Claim: Ryan Phillippe starred in the film I Know What You Did Last Summer.

I Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1997 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Jim Gillespie . The film is loosely based on the 1973 novel of the same name by Lois Duncan . The film also draws inspiration from the urban legend known as The Hook .   The film stars Jennifer Love Hewitt , Sarah Michelle Gellar , Ryan Phillippe and Freddie Prinze , Jr. , with Anne Heche , Bridgette Wilson , and Johnny Galecki appearing in supporting roles . I Know What You Did Last Summer centers on four friends who are being stalked by a killer , one year after covering up a car accident in which they were involved . The film was directed by Jim Gillespie , from a screenplay written by Kevin Williamson , writer of Scream .   I Know What You Did Last Summer received mixed reviews from critics , but was commercially successful , grossing over $ 125 million at the box office . It was also nominated for and won multiple awards . As a result , the film has been parodied and referenced in popular culture .   The film was followed by two sequels , I Still Know What You Did Last Summer -LRB- 1998 -RRB- and the straight-to-DVD release I 'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer -LRB- 2006 -RRB- . Though the former film sees a continuation of the plotline established in its predecessor , the latter film establishes a new plotline and does not star any cast members from the previous two installments .