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Independence Day

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Independence Day PG-13 1996 2h 25m Sci-Fi Adventure Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
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Independence Day

Independence Day

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. 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 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 Sheila Reid Women in the Life 05/31/2022
If you see no other movie this summer, go see this one. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Patrick C Dec 24 Despite the occasional wow moment from some impressive special effects, this is something of a turkey (appropriate seeing as I'm writing this on Christmas Eve). The plot is so thin as to be practically non-existent, the script so weak it makes 'The Terminator' seem like 'King Lear' and performances veering between oafish overacting and the intensely annoying. Will Smith is pretty insufferable and does little else but shout rubbish dialogue with all the subtlety of a bulldozer. Then you have the unwatchable Harvey Fierstein, whose role in the film is a total mystery to me. Was he supposed to be funny? My facial expression veered between stone-set and a grimace whenever he was onscreen. In fact so unsympathetic were many of the characters that I found myself wanting to give the aliens directions as to how to take them out. A huge box office hit that misses on nearly all fronts. See more Traci F @Trace922 Dec 15 The movie throughout was awesome but what really made it for me was the speech by the president at the end. Today we celebrate our Independence Day. Gave me goosebumps all over! See more Tommy D @Thomas005 Sep 30 This is my favourite alien movie. The CGI is amazing and the cast is great See more Ryan W Sep 27 If you like non-sensical, absolutely ludicrous comic book scripts, terrible acting, with lots of explosions, this idiot savant of a movie will be perfect for you. One step above this movie is the Three Stooges Go To The Moon. See more João A Sep 10 It may be my favorite alien movie yet, but doesn't mean the movie is awesome, the CGI and special effects do hold up to these days, the characters are iconic, etc and etc. But i can't deny it its kinda boring and a overrated movie, i saw it as a kid and loved it because of how dumb i was back then and liked disaster movies, now i got pretty much sick of seeing these type of movies. Sometimes it just goes off the limit of craziness imo... 🫠 See more Matthew J @Mattie.boy1988 Aug 30 My favorite alien movie EVER See more Read all reviews
Independence Day

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Cast & Crew

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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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Independence Day

Independence Day: Trailer 1 Independence Day: Trailer 1 2:26 View more videos
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Independence Day

Independence Day (1996) Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Scene from the film INDEPENDENCE DAY. Independence Day (1996) View more photos

Movie Info

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)
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