The sci‑fi movie “Independence Day” with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum was released in U.S. theaters on July 3, 1996, with some early showings starting on July 2, 1996.

Quick Scoop: “Independence Day” Release

  • Official U.S. nationwide release date: July 3, 1996.
  • Early screenings began on July 2, 1996 , matching the in‑story date when the alien invasion kicks off.
  • The world release rolled out around the same time, with July 3, 1996 cited as the worldwide date in many sources.

Why the dates sometimes differ

  • Some listings highlight July 2, 1996 because that was the bumped‑up nationwide opening after strong anticipation.
  • Others stick with July 3, 1996 as the formal wide release date.

So if you just need a one‑liner for search or a forum post on “when did Independence Day come out,” the clean answer is:

“Independence Day” came out in theaters in early July 1996, most commonly given as July 3, 1996 (with early showings starting July 2).

TL;DR: “Independence Day” (1996) hit theaters in early July 1996, officially around July 3, with many places showing it starting July 2.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.