A broadly favorable reassessment of I Am Legend centered on Will Smith’s star power, the movie’s post-COVID resonance, and its strong first hour in an emptied-out New York. The hosts argue the film is now more rewatchable than it felt on release, despite flaws in the CGI creatures, the late movie, and the handling of Anna and Ethan.
Based only on this episode’s transcriptTimes approximateSome speakers unidentifiedExplore the connections
01Empty New York City is mesmerizing and the production design/CGI illusion of a deserted Manhattan is a major draw. About 24 min
02Will Smith’s performance is considered one of his best, especially in the raw monologue scene about the virus stats. About 40 min
03The post-COVID context makes the pandemic premise feel much scarier and more relevant. About 40 min
04Sam the dog and the man-and-dog survival dynamic give the movie emotional stakes and rewatchable momentum. About 32 min
05The survival-routine structure—Neville scavenging, testing cures, and maintaining ritual—adds compulsive viewing value. About 48 min · medium confidence
WHAT DID NOT WORK
Their main criticisms
moderateThe Dark Seekers look too CGI-heavy and less scary than they should. About 1:12
moderateAnna is underwritten and not convincing as a hardened survivor. About 56 min
minorEthan is useless and contributes nothing meaningful to the story. About 1:04
moderateThe final stretch slows down once Anna and Ethan arrive. About 1:04
minorThe movie’s science and logistics do not fully hold up, including the virus mechanics and some survival details. About 1:12 · medium confidence
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Standout moments
Favorite
Empty New York deer chase
Neville chases deer through a deserted Manhattan, establishing the movie’s eerie premise and its visual appeal.
About 24 min positive
Basement virus-testing montage
Neville’s rat experiments and numbered compounds show the scientific search for a cure.
About 32 min mixed
Sam runs into the dark building
The dog’s mistake pushes Neville into a terrifying encounter and escalates the plot.
About 32 min Favorite
Upside-down trap sequence
Neville hangs upside down, injures himself, and is nearly overwhelmed by Dark Seekers and dogs.
About 32 min critical
Sam’s death
The dog dies after being bitten, and both hosts treat it as one of the hardest scenes to watch.
About 32 min Favorite
Virus-stats monologue to Anna
Neville calmly explains the lethal scale of the virus, which the hosts see as Smith’s best acting scene.
About 40 min positive
Scavenging the apartment with baby food
Neville breaks into an apartment and finds signs of another survivor, which they want more of.
About 1:12 positive
Brooklyn Bridge collapse and flashbacks
The bridge sequence and family flashbacks are praised, especially for spectacle and emotion.
About 1:04 · medium confidence
WHERE THEY DISAGREED
The biggest debates
They partly agreed Opening minutes
Whether Will Smith is authentically communicating after the slap
Bill Simmons
He thinks Smith has not had enough time to explain himself honestly and seems to be fumbling through the issue.
Van Lathan
He is less focused on authenticity than on how Hollywood and audiences processed the incident.
They partly agreed About 40 min
Which scene is the movie’s best rewatchable sequence
Bill Simmons
He prefers the virus-stats monologue and the empty-city visuals.
Van Lathan
He prefers the upside-down action sequence and the emotional dog material.
They agreed About 56 min
How believable the Anna character is
Bill Simmons
He wants a tougher, more capable survivor-type actress.
Van Lathan
He agrees the role needs more oomph and better action credibility.
They left it as a friendly argument About 32 min
Whether Sam should have died in the movie
Bill Simmons
He thinks the scene is brutal and would have cut or softened it.
Van Lathan
He argues the plot needs the dog death to break Neville emotionally, but still hates it.
15 People discussedActors, directors, writers, and producers
favorableAubrey PlazaBill Simmons: Mentioned as the lead of Emily the Criminal, a movie Bill liked because it felt small and lean. About 16 min · medium confidence
