The Highest-Grossing & Best Sci-Fi Movie of 1996 Deserves Another Sequel

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As a big sci-fi fan, I’ve always loved Independence Day from 1996, and it’s amazing to see it’s still so popular! I recently noticed it was in the top 10 on Netflix, which is incredible considering it came out 30 years ago. I think the timing is perfect – with the US celebrating its 250th anniversary, revisiting this movie about national unity just feels right. But honestly, I think it’s more than that. The movie’s got a fantastic cast, the special effects were groundbreaking for their time, and it’s just a really hopeful story about people coming together when everything seems lost.

While Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) didn’t quite live up to hopes with its complicated storyline, the original Independence Day remains popular, suggesting another sequel could be successful. A new project in this universe could work well, particularly if it tried a different approach to storytelling.

Independence Day Was a Perfect Summer Blockbuster

Released in the US on July 3, 1996, Independence Day quickly became a Fourth of July tradition. Though Roland Emmerich had worked with science fiction before, Independence Day was the first of his many large-scale disaster movies, including The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and Moonfall (2022). The film is famous for its depiction of an alien attack, particularly the destruction of the White House. However, what makes Independence Day truly memorable isn’t just the special effects; it’s the stories of ordinary people struggling to survive the invasion.

The film draws viewers into the personal stories of characters like David Levinson, who frantically tries to warn everyone about the alien invasion, and Jasmine Dubrow, who bravely helps others while protecting her son. The defeat of the aliens isn’t the work of one hero, but a worldwide team effort. The fantastic cast truly brings this story of survival to life – from Will Smith’s portrayal of Captain Steve Hiller battling the aliens, to Bill Pullman’s inspiring performance as President Whitmore delivering a now-iconic speech. These performances are a major reason the film has remained so popular for decades.

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) Bit Off More Than It Could Chew

Given how popular the movie Independence Day was, it was only a matter of time before a sequel was made. However, Independence Day: Resurgence arrived 20 years later and wasn’t successful, failing to capture the magic of the first film. The sequel, released in 2016, is set in a world where humans have used alien technology to advance their own and prepare for another invasion. Though many of the original actors returned, the film was noticeably missing Will Smith, who had been a standout star in the original Independence Day.

In a recent interview with Yahoo, Roland Emmerich admitted he regretted continuing with the film. He explained that they initially had a stronger script, but he was forced to quickly write a new one. He wished he’d declined the project altogether, as he ended up creating something he had previously criticized – a sequel.

While Will Smith’s absence wasn’t the main reason the film struggled, the filmmakers attempted to include too much story. The focus on explaining the aliens and their motivations overshadowed the human characters, making it difficult for audiences to connect with them like they did in the first movie. The story could have benefited from a more relaxed pace or perhaps a different presentation.

A New Independence Day Sequel Could Work Better as a Television Series

Image via 20th Century Fox

The problems with Independence Day: Resurgence might have been solved by telling the story as a TV series. A series would allow for better character development and give viewers more time to connect with the characters and their stories. Plus, the extensive backstory about the aliens could have been revealed gradually within the plot, making their return feel more impactful and exciting.

A new Independence Day movie could benefit from a strategy similar to what worked for Star Wars. The Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series greatly enhanced the prequel films, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, by providing a deeper and more detailed look at the Clone Wars. This series enriched the storyline, explained key events more fully, and made the tragic events surrounding Order 66 even more impactful for viewers.

A television series based on Independence Day could recapture the emotional impact of the first movie, focusing on the characters and their stories. This could also help improve how audiences view Independence Day: Resurgence by giving them a deeper connection to the people involved. Even if no further Independence Day movies are made, the original film will always be remembered as a standout example of science fiction disaster and alien invasion stories, continuing to connect with viewers for years to come.

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2026-02-14 22:09