Will Smith, Alice Braga, Salli Richardson

Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure.

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69% liked it

997,893 ratings

Critics

69% liked it

204 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Release Date: December 14, 2007

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DVD Release Date: March 18, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (110,880)


  • October 2, 2009
    I can see why a lot of people didn't like this film. It's not mindless and full of explosions. I guess people were looking for an action film. Ha, good, I'm glad, because this is a rather good character study of the last man on earth, which is a far more interesting story than an...( read more)y 'Die hardesqe' film. I personally think that this is Will Smith's best role so far. It?s also a very good , updated, adaptation. I would go as far to say it?s better than the Omega man! It?s not as good as A boy and his dog but it was a pleasant surprise! The night-walkers looked a bit shit though :o(
  • May 31, 2009
    Will Smith plays a researcher who is trying to find a cure to a plague that has transformed most of humanity into Morlock-like beings. He and his dog are the last sane beings in New York city.

    I enjoyed the movie. It has its share of terror, hope and sadness. Will does a gr...( read more)eat job, and he has to carry the movie on his own for most of it. I read that this is the third movie based on the novel of the same name. I would like to see the other two now ('The Last Man on Earth' [1964] and 'The Omega Man' [1971])
  • May 11, 2009
    Yes, Will Smith is gorgeous and can carry a movie on his own. The only thing lacking in this movie was a sense of plausibility.
  • April 7, 2009
    There are two problems with this flick mainly, one, the idea and look of of the film is now been done sooooo often, recently with 28 Days and Weeks Later in London and to be fair they are a much better grittier afair than this Hollywood cgi offering. The whole idea of civilizatio...( read more)n turning into zombies, vampires or being wiped out etc.. has been done to death and Im afraid this film is just too late. The other problem is the miscast of Will Smith. Smith is an ok actor, mainly a comedic or action based actor, and he just cant pull this of. Scenes involving sadness, grief or loneliness are just not fully realised by smith because he cant get around his comedy background, he just doesn't fit the role. A case of big name for big film Im afraid. The film is actually ok, the effects of a desolate NY are great and haunting, its not very scary but it does bring a slight chill in certain silent moments. The night creatures are abit plastic lookin Im afraid, alittle bit too Golem hehe I did'nt like the Resident Evil style zombie dogs either, too silly and the score is a tad flat but overall its a good film just nothing special and not as good as 28 Days Later. One thing puzzles me...how did lions and wild gazelle or whatever end up grazing and living in NY city? ok everybodies dead but how the hell does that happen? lol
  • March 19, 2009
    Never loses momentum, boasts great special effects, and unlike most movies of its kind, this one actually has interesting character depth and offers something to think about.
  • November 18, 2009
    I thought it was descent
  • November 18, 2009
    Will Smith proves that he is more than a pretty face capitalizing on his fame and fortune. Offering a brilliant performance as the protagonist of the film, he provides a heart-wrenching look into the future of a world infected. The poor CGI can be forgiven; what cannot, however...( read more), is the lingering fact that the film would have been infinitely greater sticking to the original ending of the novel by Richard Matheson. But we cannot stop Hollywood from doing what it needs to do to lure in audiences.
  • November 15, 2009
    Francis Lawrence's eerie, vaguely futuristic sci-fi/action thriller exists in a New York not terribly far-removed from present day, and as such it is kind of terrifying in its implications. Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a military scientist who, we are informed in the opening, b...( read more)elieved he'd found a "Miracle Cure" for Cancer. Unfortunately, the cure had side-effects which result in mutations, causing some to devolve into personality-devoid "vampires" of sorts. Now, New York City has been evacuated and Neville believes he may be the last man on Earth. He has barricaded himself in a house in Greenwich Village with his dog, his only companion. He makes daily patrols through the city, brief sojurns into a video store where he converses with the mannequins he's set up there as faux customers and cashiers, and gives annual radio updates in hopes that, perhaps, someone will hear him. In his basement laboratory, Neville continues to seek a cure - not for Cancer, but for the mutations he has caused. One night, Neville's spirit is broken, and he tries to kill himself by doing a kamakaze drive through an army of vampires to kill as many as possible before they finally kill him. Unexpectedly (and unclearly in method), he is rescued by a young woman named Anna (Alice Braga) and a boy called Ethan (Charlie Tahan). Just as Neville has lost hope for humanity and the future, he runs smack-dab into these two, who believe that a human colony of survivors exists in Vermont; they were traveling there when they saved Neville from his fate, apparently. The trio must now outwit, outrun and outlast the enemy long enough to find a potential cure for the mutations together. The film, directed by Francis Lawrence ("Constantine"), was based on the novel by Richard Matheson ("Stir of Echoes") written in 1954. It has previously been adapted as "The Last Man on Earth" (1964) with Vincent Price, and more famously as "The Omega Man" (1971) starring Charlton Heston. Here, Lawrence uses sound and very little music in the early scenes to create an eerie atmosphere; we believe that New York is evacuated and that Smith may be the only one left - it's very creepy. There are flashes to the evacuation and Smith's gutwrenching decision to part with his wife and daughter (Salli Richardson and his real-life daughter Willow Smith), and they provide some of the better special effects sequences in the film. Ultimately, this is a pseudo-scientific thriller with horror movie elements and it's a very well-made example of such.
  • November 15, 2009
    i want to see this movie again
  • November 14, 2009
    AMAZING! WILL SMITH ROCKED THE SHOW!

