Independence Day is a 1996 American science fiction action adventure drama film directed by Roland Emmerich and produced by Dean Devlin. The screenplay was written by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin.
Rated: PG-13 (movie contains sci-fi destruction and violence)
Run Time: 2h 25min
Release Date: July 3, 1996 (USA)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
Director: Roland Emmerich
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Independence Day stars Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Robert Loggia, Randy Quaid, Margaret Colin, James Rebhorn, Harvey Fierstein, Adam Baldwin, Brent Spiner, James Duval, Vivica A. Fox, Lisa Jakub, Ross Bagles, Harry Connick Jr. and Rance Howard.
Independence Day is the story of David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), an MIT-trained satellite technician who discovers a repeating signal embedded within the Earth’s global satellite network. All the while UFO ships begin to appear above the major populous cities around the world. David is able to decode the signal and determines it’s a decaying pattern or a countdown of some kind. He concludes that the signal is a countdown timer for a coordinated attach and the aliens are using the Earth’s own satellite network to communicate the launch.
With the help of his former wife Constance Spano (Margaret Colin) who is the White House Communications Director, David is able to meet with President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) and demonstrate his discovery and warns that the aliens are hostile. President Whitmore immediately orders large-scale evacuations of New York City, Los Angeles and Washington D.C., but it is too late; the timer reaches zero and the UFO’s activate devastating direct-energy weapons, killing millions.
On July 3, international leaders begin ordering counterattacks and their air forces attack the enemy ships positioned above the ruins of the cities. The counterattacks fall short as the aliens shops are protected by force fields and the weapons are not effective. Each of the alien ships then launches a swarm of attack fighters, each with its own shields and are able to wipe out the human fighter squadrons and military bases. Captain Steve Hiller (Will Smith), an F/A 18 fighter pilot manages to outmaneuver one of the alien ships and cause it to crash near the Grand Canyon before ejecting from his own plane. He subdues the alien pilot and with the assistance of a group of refugees fleeing the cities, is able to transport the captured alien to Area 51.
The survivors devise a plan to fight back against the hostile aliens, and July 4th becomes the day humanity will fight for its freedom and survival. July 4th becomes the world’s Independence Day…
Movie Quotes
“Look at us. Everybody’s trying to get out of Washington, and we’re the only schmucks trying to get in.” – Julius Levinson
“Alright, you alien assholes. In the words of my generation… UP YOURS!” – Russell Casse
“Where do you get funding for something like this?” – President Thomas J. Whitmore
“You don’t actually think they spent $20,000 on a hammer, $20,000 on a toilet seat, do you?” – Julius Levinson
“Now that’s what I call a close encounter.” – Capt. Steven Hiller
Official Movie Trailer
Movie Stars
Will Smith as Capt. Steven Hiller
Bill Pullman as President Thomas J. Whitmore
Jeff Goldblum as Davin 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 Nimziki
Harvey Fierstein as Marty Gilbert
Adam Baldwin as Major Mitchell
Brent Spiner as Dr. Brakish Okun
James Duval as Miguel
Vivica A. Fox as Jasmine Dubrow
Lisa Jakub as Alicia
Ross Bagles as Dylan
Harry Connick Jr. as Capt. Jimmy Wilder
Rance Howard as Chaplain