Where to stream ‘Independence Day’

Tis the season of fireworks, freedom, and festivities as the Fourth of July is celebrated across the United States. Of course, one of the best ways to kick off the celebrations is by indulging in all things patriotically pop culture, and a prime example of that is by watching the aptly titled film, Independence Day.

The movie features a star-studded cast, including Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox, and Bill Pullman, among many other talented actors. It revolves around the thrilling story of U.S. Citizens up against otherworldly creatures in a fight for survival, and there’s no better time to watch the film than during this (sort of) long holiday weekend. Amid sparklers, cookouts, and gratitude, there’s room for a movie about an alien invasion — one that snuck up on audiences and grew a cult following in the years that followed.

In the spirit of the Fourth of July, there’s no better film to watch, so just where can you find it, and what’s up with the whole Independence Day: Resurgence thing? Let’s take a look.

What is Independence Day?

If you’ve been living under a metaphorical rock, you might not know the significance of Independence Day and why it holds a crucial place in the Fourth of July celebrations for those who partake. The thing is, even with a title and a narrative that unfolds during the U.S. holiday; it’s a film that resonates with anyone who watches it.

A group of what could be best described as unlikely allies must band together to take on an otherworldly threat that stands to destroy humanity as we know it, and their being the only ones with the ability to save the planet isn’t something that anyone would choose. They certainly weren’t the best-prepared group to take on a species the world knew nothing of, nor were they a team that worked seamlessly together, but none of that mattered when the going got tough because the tough got going.

As President Thomas Whitmore, portrayed by Bill Pullman, passionately declares in his speech, it wasn’t lost on anyone that the extraterrestrial attacks occurred on the Fourth of July; it’s a metaphor for something bigger. As far as the film is concerned, it’s a shout of freedom for the entire world — not just the United States.

“Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. “Mankind.” That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it’s fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom… Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution… but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday but as the day the world declared in one voice: “We will not go quietly into the night!” We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

As you continue to enjoy a long weekend or focus on all things patriotic, there’s still time to stream Independence Day and yell “up yours” to a few interstellar beings.

Where can you watch Independence Day?

For those who gave up on DVD/Blu-rays a long time ago, there are several options available to watch the film in honor of Independence Day. Through your cable provider, there should be options to rent or purchase the movie so that you can stream it for the long weekend or watch it throughout the year when you’re feeling up for an exciting alien invasion flick.

If you want to look at options through a streaming platform, there are a couple of ways to watch Independence Day: one is by having a Starz subscription through Hulu. You can also rent the film through Prime Video, Vudu, iTunes, and Google Play, as shared by T.V. Guide.

Was there a sequel to Independence Day?

A sequel to Independence Day was released on June 24, 2016, and titled Independence Day: Resurgence. The movie follows much of the same premise as the first, with a new threat emerging years after the first movie’s events, only this time, there’s a particular sector set up to help tackle it, the Earth Space Defense.

It’s soon revealed that the extraterrestrials might be gone “in theory,” but some connections still exist, and the aliens aren’t too far away after all. More battle ensues, and towards the end of the film, it’s left open-ended that there will always be some mutual existence between “us” and “them.” The question is, how will they live with it?

Resurgence didn’t have the same impact on audiences that Independence Day did, and Vivica A. Fox recently told the A.V. Club that a big reason was that the film lacked the star power of Will Smith.

“I really feel we missed out by not bringing Will Smith back. We had most of the original cast, but I think the one true link that was missing to the success of Independence Day 2 was that Will Smith wasn’t there.”

You can rent Independence Day: Resurgence on Apple T.V., Prime Video, or Google Play, and complete your Fourth of July watch-a-thon with even more extraterrestrial beings, patriotism, and more Jeff Goldblum. It doesn’t get more special than that!