Independence Day — What Makes it So Great

Most disaster movies are comprised of boring characters, uninteresting antagonists, and a ton of so-what deus-ex-machina action scenes. Independence Day manages to avoid these pitfalls and succeed where most movies fall short, making it a memorable and exciting film 20 years after its release.

On the eve of the release of its sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, I examine a few techniques that the screenplay for ID4 executes well.

Featuring music by: Bryan Ricker

[schmiddy]

"I'm back!" was probably the most brilliant way to reach the climax. It was humorous, decisive, courageous, and more, all within about 5 seconds.

[kale]

Independence Day — What Makes it So Great?

1. Will Smith punches an alien in the head and says 'Welcome to Earth'
2. Jeff Goldblum plays Jeff Goldblum better than he ever has before.

[-cosmicrogue-]

I feel like Independence Day has this strange combination of characteristics that make it both incredibly generic and incredibly unique. Like, it takes every alien invasion movie and every disaster movie ever created and distills them into one film. I've loved this movie since I was a child and yet realize how cheesy it is. But, I can't recall another disaster film that effectively mixes explosions and sadness with humor and fun.
Millions of people DIE in this film. And yet after watching it you feel lighthearted.
I mean, it is literally a silly family tradition to watch this film every Fourth Of July.
Oh, and Jeff Goldblum is a national treasure.

[Mikey-xzvn]

Independence Day is one of those rare movies that if caught on TV I _need_ to watch it, start-to-finish

[BusterDarcy]

Love this. You're nailing it. My only suggestion: don't take suggestions from your audience on scripts. Just do the ones you're most interested in yourself -- we're here because of what you have to say.

[ruairidhcreez]

I own the soundtrack on cd and it's one of my favourites. The score is beaultifully melodic, exciting, rewarding and uplifting at the same time. David Arnold nailed it.

[LittleMissLion]

I can absolutely rewatch this over and over and not get sick of it. I'm not even from the US 🤷🏻‍♀️. I also love that one of the main characters is an exotic dancer and it's not portrayed as a negative thing. She's strong, loyal, resourceful, etc.

[mro]

a simple yet effective movie:
- part 1: the buildup - aliens are not fucking around and nearly destroys human kind
- part 2: humanity reunites and fights back up until the last minute (death star/star wars style)

its full of cheese but it gets the basics of a good movie right: right tone, music, humour, effects

[epsilon]

I also think David Arnold's music did absolute wonders to this movie. Holy shit, that score!

[eldo]

I remember how much the city destruction scenes shook me when it came out as a kid. I was beyond scared straight thinking in real life this can happen and nobody can be prepared to do anything about it. This to me was the ultimate horror film. But I've enjoyed watching it over the years. The destruction scenes still make my skin crawl. But that shows me how well this film was made.

[neil]

"You'd all be dead if it wasn't for my David!!"

[Drace]

One aspect of the movie that I still find so memorable is how at the beginning of the movie all the characters kept discussing what that strange unknown object is and what they should do now and we feel that they are all getting really nervous. But only after around 20 minutes, when the general is alone with the president he is the one who finally speaks out what everyone else isn't daring to say: "And what if they are really hostile?"

[taiya]

ID4 has been my favorite movie since 1996. To me it is the best popcorn movie of all time. I have an awesome big sister, when she worked for Blockbuster she sent me the movie weeks in advance of the VHS release. I watched that thing till I broke it.

[Drudenfusz]

I always see the people complaining about the dialog of this film, and sure it is occationally rather cheesy, but I find it interesting that nearly every conversation in the film is about communication and thus directly pointing at the main conflict and at the moral of the story at the same time. Thus I find the dialogues from a thematic point of view actually rather good. Like taking the scene in the beginning with David where you make the comment about the dialogue: sure it is a little on the nose from the exposition approach, but it also shows that their is an avoidence of communication, which when he starts to try to get in contect with his ex-wife is seen to be mutual, but it shows us that the true issues we humans have is the lack of communication, and at the end of the film when we sabotage their communication and use old telegraphy to plan a world wide counterstrike it shows that with communication we can overcome anything. So, I have to say, I find that aspect not as bad as people always say it would be in this film.

[meikoblock]

I feel like Independence Day has similar characteristics with Jurassic Park especially when it comes the build up of the "monster"

[PrinceArt]

the script is so on point, everything is connected in the story and sub-plots. there is no boring moments, no nonsense plots...i just love the way it was written and executed....definitely in my top 5 most favorite movies of all time.

[kuribayashi]

"Independence Day" is the kind of Film Michael Bay has tried (and failed) to make for the last 20 Years. Having said that, Roland Emmerich himself never got that good again, either.

[recht_voor_zijn_raap]

I love this movie.
After 23 years its still THE prime example of a summer blockbuster.
A true classic.

[jahimjauh-hey]

I’m actually very surprised how well the film held up after all these years.

[jaredbond]

Yep. People always shit on this movie, but I've always said that it's one of the best. What a true blockbuster is supposed to be. :)

Edit: Aw, I wanted more!! So much to say about this, I think! :)