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.
Mistakes
A couple of shots after Jasmine grabs Dylan from the car, the rears of a red car and white car are shown tossed up from a front shot. Next shot from behind, the same two cars are shown tossed up again where we can see the flat belt system between the four tires and the mechanical arm at work doing the flipping. See more...
Trivia
According to the Director's commentary, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation did not want the film to be released under the title "Independence Day" to avoid legal complications (specifics weren't disclosed as to what the problems might be, but it's also why the abbreviation "ID4" was used). Roland Emmerich (director/writer) and Dean Devlin (writer) needed to justify the title, so they added the rousing bit right at the end of President Whitmore's speech at the hangar when he ends with, "The 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday...today we celebrate our Independence Day!" See more...
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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)
Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Thriller
Where is Independence Day ranked on the ultimate best to worst list? Cast your vote and find out!
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. It is also likely that the fire would deplete the limited oxygen of the enclosed space.
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
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.
Ross Bagley, the little boy who plays Dylan, co-starred with Will on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He played Will's youngest cousin, Nicky. Additionally, Vivica A. Fox, who plays Dylan's mother, also appeared in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as Janet, Jazz's sister.
In Area 51 there is a large screen displaying the results of the nuclear strikes against the alien ships. Look under the screen and there is some text in green. Pause it to read the following: "The purpose of these green lines is to lead you to believe that these words mean something", and "And can I see with eye serene the very pulse of the machine Wordsworth".
Independence Day quotes
President Thomas Whitmore: I don't understand, where does all this come from? How do you get funding for something like this?
Julius Levinson: You don't actually think they spend $20,000 on a hammer, $30,000 on a toilet seat do you?
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.
Russel Casse: I picked a hell of a day to quit drinkin'.
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.