Editing Independence Day (1996 film) (section)

==Reception==
===Box office===
[[File:ID4TIME.jpg|thumb|right|One of the film's creatures on the cover of the July 1, 1996, issue of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''.]]
''Independence Day'' was the highest-grossing film of 1996, surpassing both ''[[Twister (1996 film)|Twister]]'' and ''[[Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible]]''.<ref name="BOM"/> The film had its preview screenings on July 2, 1996, grossing $11.1 million from 2,433 theaters. At that point, it had the biggest pre-opening of any film, breaking the six-year record held by ''[[Die Hard 2]]''. The next day on July 3, the film officially opened to the public with $17.4 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-04-ca-20927-story.html|title=Aliens Arrive! And a Nation Stands in Line : 'Independence Day' Tops $11 Million, Making Movie History|website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 4, 1996 }}</ref> During its second day of release, it earned $17.3 million, which made it the highest Thursday gross, holding this record for six years until it was taken by ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]'' in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |last=Paul |date=May 17, 2002 |title=Attack of the Clones Posts Best-Ever Thursday |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/17/attack-of-the-clones-posts-best-ever-thursday |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508210813/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/17/attack-of-the-clones-posts-best-ever-thursday |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=IGN }}</ref> This was also the highest non-sequel Thursday gross, which would last until the opening of ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/transformers-sets-first-week-of-release-record-for-a-non-sequel-of-155-million/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305035901/https://movieweb.com/transformers-sets-first-week-of-release-record-for-a-non-sequel-of-155-million/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2021|title=Transformers Sets First Week of Release Record for a Non-Sequel of $155 Million|first=M. W.|last=Staff|date=July 11, 2007|website=MovieWeb}}</ref> ''Independence Day'' earned $104.3&nbsp;million in its opening week,<ref name="EW4">{{cite magazine | first = A. J. |last=Jacobs | title = The Day After | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = July 19, 1996 | url = http://www.ew.com/article/1996/07/19/independence-day-breaks-new-record | access-date = July 8, 2008 | archive-date = September 29, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080929204144/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,293427,00.html | url-status = live }}</ref> including $96.1&nbsp;million during its five-day holiday opening, and $50.2&nbsp;million during its opening weekend.<ref name="numbers">[https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1996/0ID4.php "Independence Day Box Office Data."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109220713/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1996/0ID4.php |date=November 9, 2013 }} ''the-numbers.com''. Retrieved March 4, 2008.</ref> The film stayed in the number-one spot for three consecutive weeks before being displaced by ''[[A Time to Kill (1996 film)|A Time to Kill]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-signal-time-to-kill-edges-indepen/124170200/ |title='Time to Kill' edges 'Independence Day' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506230059/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-signal-time-to-kill-edges-indepen/124170200/ |date=July 26, 1996 |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |page=2 |publisher=[[The Santa Clarita Valley Signal|The Signal]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="BOM"/> Moreover, it beat ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''{{'}}s record for largest five-day Wednesday gross of any film, as well as the biggest July opening weekend.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98517172/box-office-independence-day-debuts/ |title=Box Office: 'Independence Day' debuts with fireworks, top ranking |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328164458/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98517172/box-office-independence-day-debuts/ |newspaper=[[The Greenwood Commonwealth]] |page=23 |date=July 14, 1996 |access-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> The combined total for the five-day Wednesday opening with ticket sales increased to $190 million, dethroning the $158.6 million record formerly held by ''[[Toy Story]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Weeks |first=Janet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-few-records-withsta/98516770/ |title=Few records withstand blast from 'Independence Day' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925193808/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-few-records-withsta/98516770/ |date=July 10, 1996 |access-date=September 25, 2023 |archive-date=September 25, 2023 |page=43 |work=Los Angeles Daily Times |publisher=[[The Kansas City Star]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> In addition, the film had the second-highest opening weekend of any movie, behind ''[[Batman Forever]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98541630/independence-day-blows-away-box-office/ |title=Independence Day blows away