Will Smith’s ‘Independence Day’ Hits Streaming This June—Don’t Miss Out!

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It’s quite an understatement to claim that Will Smith has only been in a few action movies; his action movie repertoire spans from blockbusters like the Men in Black series, Bad Boys, and I, Robot, to less successful films such as I Am Legend, Hancock, After Earth, and David Ayer’s Suicide Squad. However, one of Smith’s most significant and impressive action movies, Independence Day, is set to arrive on streaming platforms next month, giving viewers a chance to rewatch it before the Independence Day holiday.

The film titled Independence Day, known for its release in 1996, will grace our screens once more on June 1st. Directed by the legendary Roland Emmerich, who co-wrote the script with Dean Devlin, this movie is a staple of the disaster genre. The talented ensemble cast, led by Will Smith, also featured Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Randy Quaid, and Robert Loggia. Independence Day was an unprecedented success upon its release in 1996, earning a staggering $817.4 million globally on a budget of just $75 million.

If you’re among the ten folks who haven’t watched the ’90s sci-fi action movie, “Independence Day,” it tells the story of humanity’s struggle against an extraterrestrial threat. In this film, Will Smith played Captain Steven Hiller, a skilled fighter pilot who teamed up with scientist David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) and the U.S. authorities in a bid to overpower the advanced alien invaders. “Independence Day” is renowned for its action-packed sequences, skillfully combining computer-generated imagery with remarkable prosthetics, costumes, and miniature effects. The characters’ emotional arcs are unexpectedly moving, and the movie is famously known for setting the joke that aliens only seem interested in the U.S., as it showcases one of the most iconic scenes of The White House getting destroyed on screen.

Why Will Smith Turned Down ‘Independence Day: Resurgence

Just like many blockbusters from the pre-millennium era that have been milked for profit, Hollywood attempted to turn Independence Day into a lucrative franchise. In 2016, 20th Century Studios brought us Independence Day: Resurgence, with Roland Emmerich returning as director and Jeff Goldblum reprising his role as David Levinson. However, one significant figure was missing – Will Smith didn’t reprise his role as Steven Hiller. Instead, the lead from The Boys, Jessie T. Usher, portrayed his son, Dylan Hiller.

As I eagerly awaited the premiere, I found myself fielding questions about Will Smith’s absence in our upcoming sequel. Rumors swirled that the beloved Fresh Prince was demanding too high a price to rejoin us for this new adventure. In an interview with Deadline, I clarified the situation: “Unfortunately, Will Smith cannot return as he comes at a steep cost.” However, I also shared my concerns about his star power potentially overshadowing our narrative and the fresh faces in our cast. “He’s such a draw that it might overpower our story and characters,” I said, expressing that balance is key to our film’s success.

In the movie, Steven Hiller’s demise wasn’t portrayed on-screen. Instead, his character is revealed to have perished during a test flight of an experimental aircraft, as detailed in the spin-off novel “Independence Day: Crucible” by Greg Keyes. It’s fortunate that Will Smith didn’t reprise his role for “Independence Day: Resurgence,” as it was met with negative feedback from both audiences and critics when it premiered in 2016, garnering a low score of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.

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2025-05-19 15:32