July 4th brings many beautiful traditions to the United States. However, there's nothing quite as enjoyable as witnessing a blockbuster filled with explosions in a dark, air-conditioned cinema on this special day. Released on July 3, 1996, 'Independence Day' perfectly embodies that spirit. The film was packed with elements like patriotism, international cooperation, spaceships, and a exploding White House, which helped it become the highest-grossing film of that year.

'Independence Day' achieved great success, grossing $817.4 million worldwide. The scene where Will Smith defeats an ugly alien and says, "Welcome to Earth" became iconic. The film marked a turning point in Smith's career, making him one of Hollywood's biggest stars. On the 30th anniversary of this iconic film, THR takes a look at the cast's careers and their recent projects.

Will Smith's leading role in the film, directed by Roland Emmerich, was a situation that required convincing the studio at the time. Known as a Grammy-winning hip-hop artist and the star of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', Smith had appeared in 'Bad Boys' before 'Independence Day'. However, his international box office appeal was still a question mark. The film allowed Smith to make a significant leap in his film career, leading him to continue starring in projects like 'Men in Black'.

In the new millennium, Smith maintained his success by starring in films like 'The Legend of Bagger Vance' and 'Ali'. He also boosted his box office success with sequels like 'Men in Black II' and 'Bad Boys II'. In 2006, he made a significant breakthrough with projects like 'The Pursuit of Happyness' and in 2007 with 'I Am Legend'. Most recently, he won an Oscar for his performance in 'King Richard' in 2021. However, an incident at that awards ceremony sparked controversy in his career. Smith made headlines by slapping Chris Rock on stage, and this situation affected the reception of his subsequent projects.