Welcome to Earth. If you need one movie to watch this Fourth of July, let it be the one where Will Smith punches an alien in the face. That’s right—Independence Day is back in action, climbing all the way to #1 on Tubi’s streaming chart and sitting comfortably at #5 on Hulu heading into this weekend’s holiday. Originally released in 1996, Roland Emmerich’s explosive alien invasion flick has become something of a summer tradition—and now, it’s found a brand-new audience thanks to its recent resurgence on free streaming.
Starring the Fresh Prince himself as Captain Steven Hiller, Independence Day was one of the most iconic disaster films of the ’90s, grossing a massive $817.4 million worldwide off a $75 million budget. It helped revive the disaster genre for a new generation, earned an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, and to this day holds a strong 75% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Whether it’s Bill Pullman’s rousing presidential speech, Jeff Goldblum saving the planet with a MacBook, Randy Quaid becoming a rabid conspiracy nut (method acting really has gotten out of hand), or Smith dragging an alien across the desert, ID4 is still an absolute blast.
The film was co-written by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, who also directed the 2016 sequel Independence Day: Resurgence—a film notably missing Smith in the lead, instead handing the reins to Liam Hemsworth. While Resurgence didn’t hit the same highs, it’s Independence Day that remains timeless.
What Is Will Smith Making Next?
Smith, meanwhile, is having a bit of a moment himself. After the success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the Oscar winner is lining up a slate of returns, including Hancock 2 and I Am Legend 2. Speaking on the latter, Smith recently clarified a major rumor: “He’s not my son… There’s a settlement in Connecticut,” referring to Michael B. Jordan’s new character and a plot that builds from I Am Legend‘s alternate ending where Smith’s Robert Neville survives.
Up next for Smith is The Council, a true crime thriller directed by Peter Landesman, as well as a remake of Planes, Trains & Automobiles with Kevin Hart. But if you want to relive the movie that made Smith an A-list action star, Independence Day is streaming for free on Tubi right now—and honestly, what better way to celebrate America’s birthday than watching humanity fight back against aliens with a cigar and a catchphrase?
Independence Day is on Tubi and Hulu now.
Independence Day
- Release Date
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July 3, 1996
- Runtime
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145 minutes
- Director
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Roland Emmerich
