive in a world that is quickly unraveling.

Here are three things you should know about the movie:

Photo courtesy: ©Fathom Events, used with permission

1. It’s a Sequel to the 2014 Film

Rise of the Antichrist is a sequel to the 2014 film Left Behind , both of which are based on the bestselling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins and which imagine what the world will be like in the days surrounding the return of Jesus and the Rapture . The novels and films are based on what theologians call a pretribulation, premillennial interpretation of the Bible’s passages about the Last Days. (Other categories of interpretation include amillennialism and postmillennialism, both of which differ dramatically from the Left Behind plot.)

The first half of the film follows a skeptical Buck Williams as he investigates various theories about The Vanishing – some say the people who disappeared were “different” – and interviews so-called experts on his network. Williams’ view on the End Times changes as he watches a powerful businessman, Jonathan Stonogal, promote a one-world currency and a powerful politician, Romania’s Nicolae Carpathia, promote a one-world government. (One of those characters becomes the Antichrist.) Those events align with what Barnes has said will happen.

Photo courtesy: ©Fathom Events, used with permission.

2. It Features Well-Known Talent

You’ll likely recognize some of the faces in Rise of the Antichrist . Kevin Sorbo ( God’s Not Dead ), the film’s director, portrays Steele, while Neal McDonough ( Captain America, Band of Brothers ) plays Stonogal. The film also stars Emmy-nominee Corbin Bernsen ( Major League series), Sam Sorbo ( Let There Be Light ), Greg Perrow ( Actor for Hire ) and Charles Andrew Payne ( The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants ).

Faith-based films often receive criticism for their poor acting, yet the cast in Rise of the Antichrist  is solid and believable. Perrow, who has the appearance of a TV host, is a perfect fit for the role.

Rise of the Antichrist features a different set of actors and actresses than that of 2014’s Left Behind , which had   Nicholas Cage portraying Steele and Chad Michael Murray playing Williams. (If you’re curious, the new films are a sort of “reboot” of the 2000-era Left Behind films starring Kirk Cameron.)

3. It’s Part-Detective, Part-Apologetics, Part-Sermon

You don’t have to be a fan of the Left Behind series to enjoy Rise of the Antichrist.  That’s because much of the film is similar to a science fiction detective film as it follows a television reporter on his quest for the truth.

It’s one-third a thriller film, one-third an apologetics lesson, and one-third a sermon. It includes the “come to the altar” moments that some moviegoers hate, but it also includes a few lessons in pretribulation, premillennial apologetics, seemingly aimed at critics within the Christian community who say there’s little biblical support for this view of the End Times. (Asked by Chloe Steele to reveal biblical evidence for the Rapture, Barnes turns to 1 Thessalonians 4 and then reads it. Barnes also shows Steele and others his “End Times” charts.)

Rise of the Antichrist  is the best Left Behind movie yet, even if it does include one or two moments of “cheese” that briefly distract from the plot.

Fans of the Left Behind story will enjoy it the most. But for those who never read the books – like me – it includes enough gripping drama to make it interesting.

Rise of the Antichrist is unrated but likely would be PG-13 due to violence (we see people shot and killed at point-blank range) and thematic elements of fright and peril. It also includes brief coarse language (h-ll, 2).

Entertainment rating : 3 out of 5 stars.

Family-friendly rating : 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

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Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 01/25/23

A cautionary tale for our time? Whether you’re into antichrist and end time speculations or not, a viewing of the trailer for Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist suggests a pretty powerful allegory about the disconcerting era we’re living through right now – and where our world may be headed if we go down the road of putting our faith in glorified people who hold themselves up as some sort of gods in sole possession of the truth. The film, debuting in theaters tomorrow (1/26) via Fathom Events , stars and is directed by for Hercules and Andromeda TV legend and faith film favorite Kevin Sorbo ( God’s Not Dead , Soul Surfer ) .

JWK: You have a great resume of acting and directing credits, including, of course, faith-themed films. Why’d you choose this project?

