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Independence Day

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Independence Day PG-13 1996 2h 25m Sci-Fi Adventure Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
77% Tomatometer 158 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In the epic adventure film "Independence Day," strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived; its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.
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Independence Day

Independence Day

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Critics Consensus

Harkening back to the spirit of classic sci-fi and souping it up with modern pyrotechnic bravura, Independence Day is a proudly goofy invasion epic whose lack of pretension earns it an enthusiastic salute.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting 4d
3/5
...the conservative fantasy of the American Dream where everyone, no matter their race, class, gender, or religion, fulfills their maximum potential… Go to Full Review
Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Jun 29
5/5
Skipping Independence Day may not be the end of the world, but missing it is a little bit like missing the end of the world. Go to Full Review
Michael H. Price Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com Jun 29
5/5
It is a boldly enacted, every-dollar-on-the-screen production that allows moviegoers to either check their brains at the door and wallow in excitement or to relish the spectacle of how people we all know might face up to an invasion from a hostile planet. Go to Full Review
Mike Pearson Denver Rocky Mountain News Jul 6
"Independence Day" isn't fine art. It's that other thing we're always angling for: pure fun. Go to Full Review
Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Jul 6
4/5
A perfect time capsule of summer escapism that gave the '90s disaster movie a much-needed kick in the pants. Go to Full Review
Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast Jul 5
4/5
Sure, it's American patriotism masquerading as an alien invasion film, but it's also made by a gay German director and an it's expertly crafted popcorn blockbuster. Can't be mad at it Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Zion Jul 3 Good ol’ classic film See more Melissa M @Lisey 1d Before there was Independence Day there was alien friendly movies like ET, close encounters of the third kind, & starman. Movies where the aliens are friendly, approachable, & just as curious of us as we are of them. But they are not hostile in any way. Independence Day & movies like it have changed all that. The aliens are aggressive, assertive, want to kick our ass & take over our planet. Julius is an expert in many things science related. David is his father they don't always see eye to eye. But when The invasion starts they are quick essential to solving the issue. Bill Pullman plays the president. After some poor decision making & tragic loss he becomes a Hands-On president. He even takes part in the fight against the aliens. Will Smith plays Captain Steven who has many close encounters with the aliens. Randy Quaid plays Russell Casse a pilot A down on his luck who often gets things wrong. Later in the movie he gets to prove he still has the right stuff. See more Jace E @thefilmguy 1d How this movie made me feel in one word: Patriotic. Is this the best fictional President of the United States in film? I think so. The rest of the film is just fine. There are an overabundance of "convenient" moments (i.e., Will Smith's gf and the first lady coming together, him finding them so quickly, headrests on the alien ship, etc.) If you can turn off your brain and just enjoy the movie, it's not a bad popcorn flick. The amount of swag that Jeff Goldblum has in this film is palpable. Best Character: President Whitmore Best Quote: "Forget the fat lady. You're obsessed with the fat lady." - Levinson Best Scene: The President's Speech Best Piece of Score: "The Day We Fight Back" Note: After watching movies like Project Hail Mary and Arrival, it's comical how our technology perfectly syncs up with the alien's ships in this film. Note 2: Some aliens definitely survived that crash. See more Mate P @matepolcz 2d Independence Day is good entertainment. It has pretty good characters, that you care for and when they are in danger, you're nervous. There are a few pretty emotional scenes in the third act. The dialogues are cool, but unnatural, sometimes they go too far, but thankfully that was a minority. The directing, the cinematography and the editing work together almost perfectly. The way they use parallels to cut between scenes was amazing. Some scenes are a bit lengthy though. The cinematography is okay, but I did notice the shots that were inspired by North by Northweast and Star Wars. The production design is great, while the visual effects are really good for 1996, but with a modern eye, a lot of it looks off. The cast is amazing, the performances don't disappoint. See more Stephen G @RT08834068 3d Very disappointed and confusing. Can't recommend it!!! See more Metal S. @MetalSombreros 4d Watched it the night it came out, watched it the other night, and it remains one of the all time great summer blockbusters just a stone cold 90s classic. See more Read all reviews
Independence Day

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the epic adventure film "Independence Day," strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived; its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.
Director
Roland Emmerich
Producer
Dean Devlin
Screenwriter
Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox, Centropolis Film Productions, Centropolis Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Violence|Sci-Fi Destruction)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 3, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 18, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$306.2M
Runtime
2h 25m
Sound Mix
Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, SDDS, DTS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)