Independence Day_
OSCAR WINNER
"The question of whether or not we are alone in the universe has been answered."
Strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived. Its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Disney+
31 countries
Rakuten TV
12 countries
Hotstar
3 countries
fuboTV
2 countries
MovistarTV
2 countries
AMC
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Independence Day earned $817.4M worldwide on a $75.0M budget — a 990% return on investment.
Roland Emmerich →
Year context
Independence Day was released 30 years ago in 1996.
CAST (20)
Will Smith
Capt. Steven Hiller
Bill Pullman
President Thomas J. Whitmore
Jeff Goldblum
David Levinson
Mary McDonnell
Marilyn Whitmore
Judd Hirsch
Julius Levinson
Robert Loggia
General William Grey
Randy Quaid
Russell Casse
Margaret Colin
Constance Spano
James Rebhorn
Albert Nimzicki
Harvey Fierstein
Marty Gilbert
Adam Baldwin
Major Mitchell
Brent Spiner
Dr. Brackish Okun
James Duval
Miguel
Vivica A. Fox
Jasmine Dubrow
Lisa Jakub
Alicia
Ross Bagley
Dylan
Mae Whitman
Patricia Whitmore
Bill Smitrovich
Captain Watson
Kiersten Warren
Tiffany
Harry Connick Jr.
Capt. Jimmy Wilder
CREW
BOX OFFICE
$75.0M
Budget
$817.4M
Revenue
+990%
ROI
MASSIVE HIT
Verdict
STUDIOS (1)
AWARDS (8)
B
Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie
1997
WON
B
Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film
1997
WON
B
Saturn Award for Best Director
1997
WON
G
Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
1997
WON
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
145 min (2h 25m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
6.9/10 (10,193 votes)
Popularity
10
Budget
$75,000,000
Box Office
$817,400,891
Profit
+$742,400,891
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Independence Day about?
Strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived. Its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.
How long is Independence Day?
Independence Day has a runtime of 145 minutes (2h 25m).
Who directed Independence Day?
Independence Day was directed by Roland Emmerich.
Who stars in Independence Day?
The cast of Independence Day includes Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch.
How much did Independence Day make at the box office?
Independence Day earned $817,400,891 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $75,000,000.
What is the rating of Independence Day?
Independence Day has a rating of 6.9 out of 10 based on 10,193 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (3)
Action
Adventure
Science Fiction
KEYWORDS (23)
spacecraft
showdown
independence
patriotism
countdown
invasion
alien
ufo
extraterrestrial
creature
battle
alien invasion
world domination
area 51
human vs alien
aggressive
good versus evil
dramatic
suspenseful
assertive
audacious
celebratory
commanding