Independence Day

Details

Release year: 1996

Storyline

The aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy Earth. Fighting superior technology, mankind's best weapon is the will to survive.

Top credits

Awards

1 win & 1 nomination

Did you know

• According to producer/co-writer Dean Devlin, the U.S. military had agreed to support the film by allowing the crew to film at military bases, consulting the actors who have military roles, etc. However, after learning of the Area 51 references in the script, they withdrew their support.

• (at around 1h 7 mins) The scene in which Will Smith drags the unconscious alien across the desert was filmed on the salt flats near Great Salt Lake in Utah. Smith's line, "And what the hell is that *smell*?" was unscripted. Great Salt Lake is home to tiny crustaceans called brine shrimp. When they die, the bodies sink to the bottom of the lake (which isn't very deep) and decompose. When the wind kicks up just right, the bottom mud is disturbed and the smell of millions of decaying brine shrimp can be very, very bad. Apparently, nobody warned Will.

• Holds the record for most miniature model work to appear in one film. Model shop supervisor Michael Joyce estimated that more miniatures were used for this film than in any other two films combined. Due to the advances in digital technology since this film's release, most experts believe this record may stand forever.

Box Office

Gross (Domestic): $306,169,268

Opening Weekend (Domestic): $50,228,264 (1996-07-07)

User reviews

Technical specs

Sound mix

DTS 70 mm, DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS, DTS

Aspect ratio

2.20 : 1, 2.39 : 1

Color

Color

FAQ

• How does the president of the United States of America NOT know about Area 51?
• How is it the alien ships still look exactly like the one Area 51 has had since the 1950's?
• In the final attack Pres. Whitman yells, "Fox 3!" when he fires missiles. What's the meaning and derivation of this?