“Independence Day” conquered theaters around the globe in 1996, finishing the year as the top worldwide grossing movie with an $817.4 million haul, despite lukewarm reviews. Thus, a film franchise was born. The legacy of the action-adventure sci-fi blockbuster, produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox Film and released in U.S. theaters on July 3, 1996, continues with the sequel “Independence Day: Resurgence,” now playing in theaters.
Here’s the original publicity poster for the first “Independence Day” film, as well as the trailer:
“When extraterrestrials arrive on Earth and threaten to wipe out the human race, it’s up to a handful of survivors — armed only with inferior technology, wits and courage — to stop them,” according to 20th Century Fox Film’s official page for the film.
“Independence Day” starred Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Randy Quaid, Judd Hirsch, Mary McDonnell and Robert Loggia. The movie was directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Roland and Dean Devlin.
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