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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
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Audience Reviews

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Romas M @Romas 5h Greetings from Lithuania. "Independence Day" (1996) is true classic. Good plot, terrific special effects, great action scenes, lots of heroes - it has it all to be called a classic. Sadly, i haven't had a possibility to enjoy it on the big screen at the time, i believe it was a blast off. It started Will Smith who at the time wasn't a big star, and it proved, that this man can save the world. Needles to say, this is probably the best film of Roland Emmerich. His other movies which i enjoyed more or less didn't come to this movie. A film that still has a great look, great special effects, and it can take you the place that only movies can. Revisiting it in 2026 on 4K UHD disk was a blast. Special effects still holds up and this movie is a highly entertaining escapism. Great film. See more Braden V. @braden1844 14h This one stands the test of time. And was way before its time. The real disclosure day encounter will play out similarly. Life imitates art. And apparently art imitates art, because much that mothership offensive was textbook Star Wars Death Star trench run. What the movie lacks in development, it makes up in its Thrill Factor. See more andrea C @Charst Mar 20 Roland Emmerich con un'estratto di americanità allo stato puro. Un film epico e impresso nella memoria di praticamente tutti gli amanti del cinema; iconici i personaggi, anche quelli minori, ed ogni secondo di questa pellicola sci fi trasuda machismo americano in tutte le sue esagerazioni. La sceneggiatura è semplice ed efficace, lasciando la centralità del film all'azione e ai numerosi personaggi che pur secondari hanno ruoli importanti per lo svolgimento del film. Sequenze di azione senza dubbio spettacolari ed anche varie. Non manca nemmeno l'ironia, che a tratti normalizza un film che per testosterone e frasi ad effetto altrimenti sarebbe davvero senza eguali. Divertimento ed azione allo stato puro. See more andras gaspar P @pasztorandrasgaspar Mar 5 I considere this a great movie because I like Wil Smiths character and THe suspensfulness of the movie. See more Shawn R @satiable Mar 2 Absolutely love this movie! We watch it at least once a year. See more Ryland C @Rycordes1 Feb 28 Alien + War of the Worlds + Star Wars + Top Gun= this gem of a movie. Of all alien invasion movies I’ve seen so far, this one is the best! Great movie at by all. See more Read all reviews
Independence Day

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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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