The 26 Best Movies to Watch on the Fourth of July
We cozy up for Christmas and let our freak flags fly for Halloween. But on the Fourth of July, we let freedom ring baby. Smack in the middle of summer comes Independence Day, when we Americans spend three days reveling the day-long sunshine in the only way we know how. Barbecues, pool parties, cold drinks, and yes, damn fine movies. Suck it, rest of the world. You may have socialized medicine and federally mandated paid time off, but we’ve got fireworks.
While you should totally get outside and breathe in the fresh summer air, it’s also not a bad idea to crack open a cold one and fire up an old favorite. There’s dozens, maybe hundreds of movies where “America!” is the predominant theme—some reverent, some scathing, all of it worth watching.
With “America” a broad cinematic theme, we decided to narrow things down for your movie marathon this weekend. An important rule we imposed this time is to not list movies we just highlighted this past Memorial Day. That means we’re omitting some otherwise obvious mentions, like Saving Private Ryan, Glory, Born on the Fourth of July, and both Top Guns. Independence Day implies celebration of summer in America, not just saluting the troops. (Again, that’s what Memorial Day and Veterans Day are for.) Tell us why we’re wrong for doing this in the comments below.
Whether you want refuge from the sun or you’re not an American but want an easy way to relish in our explosive festivities, here are some of the best movies you can put on for the Fourth of July.
Jaws (1975)
Are you still afraid to go in the water? Over 50 years later, Jaws still rips as the greatest summer thriller ever made. In an idyllic beach town plagued by a mane-eating great white, a police chief (Roy Scheider) teams up with a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a hunter (Robert Shaw) to take down the shark terrorizing a New England beachgoers. You’ve seen it before, but you know you’re watching it again this weekend. Also, if you’ve never done it, there are places in Texas and Massachusetts that host “Jaws on the Water” screenings where you can watch the movie while floating on tubies… with swimmers lurking to scare you. You’re gonna need a much bigger boat.
Miracle (2004)
Sure, hockey season is over. But the legendary Miracle on Ice is primo American sports legend, and the 2004 sports drama Miracle immortalizes our most impossible victory at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. You know the story by now: When the Cold War was at its hottest, the United States took on the dominant (and odds-on favorite) Soviet Union. Revisiting Miracle can make you really believe in fairy tale endings.
All the President’s Men (1976)
Just four years after the Watergate Scandal made headlines, Alan J. Pakula’s journalism thriller All the President’s Men set the standard for what speaking truth to power really looks like. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman co-star as real-life Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein respectively, as they investigate the Nixon administration’s wiretapping of DNC headquarters. Putting aside the unsuspecting menswear inspo, All the President’s Men champions the fourth estate as an irremovable pillar to our democracy.
The Sandlot (1993)
The kid’s a square, Benny! Kid’s a square! Besides the memorable baseball game that’s played on the Fourth of July, The Sandlot is just a perfect coming-of-age movie that captures the magic of long summer afternoons in America: baseball games, dogs, pretty lifeguards, and memories with your best friends you’ll remember (say it with me now) for-ev-er.
Selma (2014)
Released on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the 1965 marches from Selma to Montgomery, Ava DuVernay’s stunning historical drama details the events leading up to the marches—and the tense fight for the right to vote that set it in motion. David Oyelowo stars as Martin Luther King Jr. as he gathers support to secure the Voting Rights Act in the heart, and heat, of Alabama. Not just another civil rights film, DuVernay’s sharp direction and Oyelowo’s masculine leading man performance give Selma propulsive suspense that lend it the vibes of a political thriller.
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1776 (1972)
Way before Hamilton, there was 1776. Directed by Peter H. Hunt and adapted from the Broadway musical, the movie takes place in Philadelphia, 1776 (duh) to explore the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It’s cornball cheesy and there ain’t a number in the soundtrack that holds a candle to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work. But 1776 is the right sort of whimsy that the Fourth of July weekend calls for. And yes, if you’re a millennial: That’s Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World as a singing John Adams.
Air Force One (1997)
Of course Hollywood would make a movie where the President of the United States is a badass. And of course the man playing him is Harrison Ford. In this dumb but barrels-of-fun popcorn action flick, Russian terrorists hijack the world’s most secure aircraft with the President (Ford) and the First Family aboard. With Harrison Ford hot off the heels from the Jack Ryan series, it was quite something to see him dressed up as the head honcho himself. All hail to the chief.
