TAGGED AS: films, Fourth of July, Holidays, July 4, movies, streaming
(Photo by Paramount Pictures)
The United States is celebrating its 247th birthday this July 4, and with the holiday falling on a Tuesday this year, you might find yourself with an extended weekend and some extra hours to discover a new movie or revisit an old favorite. To commemorate the holiday, we’re offering 47 titles that celebrate America, are set during the holiday, or highlight American heroes and stories of courage. Some will make you laugh, others will make you cry, some are fictional action-adventure tales, and others are dramatic stories of fortitude and triumph. Not all are Fresh on the Tomatometer, but at least score high with audiences as beloved popcorn-movie fare — looking at you National Treasure.
Read on to find out which films we recommend for your holiday weekend screen entertainment and tell us about your favorite Fourth of July viewing habits in the comments.
Click through to the “Where to Watch” section of each film’s page to find out where the movies are available by streaming subscription or to rent or buy.
#1
Adjusted Score: 75143%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#2
Adjusted Score: 82287%
Critics Consensus: This late-period Harrison Ford actioner is full of palpable, if not entirely seamless, thrills.
#3
Adjusted Score: 100383%
Critics Consensus: A taut, solidly acted paean to the benefits of a free press and the dangers of unchecked power, made all the more effective by its origins in real-life events.
#4
Adjusted Score: 93869%
Critics Consensus: A charming romantic comedy with political bite, Rob Reiner’s American President features strong lead performances and some poignant observations of politics and media in the 1990s.
#5
Adjusted Score: 79441%
Critics Consensus: Exquisitely animated, An American Tail is a sweet, melancholy, immigrants story.
#6
Adjusted Score: 101517%
Critics Consensus: In recreating the troubled space mission, Apollo 13 pulls no punches: it’s a masterfully told drama from director Ron Howard, bolstered by an ensemble of solid performances.
#7
Adjusted Score: 110870%
Critics Consensus: Tense, exciting, and often darkly comic, Argo recreates a historical event with vivid attention to detail and finely wrought characters.
#8
Adjusted Score: 51904%
Critics Consensus: Lovely to look at but about as intelligent as the asteroid that serves as the movie’s antagonist, Armageddon slickly sums up the cinematic legacies of producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay.
#9
Adjusted Score: 83436%
Critics Consensus: Though it’s light on character development and cultural empathy, Black Hawk Down is a visceral, pulse-pounding portrait of war, elevated by Ridley Scott’s superb technical skill.
#10
Adjusted Score: 88499%
Critics Consensus: Led by an unforgettable performance from Tom Cruise, Born on the Fourth of July finds director Oliver Stone tackling thought-provoking subject matter with ambitious élan.
#11
Adjusted Score: 90095%
Critics Consensus: With plenty of pulpy action, a pleasantly retro vibe, and a handful of fine performances, Captain America is solidly old-fashioned blockbuster entertainment.
#12
Adjusted Score: 76260%
Critics Consensus: Eddie Murphy was in full control at this point, starkly evident in Coming to America‘s John Landis’ coasting direction.
#13
Adjusted Score: 112297%
Critics Consensus: Fierce energy and ambition course through Da 5 Bloods, coming together to fuel one of Spike Lee’s most urgent and impactful films.
#14
Adjusted Score: 85811%
Critics Consensus: Honoring real-life history while delivering impactful drama, Devotion is a straightforward biopic elevated by standout performances from a talented cast.
#15
Adjusted Score: 80009%
Critics Consensus: Flags of Our Fathers is both a fascinating look at heroism, both earned and manufactured, and a well-filmed salute to the men who fought at the battle of Iwo Jima.
#16
Adjusted Score: 77364%
Critics Consensus: Forrest Gump may be an overly sentimental film with a somewhat problematic message, but its sweetness and charm are usually enough to approximate true depth and grace.
#17
Adjusted Score: 70599%
Critics Consensus: Gettysburg‘s reverent approach to history is balanced with the committed work of a talented cast – and the hard-hitting dramatization of a bloody turning point in the Civil War.
#18
Adjusted Score: 98669%
Critics Consensus: Bolstered by exceptional cinematography, powerful storytelling, and an Oscar-winning performance by Denzel Washington, Glory remains one of the finest Civil War movies ever made.
#19
Adjusted Score: 110744%
Critics Consensus: Look around, look around at how beautifully Hamilton shines beyond Broadway – and at how marvelously Thomas Kail captures the stage show’s infectious energy.
#20
Adjusted Score: 87091%
Critics Consensus: Harriet serves as a sincere tribute to a pivotal figure in American history — albeit one undermined by its frustratingly formulaic approach.
#21
Adjusted Score: 111421%
Critics Consensus: In heartwarming, crowd-pleasing fashion, Hidden Figures celebrates overlooked — and crucial — contributions from a pivotal moment in American history.
