Ten Reasons Why "Independence Day" is One of the Greatest Films of All Time

10. Will Smith

One common hallmark in many of the best films of all time is the inclusion of an up and coming actor killing it in their break out role, one that takes them from a budding career actor to a huge superstar. Independence Day did for Will Smith what The Godfather did for James Caan. Great films, the creators of great films, recognize potential, take chances on an amazing choice and ultimately are validated with a completed film featuring some of the best cheesy one liners ever muttered by an unbelievably attractive black man. Independence Day is one of the greatest films of all time because Will Smith is fucking awesome, they saw that, they made him a star and now you know it too, so say thanks to Independence Day (I always knew though, Will, I always knew). His delivery of the material is so perfect that it’s even catapulted some of his one liners into the realm of “classic,” case and point: “now that’s what I call a close encounter” and “welcome to earth!”

9. It Revived Vintage Saturday Matinee B-Movie Type Science Fiction Films

Not since Star Wars had a science fiction film of any kind exploded so rapidly at the box office, and what naturally followed was a slew of films trying to capitalize on the public’s new hunger for B Movie type sci fi carnage. As a fan of B movie science fiction, as someone who thinks they’re kind of genius, I can only attest that this a good thing. A year after Independence Day was released big studios put out movies like Cube (while Cube was a box office failure, it’s become somewhat of a cult classic, and I strongly believe Trimark never would have given it an American release without Independence Day), Gattaca, Mimic, and Alien: Resurrection. Those were all just from ‘97, not taking into account the many more that were released in the late 90’s (Lost in Space, Deep Rising, Species II) as well as science fiction parody films such as Mars Attacks and Galaxy Quest. Independence Day paved the way and opened up a whole new genre to those not usually privy or interested. Being a catalyst and changing the film landscape is what great films do.

And it did this because it made money, therefore

8. It Raised the Standard, and The Budgets, for Action Science Fiction Films

Let’s not forget the bottom line here: Independence Day grossed over 800 million dollars off a 70 million dollar budget, making it one of the top 50 highest grossing films of all time and by far the highest grossing in 1996. While Hollywood seemingly puts out a steady flow of action and destruction, Independence Day allowed studios to take things to a whole new level, and a whole new budget. Following the success of ID4 were films like Armageddon (budget: 140 million), Contact (budget: 90 million, and seriously WTF did they spend 90 million dollars on in Contact? It was all Jodie Foster being pensive and Matthew McConaughey being completely irrelevant), The Fifth Element (budget: 90 million), Starship Troopers (budget: 105 million), and even director Rolland Emmerich’s next film, Godzilla, got a huge budget bump to 130 million. After Independence Day things had to be better, bigger, more expensive, more spectacular. Unfortunately, a big budget isn’t what makes a great film (see: Armageddon), ID4 used a smaller budget by comparison, smaller movie stars and less commercial marketing than a film like Armageddon (see: that fucking song that played fucking everywhere) and was STILL able to bring in a 730 million dollar profit, almost double that of Armageddon’s profit (about 413 million). Of course, Armageddon sucked and Independence Day is one of the greatest films of all time, which naturally explains it.

7. The Special Effects are Still Good Even Though it was Made in 1996

No other 90’s sci fi action thriller holds a candle to Independence Day as far as special effects. I was 11 when I saw it in the theaters and completely mesmerized by the jet fighting sequences, the realistic aliens and the initial alien attack scene which, on the big screen, at 11, was god damn amazing. Not since Jurassic Park had I been truly impressed by uncompromising spectacle. A truly great film is timeless, and while it’s often laughable to watch the special effects in big budget action or sci fi thrillers from the 80s and 90s (see: Deep Blue Sea, Anaconda) Independence Day has stood the test of time, employing innovative techniques and quality computer graphics make it watchable, without taking the viewer out of the setting because it’s so obviously dated. Great films like Bladerunner and Star Wars are able to handle the years that pass because they boast quality special effects alongside a good story. In addition to raising the standard, it started the whole “popular landmarks being destroyed” thing. How many films since Independence Day have creatively destroyed the Statue of Liberty? What makes it great though is that watching this 90’s film alongside a CGI heavy disaster movie put out years later, it is absolutely clear that Independence Day is the fucking original, the OG, the one that started things up again, the classic Pepsi to Sam’s Cola, the Norco to Hydrocodone/Acetemetaphyn, an Apple iPhone to a Motorola Titanium (a three megapixel fixed focus camera with no flash, seriously?)

