Independence Day

Play trailer

2:26

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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

Lance L.

@RT17837880 2d

Will Smith is hard to watch and poorly written

See more

Jack H

@JackH245 3d

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 4d

A tad too goofy at times.

See more

C P.

@NakedBuddha 6d

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

Edward W

@RT58165293 Apr 20

One of my favourites, watch every year on the 4th of July, despite the fact I am not American

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

28%

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)