#22
Adjusted Score: 48937%
Critics Consensus: A by-the-numbers slasher that arrived a decade too late, the mostly tedious I Know What You Did Last Summer will likely only hook diehard fans of the genre.
#23
Adjusted Score: 72125%
Critics Consensus: The plot is thin and so is character development, but as a thrilling, spectacle-filled summer movie, Independence Day delivers.
#24
Adjusted Score: 102025%
Critics Consensus: A classic Tarantino genre-blending thrill ride, Inglourious Basterds is violent, unrestrained, and thoroughly entertaining.
#25
Adjusted Score: 105472%
Critics Consensus: Compelling, well-crafted storytelling and a judicious sense of terror ensure Steven Spielberg’s Jaws has remained a benchmark in the art of delivering modern blockbuster thrills.
#26
Adjusted Score: 86727%
Critics Consensus: Sentimental and light, but still thoroughly charming, A League of Their Own is buoyed by solid performances from a wonderful cast.
#27
Adjusted Score: 100609%
Critics Consensus: Daniel Day-Lewis characteristically delivers in this witty, dignified portrait that immerses the audience in its world and entertains even as it informs.
#28
Adjusted Score: 89806%
Critics Consensus: Live Free or Die Hard may be preposterous, but it’s an efficient, action-packed summer popcorn flick with thrilling stunts and a commanding performance by Bruce Willis. Fans of the previous Die Hard films will not be disappointed.
#29
Adjusted Score: 83624%
Critics Consensus: A true account of military courage and survival, Lone Survivor wields enough visceral power to mitigate its heavy-handed jingoism.
#30
Adjusted Score: 96041%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to a smart script, spectacular set pieces, and charismatic performances from its leads, Men in Black is an entirely satisfying summer blockbuster hit.
#31
Adjusted Score: 86566%
Critics Consensus: Kurt Russell’s performance guides this cliche-ridden tale into the realm of inspirational, nostalgic goodness.
#32
Adjusted Score: 106861%
Critics Consensus: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — and returns with an uplifting ode to idealism that distills the strengths of its director and leading man.
#33
Adjusted Score: 52080%
Critics Consensus: National Treasure is no treasure, but it’s a fun ride for those who can forgive its highly improbable plot.
#34
Adjusted Score: 47582%
Critics Consensus: Parents might call this either a spectacle-filled adventure or a shallow and vapid CG-fest, depending on whether they choose to embrace this on the same level as their kids.
#35
Adjusted Score: 66555%
Critics Consensus: The Patriot can be entertaining to watch, but it relies too much on formula and melodrama.
#36
Adjusted Score: 95998%
Critics Consensus: George C. Scott’s sympathetic, unflinching portrayal of the titular general in this sprawling epic is as definitive as any performance in the history of American biopics.
#37
Adjusted Score: 116776%
Critics Consensus: The Post‘s period setting belies its bitingly timely themes, brought compellingly to life by director Steven Spielberg and an outstanding ensemble cast.
#38
Adjusted Score: 99674%
Critics Consensus: The Right Stuff packs a lot of movie into its hefty running time, spinning a colorful, fact-based story out of consistently engaging characters in the midst of epochal events.
#39
Adjusted Score: 98594%
Critics Consensus: This story of a down-on-his-luck boxer is thoroughly predictable, but Sylvester Stallone’s script and stunning performance in the title role brush aside complaints.
#40
Adjusted Score: 69260%
Critics Consensus: It may be shamelessly derivative and overly nostalgic, but The Sandlot is nevertheless a genuinely sweet and funny coming-of-age adventure.
#41
Adjusted Score: 101216%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by another winning performance from Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg’s unflinchingly realistic war film virtually redefines the genre.
#42
Adjusted Score: 83871%
Critics Consensus: Team America will either offend you or leave you in stitches. It’ll probably do both.
#43
Adjusted Score: 64325%
Critics Consensus: Though it features some of the most memorable and electrifying aereial footage shot with an expert eye for action, Top Gun offers too little for non-adolescent viewers to chew on when its characters aren’t in the air.
#44
Adjusted Score: 118098%
Critics Consensus: Top Gun: Maverick pulls off a feat even trickier than a 4G inverted dive, delivering a long-belated sequel that surpasses its predecessor in wildly entertaining style.
#45
Adjusted Score: 71709%
Critics Consensus: Excellent cinematography and an interesting plot accompanied by a talented cast and crew make U-571 a tense thriller.
#46
Adjusted Score: 93101%
Critics Consensus: James Cagney deploys his musical gifts to galvanizing effect in Yankee Doodle Dandy, a celebration of patriotic fervor as much as it is a biopic of George M. Cohan.
#47
Adjusted Score: 103436%
Critics Consensus: Gripping, suspenseful, and brilliantly crafted, Zero Dark Thirty dramatizes the hunt for Osama bin Laden with intelligence and an eye for detail.