Independence Day (1996) - Parents Guide Movie Rating

MPA: PG-13 BBFC: 12 Maturity Rating 13+

MPAA Reason: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi destruction and violence.

BBFC Reason: sustained moderate threat, violence

BBFC Ratings info: INDEPENDENCE DAY is a US sci-fi action film, from 1996, about an alien invasion. Threat: Sustained moderate threat across several scenes in which aliens attack Earth. People panic, screaming and running through the streets, while famous landmarks are destroyed and there are large explosions. Violence: Several moments of moderate violence, including multiple planes being shot down, with brief sight of a pilot surrounded by flames. There is also sight of an alien being shot and sight of the hero punching an alien's face. Milder violence includes aerial dogfights in which spaceships fire laser beams at each other. Further issues include some mild verbal sex references (including teenagers agreeing that it is acceptable to die a virgin) and brief sight of a woman performing in a poledancing club, but without nudity. There is use of mild bad language, including the terms 'shit', 'bitch', 'bastard' and 'asshole'. There are also some emotional moments as several characters die.

Sex & Nudity

mild

no sex or nudity throughout the film. Girl and boy seen making out in truck. Two adults wake up in bed together. No nudity. A stripper is seen dancing in a bra and thong.

Violence & Gore

moderate

A plane and its inhabitants are caught in a cloud of gas and fire, where all are killed in the ensuing explosion. A few aerial fight scenes; an alien attacks human beings a few times, killing some. Alien beams are fired at several helicopters, with their inhabitants onboard, and erupt into flames. The wreckage falls from the sky to the ground below in ruins. The alien ships fire large beams of energy on several famous landmarks and cities (Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington D.C.) which shows massive destruction on a large scale. People are incinerated (not directly shown), vehicles are thrown through buildings and are heavily smashed and crushed by falling objects. Buildings are blown to pieces, including the ESB, the White House, the Congress Building, etc. Structures are ripped to shreds by clouds of gas and fire. Very intense and very disturbing For all of the death and destruction, there is very little blood and only a few dead bodies are seen. A large scale aerial battle occurs between the humans and aliens each with aircraft of their own kind, that are shot down, burned, damaged or blown up (especially the human's defense). Many people die in this sequence. Very intense. An alien creature awakens from unconsciousness while surgeons are performing autopsy on it, and apparently kills several of the surgeons. Very intense scene. Several guards open gunfire on an alien creature with several blows, including a couple to the head of the deity, which screams in pain. A second aerial battle occurs between the aliens and humans, with many resulting deaths of both sides' fighters, that are destroyed on a large scale, with endless explosions and beams fired upon opposing armies.

Profanity

moderate

3 "shit" words, 17 hells, 5 "ass" words, 5 damns, 3 SOB's, 2 craps, and 10 uses of "God," "My God," "Oh God," or "Good God," 5 uses of "God damn," and 3 uses of "Jesus" as exclamations. Someone says "get the hell out of here"

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking

mild

Characters smoke cigars as a celebration for "victory." Cigars are featured continiously throughout the film; a character turns to alcohol to relieve his depression and appears severely intoxicated in a few scenes, and drinks liquor continuously throughout.

Frightening & Intense Scenes

moderate

Russel Casse's death is both heroic and emotional.