Transformers (2007)
When Transformers rolled into cinemas literally one day before Fourth of July in 2007, critics lamented the end of intelligent life. But nearly two decades later, Michael Bay’s Transformers hasn’t lost any shine on its surface as it set the stage for big budget nostalgia-driven reboots to come. A teenager (Shia LaBeouf), driven to get his first car and impress girls (like Megan Fox’s Mikayla), winds up in the middle of an ancient war between two factions of metamorphing aliens. Transformers isn’t more than meets the eye, but its jaw-dropping visual effects and Bay’s kinetic direction are no disguise.
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Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Does Wet Hot American Summer even take place on the Fourth of July? No. But who gives a shit when you’ve got an all-time ensemble laying the groundwork for the next decade of comedy? It’s the final day of Camp Firewood when counselors and campers gets together for a talent show… and more. Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Meloni, Ken Marino, and actually so many other names I don’t have room to type pack Wet Hot American Summer to the gills with hormone-driven hijinks. (Never mind basically everyone in the cast are grown adults.) Pretty much every big comedy since 2001 owes a debt to Wet Hot, which holds up after 25 years.
The Rock (1996)
“Welcome to The Rock!” Michael Bay’s hit ‘90s blockbuster The Rock offers plenty of bombast with a pinch of anti-establishment commentary. Nicholas Cage teams up with Sean Connery to stop Ed Harris—demanding reparations on behalf of fallen soldiers—from launching chemical weapons out of Alcatraz onto all of San Francisco. A bit too exciting for a somber Memorial Day, the Fourth of July is the right time for The Rock to rock your socks off.
Prey (2022)
America isn’t even a sovereign nation when Prey finds its story in the early 18th century Great Plains. But its tale of underdog heroism and depiction of Native war tactics is more American than most other movies you can name. Set in 1719, this standalone spin-off from the Predator franchise sees a young Comanche warrior (grade-A badass Amber Midthunder) square off against a Predator alien armed with only her guts, her tools, and her intimate knowledge of her homeland.
Nashville (1975)
The 200th anniversary of America was the right time for Robert Altman to unleash Nashville, a multi-faceted mosaic of a nation still suffering growing pains. Set against the country music industry in contemporary Nashville, Tennessee, Altman’s movie follows over two dozen people for five days as a populist outsider seeks the presidency. (Hmm.) Altman’s observatory eye gives the movie a documentary feel while its vast array of characters and hour’s worth of musical numbers give it scope reserved only to treasured epics. Now, as America hits 250, Nashville feels eerily relevant than ever. It almost looks like it was made yesterday.
Civil War (2024)
“What kind of American are you?” The question chills to the bone both in the context of Alex Garland’s Civil War and in our own wicked reality. Set against a second American civil war between the remnants of the federal government and secession states, a group of journalists move from New York to Washington, D.C. to interview the third-term president before capital invasion. While its lore bends over backwards to not offend party lines, Civil War is a somber and sober preview of a possible dark future.
The American President (1995)
The late, great Rob Reiner could direct a rom-com like no other. Though it doesn’t engender the same love as When Harry Met Sally…, his 1995 comedy The American President is a winner. A predecessor to The West Wing (with Aaron Sorkin as screenwriter), the films sees Michael Douglas play a widowed POTUS who falls in love with an environmental lobbyist (Annette Bening). A few years shy of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and a lifetime before, y’know, everything else, the notion that a bachelor Prez dating a single, adult woman could be controversial is so quaint it hurts. But The American President’s warm hues soothe like a blanket. It’s worthwhile counter-programming to the other weekend movies with explosions and killer sharks.
Lincoln (2012)
Steven Spielberg’s graceful 2012 biopic of Abraham Lincoln was the final performance of Daniel Day-Lewis, at least for a time. Upon its release, the significance of Day-Lewis’ finality gave his 16th president added weight as a man confronting the end (even if Lincoln himself didn’t know it was coming). Lincoln takes place over the final months of Lincoln’s life as he strove to abolish American slavery whilst navigating his era’s politics and reconciling what is right from what is just. Sentimental and smart without being overtly mawkish, Lincoln is a historical drama free from the cheap sepia filters of most other Civil War pieces to lend clarity to Lincoln’s crisis of faith.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Our rule for omitting films for Memorial Day means we’re disqualifying Captain America: The First Avenger, which we’ll admit feels betters suited for Independence Day marathons. But there’s something really, really American about the threequel, Captain America: Civil War. It begins with American forces operating on foreign soil which kicks up a geopolitical shitstorm. Then, the big action set-piece centers on a clean divide between two sides who resort to violence. That’s pretty damn American!
