I Am Legend (2007)
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- To accurately portray their role in I Am Legend, Will Smith spent weeks conducting hands-on research and rehearsing directly with director Francis Lawrence.
- Despite initial studio skepticism, I Am Legend went on to gross over $585,000,000 worldwide.
I Am Legend is a 2007 American post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville, a virologist who appears to be the last human survivor in New York City after a genetically engineered virus โ originally created as a cure for cancer โ mutated and killed 90 percent of the world's population, transforming most of the survivors into aggressive, photosensitive mutants called Darkseekers. Neville spends his days scavenging the eerily deserted streets of Manhattan with his German Shepherd, Sam, broadcasting radio signals in hopes of finding other survivors, and conducting laboratory experiments on infected rats to develop a cure.
The film's depiction of a depopulated New York City was one of its most striking visual achievements โ production designer Naomi Shohan and the visual effects team created haunting images of overgrown streets, collapsed infrastructure, and wildlife reclaiming the urban landscape. Will Smith carried virtually the entire film as a solo performer, delivering one of the most physically and emotionally demanding performances of his career. The film is the third adaptation of Richard Matheson's influential 1954 novel, following The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price and The Omega Man with Charlton Heston.
I Am Legend earned $585 million worldwide on a $150 million budget. The film's alternate ending, which more closely aligned with Matheson's original novel, became famous after being included on the DVD release and was widely considered superior to the theatrical version by fans and critics alike.
