A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Best Films to Watch on the 4th of July

The Independence Day holiday is upon us; a time to celebrate what is widely considered to be the birth of America. This holiday is generally marked by cookouts, fireworks…and cinema. Through moving pictures, sounds, and music…the movies can capture that American spirit in a way that makes us proud of our country, and can bring back to life stories of the past that have forged the foundations of the land of the free. 

These movies can take on many shapes and forms. War pictures are a popular choice, as they tend to capitalize on American resilience against threats to democracy. Prime choices there may include the John Wayne-led THE LONGEST DAY (1962), Steven Spielberg’s tribute to the American solider in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998), Edward Zwick’s Civil War drama GLORY (1989), or the TOP GUN films. Alternate tales of American history are also a popular choice, like FORREST GUMP (1994). Family films are usually the go-to…with plenty of choices from classic Disney or modern Pixar. The best films to watch on the holiday weekend are the ones that the whole family can enjoy, capture the spirit of America, and offer something to learn. And that leads us to Reel Speak’s Top 10 Best Films for the 4^th of July. 

So let’s unfurl that flag…

10. AN AMERICAN TAIL (1986)

Animation legend Don Bluth helmed this animated musical adventure about a family of mice making their way to America. The film follows the tail (ha), of Fieval…who is separated from his family and must make his way alone to unfamiliar places. A sweet and innocent introduction to the immigrant story, one of America’s pillars. 

9. NATIONAL TREASURE (2004)

Nic Cage leads the way in this treasure hunt that doesn't have a lot to do with patriotism, but is saturated in American lore. The film is packed with history-book settings and objects: The Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin, Independence Hall...and much more. Not to mention Cage's patriotic character name of Benjamin Franklin Gates. 

8. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)

When Captain America made his comic-book debut in 1941, his cover art had the star-spangled man punching out Hitler…a cover that would rally the country together and make Cap an instant American icon. Prior to 2011, the character had appeared on the big and small screen before, but it was Joe Johnston’s pulpy take that would reboot his iconic status. Perfectly played by Chris Evans, THE FIRST AVENGER captures the essence of Steve Rogers, who lived and died through the American ideal. 

7. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

Before George Lucas created STAR WARS and Indiana Jones, he made this little film which captures the purest form of Americana. This coming-of-age classic, which stars Harrison Ford, Ron Howard, and Richard Dreyfuss…follows a group of teens on their last night of youth before heading off to college and adulthood. Set in pre-Vietnam 1960’s with classic rock n’ roll tracks and American muscle cars, GRAFFITI shows us the country as we wish to remember it, and wish it still was. 

6. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

A legend plays a legend here, with James Cagney playing composer George M. Cohan as he takes a trip to the White House to accept a special award; an event that triggers an extended flashback of his life. It’s a combination of patriotism and American history, and just as the title suggests…is packed with red-white-and-blue bravado. But deeper than that, its overall message of resiliency truly captures the spirit of its title.

 

5. THE PATRIOT (2000)

Mel Gibson plays an American colonist who gets caught up in the Revolutionary War when his family comes under fire. Directed by Roland Emmerich and backed by a wonderful John Williams score, THE PATRIOT may play it loose with history, but it’s beautiful cinematography, thrilling battle scenes, and emotional family drama makes it an entertaining watch. Its brutality may disqualify it as a family film, but it does have educational value. And in superhero-movie terms, this is the origin story of the American patriot. 

4. 1776 (1972)

Before Hamilton, there was 1776…which was also based on a Broadway production. This musical follows the Founding Fathers as they sing and dance their way to the founding of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Educational, entertaining, and a vital slice of U.S. history. Another film that played it loose with history, 1776 still gets the message across in a sweeping spectacle. 

3. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (1992)

There isn’t anything more American than baseball, and there isn’t anything more American than fighting for your rights. The late great Penny Marshall directed this gem, which is a fictionalized account of the real-life professional girls’ baseball league; formed to take the place of the Major Leagues when most their players went off to fight in WWII. The girls have their work cut out for them in proving they belong on the diamond, a fight that any American can relate to, and it also explores a country coming together at home during a time of war.  Tom Hanks and Geena Davis lead the ensemble cast that is as funny as it is emotional. 

2. JAWS (1975)

The original Summer blockbuster that made Steven Spielberg a household name in which a shark terrorizes a beach town. It doesn’t have any flag-waving or catchy patriotic tunes, but its time-setting of a 4^th of July weekend has made it a mandatory holiday viewing for more than one generation. But beyond that, it does capture the love we have for beaches and holiday weekends, and the presence of the shark threatens that…which makes the eventual sea-journey to destroy it and recapture our freedom all the more important. 

1. INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)

What better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a film that carries the name? Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi action film about a world-wide alien invasion was a blockbuster/sensation that everyone was talking about in 1996, and to this day it captures American patriotism perfectly; from rousing speeches, military might, and the will to keep fighting back no matter how dire things get…and David Arnold’s wonderful score sounds like it could have been composed by our Founding Fathers. Led by an ensemble cast which made alien-puncher Will Smith a movie star, ID4 promises fireworks…and delivers.

 

REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 BEST FILMS TO WATCH ON THE 4TH OF JULY 

1. INDEPENDENCE DAY 
2. JAWS
3. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN 
4. 1776
5. THE PATRIOT
6. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 
7. AMERICAN GRAFFITI 
8. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER 
9. NATIONAL TREASURE 
10. AN AMERICAN TAIL