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An X account is going viral this Independence Day week as it documents, in real-time, the events of the movie “Independence Day.”

The 1996 blockbuster starring Will Smith before he slapped Chris Rock, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman battling big, bad (and ugly) aliens that decide to invade us right before the 4th of July has evolved from blockbuster to cult favorite and now into one of those movies that, if it’s randomly on TV, you’ll stop and watch.

Film Fans Need To Follow This Account

Enter the X account “@1996ID4.” The folks behind the handle have been live-tweeting the events of the movie as if they were happening  for years now. And while many of the film’s fans have been getting a good chuckle out of it, the real magic happens when people who don’t understand it’s all fake take notice.

Case in point – there are literally people asking @1996ID4 for sources. Maybe they’re just going along with the joke. We hope that’s the case, because if not…

And for those who have caught onto the joke – which isn’t hard if you just read the handle –  they are having maybe a bit too much fun in the comment section. Here’s someone pretending we are in 1996 for the movie release, while referencing the 1994 MLB Strike and a tongue-in-cheek prediction about what would eventually happen with Covid.

Despite getting mixed reviews during its initial 1996 release, Independence Day would go on to gross $817 million worldwide – the most of any film that year. For a time it was the second highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing “The Lion King” and second only to “Jurassic Park.” 

And for fans like myself – who literally memorized and recited President Whitmore’s motivational pump-up speech from the movie as part of my 7th grade Forensics class, I am all about it.

So on this Fourth of July, make sure to crack open a tall boy and while you’re marinating those BBQ wings, throw on some Independence Day and get pumped up. And whatever you do, do NOT watch the sequel, because it’s terrible.