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Most of the country is already engaged in grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, and hosting family and friends while celebrating America’s independence on the Fourth of July.
While watching fireworks is always the best thing about the holiday, there are some choice movies that go right along with this celebratory day.
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Here is a look at the top five movies to watch on the Fourth of July.
5. Saving Private Ryan
There might be nothing more patriotic than taking in the Steven Spielberg Magnum Opus of “Saving Private Ryan.” The WWII film follows Tom Hanks as John H. Miller, a captain in the U.S. Army, who must lead his troops on D-Day.
Miller and his platoon not only survive the onslaught in Normandy, but they are tasked with the unthinkable. Miller and his group must save the life of Private James Ryan, whose brothers have been killed in action.
Miller must not go on a suicide mission to save Ryan from the same fate as his brothers.
4. The Patriot
There might not be a more heralded movie that covers America’s independence than the 2000 Mel Gibson classic, “The Patriot.”
In “The Patriot,” Gibson stars as Benjamin Martin, a war veteran from the French and Indian War, who must vote on a levy to support the Continental Army. After the British invade and take over Charleston, Martin must leap into action to save his son, Gabriel, and his entire family.
Colonel William Tavington kills Benjamin’s younger son, Thomas, leading to an all-out attack on the invading British. Martin is then pulled into the war, where he leads a militia that eventually overruns Lord Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown.
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3. Captain America: The First Avenger
One of the earlier entries in the grand Marvel Cinematic Universe is “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Starring Chris Evans as the titular hero, Steve Rogers, who undergoes an experimental “super soldier” serum, becoming the world’s first Avenger.
In the height of World War II, Johann Schmidt uncovers a weapon called the Tesseract and is keen on unlocking its ungodly powers. America is set on stopping the Nazi regime, and Rogers takes on the mantle of Captain America.
Captain America must now stop Schmidt, who has turned into the Red Skull due to using the super serum, which transformed him.
2. The Sandlot
20th Century Fox
“The Sandlot” was released in 1993, and still remains one of the greatest sports fils ever made, along with being one of the best Fourth of July movies.
“The Sandlot” follows the life of Scott “Scotty” Smalls, as he has moved to Los Angeles with his mother and new stepdad. Smalls runs into a group of friends that play neighborhood baseball, led up by Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez.
Smalls and the group get close, and “The Sandlot” contains one of the greatest Fourth of July moments, as the kids play baseball under the fireworks.
Benny hits a massive home run as the fireworks in the sky explode.
1. Independence Day
While the rest of the films on this list surely make sense, some might be scratching their heads on why a sci-fi film is considered to be one of the greatest Fourth of July films ever made.
It’s quite simple, as Bill Pullman’s speech as the President of the United States might be one of the greatest speeches in cinematic history.
One might say this speech could have been said by George Washington when the United States of America was fighting Britain for independence.
Pullman stars as President Thomas J. Whitmore, who takes command of an air base and delivers a massive speech to the awaiting fighters that are taking on an alien race that has invaded Earth.
“Independence Day” stars Will Smith as Captain Steven Hiller, Jeff Goldblum as David Levinson, and Bill Pullman as the president. When aliens invade the planet, their lives will become forever intertwined when they band together to protect the planet from sure destruction.
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