Hancock is a 2008 American superhero film directed by Peter Berg from a screenplay by Vince Gilligan and Vy Vincent Ngo and co-produced by and starring Will Smith in the title role with Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman. The film was released on July 2, 2008, in the United States by Columbia Pictures. John Hancock is an alcoholic, reckless superhuman imbued with flight, invulnerability, and super-strength.