Kevin Sorbo: I was a fan of the books. I read the books growing up as a kid and I knew about the movies they’ve done with Kirk Cameron and the one that came out about seven or eight years ago with Nicolas Cage . It’s interesting because that came out the same time God’s Not Dead came out. God’s Not Dead was a massive hit and the Cloud Ten guys up there in Toronto that own the rights to all the Left Behind books got inundated (by fans) saying “Why’d you book Nicolas Cage? Why didn’t you book Kevin Sorbo for the role (of protagonist Rayford Steele)?” So, I met with them. They called me up. They came down to LA (where) I was living at the time and they said “Hey, we want to do this movie with you. Would you like to do it?” and I said “Well, of course I would.” Then they ran into some sort of legal problems. Within Cloud Ten I guess there were some problems. I don’t know all the details but there were court situations for like five or six years. Finally, that was settled and then they came to me and said “Okay, we’re ready to do this.” So, I jumped on board. I directed it just over a year ago. We shot October, November and December in 2021. Then here it is a year later and now it’s coming out in theaters.

JWK: Your wife Sam and your son Braeden are also in the film. What’s it like directing not just yourself but members of your family in a movie?

KS: My wife’s very opinionated like I am so we butt heads a little bit but it’s all good creative headbutting which I like. Breaden, gosh, he’s done about four or five movies now. He and I just did a movie together in Montana this past fall. It was (also) an apocalyptic sort of movie. It was kind of cool. We had a good time doing that one as well.

You know, we’ve got a great cast in this. We’ve got Neal McDonough in it. We’ve got Corbin Bernsen and we’ve got Bailey Chase . We’ve got a wonderful cast. It was a great script. We have high hopes for it, obviously, but it’s tough out there in that little independent market right now because theaters are opening but people are still (hard to get). I don’t think they fear covid as much as it’s just comfortable watching movies at home. We’ll see what happens.

JWK: Theaters in the covid era are kind of resemble the world in Left Behind . A lot of people are missing.

KS: It kind of is. We made it very present day. There was a rewrite on it. There are a lot of issues in there. We don’t say covid but we do talk about pandemics and fear and all that. I think it’s pretty good. I like the rewrite and how they sort of dig at the craziness of the world right now.

JWK: Could the movie be described as an allegory for all the crazy things currently going on in the world?

KS: Well, I think it’s perfect timing for this movie because, yeah, you look at the insanity going on – the hate, the anger and the divisiveness. This cancel culture is nuts. It’s Woke insanity. I think there are so many unhappy people in the world and they love this little power they can have at two in the morning in the darkness of their apartment (where) they can attack anybody that they disagree with. It’s sad on one hand but I don’t give these trolls any credence whatsoever. They are what they are. They’ve got to live with themselves. That’s kind of a tough way to live, being angry every day. I’m hoping this movie can reach out to some people and make them wake up a little bit.

JWK: Do you feel the movie says something about the kind of disturbing nexus that seems to have developed between big government, big tech and big media to sort of control the narrative and, therefore, the way many people view the world?

KS: You know, they’ve been doing it for decades. It’s just that now there’s no hiding it. I mean social media is so prevalent out there. Everybody’s doing it. It’s harder for them to hide the fact that they lie a lot and they control our lives a lot – but they still do it because they don’t care. Hypocrisy sort of rules the world right now. I think the trouble is…we give them so many passes. I think apathy has been the biggest killer of not only America but the world right now. People just give up and (and say) “Oh, what are you gonna do? It is what it is.” Well, you know, if you’re gonna have that kind of attitude then you’re gonna get the lives and the government you deserve.

JWK: I don’t know if you watch Russell Brand’s video commentaries but he talks with a lot of concern about the trend toward globalism and digital currency and the way that can be used to really control people. Do you have any thoughts on that?

KS: They even talk about it. You hear people talk about a one-world government. Like I said, they’re not afraid to show that they want to control our lives from cradle to grave. Unfortunately, billions of people are willing to let them do that. It’s “Oh, please take care of me!” and “Oh, I give up!”…So, it’s interesting times right now but I do see a shift. We often talk about that silent majority. I think that people are saying enough is enough right now with Wokism and cancel culture. I think there’s going to be a positive tide turning over the next couple of years.

JWK: Do you think movies like this help people see the dangers out there in terms of big government and global control?