box-office records |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328165505/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98541630/independence-day-blows-away-box-office/ |newspaper=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |page=38 |date=July 10, 1996 |access-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> All three figures broke records set by ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'' three years earlier,<ref name="EW4"/> whose successor, ''[[The Lost World: Jurassic Park]]'', claimed all three records when it was released in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brennan |first=Judy |title='Lost World: Jurassic Park' Stomps Record for Openings |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-26-ca-62601-story.html |access-date=May 28, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 26, 1997 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021075403/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-26-ca-62601-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'' surpassed ''Independence Day'' for highest July opening weekend and largest three-day Fourth of July opening weekend.<ref>{{cite news |last=Willis |first=Kim |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99621679/call-them-men-in-green/ |title=Call them 'Men in Green' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412203943/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99621679/call-them-men-in-green/ |date=July 8, 1997 |access-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-date=April 12, 2022 |page=76 |work=Gannett News Service |publisher=[[Courier News]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> Despite this, the film would continue to hold the record for having the highest five-day Fourth of July Wednesday opening until ''[[Men in Black II]]'' in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/08/movies/box-office-has-a-record-weekend-men-in-black-leading-the-way.html|title=Box Office Has a Record Weekend, 'Men in Black' Leading the Way|newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 8, 2002 |last1=Lyman |first1=Rick }}</ref>

''Independence Day'' earned over $150 million in 12 days, becoming the quickest film to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-16-ca-24705-story.html|title='ID4': $150 Million in 12 Days|website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 16, 1996 }}</ref> In 21 days, it became the fastest film to approach the $200 million mark.<ref>{{cite news |title=Independence Day' tops $200 million |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/23/Independence-Day-tops-200-million/8085838094400/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=July 23, 1996 |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308030104/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/23/Independence-Day-tops-200-million/8085838094400/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film would hold this record for three years until it was surpassed by ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]'' in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/01/business/at-the-box-office-a-force-is-with-phantom-menace.html|title=At the Box Office, a Force Is With 'Phantom Menace'|newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 1999 | author=Bloomberg News}}</ref> By the end of July 1996, ''Independence Day'' had lost 38% of its audience, but it was able to top ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'', ''[[Mrs. Doubtfire]]'' and ''[[Ghost (1990 film)|Ghost]]'', becoming the fourteenth-highest domestic grossing film of all time.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Time to Kill' is top U.S. film |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/28/A-Time-to-Kill-is-top-US-film/3219838526400/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=July 28, 1996 |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308031739/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/28/A-Time-to-Kill-is-top-US-film/3219838526400/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It reached $230 million within the first month of release,<ref>{{cite news |title=ID4' tops $230 million at box office |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/08/02/ID4-tops-230-million-at-box-office/9948838958400/ |access-date=February 26, 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=August 2, 1996 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226173751/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/08/02/ID4-tops-230-million-at-box-office/9948838958400/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and on August 9, crossed the $250 million mark.<ref>{{cite news |title=ID4' tops $250 million at box office |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/08/09/ID4-tops-250-million-at-box-office/8167839563200/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=August 9, 1996 |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308032753/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/08/09/ID4-tops-250-million-at-box-office/8167839563200/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Halfway through the month, it became the eighth-highest domestic grosser, beating ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=ID4' tops 'Jaws' at box office |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/08/16/ID4-tops-Jaws-at-box-office/1470840168000/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=August 16, 1996 |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308033144/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/08/16/ID4-tops-Jaws-at-box-office/1470840168000/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Independence Day'' grossed $306,169,268 in the United States and Canada and $511,231,623 in other territories during its theatrical run.