Twenty different movies to celebrate the Fourth of July

If it’s too hot to celebrate Independence Day outside, these 20 movies give you tons of different ways to honor America. As the United States celebrates its independence, there will undoubtedly be plenty to do outside, from parades to picnics to cookouts to fireworks. But, if it’s too hot to leave the house, or you need a mid-afternoon break before heading back out for evening celebrations, the experts at The Streamable have put together a list of some of the best Fourth of July fare, regardless of what type of title you are looking for. From iconically patriotic movies to nostalgic films about what it means to be American to musicals memorialzing the founding of our nation to horror flicks and satires warning against the country’s worst tendencies, we’ve come up with 20 different movies for Fourth of July viewing, and we are confident that there will be at least one (two or three or 20) titles included that you will be more than happy to sit inside and watch this Independence Day. Fifteen movies to watch on the Fourth of July Mr. Smith Goes to Washington October 19, 1939 After the death of a United States Senator, idealistic Jefferson Smith is appointed as his replacement in Washington. Soon, the naive and earnest new senator has to battle political corruption. Loading... Yankee Doodle Dandy May 29, 1942 A film of the life of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer and singer George M. Cohan. Loading... Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb January 29, 1964 After the insane General Jack D. Ripper initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, a war room full of politicians, generals and a Russian diplomat all frantically try to stop it. Loading... 1776 November 9, 1972 Colonial representatives gather in Philadelphia with the aim of establishing a set of governmental rules for the burgeoning United States. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams charge Thomas Jefferson with the task of writing a statement announcing the new country’s emancipation from British rule. Loading... All the President's Men April 9, 1976 During the 1972 elections, two reporters’ investigation sheds light on the controversial Watergate scandal that compels President Nixon to resign from his post. Loading... Stand by Me August 8, 1986 After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four boys decide to go see the body. Gordie, Vern, Chris, and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, but they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys’ adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives. Loading... Born on the Fourth of July December 20, 1989 The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for. A potent combination of Oliver Stone and Tom Cruise makes this a must-see movie. Stone won the Oscar for Best Director for the story of a real-life veteran. Loading... A League of Their Own July 1, 1992 As America’s stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up in the Midwest, funded by publicity-hungry candy maker Walter Harvey. Competitive sisters Dottie Hinson and Kit Keller spar with each other, scout Ernie Capadino and grumpy has-been coach Jimmy Dugan on their way to fame. Loading... The Sandlot April 7, 1993 During a summer of friendship and adventure, one boy becomes a part of the gang, nine boys become a team and their leader becomes a legend by confronting the terrifying mystery beyond the right field wall. Loading... Forrest Gump June 23, 1994 A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love eludes him. Tom Hanks leads a wonderful cast, including Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field. This Robert Zemeckis crowd-pleaser hauled in $678 million at the box office. “Forrest Gump” won six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Hanks), and Best Adapted Screenplay. Loading... Apollo 13 June 30, 1995 The true story of technical troubles that scuttle the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970, risking the lives of astronaut Jim Lovell and his crew, with the failed journey turning into a thrilling saga of heroism. Drifting more than 200,000 miles from Earth, the astronauts work furiously with the ground crew to avert tragedy. Loading... Independence Day June 25, 1996 Strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world’s major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived. Its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances. Loading... The Patriot June 28, 2000 After proving himself on the field of battle in the French and Indian War, Benjamin Martin wants nothing more to do with such things, preferring the simple life of a farmer. But when his son Gabriel enlists in the army to defend their new nation, America, against the British, Benjamin reluctantly returns to his old life to protect his son. Loading... Wet Hot American Summer July 27, 2001 The setting is Camp Firewood, the year 1981. It’s the last day before everyone goes back to the real world, but there’s still a summer’s worth of unfinished business to resolve. At the center of the action is camp director Beth, who struggles to keep order while she falls in love with the local astrophysics professor. He is busy trying to save the camp from a deadly piece of NASA’s Skylab which is hurtling toward earth. All that, plus: a dangerous waterfall rescue, love triangles, misfits, cool kids, and talking vegetable cans. The questions will all be resolved, of course, at the big talent show at the end of the day. Loading... National Treasure November 19, 2004 Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Gates, search for a chest of riches rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin during the Revolutionary War. The chest’s whereabouts may lie in secret clues embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and Gates is in a race to find the gold before his enemies do. Loading... Good Night, and Good Luck. September 16, 2005 The story of journalist Edward R. Murrow’s stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communist witch-hunts in the early 1950s. Loading... Captain America: The First Avenger July 22, 2011 During World War II, Steve Rogers is a sickly man from Brooklyn who’s transformed into super-soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Rogers must stop the Red Skull – Adolf Hitler’s ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of an organization that intends to use a mysterious device of untold powers for world domination. Loading... The Purge May 31, 2013 Given the country’s overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion. Loading... Hidden Figures December 10, 2016 The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big. Loading... Hamilton September 5, 2025 Presenting the tale of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, this filmed version of the original Broadway smash hit is the story of America then, told by America now. Loading...