Whether you’re looking for a movie night to prepare for the Fourth of July celebrations or are thinking of one to top off this holiday, many patriotic films continue to rank highly among film fans. The following are the 15 best patriotic movies for Independence Day viewing that showcase the American spirit at its finest and will inspire you to remember what makes the U.S. great:
15. Air Force One (1997)
Not many movie presidents accomplish as much with their fists as Harrison Ford’s James Marshall. When terrorists seize Air Force One, he remains on board to safeguard his family and the other hostages.
Gary Oldman delivers a vicious adversary, while Glenn Close portrays the vice president attempting to handle the crisis on the ground. If you’re after a loud, flag-waving action movie for the Fourth of July, this one delivers.
14. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Even before he gets the shield and the muscles, Steve Rogers is a scrawny kid who refuses to let a bully get the last word. Chris Evans keeps that stubborn decency visible as a military experiment turns Steve into a super soldier during World War II.
The dummy grenade scene shows you exactly why he deserves the job. You can enjoy the wartime adventure on its own, even if you haven’t been following the rest of Marvel’s films.
13. 42 (2013)
Chadwick Boseman portrays Jackie Robinson as he joins the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, while Harrison Ford appears as team executive Branch Rickey.
Robinson must endure racist abuse from both the stands and the field simply to do his job. For Independence Day, it serves as a reminder of how much courage it can take to claim the rights your country promises you.
12. A League of Their Own (1992)
Baseball is a natural fit for a Fourth of July movie night, and Penny Marshall’s comedy adds a wartime spin to the game. Geena Davis and Lori Petty portray sisters who sign up for a women’s professional league while many male players are overseas serving in World War II.
Tom Hanks plays their ill-tempered manager, whose outbursts deliver some of the film’s biggest laughs. The players must show they deserve an audience while dealing with rules about how women are expected to look and act.
11. United 93 (2006)
Paul Greengrass’s depiction of United Airlines Flight 93 centers on the passengers and crew who struggled with the hijackers on September 11, 2001. Calls to their families help them understand what has occurred elsewhere that morning. The film also gives space to the confusion unfolding on the ground.
Keep this one for a calmer moment during the holiday. Greengrass handles the passengers’ resistance sensitively, and their fear makes their choice to fight all the braver.
10. Apollo 13 (1995)
The mission shifts from landing on the moon to bringing three men home alive after an oxygen tank explodes. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton portray the astronauts, while Ed Harris leads the flight control team at NASA working through the crisis.
Ron Howard draws a surprising amount of suspense from people doing calculations and testing pieces of equipment. The long wait for a radio signal during reentry is tense enough to make you forget you’re watching a piece of history.
9. Hidden Figures (2016)
Sending John Glenn into orbit requires more than just a courageous astronaut. Hidden Figures portrays the contributions of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson at NASA, brought to life by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe.
While helping the nation reach space, they contend with racism and sexism on the job. Henson lets viewers feel Johnson’s frustration, even down to her effort to find a restroom she is permitted to use.
8. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, this classic film depicts the effect one man can have on the political scene. The film premiered in 1939 in Washington, D.C., and is one of the most highly regarded American political films ever made.
7. Lincoln (2012)
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field, this depiction of the nation’s sixteenth president is a captivating film about Lincoln’s life during the waning days of the American Civil War.
6. Stripes (1981)
Fans of comedy will enjoy this film that never seems to get old! Starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and John Candy, the film depicts a group of misfits who join the army and muddle through basic training.
Their antics make for memorable movie magic!
5. Independence Day (1996)
This science-fiction adventure film portrays aliens that attack the planet. The planet initiates its own final offensive attack on July 4th in honor of the U.S. holiday.
Starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, the film is known for its non-stop epic action and graphics.
4. Forrest Gump (1994)
This film celebrates American life from the 1950s onward. Starring Tom Hanks, the movie follows a profound Gump through war and cultural changes affecting America up to the early 1980s.
Heartfelt, funny, and uplifting, Forrest Gump is a must-see if you happen to be one of the few who have never seen it!
3. Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
Starring Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert, Drums Along the Mohawk is a classic that portrays hardy settlers of New York at the time of the Revolutionary War.
Attacks by the British, Tories, and Native Americans provide the action of this movie, which was once nominated for the Academy Awards.
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, Saving Private Ryan depicts the beaches of Normandy during WWII. Emotional and realistic, the film recalls the bravery and sacrifice that helped the Allies win the war.
1. The Patriot (2000)
Starring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger, this film showcases the grittier side of the Revolutionary War. Gibson leads his militia, including his son, through swamplands to wreak havoc among the British troops.
With exceptional period detail, this movie depicts what the nation was like long ago.
Honorable Mentions
- Red Dawn (2012)
- Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
- National Treasure (2004)
- How the West Was Won (1962)
Give them a try and discover what makes them so great!
Title Image Courtesy: Artisan Kitchens and Baths!