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Charlton Heston, Anthony Zerbe, Rosalind Cash, Paul Koslo, Lincoln Kilpatrick ... see more see more... , Eric Laneuville , Anna Aries , John Dierkes , Jill Giraldi , Monika Henreid , Brian Tochi , Forrest G. Wood , DeVeren Bookwalter , Linda Redfearn

This second film adaptation of Richard Matheson's science-fiction novel I Am Legend (the first version being The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price) unfolds in a post-apocalyptic 1976. Charlton Hest... read more read more...on is Robert Neville, the sole recipient of a serum that enabled him to survive an onslaught of germ warfare between Russia and China - which seemingly rendered him the last (normal) human alive. Neville lives in a garish, antique-strewn L.A. penthouse. During the day, he roams through the vacant city. At night, he fends off a bloodthirsty horde of mutant scavengers garbed in Spanish inquisition robes and sunglasses, led by Matthias (Anthony Zerbe), a former television newscaster in his good ol' pre-mutant days. Matthias and his half-human vampires want to kill Neville. Neville's last man on earth status is shattered when he comes across a group of young people, presided over by the sexy and cynical Lisa (Rosalind Cash). Neville begins to form an interest in her, as the two try to keep Matthias and his minions at bay. The Omega Man was filmed in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday afternoons, an area that consists almost exclusively of office buildings, and therefore was suitably vacant at the the time of production. In 2007, Matheson's novel received yet another incarnation - this one with Will Smith in the Heston role. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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54% liked it

16,024 ratings

Critics

59% liked it

32 critics

PG, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: Boris Sagal

Release Date: August 1, 1971

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2000

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Stats: 1,455 reviews

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Neville Death of Neville Miss Cash starred and co starred in many movies, will be sadly missed Rosalind Cash Lisa Neville and Richie Methius takes aim at Neville The Omega Man Le survivant Neville Neville Last man and woman on earth. Lisa and Neville Lisa Lisa and Neville Lisa Neville and Lisa become lovers. Lisa
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Flixster Reviews (1,455)

  • FilmFanatik
    February 21, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    Having read the original Richard Matheson story I Am Legend, I'm always comparing it to the film versions whenever I see them. I hadn't seen this version, but I do I have to say that it's probably the worst of them all. The title of The Omega Man doesn't do it any favors either. ... read moreThe most difficult aspect of adapting this story is that no matter how you do it, it will always be stuck in a particular time period. It's pretty unavoidable because the world basically ends in the story and everything stops, so it's stuck in whatever time period the film is shot in at the time. However, certain steps can be taken to not be so overtly reliant on "the times." This film is actually the worst at that. Everything from the wardrobe, music and setting are set in the 1970's and even if you didn't know anything about this story you'd know exactly what time period it was from just by the look of it. Hell, Charlton Heston is even watching Woodstock by himself at the local cinema. It's so overtly 1970's that it's difficult to take it seriously, which is what the film's tone wants me to do. A lot of the story has also been changed for the worse. The story, to me, has always been about isolation and prejudice against the outside world... in other words, a metaphor. This film is about fighting the bad guys and survival, and that's about it. I can see why people enjoy it so much, but for me personally, I really like the story of I Am Legend and I choose to take it a little more seriously than this film does. I'll just go back to watching The Last Man on Earth instead, which is the best adaptation of the story, in my opinion.
  • fb500439213
    August 28, 2011
    fb500439213
    A jive-talking leading lady out of a blaxploitation film and fatuous mutants in monk robes are among the most blighting of Omega Man's failures. Heston is his usual stoic, gravelly self but the atmosphere has been leached of its isolation and the pasty white makeup gives all the ... read moremutants a case of powdery vitiligo. A high-scope rifle with a massive infrared eyepiece is truly impressive hardware, but the mutants are silly-costumed freaks that never pose a threat.
  • ajv2688
    December 16, 2010
    ajv2688
    This is another adaptation of the "I am Legend" story, the second one I believe, anyway it's the 70s version. Heston is a good choice for this movie, and he does a good job too. That doesn't mean this movie is great, though, it's just okay.
  • ythelastman89
    July 14, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I think I've certainly warmed up to this over time, it's a lot more intelligent than it gets credit for. Sure, on the surface it's just another chance for Charlton Heston to show off his crazy gun collection and laugh maniacally for no reason. However, there's really something in... read moreteresting about evolution going on and resistance to change. Some of the visuals really do hold up, even today, mainly because they don't try to be overly ambitious. Some of the city shots really are pretty shocking.
  • Godless
    October 28, 2009
    Godless
    The only good thing about this movie was that it begat the Misfits song Where Eagles Dare.
  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    Bad acting, dodgy sets and Charlton Heston. Not the Daddy of all B-Movies, more of an Uncle really!
  • rubystevens
    April 27, 2009
    rubystevens
    super 70's cheese with the king of hyperdramatic overacting. contains every 70's cliche and i have to admit this was more fun than i anticipated
  • DrZeek
    April 27, 2009
    DrZeek
    Neville: Is this how it starts? A trip to the laughing academy? No, you silly bastard, it starts with you asking yourself silly questions. OK, let's get cleaned up.

