Will Smith’s 19-Year-Old Sci-Fi Movie Is a Top 10 Netflix Hit As Fans Wait for the Sequel

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Will Smith became a major movie star in the 1990s with blockbuster sci-fi films like Independence Day and Men in Black. It makes sense he’s returned to the genre throughout his career. While not every attempt was a success—After Earth being one example—he’s had some significant hits. A standout film is I Am Legend, based on the well-known novel by Richard Matheson. The movie received mostly positive reviews (scoring 68% on Rotten Tomatoes) and earned over $585 million worldwide. Even almost twenty years later, it remains popular on streaming services.

From May 11th to 17th, I Am Legend ranked as the 10th most popular movie on Netflix worldwide. It garnered 2.8 million views and a total of 4.7 million hours of watch time. It shared the 10th spot with Mechanic: Resurrection. This marked the first week I Am Legend appeared on Netflix’s top 10 list.

The I Am Legend Sequel Is Finally Coming Together

Although Richard Matheson’s original novel was a single, complete story, a second I Am Legend movie has been discussed for some time. Initially, plans focused on a prequel, but the project later shifted to a sequel. After many delays, the film is now making real progress. In April, Steven Caple Jr., who directed Creed II, confirmed he would be directing I Am Legend 2. Currently, there’s no information available about when filming will begin or when the movie might be released.

While still in early development, we’re learning more about I Am Legend 2. Michael B. Jordan, fresh off his Oscar win, has been cast in the film. Initially, many thought he might play the son of Will Smith’s character from the first movie, but Smith revealed Jordan will be playing the leader of a group of survivors based in Connecticut. The sequel will also continue the story based on the first film’s alternate ending, where Robert Neville lives. Though most fans prefer this ending, it does present a challenge for the filmmakers, as those who haven’t seen it might be confused. It will be interesting to see how they address this during the film’s promotion.

With fans eagerly anticipating I Am Legend 2, recent Netflix viewership numbers suggest Warner Bros. is making a smart move by moving forward with the project. The original I Am Legend remains popular nearly two decades after its release, proving there’s still strong interest in the story and its world. Combining Will Smith with Michael B. Jordan is a great strategy to generate excitement for the sequel, as both actors are beloved by audiences, have Oscar wins, and a history of successful films. It’s likely I Am Legend 2 could perform just as well as the first movie.

Despite only being available on Netflix in a few countries, I Am Legend performed remarkably well on the platform this week. Viewership would likely be even greater if it were streaming in the United States, suggesting the film has a strong global fanbase. This is encouraging news for the potential box office success of a sequel. While the movie theater business has changed recently, international audiences remain crucial, especially for large-scale action and sci-fi films.

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2026-05-24 17:40