Richard Matheson is famous for writing I Am Legend, but he was a talented author in many genres, including science fiction, horror, thrillers, and war stories. He wrote novels and short stories, and also had a successful career as a screenwriter, with numerous adaptations of his work—sometimes even adapting his own stories. This list focuses on the films based on his science fiction and fantasy writings, regardless of who did the screenwriting.
We’ve been focusing on films directly based on Richard Matheson‘s original stories, but there are a few things we’ve excluded. We didn’t include made-for-TV movies, or films where he simply wrote a new screenplay – even if it was brilliant! For example, he adapted classics like Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Pit and the Pendulum” into films, and he contributed to movies like a segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie and even helped write Jaws 3. Also, we’ve left out adaptations of his books that weren’t science fiction or fantasy – things like The Young Warriors, Cold Sweat, and The Legend of Hell House. I’m really trying to focus on the core of his sci-fi and fantasy work!
8) The Box
Richard Matheson was best known for his work on television, particularly The Twilight Zone. He penned 16 episodes of the original series and contributed one to the 1980s revival. That later episode, titled “Button, Button,” was adapted from his 1970 short story and written under his preferred pen name, Logan Swanson.
The recent episode is decent, though it’s clearly made with a limited budget, but Mare Winningham’s performance helps a lot. The 2009 film The Box is just okay. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden do their best, and Frank Langella is perfectly cast as the villain, but the movie feels torn between being a typical Hollywood horror film and something more unique from director Richard Kelly (known for Donnie Darko). Still, even the lowest-ranked movie on our list isn’t actually bad.
7) What Dreams May Come
Although What Dreams May Come is the most visually impressive film on this list, it doesn’t feel as emotionally impactful as the others. This is somewhat surprising, considering the film actively tries to evoke strong feelings from the audience. Also, viewers expecting a close adaptation of the original 1978 novel will likely be disappointed.
Overall, the movie is worth watching for its impressive visuals and Robin Williams’ strong performance. While the story could have been more emotionally impactful, it’s still better than many other fantasy films made for television.
Stream What Dreams May Come for free with ads on YouTube.
6) I Am Legend
The movie I Am Legend was quite enjoyable when it came out in the 2000s, particularly for viewers who hadn’t read Richard Matheson’s original book. Although it’s the weakest adaptation of the three, it still succeeds in what it sets out to do – effectively portraying a lonely, post-apocalyptic world and making Robert Neville’s fight for survival believable.
The vampires in the movie unfortunately look quite artificial, and that’s a noticeable weakness. However, Will Smith is the real focus. The character of Robert Neville is meant to be a scientist first and foremost, not an action hero, and Smith does a good job balancing those aspects, even if another actor might have better embodied the scientific side of the role.
5) Somewhere in Time
While Somewhere in Time is a bit overly sentimental, it manages to pull it off slightly better than What Dreams May Come. Despite being quite sweet, the film has several redeeming qualities that make it worth watching.
The film boasts a beautiful score by John Barry, a long-time composer for the James Bond series, and stunning visuals. More importantly, the connection between Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour is incredibly strong – it’s clear they developed real feelings for each other during filming, which shines through on screen. While the time travel story is a bit far-fetched, the film’s central love story is genuinely charming if you can overlook that aspect.
Stream Somewhere in Time for free with ads on Tubi.
4) The Omega Man
While The Omega Man is enjoyable and fast-paced, it doesn’t quite reach the same level of depth as the earlier film, The Last Man on Earth. It’s similar in many ways, but not as intellectually stimulating.
This film is essentially an action movie starring Charlton Heston, inspired by Richard Matheson’s novel, though it doesn’t follow the book closely. The Last Man on Earth aims to capture the feel of Matheson’s writing, which makes it a bit slower-paced than Omega Man. While it might not be a thrill-ride, it’s more thought-provoking. It depends on what you prefer in a sci-fi film, but we think this one’s stronger because of its intellectual depth.
Stream The Omega Man for free on Hoopla.
3) Real Steel
Similar to The Box, Real Steel started as a short story by Richard Matheson, which was first turned into an episode of The Twilight Zone. However, many viewers consider the movie version to be a significant improvement over the original Twilight Zone adaptation.
Richard Matheson’s work often deals with dark and serious themes, so watching Real Steel after seeing adaptations of his other stories feels surprisingly light and enjoyable. In fact, it’s a better film than What Dreams May Come and Somewhere in Time. While it’s been described as Rocky with robots, Real Steel avoids simple, predictable jokes and delivers a genuinely touching story about a father and son. It also features one of Hugh Jackman’s strongest performances.
Stream Real Steel for free with ads on Tubi.
2) The Last Man on Earth
Of the three movie versions of I Am Legend, The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price, is unique because it’s the only one Richard Matheson helped write – though he used a pseudonym, ‘Swanson’. Like many writers, he wasn’t happy with how the movie turned out, which is why he distanced himself from it.
Richard Matheson didn’t think Vincent Price was right for the role of Dr. Robert Morgan, even though he liked Price as an actor. However, Price actually delivers a strong performance and is a key reason the film is so enjoyable. He was arguably the best choice for the part – he fits the role of a scientist better than Will Smith or Charlton Heston would. While not as universally appealing as other versions, The Last Man on Earth remains a compelling and atmospheric piece of 1960s science fiction horror.
Stream The Last Man on Earth for free with ads on Tubi.
1) The Incredible Shrinking Man
The Incredible Shrinking Man marked Richard Matheson’s debut as a screenwriter and was the first film adapted from his writing – following closely after his short story, The Shrinking Man. Even with this being his first attempt, the movie clearly demonstrated how well his stories translated to the screen.
The film is consistently strong thanks to its creative story and the direction of Jack Arnold, who previously made classics like It Came from Outer Space and Creature from the Black Lagoon. It’s a wildly entertaining chase – a classic cat and mouse game, but with a miniature man as the target – and it also explores surprisingly meaningful themes.
Stream The Incredible Shrinking Man on Darkroom.
What’s your favorite adaptation of Richard Matheson’s work? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-02-25 03:13