Will Smith’s ‘I, Robot’ Sci-Fi Action Movie Is a Streaming Success on AMC+

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It’s rare for a beloved science fiction book to get a truly great adaptation. Apple TV+’s Foundation sharply divided viewers, especially those familiar with Isaac Asimov’s novels, and adaptations of I Am Legend and The War of the Worlds were widely criticized. Now, William Gibson’s Neuromancer is getting the live-action treatment, but many fans are remembering the disappointing 2004 film version of another Asimov classic. That movie, starring Will Smith (who also starred in the flawed I Am Legend adaptation), turned a thought-provoking and complex story into a simple action film focused on robots versus humans and gunfights. Despite straying far from the source material, the movie was a commercial success and is surprisingly popular on streaming services again.

The movie I, Robot, directed by Alex Proyas and written by Jeff Vintar, stars Will Smith as detective Del Spooner. He’s investigating the death of a scientist, Dr. Alfred, and with the assistance of robopsychologist Dr. Susan Calvin, he must determine if a robot committed the crime – even though that would break the fundamental rules governing robot behavior. While it might seem familiar, the film is based on Isaac Asimov’s classic story of the same name, and you can currently watch it on AMC+.

Will Smith’s movie I, Robot is unexpectedly gaining popularity on AMC+, currently ranking as the 9th most-watched film on the platform. While it takes liberties with the original story, turning it into a typical action movie, I, Robot boasts a strong cast, including Will Smith as Del Spooner, along with Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, Bruce Greenwood, Chi McBride, James Cromwell, Adrian Ricard, Fiona Hogan, and Shia LaBeouf.

‘I, Robot’ Is Actually Based on Two Isaac Asimov Novels

It’s not quite right to say the movie I, Robot doesn’t stay true to Isaac Asimov’s books, because it actually draws from two of them. Besides the I, Robot stories, the film also borrows very loosely from Asimov’s 1953 novel, The Caves of Steel. The movie takes the Three Laws of Robotics, the character of Dr. Susan Calvin, and the title from I, Robot, and the basic idea of a robot-involved detective story from The Caves of Steel. Those are pretty much the only connections.

As a big sci-fi fan, I recently checked out The Caves of Steel, and it’s a really interesting story. It centers around a detective here on Earth who gets teamed up with a robot – not your typical buddy cop setup, let me tell you! They’re investigating the murder of an important person from the Spacers, and the whole thing unfolds in this massive, underground city. It’s definitely a different vibe than what you get in I, Robot, though – don’t go in expecting the same story!

‘I, Robot, Was Still a Major Box Office Success


20th Century Fox

As a sci-fi fan, I remember when I, Robot came out. Even though critics weren’t crazy about it – it only scored 57% on Rotten Tomatoes – and it wasn’t exactly a critical darling like Asimov’s book, it still made a good amount of money, over $350 million worldwide, thanks in part to Will Smith’s star power. Audiences liked it a bit more, giving it a 70%, but it just didn’t capture the magic of the source material. Thankfully, the upcoming Neuromancer series doesn’t have those same box office pressures. Apple seems to give its creators a lot more freedom and funding to really dive into the complex sci-fi ideas, instead of simplifying things for a wider audience. That’s a really encouraging sign!

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2026-03-20 22:20