<ref name="BOM"/> The combined worldwide total of $817,400,891 surpassed ''[[The Lion King]]'', second only to the worldwide earnings of ''Jurassic Park'' as the highest of all time.<ref>[http://www.10000bcmovie.com/ "William Fay Bio."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218101034/http://www.10000bcmovie.com/ |date=February 18, 2012 }} ''www.10000bcmovie.com''. Retrieved March 4, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-30-ca-14702-story.html|title=The Movie Year: Hollywood Loses Its Middle Class : Box office: Blockbusters helped make it a record-setting year, but there was a rash of complete flops, and moderate successes seemed to disappear altogether.|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 30, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/independence-day-movie-cast-oral-history-1234976626/|title="You Can't Actually Blow Up the White House": An Oral History of 'Independence Day'|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=July 2, 2021}}</ref> For over 20 years, the film would hold the record for being the highest-grossing film starring [[Will Smith]] until 2019 when it was surpassed by the live-action version of ''[[Aladdin (2019 film)|Aladdin]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title='Aladdin' Passes 'Independence Day' as Will Smith's Biggest Box Office Hit |url=https://www.thewrap.com/will-smith-aladdin-passes-independence-day-as-biggest-box-office-hit/ |first=Jeremy |last=Fuster |website=The Wrap |date=June 30, 2019 |access-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701130022/https://www.thewrap.com/will-smith-aladdin-passes-independence-day-as-biggest-box-office-hit/ |archive-date=July 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The domestic record was beaten by ''[[Suicide Squad (2016 film)|Suicide Squad]]'' three years earlier in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2016/09/11/box-office-dont-breathe-and-suicide-squad-hold-great-meryl-streep-tops-ben-hur/|title=Box Office: 'Don't Breathe' And 'Suicide Squad' Hold Great, Meryl Streep Tops 'Ben-Hur'|website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref> In the UK, the film grossed £7,005,905 in its [[List of 1996 box office number-one films in the United Kingdom|opening weekend]] (including £939,022 from previews), surpassing ''Jurassic Park''{{'}}s record of £4.9 million.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=UK Box Office's Weekend Record-Breaker|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=August 16, 1996|page=23}}</ref> The film grossed a record $10.5&nbsp;million in its opening weekend in Germany and also beat the opening record in France.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=9|date=October 15, 2001|title='Pie' flies high in Germany}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Element of control|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=May 23, 1997|page=27}}</ref> [[Box Office Mojo]] estimates that the film sold over 69.26&nbsp;million tickets in the US and Canada.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 31, 2016|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=independenceday.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|title=Independence Day (1996)|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804220024/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=independenceday.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Hoping to capitalize on the film's success, several studios released large-scale [[disaster film]]s,<ref name=EW6 /> and the already rising interest in science fiction-related media was further increased by the film's popularity.<ref name=time />

A month after the film's release, jewelry designers and marketing consultants reported an increased interest in [[dolphin]]-themed jewelry, as the character Jasmine ([[Vivica A. Fox]]) wears dolphin earrings, and is presented with a wedding ring featuring a gold dolphin.<ref name="EW3">{{cite magazine | first = Degen |last = Pener | title = Day of the Dolphin | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = August 9, 1996 | url = http://www.ew.com/article/1996/08/09/vivica-foxs-wedding-ring-inspires-new-trend | access-date = July 8, 2008 | archive-date = July 24, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080724045653/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,293634,00.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Critical response===
