Few blockbusters manage to stay in the cultural bloodstream, but Independence Day refuses to fade. It keeps detonating like cinematic fireworks: loud, over-the-top, and impossible to tune out. With nostalgia running high and streaming platforms pushing marathons, Bill Pullman’s presidential pep talk has stormed back into living rooms and watchlists alike. Because America’s alien-fighting POTUS still knows how to steal the vote.

While nostalgia lights up timelines, Rotten Tomatoes is serving the tea. Turns out one sequel crashed harder than a UFO over Area 51.

The buzz around Bill Pullman’s Independence Day is simple: the internet cannot get enough of it this Fourth of July. Streaming marathons, nostalgic rewatches, and viral clips have propelled the 1996 blockbuster back into the spotlight. Rotten Tomatoes scores are fueling debates, with the original’s solid 68% critics’ score and 75% audience approval standing tall against its sequel’s flop-worthy 29% and 30%. Pullman’s powerful speech has become the season’s meme-fueled anthem, proving patriotism thrives in pixels, too.

Bill Pullman’s now-iconic speech has transcended cinema to become internet shorthand for standing your ground. From TikToks layering it over workplace rants to GIFs surfacing in political threads, it is a cultural boomerang that keeps returning. The original film’s $817 million box office and Oscar-winning effects only add to its legacy, while fans continue to roast Independence Day: Resurgence as the sequel that fought for its right to flop. Clearly, some classics are untouchable.

5 Best 4th of July Movies on Netflix to Watch This Independence Day

While Bill Pullman rallies the internet troops, Netflix’s treasure trove is busy turning patriotism into a binge-worthy buffet, less aliens, more emotional damage (in a good way).

If Independence Day is the main course, Netflix has laid out a side dish buffet. Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods (2020) delivers a bittersweet bite of patriotism as Vietnam vets chase memories and gold. Meanwhile, Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022) serves animated nostalgia from the era of moon dreams and transistor radios. These films prove patriotism is not just about flags; it can be heartfelt, messy, and occasionally animated. No alien mothership required.

For those craving their summer sizzle with swords instead of spaceships, The Old Guard 2 (2025) is stepping up. Charlize Theron’s immortal squad is back to save humanity, one high-stakes battle at a time. Perfectly timed for Fourth of July bingeing, this sequel is Netflix’s answer to fireworks: loud, thrilling, and impossible to look away from. Think Independence Day energy, but with axes, ancient grudges, and no Will Smith in sight.

'The Old Guard 2' on Netflix: Cast, Plot, Trailer, Release Date and More to Know About Uma Thurman’s Return

What are your thoughts on Independence Day’s cinematic glow-up and Netflix’s red, white, and binge-worthy lineup? Let us know in the comments below.