Independence Day

Play trailer

2:26

Independence Day

PG-13

1996

2h 25m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

154 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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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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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

20h

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.

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Michael H. Price

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

20h

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.

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Manohla Dargis

L.A. Weekly

20h

The movie may be goofy, but it's not dumb. It doesn't cheat much when it comes to common sense plot points, and at least hints at a life that extends past the frame.

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Rod Dreher

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

20h

3.5/4

It's Cecil B. DeMille, Irwin Allen, and Steven Spielberg rolled into one cinematic juggernaut. Independence Day is pure pop moviegoing pleasure, the kind of junky perfection they make summers for.

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Tom Long

Santa Cruz Sentinel

20h

A

A mesmerizing mix of epic entertainment, dependable stock characters and primal paranoia, Independence Day is sure to become the grand science fiction film of the '90s. In fact, it may end up the downright biggest film of the decade.

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Joanna Connors

Cleveland Plain Dealer

20h

There narrative is: Aliens attack world. World fights back. You'll never guess what happens in the end.

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Priya C.

@Sci-FiTrekkie 6d

Not a stellar sci-fi film but I had some fun with it. I loved the aliens and their design.

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sjohnston267 T

@RT24327236 6d

A great classic to watch every year to celebrate the holiday.

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Konrad D

@dobbie May 31

All time favorite classic. I keep coming back to this one once a year at least.

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Joseph P.

@Bigjoe331 May 29

This one is definitely a favorite I watch it atleast 1 a year

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Debi M.

@RT70254073 May 25

A preview, of what's coming.

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Fusion Pulse N

@FusionPulseNetwork May 25

Independence Day gets a strong 4/5 stars from me. This movie is exactly what a big sci-fi blockbuster should be: fun, exciting, emotional, and packed with memorable moments. Will Smith absolutely steals the show with charisma, humor, and action throughout the entire movie. His performance is one of the biggest reasons the film still holds up today. What makes Independence Day so great is the scale of everything. Watching Earth come together to fight off a massive alien invasion gives the movie an epic feeling that never really slows down. The 4th of July setting also adds a perfect patriotic atmosphere without taking away from the global stakes of the story. The alien attacks, destruction scenes, and large-scale battles were incredible for their time and still feel iconic. While some moments can be cheesy and over-the-top, that’s honestly part of the charm. It fully embraces being a huge summer sci-fi action movie and succeeds at it.

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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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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)