Left Behind (film series)
| Left Behind | |
|---|---|
| Based on | |
Release date | 1994 – 2023 |
| Countries |
|
| Box office | $18.2 million |
The Left Behind film series, consists of American Christian thrillers based on the book series of the same name co-authored by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins; with three original direct-to-home video movies, followed by a reboot with three theatrical films.
The first three movies were produced by Cloud Ten Pictures. Kirk Cameron stars as Buck Williams, with Brad Johnson, Janaya Stephens, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Gordon Currie, Chelsea Noble, Colin Fox, and Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr. featuring in supporting roles.[1] Each release received mostly negative reception from critics, with each release being criticized their low budget production quality.[2][3]
The reboot series, similarly received poor critical reception. The franchise additionally includes a modern-day documentary film titled, The Original Left Behind (1994), directed by Marjonneke Tjerkstra.
Films
Direct-to-Video
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriters | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left Behind: The Movie | October 31, 2000 | Vic Sarin | Alan McElroy, Paul Lalonde & Joe Goodman | Ralph Winter, Joe Goodman, Paul Lalonde and Peter Lalonde |
| Left Behind II: Tribulation Force | October 29, 2002 | Bill Corcoran | Paul Lalonde & John Patus | Nicholas B. Tabarrok and Peter Lalonde |
| Left Behind III: World at War | October 21, 2005 | Craig R. Baxley | Paul Lalonde, Peter Lalonde & André van Heerden | Nicholas Tabarrok, Peter Lalonde and André van Heerden |
- The Original Left Behind (1994) – Documentary released direct-to-video
Theatrical
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriters | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left Behind | October 3, 2014 | Vic Armstrong | Paul Lalonde & John Patus | Paul LaLonde, Michael Walker and Ed Clydesdale |
| Vanished – Left Behind: Next Generation | September 28, 2016 | Larry A. McLean | Kim Beyer-Johnson & Joan Considine Johnson | Randy LaHaye, Karl Horstmann and Dale Weller |
| Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist | January 26, 2023 | Kevin Sorbo | Paul Lalonde, John Patus, & Jessica Parker | Paul LaLonde, Michael Walker, Ed Clydesdale, John Duffy, James Quattrochi and Jason Wan Lim |
Main cast and characters
| Character | Film | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original series | Reboot series | |||||
| Left Behind: The Movie |
Left Behind II: Tribulation Force |
Left Behind III: World at War |
Left Behind | Vanished – Left Behind: Next Generation |
Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist | |
| Rayford Steele | Brad Johnson | Nicolas Cage | Kevin Sorbo | |||
| Chloe Steele | Janaya Stephens | Cassi Thomson | Sarah Fisher | |||
| Cameron "Buck" Williams | Kirk Cameron | Chad Michael Murray | Greg Perrow | |||
| Bruce Barnes | Clarence Gilyard Jr. | Arnold Pinnock | Lance E. Nichols | William Gabriel Grier | Charles Andrew Payne | |
| Hattie Durham | Chelsea Noble | Nicky Whelan | Kate Winter | |||
| Nicolae Carpathia The Antichrist |
Gordon Currie[a] | Randy LaHaye | Bailey Chase | |||
| Steve Plank | Thomas Hauff | Christopher Bondy | Corbin Bernsen | |||
| Amanda White | Laura Catalano | Sam Sorbo | ||||
| Jonathan Stonagal | Daniel Pilon | Neal McDonough | ||||
- ^ The character is named as Nikolai Carpathia, in the original three films.
Additional crew and production details
| Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer(s) | Cinematographer | Editor | Production companies |
Distributing companies |
Running time | ||
| Left Behind: The Movie | James Covell | George Tirl | Michael Pacek | Cloud Ten Pictures, Namesake Entertainment |
Cloud Ten Pictures | 1 hr 40 mins | |
| Left Behind II: Tribulation Force | Gary Koftinoff | Michael Storey | Michael Doherty | 1 hr 34 mins | |||
| Left Behind III: World at War | Gary Chang | David Connell | Sonny Baskin | Cloud Ten Pictures, Columbia Pictures |
Sony Pictures Releasing | 1 hr 35 mins | |
| Left Behind | Jack Lenz | Jack Green | Michael J. Duthie | Entertainment One, Stoney Lake Entertainment |
Freestyle Releasing LLC | 1 hr 50 mins | |
| Vanished – Left Behind: Next Generation | Josh Debney, Andy Grush & BJ Davis | Pete Wages | Gordon McClellan | Triple Horse Studios, EchoLight Studios, Salt Entertainment Group |
EchoLight Studios | 1 hr 28 mins | |
| Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist | Tyler Bragg | Charles Hamilton | Chris Bragg | Amcromi Entertainment, Stonagal Pictures |
Fathom Entertainment, 101 Films International |
1 hr 58 mins | |
References
- ^ "Brothers Find Success with Christian Films". Tri-CIty Herald. Los Angeles Daily News. October 12, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ Brezican, Anthony (February 2, 2001). "'Left Behind' self-righteous and campy". Abilene Reporter-News. Associated Press. p. 15. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ Jefchak, Andrew (February 2, 2001). "End doesn't come soon enough in 'Left Behind;". The Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved April 11, 2025.