6. The Representation of Government and Presidential Power

Many of the greatest films of all time have to have elements of modern government, right? Great films make a statement. They’re about war and struggle and a reflection of our time. Great films are notorious for their take on futuristic totalitarian governments (see: The Matrix, Star Wars, 1984.), the pending apocalypse (see: Dr. Strangelove, Planet of the Apes) and layered portrayals of presidential power (All the President’s Men, um… Air Force One?). In ID4 President Whitmore is an actual leader, a good, caring man in a position of power. I like to think that it’s portrayal of government and presidential power is a sort of whimsical approach to how things should be if this actually happened, but never really could be. Not a satire but a fantasy, a fairytale government: one with a war hero president who cares about his citizens, a right hand General who stays by his side, a press secretary who is sassy and smart, and just one bad apple in the government’s executive branch, the secretary of defense, who eventually gets “fired” cause, you know, he’s an asshole. Point being, while the film doesn’t offer up anything controversial, satirical or culture changing— it gives a representation of government that is equally interesting to watch, a fairytale government, a bad ass president, an executive branch that does the right thing. I feel like this one is a stretch (see: Air Force One again, Deep Impact, maybe a lot more).

5. The Comedy

Let’s get something straight, even the best films have elements of quality humor. Even when the standard of jokes in Independence Day are not at their best, they’re still better than most of the jokes you see infused within big budget action flicks. Independence Day raised the standard of humor that’s placed within these type of films by casting co-stars like Randy Quade, Harry Connick Jr. and the Old Jewish Guy (granted, they’re stereotypes, but you know what, so is everyone in your life) to bounce off the wit of our heroes. Independence Day is somehow able to perfectly balance cheesy one liners that are absolutely necessary for every movie of this sort and genuinely funny stuff: case and point “do you think they have those pens, those pens you get at the white house?”, “Dad, what?” as a genuinely funny moment and “I picked a hella of a day to quit drinking” as a funny, albeit sort of cheesy one liner. Titanic, another film considered to be one of the best, is one which seems to do this flawlessly. They both work, they both make you laugh even if you’re laughing for different reasons. The consistent and perfectly delivered humor is a necessary subplot, an essential element in making this, and every other great film, solid, enjoyable and funny.

4. The “What is it You Want Us to Do” Exchange

“Diiiiiiiiiiieeeeeee, diiiiiiiiiieeeeeee” is what the awesomely constructed alien puppet wanted from the human race, note, as a throwback to my special effects point, that this alien was a puppet, tangible material, and not a computer generated being. The revelation of the alien’s plan is shown in such a perfect, amazing, cheesy B-Movie horror science fiction way that even those who don’t regularly delve into the genre of B Movie sci fi get a small taste of what is truly great about it. The President is attacked by the creature and is able to have a conversation with it, tell it they want peace, and ask the creature what they want. I believe the communication between your protagonist and antagonist in a science fiction film is hard to pull off without being ridiculous (see: Sphere where they instant message) Independence Day does it the way it should be done: like a cheesy B Movie would. The cameo of Brent Spiner (who played Data in Star Trek) as Dr. Okun, though historically slammed by critics as “too much,” is really pretty great in my book. It was a small gift to science fiction nerds watching, and what’s wrong with that? (Side note: I didn’t know who the fuck that guy was until I read about him). An eccentric scientist that ultimately is taken down by the alien creature he’s been experimenting on is so B sci fi I wanna cry (in honor of corniness, I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it). This scene captures so many of the film’s greatest achievements: brilliant special effects, low brow charming dialogue, flawlessly delivered revelations, and just the perfect amount of spectacle to truly make the audience fawn. The natural end to this scene in President Whitmore’s powerful take-control question: “is that glass bulletproof?!” in which his entourage, lead by the handsome and strapping dude whose name I don’t feel like looking up, replies, “NO, SIR!” before pelting the alien with a steady array of presidential bullets. One of the best scenes in the film, a scene that gets engrained in your mind, a scene that makes it a great fucking movie.

3. Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, and Robert Loggia

Behest me to use the word behest, and also to not mention any of the female actresses in this small list, but the reality is that Independence Day is a masculine film full of amazing dude actors. Would my feminist sensibilities be tickled if the Randy Quade character was played by a drunk Bonnie Hunt or even if the president was portrayed by a serious faced Glenn Close? Sure, but that’s not how it goes, and I’m okay with that when I’m not menstruating. Dudes can certainly get the job done sometimes.