KS: Yeah. This movie uncovers that. It covers that fact that these people want to take over the world. They come across as really great guys. “Hey, we’re going to make things so great for you! They’ll be one currency!” (There’s the) cute John Lennon song Imagine . If people really listen to it, that song is about communism for crying out loud. People go “What a great song!” No, it’s not a great song. It’s about giving up on life and letting people control you…I hope people (go see Left Behind ). We’ve got 1400 screens its gonna air on. If we have a great opening weekend then the movie will continue. I hope people go to leftbehindmovie.com …Check out which theater is closest to you. I hope that anybody who’s a churchgoer tells their pastor about it and tells people to fill up the theater because this movie has a positive message. We need people who support these things because I don’t have the James Cameron 100-million dollar he does for Avatar .

JWK: Do you feel that there’s an anti-faith/anti-religion bias in Hollywood?

KS: There’s no question about it. I got booted out ten to twelve years ago. I was at ICM for years. I had a great manager. I think she didn’t want to have to say goodbye but I think she had to fold to the pressure of my agents and they were saying “We’re gonna have to let you go.” It was plain and simply because I’m a Christian and I’m conservative. I think it’s worse being a Christian in Hollywood than it is being a conservative – and they’re both bad. I don’t know why. It’s weird to me. They will protect other religions. Certainly they protect the Muslim religion. I’m going “Really?”…Are Christians responsible for the majority of terror attacks around the world? I mean, if they are, I’m not seeing it in the news. It’s weird.

It is a constant betrayal and attack by the government, by mainstream media, by movies, by television shows – going after Christians, going after conservatives as the evil of the world. Well, I don’t know. All I can see is what Joe Biden’s doing right now (which) is making America tougher and tougher to live in. We were energy independent two years ago. Now we are reliant on foreign oil…We keep paying other countries billions of our tax dollars. You know, these are countries that hate us. Can’t they just hate us for free? Why do we gotta pay them money? It’s so weird.

JWK: Speaking of politics, do you anybody on the political horizon that you could support?

KS: I like DeSantis a lot. I think the guy’s rock star. I left California four years ago. I left way before the whole covid insanity started. Now, I’m here (in Florida). I never wear a mask in this state.

JWK: Checking your IMDB page , you have a ton of things on your agenda. How do you stay so busy?

KS: I make myself stay busy. Trust me. I work my butt off. I don’t take vacations. If I’m on vacation I’ve still got my computer. I’m working and making phone calls. I’m always looking for funders. That’s the hardest thing…You know, I do movies that are the opposite of Hollywood. I do movies that have faith, love, laughter, redemption, hope and things that Hollywood won’t do. So, if there’s anybody out there that wants to jump on board, jump on board!

My movies are in the three-to-four-million range. That’s the catering budget of a Pirates of the Caribbean or Avatar …I’m trying to do movies that have a positive message instead of a negative one. The biggest obstacle we have is finding funders which is weird to me because I meet fairly wealthy people that are conservative and Christian (but) they don’t invest in the movies – and they’re gonna get their money back. I haven’t lost anybody money on my movies. So, I hope that people jump on board and keep spreading the good word.

Walt Disney said back in the 1950s that Hollywood’s movies and television will influence our youth. Well, please, take a look at our youth today. The average person under 30 thinks that socialism and communism is good. These people have no education on what socialism and communism has done to the world (which) in the last century killed 100-million people. It’s so easy to forget and have Hollywood control the puppet strings on all the masses out there because people are sheep. I’m trying to wake up the lions. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to lose your job if people don’t like what you say. Find a better job! Find a better way of life! I’m hoping people will follow SorboStudios.com as well.

JWK: Speaking of Disney, the company seems to have hit some hard times recently regarding its share price and box office results . Do you think their Wokism has anything to do with that?

KS: It has everything to do with it. People are tired of lifestyles being forced down their throats. I don’t care what people do with their lives as long as they’re not hurting other people but this is forcing it down their throats -“You gotta watch this! You gotta watch that!” You know, people watch things when they want to watch them. Pushing this agenda on people is weird to me. The population is showing that they’re sick of it. When are they gonna wake up?…(Hollywood) is still a capitalist business. Like any other studio, they’re in the business of making money. That’s capitalism guys. Everything that this country has…is based on capitalism.

