
Independence Day
1996 · Movie · PG-13 · 145 min · ★ 6.9 · 64% critics
Strange phenomena erupt worldwide as massive alien spaceships ignite the skies and unleash terror in major cities. With global destruction looming over the Fourth of July weekend, an unlikely group must unite and act fast to stop an overwhelming force from wiping out humanity.
Also known as ID4 · Independence Day 3D
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Watch free on Fandango at Home Free — also streaming on AMC+, Netflix, Hulu +1 more.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1996
- Release date
- 1996-06-25
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 145 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 64/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (10,440 votes)
- Box office
- $817,400,891
- Budget
- $75,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this big, loud alien-invasion popcorn ride if you want nonstop excitement and heart; Not for you if you need deep storytelling, subtle dialogue, or strict credibility like Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith or War of the Worlds.
Pros: huge alien action; memorable cast; fun blockbuster energy | Cons: can feel cheesy; plot credibility issues; over-the-top humor
Themes
- spacecraft
- showdown
- independence
- patriotism
- countdown
- invasion
- alien
- ufo
- extraterrestrial
- disaster
- creature
- battle
- +10 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Visual Effects · 1997
- Amanda Award — Best Foreign Feature Film · 1997
- Kids' Choice Award — Favorite Movie · 1997
- MTV Movie Award — Best Kiss · 1997
- Satellite Award — Best Editing · 1997
Show all 22 awards →
- Satellite Award — Best Visual Effects · 1997
- Saturn Award — Best Director · 1997
- Saturn Award — Best Science Fiction Film · 1997
- Academy Award — Best Visual Effects · 1997 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1997 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Sound · 1997 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Special Visual Effects · 1997 · nominated
- Hugo Award — Best Dramatic Presentation · 1997 · nominated
- Japan Academy Prize — Outstanding Foreign Language Film · 1997 · nominated
- Kids' Choice Award — Favorite Movie · 1997 · nominated
- MTV Movie Award — Best Breakthrough Performance · 1997 · nominated
- MTV Movie Award — Best Male Performance · 1997 · nominated
- MTV Movie Award — Best Kiss · 1997 · nominated
- MTV Movie Award — Best Action Sequence · 1997 · nominated
- MTV Movie Award — Best Movie · 1997 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Visual Effects · 1997 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Editing · 1997 · nominated
Cast & crew

Will Smith
as Capt. Steven Hiller

Bill Pullman
as President Thomas J. Whitmore

Jeff Goldblum
as David Levinson

Mary McDonnell
as Marilyn Whitmore

Judd Hirsch
as Julius Levinson

Robert Loggia
as General William Grey

Randy Quaid
as Russell Casse

Margaret Colin
as Constance Spano

James Rebhorn
as Albert Nimzicki

Harvey Fierstein
as Marty Gilbert
Directed by Roland Emmerich