Sci-Fi Disaster Film Hailed As “Best Of All Time” Returns As Explosive Netflix Hit 30 Years Later

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A bona fide classic in multiple genres and careers has now blown up on streaming.

As a huge fan of disaster movies, I always come back to Independence Day. When it hit theaters in 1996, it was an instant sensation! It’s a classic sci-fi flick starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Pullman. They play a Marine captain, a satellite expert, and the President, and they’re all humanity’s last hope when aliens show up intent on destroying the planet.

In addition to the main stars, the film features Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, and others. Known for its iconic portrayal of the White House being destroyed, Independence Day is currently a hit on Netflix, and many viewers are rediscovering it. As of today, it’s the no. 6 most popular movie on Netflix in the U.S., showing it’s still loved 30 years after it first came out.

Currently, titles like The Investigation of Lucy Letby, Copshop, and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates are more popular than Independence Day. On Netflix, The Rip remains a hit at number 8, and upcoming 2025 releases KPop Demon Hunters and Honey Don’t are trending at numbers 9 and 10 among viewers in the U.S. Still, Independence Day is unique as a well-established and beloved action film.

Released in 1996, Independence Day was a huge box office success, earning $817 million worldwide. While critics gave it generally positive reviews (currently 69% on Rotten Tomatoes), the film really succeeded as a thrilling and entertaining action movie. Released just before the Fourth of July, it quickly became a holiday tradition, and remains a popular choice for watching on Independence Day today.

A sequel to the hit film Independence Day arrived in 2016, titled Independence Day: Resurgence, and was once again directed by Roland Emmerich. While it introduced new actors like Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, and Jessie T. Usher, it also brought back Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, and Vivica A. Fox – although Will Smith did not return. Despite the cast, Independence Day: Resurgence wasn’t successful.

The film received generally negative reviews, scoring 28% on the Tomatometer and 30% on the Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes. While it didn’t lose money overall, earning $389.7 million worldwide, it only just recouped its $165 million production budget, largely thanks to international audiences.

Even so, Independence Day continues to be a beloved classic in the action, sci-fi, and disaster movie genres, based on recent streaming numbers. Similar to many sequels that don’t live up to expectations, viewers often prefer to remember the original as a great film on its own and try to forget the less successful continuation.

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2026-02-05 17:38