Patriotic Movies Perfect for Your July 4th Viewing (2024)

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In case you needed another excuse to stream this mega-hit Broadway production, consider Independence Day the perfect reason. A recorded version of the Tony-winning musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton, this is a great option for July 4th that the whole family will love.

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Flyboys in the Navy's Elite Fighter Weapons School compete for the top spot in the class (not to mention some shirtless volleyball) in this classic Tom Cruise film. We defy you not hum along to "danger Zone."

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While you're at it, make that a double feature by digging into the 2022 Academy Award winning sequel, that features an older Maverick returning to train a group of young fighter pilots for a death-defying mission, and confronting his own past along the way.

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Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe form an inspiring team of mathematicians working for NASA in this 2017 film. Set in the 1960s, Hidden Figures tells the intersectional tale of these three Black women and how they helped land the first man on the moon.

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This 11-time Oscar nominated film is an excellent choice for those that love a bit of political drama. A young entrepreneur is suddenly appointed to the United States Senate and quickly learns how to stand up for himself and his strongly-held views. A classic about democracy in action and how it so crucially affects the lives of everyday Americans.

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Is there anything more American than baseball, barbecues, and backyard pool parties? This classic is perfect to watch any time during the summer but the annual Fourth of July baseball game this team participates in is about as All-American as it gets.

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Take a hilarious and heart-wrenching tour through the late 20th century along with Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) as he traverses some of the most famous moments of a generation and meets some of modern history's most famous figures; from teaching Elvis to dance and sitting in an interview with John Lennon, to fighting in the Vietnam War and accidentally inventing the smiley face symbol.

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Considered by many to be the original summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg's famous creature feature has just as much impact on a sunny July day now as it did when it debuted in 1975. We dare you to watch through this tale of the deadly shark prowling the waters of a New England island at the Fourth of July and not feel your heart race as the iconic soundtrack kicks in.

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Get lunar this Fourth with this compelling historical drama that tells the tale of the 1970 Apollo 13 astronauts as they struggled to survive and return to Earth after a malfunction endangers their mission.

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While celebrating freedom and liberty on Independence Day, it’s important to remember that those freedoms didn’t apply to all when America became its own nation. Harriet tells the incredible story of abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s escape and how she led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

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Before there was Hamilton, this 1972 film gave musical lovers their founding fathers fix with a melodic retelling of America's first Independence Day—complete with catchy tunes.

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Who doesn't love a good baseball movie? With empowered women at the center of this story, it's one we can definitely stand behind. With most major leaguers off to fight in World War II, an all-female baseball league forms in the Midwest. With Tom Hanks as a down-on-his-luck coach and greats like Geena Davis and Madonna sweeping the bases, this is a fun one to watch with the important women in your life.

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For those who can't decide between a rom-com and a political drama, this snappy 1995 charmer by director Rob Reiner and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin is an ideal compromise. In it, Michael Douglas's President Andrew Shepherd has to navigate both the romantic and political travails of falling in love with lobbyist Sidney Wade (Annette Bening) in the lead up to his bid for re-election.

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The typically joyful festivities that take place on this national holiday take a turn for the worse when alien forces begin to seize major cities in the U.S. You get to watch the capitol building go up in flames and cheer as Will Smith punches an alien in the face. In other words, good clean, jingoistic fun.

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This 2012 film from Steven Spielberg is an obviously patriotic choice. Daniel Day-Lewis takes the role of President Abraham Lincoln and shares the screen with costars Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, and Tommy Lee Jones. Set during the Civil War, the plot follows Lincoln through the creation of the 13th Amendment.

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In Steven Spielberg's first animated film, a family of rodents face some unforeseen challenges as they make their way to America. A young mouse gets separated from his parents and must make his way in an unfamiliar place. A sweet introduction to the immigrant story for children—and anyone who needs a refresher on how this country became great in the first place.

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Captain America has become a staple of American cinema in recent years, but for maximum patriotic glory (and a hilariously star-spangled musical number) you have to travel back to Chris Evan's first turn as Steve Rogers. As the scrawny civilian transforms into a super soldier to fight in WWII, he serves as a reminder to us all that it's not strength that makes America powerful, but the strength of the American spirit.

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Feel like a good cry? This Academy Award-winning drama about a group of solider who goes behind enemy lines on D-Day to track down a soldier whose brothers have all been killed in combat is just what you need.

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You probably remember when the news of Osama bin Laden’s assassination broke, and now you can watch the film that pays tribute to how it all happened. Zero Dark Thirty depicts the U.S. intelligence officers and Navy SEALS on their decade-long quest to track down terrorist Osama bin Laden following the September 11th attacks. Jessica Chastain stars as Maya, who plays a key role in the mission’s eventual success.

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If you're looking for something that's celebratory and nostalgic, then this is your pick. In this melodious throwback, a traveling con man who's in need of money persuades River City natives to purchase instruments and uniforms from him and start a band. Getting out of town proves to be more challenging than he thought when he starts to fall for one of the locals.