Apollo 13 (1995)
Many “America!” movies depict our hard-won victories—but what about our losses? Ron Howard’s towering Apollo 13 blasts an all-star cast of Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton to space as the crew of the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission. In the shadow of the historic 1969 Moon landing, Hanks stars as astronaut Jim Lovell whose dreams of surfing the stars comes to an early end. The Space Race remains one of America’s greatest triumphs, but Apollo 13 is a gorgeous reminder that dominance doesn’t last.
Adventureland (2009)
When Adventureland opened in April 2009, it was grossly mismarketed as an R-rated romp like Superbad. But Greg Mottola’s melancholic movie about the crossroads of young adulthood is deeper than its bad trailers made it seem. Set during the summer of 1987, a college graduate (Jesse Eisenberg) is forced to abandon his trip to Europe and work at a rinky dink Pittsburgh amusement park. Over corn dogs and rickety rides, he gets close to pretty yet enigmatic coworker (Kristen Stewart). It’s a summer movie more than a Fourth of July film, but a pivotal scene set during July 4 fireworks can make your heart explode.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
In the same way we habitually watch It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas, we ought to put on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington every Fourth of July too. Predating Wonderful Life by a few years, this Frank Capra-James Stewart collaboration sees Stewart play an idealistic young man appointed to the Senate only to be met with cynicism and corruption rotting our democracy. The movie predates so many defining events of the 20th century, yet Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is timeless in its portrayal of courage and justice.
National Treasure (2004)
It’s become a meme these days, but National Treasure lives up to its title as a priceless piece of Hollywood magic. Nicholas Cage is at the peak of his powers as Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian and “treasure protector” who steals the Declaration of Independence to decode a map to a legendary relic. For a blockbuster rooted in history, National Treasure isn’t terribly smart. But it succeeds as a family-friendly affair that throws it back to classic swashbucklers, elevated by 21st century razzle dazzle courtesy of producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
Hamilton (2020)
It’s hard to think of Hamilton as a “movie” when it’s a taped production of Lin Manuel-Miranda’s zeitgeist-seizing rap musical (strung together by three performances from 2016). But it helps that Hamilton is a triumphant tale that’s less a hagiography of a forgettable Founding Father and more about the American spirit within us all. When Disney acquired the distribution rights in February 2020—and scheduled its theatrical release for October 2021—they did not see the summer of quarantine ahead. On July 3, 2020, Disney hit the Hamilton button and put it out on Disney+ to make up for the year without fireworks.
American Graffiti (1973)
Before George Lucas took off to a galaxy far, far away, he went back to his own halcyon youth with hot rods and hotter girls in Modesto, California. Set in the final day of summer vacation in 1962, American Graffiti explores the lives of several different teenagers against the backdrop of rock ‘n roll music and aimless drives around town. Even if George Lucas never made Star Wars, American Graffiti would be celebrated as a forerunner to the teen movie genre and how generations can and will cast the greatest days of their lives in amber.
Didi (2024)
It isn’t a “July 4” movie in any real way, but Sean Wang’s feature debut from 2024 interrogates 21st century American youth and restlessness in a way most films still have not. Set in the summer of 2008, Didi follows rebellious 13-year-old Chris Wang (Izaac Wang) who defies his Taiwanese immigrant family with YouTube skateboarding videos and other hijinks. On the brink of high school, Chris navigates crushes, friendships, and identity in the formative years of social media. Didi is a sublime and raw retrospective of growing up American, in America, even when you don’t feel like you belong anywhere.
The Way, Way Back (2013)
Fresh from The Office, Steve Carrell puts on his bad guy face in this coming-of-age comedy from directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. Liam James plays an introverted teenager on summer vacation with his mom and her new rude boyfriend (Carrell). Over the course of many weeks at their beach house in Massachusetts, James’ Duncan learns to come out of his shell and embrace a bigger world. Not only did the movie hit theaters on July 5, 2013, but a key scene takes place during an Independence Day cookout.
Independence Day (1996)
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 this 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’re 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 when 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!
Team America: World Police (2004)
AMERICA!!!! Fuck yeah!!! Comin’ again to save the motherfuckin’ day, YEAH!!!
