--- title: "I Am Legend: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/i-am-legend/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/i-am-legend" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # I Am Legend (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 14 reviews: 3 positive, 10 mixed, 1 negative. ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating B. 13 December 2007. Robinson finds the film absorbing but uneven, with its two halves clumsily joined and its action standard. She praises the haunting first hour, especially its portrait of Will Smith coping with isolation in an empty Manhattan. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/i-am-legend-1798203530) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 14 December 2007. Ebert finds the film effective but limited, rather than a fully realized adaptation. He singles out its striking visual atmosphere as a strength. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/i-am-legend-2007) ## Screen Daily — John Hazelton Fi1m's normalised score 71/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2007. The visible text presents the film as a darkly intense sci-fi horror drama, but the critic’s full verdict is behind the paywall. It praises Francis Lawrence’s direction, comparing its flair favorably with his work on *Constantine*. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/i-am-legend/4036198.article) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Rating 3/5. 19 December 2007. Jolin finds the film an effective, thoughtful drama by day but a clumsy horror spectacle after dark. He praises Will Smith’s performance and the evocative, empty New York while criticizing the creatures’ poor CGI. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/legend-review/) ## Time Out — Nigel Floyd Rating 3/5. 17 December 2007. The review gives a measured verdict on the remake. It singles out Will Smith’s star power and abundant CGI as commercially sensible ingredients. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/i-am-legend) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 26 December 2007. The review finds the film a valiant but ultimately disappointing adaptation, with its final act undermining the tension. It praises Will Smith’s performance and the moody, eerily beautiful cinematography of deserted Manhattan. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/i-am-legend-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Carina Chocano Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2007. Chocano finds the film slick, adrenaline-fueled fun but less compelling when it slows down or leans on its superhuman hero. She praises the opening’s vivid, post-apocalyptic Manhattan while criticizing the later supporting characters as boring and less lovable than the dog. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-14-et-legend14-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2007. Honeycutt finds the film emotionally effective but uneven, caught between speculative fiction and horror, with a finale that may not convince. He particularly praises Will Smith’s extraordinary performance as a man unraveling under isolation. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/i-am-legend-will-smith-review-159247/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2/4. 12 December 2007. Schager finds the film atmospheric but ultimately undermined by its flawed execution. He praises the deserted New York imagery while faulting the computer-generated creatures and the wayward third act. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/i-am-legend/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 7 December 2007. McCarthy finds the film effective but irksome, with its atmosphere undermined by cheap horror shocks. He praises the haunting, desolate images of New York City and singles out Will Smith’s performance with his dog as especially powerful. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/i-am-legend-1200554095/) ## Den of Geek — Martin Rating 3/5. 8 December 2007. The review recommends the film as a sensory experience but finds its story incomplete and its ending unsatisfying. It especially praises the striking, atmospheric depiction of an abandoned New York City. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/i-am-legend-review/) ## Digital Spy — Alex Fletcher Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2007. The review finds the film an entertaining but clunky blockbuster that never fully explores its bigger ideas. It praises Will Smith’s warmth and humor while faulting the CGI creatures and intrusive action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a81980/i-am-legend/) ## Paste — Tim Basham Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2007. Basham finds the film entertaining but says it falls short of its potential. He praises Smith’s performance and the evocative, deserted New York City, while faulting the creature effects and rushed ending. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/will-smith/i-am-legend) ## Eye for Film — Paul Griffiths Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2007. The critic finds the film gripping and accomplished for much of its runtime, but says the final third undermines it. He praises the desolate Manhattan imagery and Smith’s compelling performance, while condemning the ending’s political and religious message. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/i-am-legend-film-review-by-paul-griffiths) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/i-am-legend.md