I Am Legend

Robert Neville is an Army virologist who survived a devastating man-made virus and now lives alone in an almost-empty New York City, immune while most others turned into nocturnal, hostile creatures. He spends daylight tending traps, running experiments in hopes of developing a cure, and broadcasting radio messages daily in case any other survivors are out there. His only steady companion is his dog, and his routines and scientific method are tested when signs of other humans appear, forcing him to confront danger and the limits of both science and solitude without revealing the story's final turns.

Released in 2007 and directed by Francis Lawrence, the film adapts Richard Matheson’s novel I Am Legend, with screenplays credited to Akiva Goldsman, Mark Protosevich and Joyce Hooper Corrington, and stars Will Smith in the lead role.

The movie was a major commercial success, bringing in strong worldwide box office returns and becoming one of Will Smith’s most visible post-2000 hits, even as audiences debated its changes from the original novel.

Images of a deserted Manhattan, Neville walking through empty streets with his dog, and tense rooftop confrontations have stayed in the public imagination. The film also sparked conversation about its alternate ending and how Hollywood adaptations alter classic source material, making it a frequent reference point in discussions about postapocalyptic storytelling.

Critics generally singled out Smith’s performance and the film’s tense atmosphere, while some reviewers criticized the film’s third act and its departures from Matheson’s tone. Audience response was solid, reflected in a 7.21/10 vote average from over 16,000 votes, and viewers often point to themes of isolation, the ethical burdens of scientific work, grief, and the need for human connection when society has collapsed.