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Without a doubt, Roland Emmerich’s disaster epic Independence Day has to be considered one of the most important and influential blockbusters of the modern era for a multitude of reasons.
The iconic destruction of the White House in the very first promo kicked off the tradition of the Super Bowl being the go-to destination for major Hollywood productions to debut their first footage and popularized the idea of trailers ending with an explosive money shot. It also gifted the world Bill Pullman’s legendary speech and cemented Will Smith as the newest A-list megastar on the block.
If that still wasn’t enough, it kicked the CGI revolution up another couple of notches and shifted the focus firmly towards spectacle on the grandest possible scale, as well as becoming the second highest-grossing movie of all time behind Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. The film wrapped up its theatrical run with a box office haul of $817 million.
Obviously, Independence Day has become appointment viewing around this time of year, but there’s an extra air of significance this time around with today marking exactly 25 years since Emmerich’s magnum opus hit theaters. As you can see from the reactions below, fans are firing up their copies to celebrate the occasion.
Independence Day is NOT 25 years old. pic.twitter.com/MgegvpNTWF
— julia ferraioli (@juliaferraioli) July 3, 2021
Welcome to Earth! INDEPENDENCE DAY turns 25 years old today. There were lines around the block to get into showings of this one opening weekend. It was an event – the highest grossing film of 1996. pic.twitter.com/hhiGwL9hCV
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) July 3, 2021
ON THIS DAY 25 YEARS AGO: Independence Day hit theaters and was the hottest movie out in the summer of 1996. pic.twitter.com/LLVmUZPvoh
— Chip Scarborough (@ChipWVTM13) July 3, 2021
Blows my mind that Independence Day turns 25 today. First movie I saw THREE TIMES in theaters. Iconic. pic.twitter.com/77Yfn40Q7M
— Drew Sykes ❄️ (@drewsykes) July 3, 2021
Just realized the movie Independence Day turns 25 on Saturday.
Good Lord. 😳 pic.twitter.com/oyn2frVD6l
— Mike Ryan (@ThePrivate327) July 2, 2021
The way this shot and the shot of the White House getting blowing up in Independence Day changed the summer movie blockbuster forever. https://t.co/8oLkHCgfas pic.twitter.com/k72fxJEMm9
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) July 3, 2021
Today, Is the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest Movies to come out of the 90s, (And one of the greatest movie speeches of all time) Independence Day! pic.twitter.com/aiGWpWgD9W
— Travis Hunter (@Chathamboy2) July 3, 2021
Do you remember exactly where you were 25 years ago today? I do.
Middletown, NY. Loews 16. 6pm in theater 9. Back row, center seat, thanks to my first ever advance movie ticket purchase, to see a film I’d love the rest of my life.
Happy silver anniversary Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/kXAL7T8NAn
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 2, 2021
25 years ago today, my dad & I are at opening night of INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Packed house. Brand new theater. An usher announces the movie is running late, but the sound will “blow you into the back of the theater.”
A guy stands up, fist pumping: “I love you, man!” pic.twitter.com/B8DNy0c19o
— Phil Pirrello (@PhilPirrello) July 2, 2021
25 years ago, the question of whether or not we are alone in the universe has been answered.
Independence Day premiered on June 25 1996 (but was released on July 3). pic.twitter.com/zno7kzeIwB
— The Spaceshipper 🚀 (@TheSpaceshipper) June 25, 2021
Sadly, the sequel we waited 20 years to see wasn’t comparable to the original, with Resurgence‘s disappointing critical and commercial performance ending any plans for further intergalactic adventures, even though it ended on a blatant cliffhanger. Nonetheless, Independence Day remains as entertaining now as it ever was, and you can bet it’s going to be one of the most popular titles of the weekend yet again.