1 of 4 | Bruce Willis returns as John McClane in the film “Live Free or Die Hard.” File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Live Free or Die Hard, Independence Day and other blockbuster and family favorite films take place against the backdrop of Fourth of July.
The U.S. holiday celebrating American independence will take place Saturday this year.
Those looking for some entertainment after the weekend’s barbecues and family gatherings can watch these five movies set on Fourth of July.
‘Live Free or Die Hard’
The 2007 action thriller is the fourth film in the Die Hard franchise starring Bruce Willis as NYPD Detective John McClane.
Directed by Len Wiseman (Underworld), the movie follows McClane and computer hacker Matt Farrell (Justin Long) as they contend with cyberterrorist Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) during Fourth of July weekend.
Also joining the fray is McClane’s daughter, Lucy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and Gabriel’s lover and partner-in-crime, Mai (Maggie Q).
Live Free or Die Hard is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
‘Independence Day’
Taking its name from the holiday itself is the 1996 sci-fi action film starring Will Smith as Marine Corps pilot Steven Hiller.
Bill Pullman also stars as Thomas J. Whitmore, a fictional U.S. president who calls upon Hiller to help combat an alien invasion on Fourth of July. Other cast members include Jeff Goldblum, Marry McDonnell and Randy Quaid.
Independence Day is directed by Roland Emmerich (The Patriot, The Day After Tomorrow), who co-wrote the script with Dean Devlin. The film is available to stream on Hulu, Disney+ and AMC+.
‘The Sandlot’
The beloved 1993 family sports comedy follows Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) and a group of other young boys as they bond over baseball in the summer of 1962.
Featuring an iconic scene set against a backdrop of fireworks on Fourth of July, the movie captures the spirit of Americana and a nostalgia for summers past.
Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncy Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Quintin Adams, Grant Gelt, Victor DiMattia and Shane Obedzinski also star in the film directed by David Mickey Evans.
The Sandlot is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
‘Jaws’
The 1975 thriller based on the Peter Benchley novel and directed by Steven Spielberg is considered by many to be the first summer blockbuster.
Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw star as a trio of men who contend with a man-eating great white shark as tourists flood the fictional New England beach town of Amity Island over Fourth of July weekend.
Jaws was re-released in theaters in 2025 in honor of its 50th anniversary. National Geographic also aired the documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story to mark the milestone.
Jaws is available to stream on Hulu, Prime Video and Starz.
‘1776’
The 1972 historical drama adapts the Broadway musical of the same name, featuring a book by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards.
Taking place in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, the film dramatizes the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4 of that year.
The cast includes William Daniels as John Adams, David Ford as John Hancock, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson, Ron Holgate as Richard Henry Lee and Howard da Silva as Benjamin Franklin.
1776 is available to stream on YouTube and Tubi.
