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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
69% Tomatometer 80 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

The plot is thin and so is character development, but as a thrilling, spectacle-filled summer movie, Independence Day delivers.

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Critics Reviews

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Duane Byrge The Hollywood Reporter 07/03/2018
A sci-fi story constellation of the brightest star elements. With German director Emmerich at the helm, Independence Day soars as filmic uber-craft. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr New York Daily News 01/18/2018
Sonnenfeld has directed with gusto and precision from a vaguely plotted but often hilarious screenplay, and his view of Manhattan as a holding pen for intergalactic refugees has the touch of authentic experience fundamental to all great comedy. Go to Full Review Jami Bernard New York Daily News 01/18/2018
"ID4" presses all the current hot buttons with great efficiency which will make it hard to keep in mind that just because a movie kicks major butt doesn't mean it's good. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy May 3
3/4
Borrowing from seemingly every sci-fi film this side of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, the picture somehow manages to recycle these reference points and come up with something that works on its own terms. Go to Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh 09/24/2023
5/5
A defining experience for the '90s and set the formula for summer blockbusters, blending together bombastical action, heart, and humor. Go to Full Review Alison Gillmor Winnipeg Free Press 02/27/2023
Disaster master Roland Emmerich prefers his aliens hostile, hideous and prone to blowing up recognizable national landmarks. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Deal L @RT20472055 22h classic since i was young :) Very good See more Lance L. @RT17837880 3d Will Smith is hard to watch and poorly written See more Jack H @JackH245 4d The best disaster movie of all time. Bill Pullman delivers one of the greatest speeches in cinema history and the definitive President of the United States. 10/10 See more Joseph L @Joseph504 5d A tad too goofy at times. See more C P. @NakedBuddha May 10 One of my most disappointing movies ever. See more Beck H @RT92492572 Apr 20 To get off on the right foot this movie has a great plot. I love how they cut right to the chase with the alien space ship, but they keep the aliens hidden until the end. The special effect's are undoubtedly one of the best parts. They include Area 51 and in my opinion is so COOL. The only bad part is that it is too long. I was petrified that I was going to miss the end See more Read all reviews
Independence Day

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Cast & Crew

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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

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Independence Day

Independence Day: Trailer 1 Independence Day: Trailer 1 2:26 View more videos
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Independence Day

Independence Day (1996) Independence Day (1996) Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. View more photos

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)