A defining experience for the '90s and set the formula for summer blockbusters, blending together bombastical action, heart, and humor.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 24, 2023

Disaster master Roland Emmerich prefers his aliens hostile, hideous and prone to blowing up recognizable national landmarks.

| Feb 27, 2023

If you see no other movie this summer, go see this one.

| May 31, 2022

The term "mind-numbing" has never been more appropriate, since sitting through Emmerich's proceedings, gaps in logic and all, wears down on the viewer until their brain all but shuts down.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 11, 2022

"Independence Day," then and now, remains the epitome of a stand-up-and-cheer movie.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 11, 2021

It gets you right from the opening image.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 6, 2021

Excessive attention to subplots - such as multiple love stories, overenthusiastic patriotic speeches, and tearful goodbyes - stifles the intensity.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Sep 14, 2020

"ID4" is the glowing ghost of America's lost Global leadership.

| Jul 16, 2020

This movie made Will Smith a star, and rightfully so.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 6, 2020

A fun, incredibly entertaining movie that still holds up...

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 6, 2020

Independence Day isn't perfect but the film is still fun to take in on a hot summer night.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 5, 2019

But what if that's just masking everything that we're afraid to admit? What if we were manipulated into liking this movie, and we've been blind to it all this time?

| Jan 14, 2019

Never professes to be anything more than escapist entertainment, with enough "gee whiz" pyrotechnics to enthrall audiences.

| Original Score: A | Nov 2, 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.

| Jul 3, 2018

I think what's great about this is the re-watchability factor of it, you can put it on at any time, watch it, have a great time with it, and show it to other generations.

| Jun 6, 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.

| Jan 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.

| Jan 18, 2018

It may be film-making by numbers, but the numbers are the right ones, and they fall into place with a satisfying clunk. This is everything a blockbuster should be.

| Nov 27, 2017

It's an utter slog, and there's nothing worse to say about a movie whose entire, solitary purpose in life is to provide mindless, violent escapism.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Dec 4, 2016

One of the best summer blockbusters ever made...

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 27, 2016