Strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived. Its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.
Practical Effects
Miniature White House explosion — pre-CGI destruction porn
Acting
Bill Pullman's speech somehow unironically works
Visual Effects
Cloud ships and city lasers that defined alien invasion aesthetics
Director
Roland Emmerich
Will Smith
Capt. Steven Hiller
Bill Pullman
President Thomas J. Whitmore
Jeff Goldblum
David Levinson
Mary McDonnell
Marilyn Whitmore
Judd Hirsch
Julius Levinson
Robert Loggia
General William Grey
Randy Quaid
Russell Casse
Margaret Colin
Constance Spano
James Rebhorn
Albert Nimzicki
Harvey Fierstein
Marty Gilbert
Adam Baldwin
Major Mitchell
Brent Spiner
Dr. Brackish Okun
James Duval
Miguel
Vivica A. Fox
Jasmine Dubrow
Lisa Jakub
Alicia
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The White House destruction shot used a 5-foot foam model and took 40 takes to get right.
This film basically invented the modern summer blockbuster formula that dominated until Marvel took over.
US
