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MOVIE DECISION GUIDE
Independence Day
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Roland Emmerich. With Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum.
69.2/100
TMDB RATINGWHAT IT'S 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.
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69.2/100
TMDB RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTStrange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasin…
MAKE THE CALL
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Independence Day.
MoviHero lists July 2, 1996 as the release date for Independence Day. Roland Emmerich is the listed director. The listed cast includes Will Smith as Capt. Steven Hiller, Bill Pullman as President Thomas J. Whitmore, Jeff Goldblum as David Levinson, Mary McDonnell as Marilyn Whitmore. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateJuly 2, 1996
GenresAdventure · Science Fiction · Action
Runtime2h 25m
DirectorRoland Emmerich
CastWill Smith as Capt. Steven Hiller, Bill Pullman as President Thomas J. Whitmore, Jeff Goldblum as David Levinson, Mary McDonnell as Marilyn Whitmore
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Independence Day right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Independence Day runs 2h 25m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 9/10: a faster-moving watch.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 7/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 4/10, suggesting a lighter emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Independence Day. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
RATING & SOURCE
TMDB audience rating
TMDB: 69.2/100 (6.92/10) from 10,790 votes. Updated Oct 9, 2026.
External ratings are converted directly to /100. We add no popularity, metadata or Watch Profile bonuses. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from numerical ratings submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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CHECK AVAILABILITY
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OPTION 2
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing9/10
Emotional Impact4/10
Mind-Bending5/10
Scary1/10
Violence6/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required7/10
WATCH A PREVIEW
Trailer
A CLOSER LOOK
Stay with the image.
CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherCapt. Steven HillerCapt. Steven Hiller in Independence Day (1996), played by Will Smith.Open character guide otherPresident Thomas J. WhitmorePresident Thomas J. Whitmore in Independence Day (1996), played by Bill Pullman.Open character guide otherDavid LevinsonDavid Levinson in Independence Day (1996), played by Jeff Goldblum.Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
76.6/100
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1999·Adventure · Science Fiction · Action
60/100
TMDB RATINGTransformers: Age of Extinction
2014·Adventure · Science Fiction · Action