I Am Legend

2007 • 101 min • Francis Lawrence

Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller

RT 68% • Our Score 78%

About the Film

Francis Lawrence's big-budget adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel drops Will Smith into a depopulated, weed-choked New York City as the last apparently healthy human on Earth. Smith carries almost the entire movie alone — just him, a German Shepherd named Sam, and the rustling silence of an abandoned Manhattan. The first hour is the best apocalypse-movie world-building of the decade; the final act trades that for studio jump-scares. Still one of the 2000s' most memorable blockbusters.

What Works

Will Smith is magnetic in what is essentially a one-man show. The eerie, empty Manhattan locations — shot on closed-off Fifth Avenue and Washington Square — still rank among the most haunting post-apocalyptic imagery ever filmed. And the bond between Neville and Sam earns every tear it pulls.

What Doesn't

The CGI Darkseekers have aged badly — rubbery, weightless, and almost comedic in wide shots. The theatrical ending pivots away from the novel's devastating twist toward a more conventional sacrifice, and the faith-based coda feels tacked on. The alternate ending (widely available) is significantly better.

Final Verdict

A gripping, lonely sci-fi thriller with one of the best first acts of its era, held back by a muddled third act and CGI that didn't age well. Smith's performance and the abandoned-NYC atmosphere make it essential viewing for any post-apocalyptic fan.