Warner Bros. began developing I Am Legend in 1994, and various actors and directors were attached to the project, though production was delayed due to budgetary concerns related to the script. Production began in 2006 in New York City, filming mainly on location in the city, including a $5 million scenetthe Brooklyn Bridge.

I Am Legend was released on December 14, 2007, in the United States and Canada, and opened to the largest-ever box office (not adjusted for inflation) for a non-Christmas film released in the U.S. in December, and was the seventh-highest grossing film of 2007, earning $256 million domestically and $329 million internationally, for a total of $585 million. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with Smith’s performance being singled out for praise; criticism focused on its divergences from the novel, particularly the ending.