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

155 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

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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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

6d

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

6d

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

6d

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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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

7h

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

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Rod Dreher

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

6d

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

6d

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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Zion

2d

Good ol’ classic film

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some T

@somethingels 18h

Turn your brain to fun action the movie

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Cork B

@RT87142816 19h

Step 1: Turn off brain. Step 2: watch the stuff blow up real good. For brainless action flicks, it is extremely well done, but don't expect anything to make sense, and this thing is oozing with cheese... doing a remarkable job engaging emotion without logic. This movie would probably not get made today because of the extreme xenophobia /sarc

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Michael D

@0redeyes0 1d

An incredible cast supports a somewhat weak storyline. Now that you can watch this on multiple streaming services makes this a no-brainer to revisit and enjoy films that didn't preach, but provided you with true entertainment. I'm still impressed with the graphics that are now over 30 years old. Don't let the predictable storyline deter you...just sit back and let the visuals entertain you.

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Philip R

@PR91488 1d

An epic 90's classic with Action, Science Fiction, Comedy, Drama and a twist of Horror. Not to mention an all-star cast led by Will Smith. And thirty years later, it still holds up.

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Shaun O

@RT46175168 1d

It was ok. Need watch before seeing resurgence. If it wasn’t a continuation I would’ve given it a pass.

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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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29%

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Independence Day: Trailer 1

2:26

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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)