JWK: Final question, would you ever do another TV series?

KS: You know, I would love to. I got a couple that are wonderful. We’re trying to get them off the ground now – a couple of pilots with some great writers. I would love to do another series. I loved it. After seven years on Hercules and five years on Andromeda I did a pilot for ABC . It was their number-one tested pilot. (It was) a half-hour comedy created by Barry Kemp who did Coach , Norm MacDonald ‘s show ( A Minute with Stan Hooper ) and Newhart . It tested number-one and they didn’t pick it up! They got rid of the guy running the (network) and then the first thing the new president got was Modern Family . We missed the boat by a year. I think if we had a different president running ABC at the time we would have gotten an eight-year run out of Bobby Cannon , for sure.

IMHO: Kevin’s right. I checked out the pilot for Bobby Cannon. It was something of a cross between Cheers and Coach but totally worked as its own thing. The writing was crisp and the characters were relatable with long-running potential. It had the makings of a classic sitcom. And, yes, Kevin Sorbo actually displayed a real flair for comedy. It’s amazing ABC passed on it. If you’re curious, you can check out the entire pilot here .

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist

Where to Watch

Mark Bellamy (Pastor Vernon Billings) Stuart Bentley (Reverend Pinkus) Corbin Bernsen (Steve Plank) Larry Bullied (Security Guard) Celestial (Fern) Bailey Chase (Nicolae Carpathia) Paul Cowling (Cothran) Aria DeMaris (Erica Miller) Sarah Fisher (Chloe) Angela Hinton (News Reporter)

Kevin Sorbo

After the world falls into chaos, the only light is a charming new leader who rises to the head of the UN, but does he bring hope for a better future? Or is it the end of the world?

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Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist Movie

Who's Involved:

Neal McDonough, Kevin Sorbo, Corbin Bernsen, Bailey Chase, Paul Lalonde, John Patus, Sarah Fisher, Jessica Parker, Greg Perrow

Release Date:

Thursday, January 26, 2023 Limited Friday, January 27, 2023 1 Day Only

Plot: What's the story about?

After millions of people vanish and the world falls into chaos, the only light is a charismatic leader who rises to become head of the U.N. But does he bring hope for a better future? Or is it the end of the world?

4.17 / 5 stars ( 23 users)

Poll: Will you see Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist?

Who stars in Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist: Cast List

Neal McDonough

Boon, The Shift  

Corbin Bernsen

Major League 4, The Hating Game  

Bailey Chase

The Boy Next Door  

Kevin Sorbo

Bezos: The Beginning, Bezos: The Beginning  

Greg Perrow

Sarah Fisher

Demigod  

Who's making Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist: Crew List

A look at the Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Kevin Sorbo last directed East Oil Texas . The film's writer Paul Lalonde last wrote Left Behind .

Screenwriters

Paul Lalonde John Patus Jessica Parker

Production Company

Polyscope Pictures

Watch Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist Trailers & Videos

Official Trailer

Production: what we know about left behind: rise of the antichrist.

• The next chapter of the mega-hit LEFT BEHIND film franchise, based on the 80 million-copy New York Times bestselling book series of the same name (11/23/2022).
• Delivers an updated storyline from the 2014 LEFT BEHIND movie starring Nicolas Cage, which earned more than 30 million worldwide at the box office. The sequel shows how today's events set the stage for the return of Christ and the coming apocalypse (11/23/2022).
• "I'm excited to bring this film to theaters across the country," said actor and director Kevin Sorbo. "With recent current events and talk about the end times, this captivating story delivers the essence of what made the original book series and film so successful but does so in a fresh way, hopefully ushering in a new generation of fans (11/23/2022)."

Filming Timeline

• 2022 - November : The film was set to Completed  status.

Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist Release Date: When was the film released?

Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist was a Limited release in 2023 on Thursday, January 26, 2023 . There were 1 other movie released on the same date, including Teen Wolf: The Movie . As a Limited release, Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. Please check Fandango and Atom Tickets to see if the film is playing in your area.

Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist DVD & Blu-ray Release Date: When was the film released?

Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist was released on DVD & Blu-ray on Tuesday, March 21 , 2023 .

