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Best 4th of July Movies

Bruce Willis in ‘Live Free or Die Hard’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

It’s the 4th of July!

Once you are done with your barbecue and fireworks, there is no better way to celebrate than by relaxing and watching a movie with your friends and family.

Moviefone has compiled a list of the best films to watch on the 4th of July which includes movies that take place on or around Independence Day, or just celebrate the United States growth and history as a country.

Let’s begin!

20. ‘Days of Thunder‘ (1990)

Tom Cruise in ‘Days of Thunder’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Talented but unproven stock car driver Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) gets a break and with the guidance of veteran Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) turns heads on the track. The young hotshot develops a rivalry with a fellow racer (Michael Rooker) that threatens his career when the two smash their cars. But with the help of his doctor (Nicole Kidman), Cole just might overcome his injuries– and his fear.
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19. ‘Patriot Games‘ (1992)

When CIA Analyst Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets Jack and his family as revenge.
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18. ‘Apollo 13‘ (1995)

The true story of technical troubles that scuttle the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970, risking the lives of astronaut Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) and his crew, with the failed journey turning into a thrilling saga of heroism. Drifting more than 200,000 miles from Earth, the astronauts work furiously with the ground crew to avert tragedy.
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17. ‘The American President‘ (1995)

Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), one of the world’s most powerful men, can have anything he wants — and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd’s attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.
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16. ‘Harriet‘ (2019)

The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s (Cynthia Erivo) escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.
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15. ‘Civil War‘ (2024)

Kirsten Dunst in ‘Civil War.’ Photo: A24.

In the near future, a group of war journalists attempt to survive while reporting the truth as the United States stands on the brink of civil war.
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14. ‘Dances with Wolves‘ (1990)

Wounded Civil War soldier, John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he’s assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.
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13. ‘Glory‘ (1989)

Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broaderick) leads the US Civil War’s first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates.
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12. ‘A League of Their Own‘ (1992)

As America’s stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up in the Midwest, funded by publicity-hungry candy maker Walter Harvey (Garry Marshall). Competitive sisters Dottie Hinson (Genna Davis) and Kit Keller (Lori Petty) spar with each other, scout Ernie Capadino (Jon Lovitz) and grumpy has-been coach Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) on their way to fame.
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11. ‘Lincoln‘ (2012)

The revealing story of the 16th US President’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.
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10. ‘Captain America: Brave New World‘ (2025)

Captain America/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios’ ‘Captain America: Brave New World’. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel.

After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
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9. ‘Born on the Fourth of July‘ (1989)

The biography of Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise). Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.
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8. ‘Forrest Gump‘ (1994)

A man with a low IQ (Tom Hanks) has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love (Robin Wright) eludes him.
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7. ‘Hamilton‘ (2020)

Presenting the tale of American founding father Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda), this filmed version of the original Broadway smash hit is the story of America then, told by America now.
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6. ‘Jaws‘ (1975)

When an insatiable great white shark terrorizes the townspeople of Amity Island, the police chief (Roy Scheider), an oceanographer (Richard Dreyfuss) and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) seek to destroy the blood-thirsty beast.
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5. ‘Live Free or Die Hard‘ (2007)

Bruce Willis in ‘Live Free or Die Hard’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back and badder than ever, and this time he’s working for Homeland Security. He calls on the services of a young hacker in his bid to stop a ring of Internet terrorists intent on taking control of America’s computer infrastructure.
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4. ‘National Treasure‘ (2004)

Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage), search for a chest of riches rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin during the Revolutionary War. The chest’s whereabouts may lie in secret clues embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and Gates is in a race to find the gold before his enemies do.
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3. ‘Top Gun: Maverick‘ (2022)

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.” Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.
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2. ‘Independence Day‘ (1996)

On July 2, a giant alien mothership enters orbit around Earth and deploys several dozen saucer-shaped ‘destroyer’ spacecraft that quickly lay waste to major cities around the planet. On July 3, the United States conducts a coordinated counterattack that fails. On July 4, a plan is devised to gain access to the interior of the alien mothership in space, in order to plant a nuclear missile. The movie stars Jeff Goldblum, Will Smith, and Bill Pullman.
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1. ‘Saving Private Ryan‘ (1998)

Matt Damon in ‘Saving Private Ryan’. Photo: DreamWorks Pictures.

