2004 Hit Action Film, Inspired by Best-Selling Book, Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 22 Years Later
A 2004 sci-fi, action blockbuster film is experiencing an unexpected resurgence 22 years after its theatrical release.
I, Robot, a movie directed by Alex Proyas, was inspired by the works of one of the greatest and most influential science fiction authors of all time, Isaac Asimov, and his best-selling 1950 short story collection of the same name.
Set in 2035 in Chicago, it follows Detective Del Spooner, played by Will Smith, a homicide investigator tasked with looking into the suspicious death of a leading robotics scientist.
Throughout his investigation, Spooner, who distrusts technology due to a traumatic past, begins suspecting that some of the robots may be capable of independent thought, emotional reasoning and even violence despite their programmed restrictions.
Apart from its intriguing storyline, the sci-fi action thriller film featured an impressive cast lineup, with Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell, Bruce Greenwood, Chi McBride and Shia LaBeouf joining Smith as lead stars.
Decades after its release and with the rise of AI and rapid advancements in modern technology, the film is proving to be more relevant today than ever before.
The Will Smith-led movie recently made it onto Hulu's top movies chart after I, Robot officially became available on the streaming platform on May 1.
I, Robot Marked Will Smith's Unstoppable Run as Hollywood's Biggest Box Office Star
With a production budget of around $120 million, the sci-fi movie became a significant commercial success after turning into a blockbuster hit.
Not only did it top the box office upon its release, but it also earned over $353 million in global ticket sales.
During its opening weekend, the movie grossed approximately $52.2 million and debuted at No. 1 in North America, knocking Spider-Man 2 from the top spot.
Following its box-office success, I, Robot received various nominations from major award-giving bodies, including a nomination for Best Achievement in Visual Effects at the 77th Academy Awards.
At the same time, Will Smith earned a Best Actor nomination at the BET Awards.
Speaking of the actor, the sci-fi movie arrived during an unprecedented hot streak that cemented Will Smith as Hollywood's most bankable leading man.
After his breakthrough in the 1990s hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, viewers got to see Smith take on more challenging roles.
From acclaimed dramatic performances in Six Degrees of Separation, Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness to blockbuster action-comedies like the Bad Boys franchise, he continued to headline major box office hits throughout the 2000s, including Men in Black, Independence Day and, of course, I, Robot, further cementing his status as one of Hollywood's biggest box office stars.
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 5:48 AM.