Raise a glass, America.

Its the Fourth of July.

You know, while it lasts?

They all do have at least one thing in common: explosions.

These are movies that dont just say America!

They say, America?

Independence Day(1996)

Stupid aliens.

Yourereallygoing to blow up the White House just a couple of days shy of the Fourth of July?

You think America is going to let that slide?

), but none could top it for fun and sheer spectacle.

(That includesthe 20 years later sequel, minus Will Smith.)

But it probably got the most screen time in this 1992 Steven Seagal vehicle.

Mirroring the ships real history, President George H.W.

Only Seagal, playing the ships plucky cook, can stop them (very untrue).

As you would with the Native Americans in a western.

The country holds what they call “the Game” every year, and the winner gets a wish.

The kill of karate!

Guinness named it the most violent film ever made in 1990).

It might seem churlish to include this sweet, inspirational comedy-drama alongside movies likeRambo, butMr.

And thats the story of the fall of communism.

He finds them, and then fights his way out.

With guns and such.

This one gets a middling score on the Rah Rah America!

scale, but a million extra points for the very excellent titular pun.

Its a movie, not a history lesson!

Not even a little bit.

Its long and noisy, but certainly action-packed enough to make it a solid Independence Day time-killer.

Or you could just watchFrom Here to Eternity.

and a three-lens Cinerama filming process meant to be projected onto an enormous, curved, proto-IMAX screen.

It’s also epic in timespan, staring in 1839 and continuing over the ensuing half-century.

Red Dawn(1984)

The apex of the Communists are coming to get us!

is a premise that works in any era.

(But especially the 80s.)

Naturally, when they blow up Chuck Norris house, they learn theyve picked on the wrong guy.

Or… something like that.

Which hell have to steal!

Its an action-packed tour through something that loosely resembles American history.

300(2007)

We love Spartans.

Theres even a name for it: laconophilia.

Its not the best film about the Pacific Theatre, but it is among the more accurate.

Here, a Jewish team of American soldiers stalks the Fuhrer, leading to a surprising climax.

Tarantino would pull a similar trick with 2012’sDjango Unchained.

Its not too much of a spoiler to say that Hedayas President Arius will come to regret it.

And if that isnt the American dream, I dont know what is.

If that doesnt make them change their tunes, the unnecessarily batshit twist ending will.

Where to stream:Tubi, MGM+

G.I.

Cobra isnt just a ruthless terrorist organization, they also suck in a flying dance battle.

Where to stream:Digital purchase