Critic Reviews


December 28, 2007
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

first-time feature director Francis Lawrence deserves an ovation for his scene-setting and early scare count. full review

December 14, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

I Am Legend is a blockbuster like no other, one that finds its grandness in modesty. It's a star vehicle with a star who knows his place in the universe. full review

December 14, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie works well while it's running, although it raises questions that later only mutate in our minds. full review

December 14, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Lawrence's direction is patient, solid and suspenseful, and his vision of a lone fellow wandering through the atavistic hulk of Manhattan yields an indelible portrait of post-cataclysmic solitude. full review

December 14, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

[Smith's] powerful performance is not enough to save the movie -- initially a potent meditation on loneliness and an absorbing doomsday action movie -- from taking a wrong turn and never getting back ... full review

December 14, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

Mind-blowing excitement, an expert thriller that really thrills and makes you think. A special shout-out for the dog, Sam. Now that's acting! full review

December 13, 2007
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

In spite of its third-act collapse into obviousness and sentimentality, I Am Legend is among Will Smith's better movies.

December 13, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Big Willie has no problem holding the screen. In fact, trouble enters only when the script overcomplicates things in the end. Until then, especially in a growling dogfight, director Francis Lawrence k... full review

December 12, 2007
Armond White, The New York Press

While I Am Legend is formulaic sci-fi action (ripping-off 28 Weeks Later) it's only interesting as a cultural-political artifact. full review

December 10, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

The first two thirds and change of I Am Legend is terrific mindless fun: crackerjack action with gnashing vampires barely glimpsed (and scarier for that) and how'd-they-do-that New York locations that... full review

View more I Am Legend reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Ezzo18
    March 13, 2009
    Just PERFECT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • xhesy
    February 13, 2009
    i like this movie is very fantastik and amazing..Will Smith you are very good actor and very coll.GOD BLESS YOU...
  • MackenzieTheGreat
    February 1, 2009
    I Am Legend, it seems like people really like it, or don't like it. I for one, LOVED it! And I have to admit that the CGI wasn't the best I've ever seen, but to me, I Am Legend isn't about the looks. It was the story that got me. The idea that you are the only person in NYC would scare the death outta me. And then having to kill your best friend. It was when I was watching I Am Legend that I realized what the true meaning of being alone was.
  • hadhoda4u
    October 10, 2008
    will was creative ....strong movie ,fantastic....will reached my top actress list bacause this film.....
  • hadhoda4u
    October 10, 2008
    will was creative ....strong movie ,fantastic....will reached my top actress list bacause this film.....
  • Zack437885
    September 12, 2008
    Will Smith killing his dog! Now thats fu#ked up.
  • perfectgentlemn
    July 20, 2008
    Very cool movie, had no idea what this movie was about when I started. Great action & horror, excellent visuals. Worth owning the DVD, Enjoy ;)
  • MissBexeh
    June 17, 2008
    It was a good film. Will smith did a good job and it was quite creepy! One things for certain, will smith is damn hot and a brilliant actor.
  • jbokenham
    May 31, 2008
    Finally I have picked up a good movie from the video store. It's a good thriller having you sitting on the edge of your seat. It is a bit scary no doubt about that. Not for the faint hearted. Will Smith's acting is superb, The special effects and the story are believ'able. Also the director should be credited for doing a fine job. However, I wished the dog survived. Overall It a great film for the type of movie that it portrayal's.
  • fabulousguy2007
    May 9, 2008
    Could someone help me in downloading this movie? Can u give me a website address, where i could download hollywood movies?

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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I Am Legend Trivia


  • In what movie is this line spoken? "I AM IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!"  Answer »
  • The Omega Man (1971) and The Last Man on Earth (1964) are both adaptations of Richard Matheson's I Am Legend. True or false?  Answer »
  • the upcoming film "i am legend" staring will smith, was originally based on which book by which author  Answer »
  • Will Smith left production of I Am Legend for a couple of days to attend the wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in Rome.  Answer »

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