    Charlton Heston stars as Robert Neville, the supposed last man on earth in this 70s version of the classic Richar... read mored Matheson novel. The movie is fairly decent, but is certainly way too far removed from the actual novel to be seen as a proper adaptation (which has still yet to be seen). Instead, this movie mainly works as a way to watch Heston bad ass it around Los Angeles.

    Living in LA after the world has essentially ended, Neville, a former scientist, spends his days roaming around the area, killing anything that moves, and trying to maintain his sanity. At night he is mocked by large mobs of deformed, nocturnal mutant people, who would like nothing more than to eliminate Neville.

    These mutants, headed by Anthony Zerbe, believe that the various technologies of the world were the reason the world ended, so their current beliefs apparently have them starting from nothing, which also apparently requires them to where black cloaks and sunglasses identical to each other.

    A certain turn in the story leads to another point concerning a possible cure and the plot goes on from there.

    For a film involving a deserted LA, this movie does a good job at getting a lot of establishing shots of the empty city. Its a very good looking film in terms of convincing us of the world's end in a B-movie sort of way.

    Heston is appropriately good and sweaty throughout, dealing with all sorts of problems as well as using both guns and his wits to solve his problems.

    The soundtrack is pretty dated, but there are a lot of scattered little moments throughout that make this film work overall.

    Matthias: Definition of a scientist - a man who understands nothing until there was nothing left to understand.
    Neville: So, there is a little light in the forest after all.
  • pier007
    February 5, 2008
    pier007
    Nostalgia is what saves this film. Gun crazy Charlton Heston meets blaxploitation in this dated, cheesy and carefree adaptation of Richard Matheson's classic novel.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    February 3, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Chuck Heston was the guy to go for 70's apocalyptic flicks. I bet this is dated as hell, but i love it as a kid.

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Critic Reviews

December 10, 2007
Chicago Reader

Not bad, but far from a classic. Full Review

Variety Staff
September 19, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

An extremely literate science-fiction drama. Full Review

Howard Thompson
May 9, 2005
Howard Thompson, New York Times

Peppered with some sharp, even amusing dialogue, the story temporarily shelves the heavy allegory and slips into good, slam-bang suspense. But it doesn't last. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The ghouls are a little too ridiculous to quite fulfill their function in the movie. They make all the wrong decisions, are incompetent and ill-coordinated. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 28, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Unsatisfying sci-fi thriller, though it's not Charlton Heston's fault Full Review

Ian Nathan
April 29, 2008
Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine

Sadly another film to file under 'not as good as the book.' Full Review

April 29, 2008
Film4

Despite not having aged particularly well, the opening sections of this sci-fi allegory remain potent, although the rest of its apocalyptic storyline is decidedly leaden. Full Review

John J. Puccio
December 22, 2007
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...not an awful film, just a remarkably dull one. Full Review

Tim Brayton
December 19, 2007
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

A breezy film about the death of mankind in a way that only the '70s could have provided. Full Review

September 19, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Another misfired adaptation of Richard Matheson's fine science fiction novel I Am Legend. Full Review

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The Omega Man Trivia

  • Name the movie in which Charlton Heston can only travel the streets of Los Angeles during the daylight hours.  Answer »
  • In the film The Omega Man (1971), what is the(last man alive) The Omega Man's Name ?  Answer »
  • Which actor played the scientist on a mission to wipe out crazed mutants in the late 60's movie The Omega Man?  Answer »
  • What was the name of the main villian in "The Omega Man"?  Answer »
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