In honor of the sci-fi blockbuster’s 30th anniversary, THR checks in on the all-star cast, including Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and Vivica A. Fox. When Independence Day arrived in theaters on July 3, 1996, it looked like the ultimate summer blockbuster: dazzling visual effects, unforgettable set pieces, and one of the most crowd-pleasing presidential speeches ever committed to film.

Independence Day follows an unlikely group of heroes who must unite after an alien invasion threatens to wipe out humanity. It also did something Hollywood blockbusters rarely do anymore. It helped turn Will Smith into one of the biggest movie stars in the world while quietly marking the beginning of an era in which franchises became Hollywood's biggest attraction.

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