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>
Two scenes, one where a replica of the bus from
Speed crashes through a billboard for the movie
Stargate, also directed by Roland Emmerich, and one where a theater whose marquee reads "Coming Soon: Independence Day" is destroyed, were filmed but didn't appear in the final cut.
See more »
Goofs
Errors in geography:
In the opening shots, the Earth is shown in the background of the alien mother ship. The rotation of the Earth is plainly visible, at about 2 or 3 degrees per second, giving an Earth day of about 2 or 3 minutes.
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 »
"Stand By"
Written by Sophie Edkvist & Lars Halapi Performed by Sophie Zelmani Courtesy of Columbia Records by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
See more »