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Independence Day (1996)

PG_13  145 min  -  Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi   -  3 July 1996 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 197,719 users   Metascore: 59/100 
Reviews: 748 user | 121 critic | 18 from Metacritic.com

The aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy. Fighting superior technology, Man's best weapon is the will to survive.

Director:

Roland Emmerich
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Won Oscar. Another 26 wins & 21 nominations See more awards »

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Independence Day -- Home video trailer for this sci fi thriller Independence Day -- People get excited when an alien aircraft begins to open up. Independence Day -- The aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy. Fighting superior technology, Man's best weapon is the will to survive.
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Will Smith ...
Bill Pullman ...
Jeff Goldblum ...
Mary McDonnell ...
Judd Hirsch ...
Robert Loggia ...
Randy Quaid ...
Margaret Colin ...
Vivica A. Fox ...
James Rebhorn ...
Harvey Fierstein ...
Adam Baldwin ...
Brent Spiner ...
James Duval ...
Lisa Jakub ...
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Storyline

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... Written by Gustaf Molin <gumo@hem2.passagen.se>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Spaceship | Spacecraft | Weapon | Area 51  | See more »

Taglines:

EARTH Take a good look. It could be your last. See more »

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi destruction and violence See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

ID4 See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$50,228,264 (USA) (7 July 1996) (2 Screens)

Gross:

$817,400,891 (Worldwide) (1997)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

 | USA: (special edition)

Sound Mix:

DTS 70 mm (70 mm prints) (Europe) | DTS (35 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (35 mm prints) | SDDS (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

After the climatic battle, one of the F/A-18s that returns to the base can be seen with the tail code of 'VM'. This is the designation for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) Black Knights, the same squadron that Will Smith flies with in the film and that gets massacred by the city destroyer that took out LA. See more »

Goofs

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Even with the say-so of a member of the President's Cabinet, David and his father should not be able just to waltz into the White House and especially the Oval Office. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
SETI Chief: [answering telephone] If this isn't an insanely beautiful woman, I'm hangin' up.
SETI technician: Sir, I - I- I think you should listen to this.
See more »

Crazy Credits

"Animal action was monitored by the American Humane Association.
No animals or aliens were harmed in the making of this film." See more »

Connections

Spoofed in "Futurama: When Aliens Attack (#2.3)" (1999) See more »

Soundtracks

"Stand By"
Written by Sophie Edkvist & Lars Halapi
Performed by Sophie Zelmani
Courtesy of Columbia Records by arrangement with Sony Music
Licensing See more »