6. The Omega Man (1971) - Film
This was the second adaptation of Matheson's novel I Am Legend. The film stars Charlton Heston, as the army scientist Robert Neville, in this post apocalyptic tale of survival. There were many major differences from the book. The biggest detail change was that it was biological warfare that killed most of the population with the survivors turning into albino like creatures that set out to destroy all remaining technology. In the book it was a deadly bacteria that wiped out humanity and turned the rest into vampire like creatures. Eventually he meets a pair of survivors who tell him that there are others that are infected and need his help. Since Neville is immune to the mutation, he begins to work on a serum to vaccinate the remaining survivors. Shooting for the film took place in Los Angeles during the weekends to avoid the large crowds of pedestrians. The film went on to receive mixed reviews and mediocre numbers at the box office. It wasn't until the film was available for VHS rentals did the movie make any serious money and developed a cult following.