Horror History: I AM LEGEND with Will Smith Opened in 2007
Mike Sprague
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On this day in horror history, Constantine director Francis Lawrence’s I Am Legend with Will Smith (Men in Black) opened into a theater near you back in 2007.
The post-apocalyptic action thriller is loosely based on the 1954 novel of the same name by Richard Matheson. Lawrence directed from a screenplay written by Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, Batman & Robin) and Mark Protosevich (The Cell).
Smith stars as US Army virologist Robert Neville. The brilliant scientist is a survivor of a man-made plague that transforms humans into bloodthirsty mutants. He wanders alone through New York City, calling out for other possible survivors, and works on finding a cure for the plague using his own immune blood. All the while, the infected wait for him to make a mistake that will deliver Neville into their hands.
Gallery: I AM LEGEND Almost Had a Different Director–And a Much More Terrifying Look
The film is the third movie adaptation of Duel and Stir of Echoes author Richard Matheson’s novel. The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price opened in 1964. And director Boris Sagal’s The Omega Man with Charlton Heston opened in 1971.
The film began shooting on location in New York City in 2006. This included a scene shot at the Brooklyn Bridge that cost the production $5M all by itself.
But it’s all good as the film was a box-office success. In fact, I Am Legend earned $256M here in the US and $329M internationally, for a total of $585M worldwide.
The film sports a 68% approval rating over on Rotten Tomatoes. The Critics Consensus reads: I Am Legend overcomes questionable special effects and succeeds largely on the strength of Will Smith’s mesmerizing performance.
Do you dig I Am Legend?
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