Independence Day

1996 • 144 minutes

About this movie

A disparate ensemble of heroes band together to defeat the alien invaders who are bent on exterminating mankind with formidable firepower. On July 2nd, communications systems worldwide are sent into chaos by a strange atmospheric interference. It is soon learned by the military that a number of enormous objects are on a collision course with Earth. At first thought to be meteors, they are later revealed to be gigantic spacecraft, piloted by a mysterious alien species. After attempts to communicate with the aliens go nowhere, David Levinson, an ex-scientist turned cable technician, discovers that the aliens are going to attack major points around the globe in less than a day. On July 3rd, the aliens all but obliterate New York, Los Angeles, and Washington. The survivors set out in convoys towards Area 51, a strange government testing ground where it is rumored the military has a captured alien spacecraft of their own. The survivors devise a plan to fight back against the enslaving aliens, and July 4th becomes the day humanity will fight for its freedom. July 4th is their Independence Day...

Ratings and reviews

Independence Day sets the Gold standard for summer movie blockbusters. After being best selling movie of 96 and briefly being 2nd best selling movie of all time. (Only behind Jurassic park). 20 years later it still holds water with great characters, amazing special effects considering their age and last but not least you can't have an action movie without some good cheesey one-liners. All in all Independence Day still delivers even 20 years later and remains a must watch for anyone who enjoys a good summer action movie.

and for me to watch it young new and still watch it in 2015 and love it after seeing 50 million times, (almost 20 years old)... if you youger peeps think this is a bad movie.... think of this as done in 1996 and then imagine what it would be like in todays market... Not to mention they are working on an Independence day 2. God I hope it is in IMAX

I liked it, it was a cool and unique movie. But there was a few things I didn't like about it, and here's what they are, and warning, this may contain a little bit of spoilers: One, It wasn't exciting enough, there wasn't enough action and random boring scene here and there. Two, the special effects were great but the special effects for the aliens were not that great, they kind of looked like some kind of puppets. And three, there was one scene where a guy said to his dad that smoking is not healthy, and I was very happy he said that, until later he smoked for himself and liked it, and his dad eventually comes by and sees him smoking and says "What happened to smoking is not healthy", and than he says happily that he can get used it. I was furious on the inside when that happened. I want people to quit smoking, not to continue to smoke or want to! A kid or just someone regardless might get inspired to smoke by this. That is a maybe, and probably not, but possible.