21 Years Later, Will Smith’s Action-Packed Sci-Fi Adaptation From the Author of ‘Foundation’ Finds a Free Streaming Home

Foundation’s Isaac Asimov, the ingenious author whose most famous work is the titular sci-fi novel series, has written and edited hundreds of books and publications, most of which have inspired numerous projects worldwide across media culture. One such example is the intriguing sci-fi film I, Robot, which is not a direct adaptation but is named after Asimov’s 1950 short story collection and incorporates his three laws of robotics, among other things. The film was released in July 2004 to mostly glowing reviews from the audience but not critics. Decades later, I, Robot will soon be available to stream for completely free amid hopes for a potential sequel.

As part of Tubi’s lineup for next month, I, Robot arrives on the streamer on December 1, 2025. The film stars Will Smith as Det. Del Spooner, a Chicago Police detective with a bias against robots, is opposite Alan Tudyk’s humanoid robot Sonny. Other featured stars include Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Shia LaBeouf, and Chi McBride. The action flick was directed by Alex Proyas, from a screenplay by Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman. Producers include Laurence Mark, John Davis, Topher Dow, and Wyck Godfrey.

Taking place in 2035, I, Robot sees highly intelligent robots taking on public service roles worldwide, operating under three rules to keep humans safe. Despite his dark history with robotics, Detective Del Spooner (Smith) investigates the alleged suicide of US Robotics founder Alfred Lanning (Cromwell) and believes that a humanoid robot (Tudyk) murdered him. With the help of a robot expert (Moynahan), Spooner discovers a conspiracy that may enslave humanity.

‘I, Robot’ Is an Entertaining Sci-Fi Classic

With a budget of around $105–120 million, I, Robot grossed $353.1 million worldwide, including $144.8 million in the US and Canada, and $202.4 million in other territories. This made it the eleventh-highest-grossing film of 2004. However, critics weren’t so taken with the movie, which received mixed reviews and drew criticism for its plot. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 57% RT rating from critics, with the consensus stating: “Bearing only the slightest resemblance to Isaac Asimov’s short stories, I, Robot is still a summer blockbuster that manages to make viewers think — if only a little.” On the other hand, I, Robot’s audience rating is 70% with many comments describing it as a fun and culturally relevant watch, especially in 2025.

I, Robot lands on Tubi in December. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

Release Date

July 15, 2004

Runtime

115 Minutes

Writers

Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Vintar

Producers

Anthony Romano, James Lassiter, John Davis, Laurence Mark, Michel Shane, Topher Dow, Will Smith, Wyck Godfrey