Top Movies to Enjoy This Fourth of July
Motion pictures are as much an American experience on the Fourth of July as barbecues, parades and fireworks.
Whether a person, couple or family wants something to watch while winding down from the day's events or plan to stay indoors and relax with a movie marathon, this guide covers the top films that celebrate the birth of the nation and explore the challenges, dreams and experiences of people from all walks of American life.
Why Do We Celebrate Fourth of July ?
The Fourth of July, stylized as the 4th of July and also called Indepenence Day, is a federal holiday designed to commemorate the founding of the United States of America with the signing of a document known as the "Declaration of Independence.
Originally, the British Empire allowed people to colonize the land. Eventually, dissatisfied with British rule, the people of the Thirteen Colonies picked representatives and formed a Continental Congress.
On July 4, 1776, the representatives signed the document, which explained via a list of grievances why they no longer considered themselves subjects of the British Empire.
One of the most well-known lines from it often associated with American philosophy and way of life is "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Why Do People Watch Movies on the Fourth?
After the first moving pictures made their way to the U.S., Americans quickly embraced the entertainment format.
Silent pictures eventually gave way to sound films or "talkies." As in other areas of the world, movies helped people share common experiences and learn more about themselves and things they had never imagined or considered before.
From Hollywood on the West Coast in Los Angeles to the modern Hollywood of the South on the East Coast in Atlanta, the United States has dominated the film industry for many years.
People watch movies during this specific holiday for different reasons. Some people want to remember the founding of the country or learn more about the many ways it has evolved over the last 248 years.
For some people, it's an opportunity to unwind and the start of summer break. They gather with loved ones and others to just have a fun day or evening filled with entertainment that doesn't require a lot of energy or time.
Check out some of the best movies to watch this July 4th.
Historic Events Reimagined
"1776" / "Hamilton"
Although "1776" (1972) and "Hamilton" (2020) are two films separated by decades, they both address events and people related to the country's founding.
They're presented here as a double feature because they're both musicals with fantastic songs and productions.
"The Patriot" (2000)
After a widowed South Carolina farmer refuses to return to war, he's eventually forced into the conflict. Roland Emmerich has become well known in recent years for his scientifically inaccurate but enjoyable catastrophe films.
What many people don't realize is that he also directed a fantastic historic fiction film about the founding of the country with Mel Gibson as the star.
"Gettysburg" (1993)
The Battle of Gettysburg of the American Civil War, which took place over three days (July 1 to 3, 1863), is handled with care and understanding through an ensemble cast who filmed on the original battlefield.
"Glory" (1989)
Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington and Cary Elwes are just a few of the well-known names in this war drama that focuses on the creation and accomplishments of the second African-American Union Army regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, during the American Civil War.
"Lincoln" (2012)
This biographical historical drama helmed by Steven Spielberg with Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role follows Lincoln and his attempts in 1865 to abolish slavery and other forms of involuntary servitude via the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The American Experience
"An American Tail" (1986)
This animated film, Steven Spielberg's first, offers a unique view of immigration at the turn of the last century.
After Fieval, a young mouse, and his family lose their home in Russia, they take the long perilous journey to the United States with dreams in their hearts for creating a better life.
"Dances With Wolves" (1990)
Actor and director Kevin Costner's film about the hardships faced by the Lakota and other Native Americans in the country's early days as noted by a fictional Union Army officer won several Academy Awards, including awards for Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score.
"Harriet" (2019)
This biographical film acts as a tribute to the abolitionist Harriet Tubman and her work with the Underground Railroad helping hundreds of slaves find freedom in the North during the Civil War.
"A League of Their Own" (1992)
Modern baseball was once considered as American as apple pie.
Although it's been historically associated mostly with men, women played a significant role in keeping the sport alive while men were fighting in World War II. The Library of Congress added the film in 2012 to its preservation collection.
"American Graffiti" (1973)
Director George Lucas and producer Francis Ford Coppola created this American nostalgia classic that received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Three young men in 1962 decided to hang out during the night of their summer vacation before each planned to leave home to begin their lives as adults.
"Selma" (2014)
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 that prohibited discrimination based on race for voting didn't just happen because the majority of people in the country felt it was the right thing to do.
This drama explores Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for Black Americans and one pivotal event, the march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, after desegregation in the South following the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
"Forrest Gump" (1994)
The 20th century in America featured a lot of both wonderful and awful events.
Director Robert Zemeckis takes viewers on a tour of famous moments through the perspective of the lead character Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, who shows that America's tapestry also includes people who have been forced to rise above mental and physical challenges.
Modern Military and Warfare
"Saving Private Ryan" (1992)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this epic war film follows the experiences of American soldiers behind enemy lines in Normandy, France, during World War II while they try to find and save Private James Francis Ryan.
It won numerous awards and received recognition in 2014 by the Library of Congress for its impact on society and filmmaking.
"Born on the Fourth of July" (1989)
An antiwar drama film based on the life of Ron Kovic as depicted in the 1976 autobiography of the same name, it explores Kovic's life from his enlistment in the Marines to his experiences as a paralyzed Vietnam War veteran.
"Top Gun" (Series)
The original "Top Gun" (1986) and "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022) provide heart-pounding thrills and high-flying action while following the challenges faced by young Navy fighter pilots both within the military and outside of it.
The U.S. Space Program
"Hidden Figures" (2017)
Not everyone in the early days of the U.S. space program was a white male.
This biographical drama shows how three African-American women provided their mathematical skills as living computers and helped make the dream of a moon landing a reality.
"The Right Stuff" (1983)
During the 1960s, the U.S. focused heavily on the space race.
This historical drama, based on a non-fiction book with the same title, puts on display the American trait to succeed at all costs from the perspective of Air Force, Marine and Navy test pilots who risked their lives attempting to break the sound barrier and travel beyond the planet's surface.
"Apollo 13" (1995)
Not every American space flight ended with success. This historical docudrama directed by Ron Howard takes people behind the scenes during the failed 1970 Apollo 13 moon landing mission.
Extraordinary Science Fiction
"Deep Impact" / "Armageddon"
In 1998, two films about a meteor hitting the planet leaned heavily on the idea of American fortitude, innovation and patriotism bringing about the survival of life on the planet.
"Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" are presented as a double feature worth watching back to back because they each look at how America reacts to catastrophes in different ways.
"Independence Day" (Series)
No 4th of July is complete without the highly patriotic "Independence Day" series of films that made the holiday more than just the celebration of the birth of a nation.
Instead, Americans find a way to save the planet from alien invasion twice as well.
"National Treasure" (Series)
The "National Treasure" series offers American history lovers an opportunity to enjoy alternative historical theories.
Nicolas Cage, as cryptographer and historian Benjamin Franklin Gates, tries to find treasures via clues left behind on American historical documents and other ephemera.
Politics and Drama
"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)
Frank Capra brings the struggle to preserve demographic beliefs in America to life in this classic political drama with comedic undertones.
A young U.S. senator named Jefferson Smith, played by James Stewart, must learn how to navigate the machinations of politicians in Washington D.C. or lose everything.
"The American President" (1995)
Rob Reiner takes people behind the scenes at the White House with this classic political drama that doubles as a romantic comedy.
A lobbyist and the President of the United States fall in love while he's campaigning for a second term.
"Die Hard" (Series)
Although 2007's "Live Free or Die Hard" film takes place specifically on the 4th of July, all the films in the series focus on the hard work of American first responders when faced with a crisis.
These movies often go above and beyond what takes place in the real world, but each offers a fun way to celebrate American independence.