Quartile rating: 5/10 · 1 rating
We always knew they were coming back. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.
Independence Day: Resurgence is a textbook example of a bloated, derivative blockbuster sequel. The plot is a near-carbon copy of the original with none of its charm — recycled beats, thin character arcs, and a nonsensical expanded mythology that collapses under scrutiny. The acting ranges from wooden to serviceable, with a large ensemble spread too thin for anyone to make an impression. Cinematography is competent blockbuster fare with decent scale but little visual identity. Novelty is rock-bottom: this is about as formulaic a sequel as exists, retreading the original's structure without Will Smith and without any fresh ideas. The ending sets up a sequel that nobody asked for, leaving threads dangling with unearned optimism.