[[Review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that 68% of 81 surveyed critics gave ''Independence Day'' a positive review; the average rating is 6.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The plot is thin and so is character development, but as a thrilling, spectacle-filled summer movie, ''Independence Day'' delivers."<ref name=rotom>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1071806-independence_day/ |title=Independence Day (1996) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Flixster|Flixster, Inc.]] |access-date=February 14, 2023 |archive-date=December 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224222101/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1071806-independence_day |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 59 out of 100 based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.<ref name="meta">[https://www.metacritic.com/movie/independence-day "Independence Day."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621053104/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/independence-day |date=June 21, 2020 }} ''Metacritic''. Retrieved October 16, 2007.</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url=https://m.cinemascore.com |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20170916153548/https://m.cinemascore.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |title=CinemaScore |work=cinemascore.com |access-date=July 21, 2021 }}</ref>

Critics wrote that the film has "cardboard" and "stereotypical" characters,<ref name="lat"/><ref name="sfc"/><ref name="dcp">{{cite news | first = Kevin |last=McManus | title = A Sci-Fi Flash in the Pan | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = July 5, 1996 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/independencedaymcman.htm | access-date = July 8, 2008 | archive-date = November 5, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121105131810/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/independencedaymcman.htm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="EW8">{{cite magazine | author = Schwarzbaum | title = Independence Day (1996) | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = July 12, 1996 | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,293279,00.html | access-date = July 8, 2008 | archive-date = May 27, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080527041154/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,293279,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="nw">{{cite magazine|first=David |last=Ansen |title=Independence Day |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |date=July 8, 1996 |url=https://www.msnbc.com/m/nw/a/m/mv_i.asp#Independence%20Day |access-date=July 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522202447/http://www.msnbc.com/m/nw/a/m/mv_i.asp#Independence |archive-date=May 22, 2008 |author-link=David Ansen |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and weak dialogue.<ref name="EW6">{{cite magazine | first = Gary |last=Susman | title = Apocalypse Wow | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | date = May 25, 2004 | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,641738_7,00.html | access-date = July 8, 2008 | archive-date = May 19, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080519194825/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,641738_7,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="nw"/><ref name="sfe">{{cite news | first = Barbara |last=Shulgasser | title = THESE SCENES ARE SELF-EVIDENT | newspaper = [[San Francisco Examiner]] | date = July 2, 1996 | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1996/07/02/STYLE6573.dtl | access-date = July 8, 2008 | archive-date = May 11, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511184541/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fe%2Fa%2F1996%2F07%2F02%2FSTYLE6573.dtl | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="ac">{{cite news | first = Marc |last= Savlov | title = Independence Day | newspaper = [[The Austin Chronicle]] | date = July 8, 1996 | url = http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/Film?Film=oid%3a138121 | access-date = July 8, 2008 | archive-date = June 14, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100614011537/http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/Film?Film=oid%3A138121 | url-status = live }}</ref> However, the shot of the White House's destruction was declared a milestone in visual effects and one of the most memorable scenes of the 1990s.<ref>[http://www.filmsite.org/visualeffects16.html Visual and Special Effects Film Milestones.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210061406/http://www.filmsite.org/visualeffects16.html |date=February 10, 2017 }} ''filmsite.org''. Retrieved July 8, 2008.</ref><ref name="fs3">[http://www.filmsite.org/90sintro3.html Film History of the 1990s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107190841/http://www.filmsite.org/90sintro3.html |date=January 7, 2017 }} ''filmsite.org''. Retrieved July 8, 2008.</ref> In a 2010 poll, readers of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' rated it the second-greatest summer film of the previous 20 years, ranking only behind ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]''.<ref>"Summer Blockbusters: The New Generation," Entertainment Weekly, Page 32, Issue #1112, July 23, 2010.</ref>

[[Mick LaSalle]] of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' gave the film his highest rating, declaring it the "[[apotheosis]]" of comic book space adventure movies.<ref name="sfc"/> Lisa Schwarzbaum of ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave it a B+ for living up to its massive hype, adding "charm is the foremost of this epic's contemporary characteristics. The script is witty, knowing, cool."<ref name="EW8"/> Eight years later, ''Entertainment Weekly'' rated the film as one of the best disaster films of all time.<ref name="EW6"/> [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' felt that the film did an "excellent job conveying the boggling immensity of [the] extraterrestrial vehicles […] and panic in the streets" and the scenes of the alien attack were "disturbing, unsettling and completely convincing".<ref name="lat"/>

