The Fourth of July is usually associated with barbecues and fireworks, but there’s also some perfect movie-watching options to celebrate the holiday.
From action to horror to comedy, there’s something for everyone as the country celebrates its 250th birthday.
Here’s some of our favorites below!
Independence Day
The movie celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and is one of the best blockbuster films of all-time. You’ll feel some serious patriotic pride when you hear its famous speech or watch Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith swagger back to Earth after kicking some alien butt.
Jaws
It’s a beach film. It’s a horror film. It’s a beach film AND a horror film all in one! And it takes place, in part, over the Fourth of July weekend. (Which wouldn’t have been an issue if they HAD CLOSED THE BEACHES.) “Jaws” is one of Steven Spielberg’s best, becoming so memorable, some people are still afraid to go into the water after watching it.
The Sandlot
Baseball is America’s past time, and “The Sandlot” captures the wonder of the game with the wonder of childhood and growing up. The kid cast is perfection, delivering iconic lines many a millennial can quote to this day (“You’re killing me, Smalls!) and feeling relatable as they spend a summer rounding the bases of the titular sandlot and life.
National Treasure
“I’m gonna steal the Declaration of Independence.” What more can you say about this Nicolas Cage-starring action-adventure flick that takes viewers through some of U.S. history’s greatest hits. (But we wouldn’t recommend it as a study guide for summer school.) It’s fun, a little silly, and a solid large-scale mystery that goes all the way to the top!
All the President’s Men
Speaking of mysteries and conspiracies, “All the President’s Men” remains a thrilling time capsule of the Watergate scandal and America in the 1970s, as Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover a shocking scandal that will take down a presidency.
Hamilton
Following in the footsteps of the musical “1776,” “Hamilton” tells the story of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton specifically through song. But thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s knack for lyrics and beats, “Hamilton” is a fresh take on the genre that has become part of pop culture and an ode to what makes the country great.
Forrest Gump
“Forrest Gump” is an optimistic look back on history through the eyes of its protagonist, a slightly disadvantaged but kind-hearted everyman. Forrest’s proximity to historical moments is a combination of a lot of coincidence and the proof that sometimes, the right person is in the right place at the right time.
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