'

Independence Day

Play trailer

2:26

Independence Day

PG-13

Released Jul 3, 1996

2h 25m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

81 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

Buy 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

A sci-fi story constellation of the brightest star elements. With German director Emmerich at the helm, Independence Day soars as filmic uber-craft.

Jul 3, 2018

Full Review

Dave Kehr

New York Daily News

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.

Jan 18, 2018

Full Review

Jami Bernard

New York Daily News

"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.

Jan 18, 2018

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

A defining experience for the '90s and set the formula for summer blockbusters, blending together bombastical action, heart, and humor.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 24, 2023

Full Review

Alison Gillmor

Winnipeg Free Press

Disaster master Roland Emmerich prefers his aliens hostile, hideous and prone to blowing up recognizable national landmarks.

Feb 27, 2023

Full Review

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

If you see no other movie this summer, go see this one.

May 31, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Henry C

A must watch Sci-Fi/Disaster film classic. Roland Emerich’s first big hit, and my number one movie of all time. Highly recommend for anyone, especially Sci-Fi fans.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/19/25

Full Review

Michael D L

An awesome Si fi action movie one of my favorites

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

Full Review

Dan G

I am primarily writing this review to see if it remains on my profile as I have previously reviewed two television shows and rotten tomatoes has shadow banned both entries without reason or notification. Given this behaviour I advise you all to be wary of the ratings you see on this website given that rotten tomatoes actively manipulates the results by removing reviews. As for Independence Day, I saw this film in cinema in 1996 and it blew my young mind. It instantly took the mantle and has remained since as my all-time favourite movie. I am glad to see that it still holds up to this day, and well it should, as it has all the elements of a 5 star film - great casting (prime Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum), great soundtrack, iconic scenes (The shadow of the alien ship looming over NYC, destruction of the White House), iconic lines ('Welcome to Earth') and a story that flows. The central theme of unity, a positive representation of American patriotism, and the contrasting peoples and cultures around the world during the memorable morse code scene is today a nostalgic throwback to a time when the world had and acknowledged genuine cultural difference, as opposed to the globalised hellscape we live in today, especially in the west.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

Full Review

jacob c

Though most of its more grounded and heartfelt moments get lost amidst all the (superb) action, Independence Day nonetheless makes for an exciting, ambitious sci-fi adventure, with a great ensemble cast and massive, world-threatening stakes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/09/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Why do I feel like the CGI in this movie is better than modern CGI? Great story, and I feel like this is better than most movies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/07/25

Full Review

Jason W

A classic sci-fi action flick. One of the rare films exhibiting decent cgi for its time with excellent looking aliens.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

29%

30%

Independence Day: Resurgence

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Independence Day: Resurgence

Stargate

54%

73%

Stargate

Watchlist

Deep Impact

45%

43%

Deep Impact

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Deep Impact

Planet of the Apes

43%

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)

Most Popular at Home Now