Happy Independence Day USA! We hope that you’ll celebrate the 4th of July with lots of fireworks, parades and cool, fun activities. Oh and stay safe too. The pandemic is not over (sadly), so make sure to celebrate it responsibly.
But what else can you celebrate this national holiday with? Well, with lots of cool video games and movies. And luckily for you, we have plenty of those to offer. But we’ll get to that in a second. For those of you who don’t know… A little clarification is in order.
What Makes 4th Of July So Special?
Well, as the title would suggest, the USA celebrates its Independence from Great Britain (and with that from King George III’s reign). And for the record, Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2. But it was not declared until July 4. Hence, Independence Day is on July 4th since 1776. But how is this day being celebrated? In modern times I mean. Well, aside from the aforementioned fireworks, parades and lots of family barbecues… The national holiday is being celebrated with concerts, picnics, carnivals, fairs and of course watching patriotic movies.
Sure we’ll get to the movies in just a sec. But we need to start with the video games here. What would IndieGala be, if we didn’t start with video games?
Video Games For Independence Day
Yup. IndieGala got you covered Americans. We may don’t have a lot of patriotic games about the actual Independence Day. But we do have some cool ones for sure. And in this particular section, we’ll present games that do feature American history. Games like American Conquest for instance (available here). Or Europa Universalis IV: American Dream (available here). How about Battleplan: American Civil War (available here). Or something modern like MUDRUNNER – AMERICAN WILDS EDITION (check it out here). They’re all fun, different and worth checking out. Take your pick and enjoy.
Moves For Independence Day
Well, we got you covered as well. Indeed. We made a fine selection of fantastic movies that are just perfect for Independence Day. Some of them are older, while the others are a lot fresher. Not to mention they’re all eclectic, fun and most of all… Patriotic. Which ones made the cut? Scroll down to find out.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be an Independence Day without the 1996 movie Independence Day, now would it? I just have to include it, for obvious reasons and yes. It’s still fun and bonkers today as it was in the mid-’90s. If you’re feeling extra patriotic check out the sequel Independence Day: Resurgence, but the sequel is not quite the same really. No, the 1996 action sci-fi flick is action-packed, fun and filled with fantastic one-liners from Will Smith. Randy Quaid is hilarious as ever, and Bill Pullman’s speech is still one of the best ever. Yes. This movie is one of my favorite picks for the 4th of July.
Fun fact: The alien spacecraft in Area 51 was a full-scale model measuring 65 feet wide.
National Treasure
Hello, Nicholas Cage. Frankly, National Treasure is one of my guilty pleasures. It’s filled with puzzles, codes, and incredible hidden treasures. Not to mention, Sean Bean is the bad guy here, while Nicholas Cage is the savior of everything American. It’s fantastic. Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha provide the perfect back-up in the supporting roles. And so does the late Christopher Plummer. Yup. The National Treasure movies (there are two, and the third is in development) are not to be missed.
Fun fact: The movie includes footage from the first filming allowed in the tower of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.
American President
Ah, Aaron Sorkin. How I adore you. But in all seriousness, some even call this movie- the project that inspired The West Wing. Heck, the similarities are evident in both of these projects. A liberal President in the middle of the story, and an idealistic depiction of American politics surrounding him. And just who plays the American President? The one and only Michael Douglas. But don’t dismiss the supporting cast too. Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, and Richard Dreyfuss are awesome here and yes. This is one of our best movie picks for the 4th of July. You won’t regret it if you give it another try. This may be another 90’s movie on this list, but it’s a damn good one.
Fun fact: Michael J. Fox based his portrayal of Lewis Rothschild on George Stephanopoulos.
The Patriot
Not the most accurate movie about American Independence, but one of the most emotional. Not to mention, it’s directed by the same guy who made Independence Day. But over here in the Patriot, Mel Gibson is Captain Benjamin Martin. A war veteran and a widower who’ll join the American Revolution after a set of personal problems plague his life. And although the movie is not praised for its historical accuracy, I would definitely praise Mel Gibson’s performance here. It’s one of the last good performances of the Australian legend, and yes. It’s worth the watch. But I’d love to know your opinion of this period drama? What do you think of the Patriot? Let me know in the comment section.
Fun fact: Heath Ledger didn’t work for a year because he only got offers for teen heartthrob roles. He was about to quit acting, and return to Australia when he was cast in the film.
Captain America: The First Avenger
You gotta love Captain America. I know I do. But it’s hard for me to comprehend that it’s been a decade since the release of the Marvel movie. Indeed. It’s the movie that put Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan on the map, and made them Hollywood A-listers. But it’s a good movie nonetheless, and the character represents everything that America is all about. Patriotic, resilient, resourceful. However, the movie does have a dash of old-fashioned nostalgia and charm. Which is why it works to this day. Steve Rogers is one hell of a character and the movie deserves to be on this list.
Fun fact: Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan are about the same height. A camera trick (not CGI) made Captain America look much taller than Bucky Barnes.
Air Force One
Another 90’s movie with an American President in the plot. But this is one hell of a thriller. It’s about a group of terrorists who hijack Air Force One. And the president’s attempt to rescue everyone on board by retaking his plane. Harrison Ford is in the role of President James Marshal, while Gary Oldman is the main villain/ terrorist Egor Korshunov, A ruthless Radek loyalist. This is a movie filled with tension, action and good performances. Most notably from Oldman, Ford and Glenn Close. It’s worth giving another try.
Fun fact: Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman are actually hitting each other during their fight scenes.
Happy Independence Day USA!
What are your go-to Independence Day movies? Share some of your picks in the comment section. We’d love to know all about them.
