Hulu Sci-Fi Epic Is The Best Alien Invasion Popcorn Blockbuster Ever

Independence Day is an epic sci-fi disaster film where a powerful alien force has appeared over the skies of Earth with the mission to completely annihilate the planet over the Fourth of July weekend.

Fortunately for the people of Earth, a ragtag group of people work together to stop the destruction of the planet in a last-ditch effort. Directed by Roland Emmerich and co-written by Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin, it’s the quintessential against-all-odds alien invasion movie.

Independence Day also has a great cast that includes Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, Vivica A. Fox, James Rebhorn, and Harvey Fierstein. Everyone gives great performances too, helping to elevate it above your typical disaster blockbuster fare.

The film was a massive success, too, bringing in over $817.4 million worldwide and nabbing the highest-grossing film of 1996 accolade, along with becoming the second-highest-grossing film ever at the time.

Now, if you’re going into Independence Day expecting complex characters and a thought-provoking plot, then you’re looking at the wrong kind of blockbuster.

There are Blade Runner 2049 and Dune: Part Two blockbusters for more cerebral spectacle. Independence Day is an unapologetically brash spectacle film with a pretty thin plot and straightforward characters who are just trying to blow up the aliens attacking Earth.

Of course, sometimes that’s all you need out of a movie and Independence Day delivers that in spades. The visual effects (and the sound) ended up winning Academy Awards, so you know there are some thrilling setpieces in store.

And while the characters aren’t necessarily fleshed out in any meaningful way, they have great actors behind them and you get invested in their fates.

Independence Day eventually got a sequel years later with Independence Day: Resurgence in 2016, but it’s safe to say you don’t need to watch anything other than the original.

When you pretty much perfect the formula of a big alien invasion film like the first movie did, you don’t really need a follow-up. Especially if the follow-up is as weak as Resurgence was.

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Now, I don’t necessarily think Independence Day is one of the greatest blockbusters of all time, though it might be one of the best alien invasion blockbusters. It doesn’t quite stick with you like a Spielberg or James Cameron blockbuster, but it’s still a ton of fun and something about watching it in the summertime makes it just a little bit better.

So, if you are going to watch Independence Day, make sure to do it while the weather is still hot so it’s easier to imagine the skies on fire and Will Smith flying around to take out alien invaders.