The film's nationalistic overtones were widely criticized by reviewers outside the U.S. ''Movie Review UK'' described the film as "a mish-mash of elements from a wide variety of [[alien invasion]] movies and gung-ho American [[jingoism]]."<ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 4, 2008 |url=http://www.film.u-net.com/Movies/Reviews/Independence_Day.html |title=Independence Day (1996) |publisher=Movie Reviews UK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918062457/http://www.film.u-net.com/Movies/Reviews/Independence_Day.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref> The speech during which Whitmore states that victory in the coming war would see the entire world henceforth describe July 4 as its [[List of national independence days|Independence Day]], was described in a [[BBC]] review as "the most jaw-droppingly pompous [[soliloquy]] ever delivered in a mainstream Hollywood movie."<ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 6, 2008|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/12/18/independence_day_1996_review.shtml|title=Independence Day (1996)|publisher=BBC|date=December 18, 2000|last=Smith |first=Neil|archive-date=December 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229191518/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/12/18/independence_day_1996_review.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2003, readers of ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' voted that scene as the "Cheesiest Movie Moment of All-Time".<ref name="fs">[http://www.filmsite.org/worstquotes.html Top 10 Worst Quotes or Lines From the Movies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704121131/http://www.filmsite.org/worstquotes.html |date=July 4, 2008 }} ''filmsite.org''. Retrieved July 8, 2008.</ref> ''Empire'' critic [[Kim Newman]] had given the film a [[Star (classification)|five-star rating]] in the magazine's original review.<ref name="meta"/>

Several critics were disappointed by the special effects. ''[[Newsweek]]''{{'}}s [[David Ansen]] claimed they were no better than those seen nineteen years earlier in ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]''.<ref name="nw"/> Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' felt the production's budget-conscious approach resulted in "cheesy" shots, lacking the quality of effects in films by [[James Cameron]] and [[Steven Spielberg]].<ref name="var"/> [[Roger Ebert]] noted a lack of imagination in the spaceship and creature designs.<ref name="ebert">{{cite news |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=July 2, 1996 |title=Independence Day |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/independence-day-1996 |url-status=live |access-date=July 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215185213/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19960702%2FREVIEWS%2F607020301%2F1023 |archive-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] expressed the same sentiments in his ''[[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|At the Movies]]'' review.''<ref name="ear" />{{Dead link|date=December 2013}}''

'''[[American Film Institute]] lists'''
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills]] – Nominated<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/thrills400.pdf|title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills Nominees|access-date=July 2, 2011|archive-date=July 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706070532/http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/thrills400.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[AFI's 10 Top 10]] – Nominated Science Fiction Film<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/drop/ballot.pdf|title=AFI.com Error|access-date=July 2, 2011|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326214614/http://www.afi.com/drop/ballot.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2024}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Award
! Subject
! Nominee
! Result
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Cinema Audio Society Awards|CAS Awards]]
|Best Sound
|rowspan=2|[[Chris Carpenter (sound engineer)|Chris Carpenter]], [[Bob Beemer]], [[Bill W. Benton]] and [[Jeff Wexler]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[69th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
|[[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]
|[[Volker Engel]], [[Douglas Smith (special effects artist)|Douglas Smith]], [[Clay Pinney]] and [[Joe Viskocil]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Czech Lion Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=DRŽITELÉ CENY ČFTA|url=http://www.filmovaakademie.cz/cz/1996/drz-itele-ceny-cfta|website=www.filmovaakademie.cz|access-date=August 21, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821214259/http://www.filmovaakademie.cz/cz/1996/drz-itele-ceny-cfta|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Den nezávislosti zbořil Bílý dům. Co zničí Emmerich v druhém dílu?|url=http://kultura.zpravy.idnes.cz/den-nezavislosti-2-03q-/filmvideo.aspx?c=A160617_090406_filmvideo_spm|website=iDNES.cz|access-date=August 21, 2017|date=June 18, 2016|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821213807/http://kultura.zpravy.idnes.cz/den-nezavislosti-2-03q-/filmvideo.aspx?c=A160617_090406_filmvideo_spm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| The most successful movie in Cinemas.
