Independence Day (1996) remains one of the most popular alien invasion and disaster films of all time. On Netflix, sci-fi movie was recently one of the one of the 10 most popular movies with audiences 30 years after its release. This resurgence in popularity could be due to the convergence of the film's anniversary with the 250th anniversary of the United States. However, Independence Day's lasting popularity can also be attributed to the film's star-studded cast, the impressive disaster set pieces, and its message of hope and unity against impossible odds.

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) fell short of expectations due to an overcrowded plot, but, Independence Day's lasting popularity makes one thing clear: another sequel could still be viable. Another project in the Independence Day universe could still work, especially if they embraced a different format to allow the story to thrive.

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Independence Day Was a Perfect Summer Blockbuster

Independence Day first premiered on July 3, 1996 in the United States and has become a staple of July 4th viewing ever since. While the film was not Roland Emmerich first foray into science fiction, Independence Day was the first of Emmerich many disaster films seeking to capture the same magic, such as The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and Moonfall (2022). The image of the alien ship destroying the White House remains one of the most iconic images of the film. What truly grounds Independence Day is not the special effects of mass destruction, though. Instead, it is the interwoven human tales of people trying to survive in the wake of the aliens' attacks.

From David Levinson's desperate attempts to warn the world about the incoming aliens to Jasmine Dubrow's attempts to save other people after sheltering in a tunnel alcove with her son Dylan, fans become immersed in their stories and root for their success. Also, the film shows the defeat of the aliens as a group effort, with ragtag teams around the world rallying together to rid the Earth of the threat once and for all. The amazing cast also helps sell the story of resilience and survival. From Will Smith as Captain Steve Hiller fighting the aliens to Bill Pullman's turn as President Thomas Whitmore with one of the most iconic speeches in a disaster film, the actors truly sold the film and cemented its popularity for decades to come.

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) Bit Off More Than It Could Chew

Indepedence Day's popularity meant that a sequel was inevitable. The actual sequel was not made until 20 years later and was a financial disappointment that failed to live up to the original film. Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) takes place in a world where humanity has used the technology from the alien vessels to improve their own technology and to prepare for a future invasion. While many members of the original cast returned, the film suffered from a lack of Will Smith. In an ensemble cast, Will Smith shone as the breakout star of Independence Day.

In an interview with Yahoo, Roland Emmerich stated, "I should have stopped making the movie because we had a much better script, then I had to really fast, cobble another script together [...] I should have just said no because all of a sudden I was making something I criticized myself: a sequel."

However, the lack of Will Smith was not the true death knell for the film. Instead, the filmmakers tried to cram too much plot into the film. With all of the lore dumping about the aliens and their plans, the human element became more lost as fans were unable to feel the same connections with the characters as in the original movie. If the story had been given more room to breathe, potentially in a different format.

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A New Independence Day Sequel Could Work Better as a Television Series

An alien ship blows up the White House in Independence Day 1996

The pitfalls of Independence Day: Resurgence could have been avoided if it had been imagined as a television series instead of a movie. The television series format would give the characters more time to develop and the audience more time to become invested in their stories. Also, instead of the information about the aliens feeling like a lore dump, it could instead be interwoven more organically into the plot, making the eventual resurgence of the alien threat even more climactic.

The television format could still work for a future sequel to the original Independence Day. This strategy has been used effectively for other franchises, like Star Wars. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) were both vastly improved by the creation of Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series. The animated series allowed fans to see a more detailed and nuanced account of the Clone Wars, explaining important plot points with more depth and making the death of the Jedi in Order 66 far more devastating.

An Independence Day television series could better capture the human element that made the original film so memorable. It could further rehabilitate Independence Day: Resurgence by offering more insight into the characters and allowing viewers to become more invested in the series. Regardless of whether another project ever gets made in the Independence Day franchise, the original film remains a classic of the science fiction disaster and alien invasion genres that remains resonant with viewers to this day.