American cinema offers perfect movies for all occasions, from Halloween to Mother’s Day. However, the most significant are those that reflect on the past, present, and future of the United States.
From “Top Gun” to “Hamilton,” there are diverse pictures spanning various genres that analyze the elements that have shaped US today, highlighting both its strengths and areas needing improvement.
Without further ado, check out this curated list of movies for your Fourth of July marathon, easily accessible on popular streaming services.
Top 10 movies to stream on the Fourth of July
Top Gun (1986)
The United States Navy has created an elite school for pilots to become experts in combat techniques. At the academy, better known as Top Gun, the best are trained to be both daring and composed, capable of keeping their cool in extreme situations and unfazed when breaking the sound barrier at the controls of an F-14. The young Maverick, famous for his reckless yet brilliant piloting style, arrives at the school.
Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, and others.
Available on Paramount+.
Independence Day (1996)
On the eve of July 4th, gigantic spacecrafts appear in the sky. The initial astonishment turns to terror as they attack the planet, launching destructive beams at the world’s major cities. The only hope for salvation lies in the hands of a few survivors who unite to plan a massive counterattack against the aliens before it’s too late.
Cast: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, and others.
Hamilton (2020)
The story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the often forgotten Founding Fathers of the United States, told as a musical. We witness his beginnings, rise to immense popularity as the first Secretary of the Treasury, and later, his family tragedy and downfall.
Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and more
Available on Disney+.
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Inspired by Ron Kovic’s autobiography, it tells the story of a young man who volunteers to go to war, convinced that defending his country is the best way to show his love for it. However, his convictions will change radically when he returns as a war veteran, confined to a wheelchair and treated in a dilapidated hospital.
Cast: Tom Cruise, Willem Dafoe, Kyra Sedgwick, Raymond J. Barry, and others.
Available on Netflix.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
David Aaronson, a poor Jewish boy, meets Max, another young man of Jewish origin determined to go far by any means necessary, in the suburbs of Manhattan. A strong friendship develops between them, and along with other friends, they form a gang that quickly prospers, eventually becoming significant mobsters during Prohibition.
Cast: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Tuesday Weld, William Forsythe, and others.
Available on Hulu.
Jaws (1975)
On the coast of a small town in the eastern United States, a massive great white shark attacks several people. Fearing the disastrous impact this could have on the tourism business, the mayor refuses to close the beaches or spread the news. However, a new shark attack claims the life of a swimmer. As terror grips everyone, a veteran shark hunter, an oceanographer, and the local police chief join forces to try to capture the shark.
Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, and others.
Available on Peacock.
The Patriot (2000)
Year 1776, during the War of Independence between the New England colonists and the troops of British King George III. In South Carolina, widower Benjamin Martin, a heroic soldier in France and India, refuses to fight to take care of his seven children. But the peaceful life of the Martin family is disrupted when Gabriel, the eldest son, enlists in the army.
Cast: Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, and more
Available on Fubo.
Back to the Future (1985)
The teenager Marty McFly is friends with Doc, a scientist whom everyone considers crazy. When Doc creates a time machine, an accidental mistake sends Marty to 1955, a year when his future parents had not yet met. After preventing their first meeting, he must ensure they meet and get married; otherwise, his existence will not be possible.
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Claudia Wells.
Available on Netflix.
The Purge (2013)
In a future dystopian society, the political regime known as the New Founding Fathers of America has implemented a cathartic measure in response to rampant violence and overcrowded prisons: the “annual purge,” during which any type of crime, including murder, can be committed without facing justice for one night each year. Violence erupts during those 12 hours, allowing individuals to vent their aggression.
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Rhys Wakefeild, and others
Available on Peacock.
Men in Black (1997)
For many years, aliens have lived on Earth, blending in with humans without anyone knowing. The Men in Black are special agents who belong to a highly secretive government unit tasked with monitoring aliens. Two of these agents, assigned to watch over aliens living in New York, discover a galactic terrorist planning to destroy humanity.
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D’Onofrio, and others.
Available on Peacock.