Independence Day

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2:26

Independence Day

PG-13

1996

2h 25m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

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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.

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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Rafael R

@RRP1978 1d

This is probably one of my favorite guilty pleasures of all time.

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Queen cake

4d

This movie makes me go fireworks

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J. M.

@RT45579694 4d

I absolutely love this movie! I may be a touch bias bc I was 10 when it came out but it’s in my opinion an absolute classic. I hadn’t watched it in ages but had seen it while scrolling more and more with July 4 coming up so just gave it a go. It absolutely holds up! Love will smith and Jeff goldblum chemistry and even the 90s style effect are still mesmerizing to me.

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Deal L

@RT20472055 5d

classic since i was young :) Very good

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Lance L.

@RT17837880 May 14

Will Smith is hard to watch and poorly written

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Jack H

@JackH245 May 13

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

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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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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)