Q&A Asked about Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist

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• Sat., Jun. 17, 2023
• set film release to Limited
• Sat., Apr. 8, 2023 from Amazon
• added the US DVD release date of March 21, 2023
• Wed., Nov. 23, 2022
• set film release to Nationwide
• added sequel as genre
• added Polyscope Pictures as a production company
• added Jessica Parker as screenwriter to movie credits
• added John Patus as screenwriter to movie credits

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LEFT BEHIND: RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST

"you make the decision".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Nothing else objectionable.

More Detail:

The opening scenes of LEFT BEHIND: RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST display the fear, panic, chaos, and unnatural disasters that result from the sudden, mysterious disappearance of millions of people across the globe. American citizens are instructed to stay at home as shutdowns are needed to restore order from the chaos and told not to question the wisdom and instructions of the authorities in the recovery from this “pandemic of evil,” an intentional poke at COVID-19 protocols.

The movie follows two emergent storylines. First, network news anchor Buck Williams not only reports the resulting news stories but reignites his investigative skills to get to the bottom of this planetary disappearance and the motives behind the solutions emerging from world leaders. Meanwhile, from a more personal perspective of this tragic, mysterious event, now-grounded airline pilot Rayford Steele is at home with his daughter Chloe as they grieve the disappearances of Rayford’s wife and son. Compounding their emotions of loss is the reality that Rayford’s wife had informed them about the sudden disappearance event ahead of time, but they didn’t heed the warnings.

Buck reports various theories explaining the vanishings, namely UFO kidnappings on a mass scale; the nefarious use of STAR TREK style transporter technology to take people hostage; consideration of the remaining presence of many self-identifying Christians pointing to a planned hoax fulfilling biblical prophecy of “a delusion at the last times.” No matter the cause, Buck is fixated on the people planning to take advantage of the global crisis by organizing a one-world government and sole electronic currency to “face it together as one, united people.” They want to transform Earth’s future from a “tribal to a united human race.”

Meanwhile, Rayford repentantly takes the warnings his wife had shared through her knowledge of the Bible and seeks out a church pastor to explore the implications of the disappearances. Rayford finds that one of the pastors of his wife’s church had also disappeared, but one remained. Together, Rayford and the remaining pastor admit that they believe that they have witnessed “the Rapture,” an event sparsely suggested by the Apostle Paul in the Bible’s New Testament, and an event neither men believed in previously. Both men end up on their knees praying the sinners’ prayer and dedicating their lives to Jesus Christ. Buck Williams will eventually do the same through their influence, then participate with them in an airlift of tracts over a major city inviting others to do the same.

Is there any movie adaptation of one particular book that has had three different productions, one in each of three consecutive decades, other than LEFT BEHIND? LEFT BEHIND: RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST is this decade’s contribution to bringing to the big screen of what this 2023 movie’s poster proclaims as “based on a true story. . . that hasn’t happened. . . yet.” When considering that actors as well-known as Kirk Cameron and Nicolas Cage played the lead role of airline pilot Rayford Steele in the 2000 and 2014 entries respectively, a few of the targeted viewers may recall those movie experiences. Kevin Sorbo’s lead-actor contribution to this present decade’s entry will accomplish a similar effect, bolstered by the animated performance of actor Greg Perrow in the other lead role, that of news reporter Buck Williams. Convincing acting, great camera work and fittingly dark indoor sets provide the right feel for this dark time for the world. The script is very wordy, however, and the storyline is heavily dialog-driven, yet purposefully so as it gives thorough voice to the hearts and minds of the characters. One example is the numerous times characters offer their prior and/or present reasons that they haven’t made a commitment to the Lord. These turn into conversations that explore pros and cons that can give skeptical viewers food for thought.

LEFT BEHIND: RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST has a strong pre-millennial worldview. Scripture is quoted, people pray and matters of faith, as well as doubt, are respectfully discussed. An opposing, pagan worldview is portrayed, espousing a power-hungry, whatever-it-takes attitude toward work (at the news network boss’ office or with the social media company’s head) and government (at the one-world start-up meetings). Older viewers may appreciate the dialogue more than younger ones.

MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children, particularly for a cold-blooded murder and a bomb that kills a character. Also, some will debate the theological issues involved.

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Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist (2023) Stream and Watch Online

Watch 'left behind: rise of the antichrist' online.

Want to watch ' Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist ' in the comfort of your own home? Searching for a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the Kevin Sorbo-directed movie via subscription can be a challenge, so we here at Moviefone want to do the heavy lifting. Read on for a listing of streaming and cable services - including rental, purchase, and subscription choices - along with the availability of 'Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist' on each platform when they are available. Now, before we get into all the details of how you can watch 'Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist' right now, here are some specifics about the Stonagal Pictures, 101 Films International, Amcomri Entertainment, Cloud Ten Pictures, Polyscope Productions thriller flick. Released January 26th, 2023, 'Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist' stars Kevin Sorbo , Neal McDonough , Corbin Bernsen , Bailey Chase The PG-13 movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 55 min, and received a user score of 48 (out of 100) on TMDb, which put together reviews from 15 knowledgeable users. Curious to know what the movie's about? Here's the plot: "After millions of people vanish and the world falls into chaos, a charismatic leader rises to lead the UN. However, his intentions are more sinister than they appear." 'Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist' is currently available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on Microsoft Store, Amazon Prime Video , YouTube, Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon Video, and Tubi TV .

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Left behind, common sense media reviewers.

Mix of apocalyptic book series and the Bible.

A Lot or a Little?

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

Characters in peril, some killed, disappearance of

References to adultery.

Some drinking and smoking.

Parents need to know that this movie has a great deal of violence, including a murder that may be shocking to some people. The disappearance of millions of people and apocalyptic theme is genuinely disturbing, and may be very upsetting to some audiences. There is no bad language, but there are mild references to an…

Violence & Scariness

Characters in peril, some killed, disappearance of millions of people.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

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Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie has a great deal of violence, including a murder that may be shocking to some people. The disappearance of millions of people and apocalyptic theme is genuinely disturbing, and may be very upsetting to some audiences. There is no bad language, but there are mild references to an extramarital affair. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Based on 5 parent reviews

Suspenseful, Compelling, and Truth

My children loved this series., what's the story.

Kirk Cameron ( Growing Pains ) plays Buck Williams, a television news correspondent with a big story. An Israeli scientist has discovered a way to feed the world with a special grain that is plentiful, hardy, and inexpensive. He wants to make it available to everyone but some powerful and wealthy people do not want that to happen. Buck takes an airplane flight piloted by Rayford Steele (Bradford Johnson). Flight attendant Hattie Durham (Chelsea Noble), a friend of Buck's and Rayford's mistress, is also on board. Suddenly, dozens of passengers simply disappear, leaving their clothes behind, while down below, millions of people, as many as a third of all the people on earth, have vanished. Rayford rushes home and finds that the only one left is his daughter, Chloe (Janaya Stephens). His wife and son are gone, leaving only their clothes behind. Buck and Rayford try to find out what has happened. They get some answers from a minister, who tells them that the people who are gone are the true believers. They are with God, and the rest are left behind. A minister named Nicolae Carpathia (Gordon Currie) appears to be the pawn of powerful industrialists who want to take advantage of the hysteria to control the food supply. But Nicolae has other plans.

Is It Any Good?

LEFT BEHIND tries hard to succeed as parable and as thriller. It is based not just on the first in a series of best-selling books, but also on the Biblical Book of Revelations, and is made by people who care as much about teaching their views of the Word of God as they do about making an exciting movie. They do an impressive job. 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. Many families, especially those who have a hard time finding movies they are comfortable sharing with their children, will find this to be a worthwhile thriller for older children and a starting point for some important conversations.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about this movie's roots in traditional Christian doctrine and about their own views of faith, God, and heaven. They should also talk about those characters who are deceived by others, and what makes that possible. Why do Buck and Hattie see Nicolae so differently?

Movie Details

• In theaters : February 2, 2001
• On DVD or streaming : October 31, 2000
• Cast : Brad Johnson , Janaya Stephens , Kirk Cameron
• Director : Victor Sarin
• Studio : Cloud Ten Pictures
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Run time : 96 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : violence
• Last updated : January 31, 2023

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