Say what you will about Bill Pullman, that he’s about on the same level as Bill Paxton, which is what I’d say, but those who truly appreciate this film know this role could not be portrayed by any actor who would perform it as if they were going for an Oscar. Pullman’s campy, raspy voiced portrayal of President Thomas Whitmore pullmans everything together so perfectly (get it?). Despite, as you’ll see, delivering one of the most amazing scenes in film history, his understated and somewhat aloof performance only adds to its genius.

Goldblum is likable, funny and shares an odd and lovable chemistry with Smith, flannel shirt around the waste and all. I’ve seen The Fly a dozen times, and I dig him in Jurassic Park, but other that, like, what’s Goldblum really been in? He’s at his best here, and helps lift the film outside the box of just another action film. An unlikely hero with an equally lovable Jewish father is unmatched.

If you ever asked me to name films with Robert Loggia, with the exception of Big, this is the only one I could name, and I may recite “with your permission sir, I’d like to remain at your side” and then trail off and pretend I knew what I was talking about. Point being, no one sounds like Robert Loggia. The sheer gift of hearing his voice is enough to revel in the wonder of him being him in one of the best movies of all time.

2. The President’s Speech

The real triumph in this film is this scene. All great films have one great scene, one that people talk about for years to come, ones that are parodied and copied, ones that you always stop to watch no matter what you’re doing. One scene that stands out and lives on. This is that scene. And really, it’s the pipe dream we all love about it, the sense of real leadership, an ex-fighter pilot turned president inspiring his men before battle and in turn, somehow inspiring the audience. The same way some people get inexplicably choked up when then they hear the Star Spangled Banner because they feel a sudden wave of patriotism and pride. Is this a perfect example of blatant masculinity and a sausage fest where all the dudes want to wave their dicks as high as the American flag? Sure. Was it written by someone who is actually German and not American? Yep. Does Roland Emmerich write stereotypes, unlikely scenarios, rely heavily on cliches and, perhaps the most saddening, write 1998’s Godzilla? He certainly did. But that’s not the point. The point is that the Speech is actually a good little piece of writing: surface-ey enough for the dumb people in the audience, poetic enough for the smarter fans, corny enough for everyone who is watching, and that’s a pretty fantastic accomplishment, Roland Emmerich, if only you had considered the idea of quality writing more when you made 2012 (quick side note though, I fucking love The Day After Tomorrow, it’s my favorite bedtime story movie). I don't have to go on about this to prove my point. Simply watch this. Come on, how can you not love that shit? Greatest. Movie. Ever.

1. If You Hate Independence Day You’re an Idiot

(less of a reason, more of a conclusion)

The best thing about Independence Day is that those who don’t enjoy it are one of two kinds of people: movie snobs who can’t see the genius and/or hate Rolland Emmerich and thus hate everything he’s ever done and feel they are totally above liking a movie of this kind (idiots), or those who have never watched it or don’t remember it (idiots). The real reason why ID4 is one of the greatest movies of all time is because it’s impossible not to like it. Even the smart ass movie snobs, the film critics, your great aunt, kittens, hookers, drug dealers will stop and watch the White House explode. Even those who may sort of be known to point out plot inconsistencies, bitch about the obviously sloppy writing, have an aversion to heavy action films, and perpetually complain about the lack of female presence in film or the blatant misogyny in every fucking thing she sees (totally not talking about me) can LOVE this movie. Perhaps it’s not just because of these things I’ve pointed out, perhaps there is an X factor involved— an underlying through line that’s impossible to identify but so very present— an X factor that all great films have, something that separates “okay” and “fucking awesome.” Maybe Independence Day is not in the critical vicinity of films like The Godfather, Casablanca or Citizen Kane but why shouldn’t it be? Great films can be escapist spectacles the same as they can be voices of our generation, political statements, dialogue heavy stories or following all the rules of a “good” movie. “Good” is relative and bendable, “good” is just a matter of fleeting opinions sprayed all over Rotten Tomatoes. And if “they” are going to finally include a good escapist spectacle film on the list of the top ten greatest films of all time, I wholeheartedly and without a doubt believe it should be Independence Day.

This is all bullshit, I just have a huge boner for Will Smith.