As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth (Matt Damon) trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) and seven men (Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Jeremy Davies, Vin Diesel, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper and Giovanni Ribisi) are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.
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July 4, 2025
7 Reasons You Should Watch the 2017 Oscars

February 20, 2017
‘Hidden Figures’ to Host Free Screenings This Weekend for Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, Best Picture nominee “Hidden Figures” will get a series of free screenings this weekend in several major markets nationwide.

The screenings, a joint venture from studio Fox and theater chain AMC, will take place in 14 cities on Saturday, February 18, in an effort both to recognize February’s celebration of Black History month, as well as make the film available to larger groups of people. In addition to the free screenings, Fox and AMC are also inviting school and community groups and non-profit organizations to apply to host their own screenings of the film, which will also be free.

“As we celebrate Black History Month and look ahead to Women’s History Month in March, this story of empowerment and perseverance is more relevant than ever,” said Liba Rubenstein, 21st Century Fox’s senior vice president of social impact, in a statement. “We at 21CF were inspired by the grassroots movement to bring this film to audiences that wouldn’t otherwise be able to see it — audiences that might include future innovators and barrier-breakers — and we wanted to support and extend that movement.”

“Hidden Figures” stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer (nominated for Best Supporting Actress at this month’s Oscars), and Janelle Monáe as three black female NASA mathematicians who worked tirelessly behind the scenes — and almost entirely unrecognized — to help launch the United States space program in the 1960s. The film has already become the highest-grossing flick among this year’s class of Best Picture nominees, raking in $144 million and counting at the domestic box office.

For this weekend’s screening locations and to reserve tickets, visit AMC’s website. To request a screening in your community, visit Fox’s website.

[via: Variety]

February 14, 2017
What the Oscars 2017 Nominees Revealed to Made in Hollywood

They never dared to even think about getting an Oscar. But the stars, filmmakers and musicians who heard their names announced Tuesday as Oscars 2017 nominees all knew deep down they were onto something special with their films. Over the last year, these Academy Award-caliber artists revealed the behind-the-screen details to Made in Hollywood. Here are the highlights.

Denzel Washington, Fences

Nominated for Best Actor, Denzel Washington also directed the adaptation of the August Wilson play, which costarred Best Supporting Actress nominee Viola Davis. It was material Washington and Davis knew well, both having appeared in the play on Broadway.

“August Wilson wrote a masterpiece that touches you wherever you’re vulnerable spot is,” Washington tells Made in Hollywood reporter Patrick Stinson. “For some you’re the son in that play, in that movie. For some you’re the father. For some you’re the wife. For some, you’re the daughter. There’s something there for everyone. We’ve all seen something like this in our live and had to deal with it.”

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, La La Land

To recapture the magic of Hollywood’s classic musicals, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone had to hone their dancing and singing skills along with the acting chops that earned them Best Actor and Actress nods. “La La Land” tied a record with 14 nominations, and the stars credit Oscar-nominated director Damien Chazelle.

“He really wanted to make a film that you wanted to go to theater to see and not just watch on your iPhone,” Gosling tells Made in Hollywood reporter Julie Harkness Arnold. “When I read this, I thought he really has a shot at making something like what he was talking about the night that I met him. Then I heard the music. Then it was an opportunity to work with Emma again. It all just sort of started snowballing.”

Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

“Hidden Figures” was more than a movie, it was history revealed. The story of three brilliant African-American women whose work for NASA helped made America’s space program soar, “Hidden Figures” earned nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress for Octavia Spencer.

“You have three unsung heroes, and if you look at all of the archival footage from NASA you never would have known that women were directly involved,” Spencer tells Made in Hollywood reporter Kylie Erica Mar. “For me, I don’t want another day to go by when people don’t utter the names Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson.”

Mel Gibson and Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

“Hacksaw Ridge” marks a comeback film for Best Director nominee Mel Gibson and delivers a first-time Best Actor nomination for Andrew Garfield. Also nominated for Best Picture, the movie tells the story of a conscientious objector thrown into battle during World War II.

