Independence Day

Play trailer

2:26

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Jul 10

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

Read all reviews

Zion

Jul 3

Good ol’ classic film

See more

diogo13 T

@Tua_mera 2d

Filme meio chato, atuação levemente fracas. Efeitos mais ou menos.

See more

Samuel P

@TheFabulousWatcher Jul 20

A very entertaining and fun movie even if it’s plot leaves something to be desired

See more

Nicholas P

@RT88054743 Jul 19

Summer blockbuster fun

See more

Melissa M

@Lisey Jul 14

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 Jul 13

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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Roland Emmerich

Director

Will Smith

Captain Steven 'Eagle' Hiller

Bill Pullman

President Thomas J. Whitmore

Jeff Goldblum

David Levinson

Mary McDonnell

First Lady Marilyn Whitmore

Judd Hirsch

Julius Levinson

Independence Day: Resurgence

29%

30%

Independence Day: Resurgence

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Independence Day: Resurgence

Stargate

53%

73%

Stargate

Watchlist

Deep Impact

45%

43%

Deep Impact

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Deep Impact

Planet of the Apes

42%

27%

Planet of the Apes

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Planet of the Apes

Battlefield Earth

3%

13%

Battlefield Earth

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Battlefield Earth

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Independence Day: Trailer 1

2:26

View more videos

View more photos

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)