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Independence Day
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Non-stop campy fun. For teens and up.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–15
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Independence Day
Parents need to know that this popular film might attract kids due to the promise of excessive destruction effects and Will Smith's universal appeal. The film's CGI images of global devastation could prove too graphic for kids and some teens. One scary scene involves a vicious alien attempting to murder the President. The movie's outmoded depictions of traditional gender roles might also provide negative instruction for impressionable teens. Some jokes may also be considered homophobic.
Read our full review by Ken Feil
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about stereotypes associated with action-disaster movies as well as how race, class, and gender is represented in the film.
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
14+
This is a great movie, but it contains some really shocking violence, and also some s**ual content. 14+.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
this is for all sci fi lovers over 12
For all sci fi fans, this is for you!! i absoluteley love this film, even though there are some scary scenes and anyone under 12 shouldnt watch it
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
perfect for preteens, teens, and adults
this is one of my favorite movies and me and my 10 year old brother watch it and we both love it the main character is a hard working man and there is some violence but i think it is a great movie!
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
perfect for tweens.
I loved this movie, it's one of the best UFO movies I've seen, and i recommend it to ages 11+. I think a lot of people thought that it was too violent, but there really wasn't much gore. Yes, I agree that there was a lot of explosions, and people were killed, but that was one of the things that made the movie so good. The aliens may frighten young ones, but for the most part they weren't too freaky looking. the mostly looked really fake, like they were plastic or some thing. the also was a lot of language, but the "f-word" wasn't used, it was mostly just s**t, b**ch, and hell.
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Fun, But NOT for Kids...
INDEPENDENCE DAY is corny, unrealistic, and completely far-fetched. It's also fun and exciting, but not for kids. The film is very violent, and there are some disturbing sequences where whole cities are wiped out (one particular scene, where everyone fleeing a city is consumed by a fiery explosion is too intense for kids). In addition, ships are exploded, aliens and people are zapped with lasers and missles, and there's one frightening scene where a scary alien kills everyone in a lab, then takes possession of one man and makes him speak the alien's thoughts. Sex is iffy too, with some subtle innuendos, a man obsessed with sexual abuse by aliens, and a brief shot of a stripper theater (no nudity, but extremely scanty clothes). A boy tries to get his girlfriend to have sex with him by saying "this might be our last night on Earth. You don't want to die a virgin, do you?" Her brother snatches her away before anything happens. Language is some "a*s"s, several "SOB"s and "s**t"s, and numerous "d**n"s and "h*ll"s.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Global Swarming gives new meaning to July 4th
It took many heroes to save the world in this movie, and some of them were unlikely heroes that ranged from the President of the United States to a delusional alcoholic crop duster living in a trailer with his kids in New Mexico. There were several relationship sub-plots and twists in the movie including the father who thought his son was a cable TV repairman when he was really an MIT graduate working as a satellite technician for the cable company. The aliens (both living and preserved) did not look cheesy. The simulated disaster footage lacked realism by today's standards but still got its point across. This was a story on a global scale - an extrememly ambitious undertaking - but I think they pulled it off!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
July 2nd 1996 .... Not A Good Day!!!!!
Set In 1996 July 2nd, Normal Citizens Face Their Worst Fears... Alien Invasion!!!! When 15 Mile Wide Spaceships Come To Attack All Over The World, The President Of America Takes Action!!!! This Fantastic Box Office Action Packed Smash Stars Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum & Bill Pullman. A Must See If You've Seen: The Day After Tommorow, Godzilla And Eight Legged Freaks.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Awesome, Action-Packed Movie
**I am 13, not 12, whatever my screen name says** I absolutely loved the movie. The visual effects were purely amazing, and an alien film that wasn't corny or so predictable is always good. Will Smith had a great preformance (as usual). It has good lessons about all people uniting against a common enemy, such as Isreal and Palestine, and eventual success against incredible odds. There is quite a bit of profanity and a lot of alcohol, but the violence is mostley explosions and missiles, and no blood (except blue alien blood during a surgery).
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
A Must See!!!
This is one of the funnest movie that I have ever seen! Nonestop action and fun is th way this movie rolls!
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
war of the worlds is better
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Kablooie!
This movie is lots of fun except for the scene with the strip club that's dumb.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 50% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 50% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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