“He believed in something greater than himself, and he was willing to sacrifice his own life for his brothers, and this is the greatest act of love anyone can do,” says Gibson. “In the midst of hell, where most men are becoming animals, he was honing this aspect of himself and doing glorious things, and saving lives. He was life-affirming in the midst of death. It’s kind of a cool story.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Moana

The creator of the Broadway sensation “Hamilton” is one step closer to earning the acclaimed “EGOT” — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony. He’s already got the “E,” “G” and “T.” Now Lin-Manuel Miranda just needs the “O” following his nomination for Best Original Song for “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana,” the story of a heroic young girl that resonated with Miranda.

“I think the thing I share with Moana, the character, is that I feel like I had a voice in me being like: I want to make stuff,” he says. “I didn’t know whether it was cartoons or movies or musicals. But I wanted to make stuff. And when you’re 16 the gulf between what you want to do and where you are feels impossible. And I feel like Moana is in the same place at the start of the movie.”
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January 24, 2017
Why Hidden Figures Script Immediately Added Up for Kevin Costner, Jim Parsons

Why Hidden Figures Immediately Added Up for Kevin Costner, Jim Parsons

“Hidden Figures” has charmed audiences and critics. And from the very beginning, the stars also sensed something special about this story that history had overlooked.

“When we see a movie for the first time, we see it in its rawest form. We see it on pages. It’s not realized the way you see it,” Kevin Costner tells Made in Hollywood reporter Kylie Erica Mar. “So we have to imagine what this could be.”

Kevin Costner Plays a NASA Manager in Hidden Figures

Set at the dawn of the American space program, “Hidden Figures” follows three brilliant African-American women — played by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae — who provide important mathematical data to make the first space launches successes.

Costner plays a gum-smacking, crew-cutted NASA project manager dealing with the mounting racial tensions within his ranks.

“It’s very difficult to predict what a hit will be, but it’s not hard to know what a good movie is,” says Costner. “And so the satisfaction in ‘Hidden Figures’ … is that we know this movie will be a movie that is very easy for people to watch and view and pass down 25 years from now.”

Jim Parsons, who plays Costner’s increasingly overlooked pet employee, saw the film’s potential as soon as he read the script.

“You never know once it gets through everybody’s hands what’s going to come out at the other end,” he says. “There was no denying this had all the makings of a very surprising story. Not just because it was actual history that everyone didn’t know, but the way it unfolds, the way it’s being told, it just has a certain feel to it. You know this could really be something.”

Both credit director/co-screenwriter Theodore Melfi. “It was everything it seemed like it was going to be and a little bit more,” says Parsons. “It really was. He is such a good storyteller, Ted is, and he was so clear about it.”
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January 17, 2017
Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae on NASA’s Heroic Hidden Figures

Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monae from Hidden Figures

Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae Celebrate NASA’s Hidden Figures

They helped win America’s space race, only to be forgotten by history — until now.

In “Hidden Figures,” Janelle Monae, Octavia Spencer and Taraji P. Henson play three African-American women who provided NASA with important mathematical data to launch the first successful space missions.

“You have three unsung heroes, and if you look at all of the archival footage from NASA you never would have known that women were directly involved,” Spencer tells Made in Hollywood reporter Kylie Erica Mar. “For me, I don’t want another day to go by when people don’t utter the names Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson.”

Adds Henson: “It’s a very important piece of history that’s missing that urgently needs to be reinstated in our veins to change the course of where we’re headed. If not, we’re going to have dig ourselves out of a hole again.”

Although a story from history, this is no musty tale from the books, but a tale full of emotion and humanity, the actresses say.

“These women just prove that you’re dream is valid, no matter what the circumstances may be, no matter if someone else tries to use race or gender to stop you,” says Monae. “You can beat those odds. You can persevere. That’s the great thing about ‘Hidden Figures.’ It’s hopeful. Of course, yes, they went through many obstacles. Because of the historical circumstances we’re just hearing about them. It just proves that no matter where you are in your life, you have a fair shot and an opportunity, if you fight it, you can come out on top, just like these women did.”

And do it with dignity and grace. “The greatest example that they set is: Don’t harp on how bad it is,” says Henson. “That’s life. How can you change it? How do you make it better? When I met with the beautiful Miss Katherine Johnson, she’s like I just went to work. I was just doing my job. Her humility blew me away. She’s a living hero. She’s a superhero.”
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January 6, 2017