| [[Roland Emmerich]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=11|[[Saturn Awards]]
|[[Saturn Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]
|[[Volker Engel]], [[Douglas Smith (special effects artist)|Douglas Smith]], [[Clay Pinney]] and [[Joe Viskocil]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film|Best Science Fiction Film]]
|[[Dean Devlin]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|[[Roland Emmerich]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writer]]
|Roland Emmerich and [[Dean Devlin]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costumes]]
|Joseph A. Porro
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|[[Brent Spiner]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actress]]
|[[Vivica A. Fox]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor|Best Young Actor]]
|[[James Duval]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]]
|[[David Arnold]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Saturn Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|[[Jeff Goldblum]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Will Smith]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards|Kids' Choice Awards]]
|Favorite Movie Actor
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie|Favorite Movie]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Hugo Award]]s
|[[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Young Artist Award]]s
|Best Young Actor – Age 10 or Under
|[[Ross Bagley]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[People's Choice Awards]]
|Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture
|{{n/a}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=5|[[MTV Movie & TV Awards|MTV Movie Awards]]
|[[MTV Movie Award for Best Action Sequence|Best Action Sequence]]
|Aliens blow up cities
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[MTV Movie Award for Movie of the Year|Best Movie]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[MTV Movie Award for Best Actor in a Movie|Best Male Performance]]
|Will Smith
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Breakthrough Performance
|Vivica A. Fox
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss|Best Kiss]]
|Will Smith and Vivica A. Fox
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Grammy Awards]]
|[[Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media|Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television]]
|David Arnold
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Satellite Awards]]
|[[Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects|Outstanding Visual Effects]]
|Volker Engel, Douglas Smith, Clay Pinney and Joe Viskocil
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Satellite Award for Best Editing|Outstanding Film Editing]]
|[[David Brenner (film editor)|David Brenner]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Mainichi Film Awards]]
|rowspan=3|Best Foreign Language Film
|{{n/a}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Japan Academy Film Prize|Japanese Academy Awards]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Amanda Award]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Blockbuster Entertainment Awards]]
|Favorite Actor – Sci-Fi
|rowspan=2|Will Smith
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=8|Universe Reader's Choice Awards
|Best Actor
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actress
|Vivica A. Fox
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Science Fiction Film
|{{n/a}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Special Effects
|Volker Engel, Douglas Smith, Clay Pinney and Joe Viskocil
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Director
|Roland Emmerich
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Score
|David Arnold
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Cinematography
|[[Karl Walter Lindenlaub]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Writing
|rowspan=4|Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Golden Raspberry Awards]]
|Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100 Million
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Stinkers Bad Movie Awards]]
|Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing Over $100 Million
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Worst Picture
|{{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="6" |Online Film & Television Association Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oftaawards.com/film-awards/1st-annual-film-awards-1996/|title=1st Annual Film Awards (1996) - Online Film & Television Association|website=www.oftaawards.com|access-date=June 2, 2018|archive-date=July 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707212600/http://www.oftaawards.com/film-awards/1st-annual-film-awards-1996/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Horror Picture
|Dean Devlin
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Horror Actor
|Will Smith
|{{Nominated}}}
|-
|Best Film Editing
|David Brenner
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Sound
|Chris Carpenter<br />Bill W. Benton<br />Bob Beemer<br />Jeff Wexler
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Sound Effects
|Sandy Gendler & Val Kuklowsky
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|Best Visual Effects
|Volker Engel<br />Douglas Smith<br />Clay Pinney<br />Joe Viskocil
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|}

===Legacy===
Disaster elements portrayed in ''Twister'' and ''Independence Day'' (both in 1996) represented a significant turning point for Hollywood [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster films]]. With advancements in [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] special effects, events depicting mass destruction became commonplace in films that soon followed, such as ''[[Dante's Peak]]'' and ''[[Volcano (1997 film)|Volcano]]'' (both in 1997), as well as ''[[Deep Impact (film)|Deep Impact]]'' and ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'' (both in 1998). The trend resumed from the mid-2000s to 2010s, evident in three of Emmerich's films titled ''[[The Day After Tomorrow]]'' (2004), ''[[2012 (film)|2012]]'' (2009), and ''[[White House Down]]'' (2013), as well as other blockbusters like ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' (2007) and ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'' (2012).<ref name="legacy">{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/beyond-imagination-how-independence-day-changed-the-blockbuster|title=Beyond Imagination: How 'Independence Day' Changed the Blockbuster|last=Huls|first=Alexander|date=June 29, 2016|publisher=RogerEbert.com|access-date=July 18, 2016|archive-date=July 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702165844/http://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/beyond-imagination-how-independence-day-changed-the-blockbuster|url-status=live}}</ref>