Visible crew/equipment: At the White House, when they all watch the Soviet Special News, in the close-up of the TV's staticky reception of the news feed the reflection of White House staffers is visible. Right between the woman in a white blouse and the man in suit and tie, is the camera and crewmember, wearing light-colored short sleeve shirt and baseball cap, moving about.
Great sites
Mistakes
When Marty is stuck in traffic in his car, trying to get hold of his therapist, there is an overhead shot just before this one showing traffic with a few taxis. This traffic shot is flipped - note the steering wheels on the right side of the cars. This particular shot is shown again, but not flipped, just after the Empire State Building blows up. See more...
Trivia
The role of Captain Jimmy Wilder was played by Harry Connick, Jr. But it was Matthew Perry who was originally cast in that role. He couldn't work around his shooting schedule with Friends. But he didn't back out before he could add his own touch to the movie. He added the "Hold me" line and the head on Will Smith's shoulder to the script during the briefing scene. See more...
Independence Day (1996)
Directed by Roland Emmerich, starring Bill Pullman, Brent Spiner, Harry Connick Jr., Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, Mary McDonnell, Randy Quaid, Vivica A. Fox, Will Smith (add more)
Independence Day mistakes
Factual error: When Jasmine is running in the tunnel, she kicks open the door just in time to save herself, her son, and the dog. The terrible fireball then goes right by them. They are just inside the open door, with fire and debris flying right past it. While the fire and debris might not spill in, the heatwave would still fry them.
Visible crew/equipment: When Dr. Okun is about to unlock "the vault", and says, "The freak show," a crewmember wearing a black and white striped shirt is hiding under the vault's floor, right behind Okun. (Only visible on fullscreen DVD.)
Independence Day trivia
The little boy who plays Dylan co-starred with Will once before. He played Will's youngest cousin, Nicky, on the television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
When Steven and David are being chased out of the alien mothership, David says "Must go faster, must go faster." This is a line Jeff Goldblum said in the film Jurassic Park (1993), when he was riding in the back of a jeep, getting chased by the T-Rex. That line from Jurassic Park was loved so much by ID4 filmmakers, they looped it into the dialogue. Jeff never actually spoke that line when ID4 was being filmed.
A promotional piece that aired in Spain for this film set off a "War of the Worlds" type of wide spread panic. The promo featured a popular Spanish news anchor and the piece ran as if there really WAS an alien attack to occur on July 4. People believed the broadcast and panicked until officials spread the word that this was only a promo for a US movie. Confirmed on DVD commentary.
Independence Day quotes
Julius Levinson: If I had known I was gonna meet the president I would've worn a tie. Look at me, I look like a schliemiel.
Patricia Whitmore: Is Mommy sleeping now?
President Thomas Whitmore: Yeah, Mommy is sleeping now.
Gen. Gray: Are you all right?
President Thomas Whitmore: I saw... its thoughts. I saw what they're planning to do. They're like locusts. They're moving from planet to planet... their whole civilization. After they've consumed every natural resource they move on... and we're next. Nuke 'em. Let's nuke the bastards.
Independence Day easter eggs
On the Special Edition 2-Disc version, go to the main menu, enter the number '74' and press enter. You can now visit the inside of the ship.