Critics were split. Roger Ebert gave it three stars, calling it “an expert piece of craftsmanship.” Others called it “junk food.” But the audience had already made up their minds. The line for the next showing stretched around the block.
Did you see Independence Day in theaters in 1996? Share your memory of that summer in the comments below. independence day 1996 premiere
“We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight!” Critics were split
But for the 1,100 people in that theater on July 2, 1996, it wasn’t about the box office. It was about the feeling of looking up at a screen, watching a shadow cover the world, and realizing that for two hours, you believed we could fight back. Did you see Independence Day in theaters in 1996