A Bunch of Movies That Just Scream “America!”

Some of the most Patriotic American Movies RJ Writing Ink Can Think of

The Fourth of July, the most American of holidays. On that day in 1776, the fifty-six delegates of the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, AKA our little letter to King George telling him “screw you, we quit!” Every year, Americans go over the top celebrating Independence Day with parties, barbecues, and fireworks. But with this year marking America’s 250th birthday, the celebrations have gotten even bigger, crazier, and now have government funding behind them. But there are other ways to celebrate the Fourth of July beyond the parades, barbecues, and people getting drunk as skunks. I, for example, spend the days leading up to the holiday binge-watching the most patriotic and American movies I can think of. What exactly does that mean? I don’t know exactly, but it’s a great reason to share some ideas for films to watch for the Fourth of July!

Independence Day (1996)-

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way: Independence Day is a must-watch for the holiday of the same name. When aliens invade the Earth in the days leading up to the Fourth of July, an ensemble cast of characters must unite to save the world before humanity is wiped out. Yes, the idea of America being the country that will save the world may sound played out today, but you have to remember the context in which this film was made. With the Soviet Union’s fall in 1991, America was left the sole superpower in the world, and it was enjoying that title for all it was worth. Given how the world is today, I think it’s nice to remember those optimistic times.

Miracle (2004)-

The love for an underdog has been ingrained into America’s DNA from the beginning, since its own existence was thanks to a David vs. Goliath fight. So when the US Hockey Team managed to best the undefeated Soviets at the 1980 Olympics, the game became the stuff of legends. This 2004 Disney movie captured the struggles that legendary team went through to give hope to a country that, at the time, was uncertain about the future. And yes, I have seen it, and it is awesome!

Top Gun (1986) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022)-

If I were to pick a movie that would best describe the art of dogfighting, then it would be the Top Gun movies. The US military has long prided itself on the skill of its pilots, and these two films are pretty much an epic celebration of the institutions that forged them. Not to mention that they are the closest thing that I will ever get to a movie version of the Ace Combat games!

Rocky IV (1985)-

There have been a fair share of criticisms leveled at the fourth entry in the Rocky franchise, and not without reason. The entire film, centered around Rocky trying to beat Soviet boxing champion Ivan Drago after his friend Apollo is killed in a fight, is pretty much Cold War propaganda. Even so, I have to agree with Rocky’s ultimate assessment of the fight between him and Drago: it was more satsifying to see two men embody their nations beat the snot out of each other than fighting a war that could kill millions.

Beavis and Butthead Do America (1996)–

This one might be stretching it, but hear me out. Next to The Simpsons, Beavis and Butthead were the face of American pop culture in the 90s, and they got a movie a decade before The Simpsons did. When their beloved TV gets stolen, Beavis and Butthead go on a quest to find it, only to get dragged on a cross-country trip for the sole purpose of scoring and getting money. The chaos they leave in their wake is as stupidly funny as ever.

Team America: World Police (2004)–

Created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, AKA the creators of South Park, Team America came to do two things: mock high-budget action movies and America’s post-9/11 foreign policy. And I think that they knocked it out of the park. This silly, puppet-led film about a team of reckless knuckleheads trying to stop terrorists while destroying more in the process is one of my favorite things to watch every Fourth of July.

Forrest Gump (1994)–

What can be said about Forrest Gump that hasn’t already been said? It’s one of Tom Hanks’ greatest performances of all time. It’s a nostalgic look at America’s journey through the latter half of the 20th century. Or how about the fact that someone who thinks so simply wound up rubbing elbows with many of the people who shaped America in that time? It’s the kind of amazing film that everyone needs to watch at least once in their lives!

Every Superhero Movie Made by Marvel or DC-

Heroes are not a new concept or one that America can take credit for; people have told legends about heroes since the dawn of time, and no doubt they will tell them long after America is gone. But the idea of the modern superhero is pretty much an American concept, and Marvel and DC were the ones who got it off the ground. From Batman to Spider-Man to Superman and The Avengers, superheroes are some of the most iconic examples of American culture around. If you are looking for something specifically patrotic, though, I’d go with Captain America: the First Avenger. Everything that Cap’s in is patriotic by default, but his first movie in World War II is the most overt in terms of patriotism.

An American Tail (1986)-

Not counting the Native and Indigenous people who are already called it home, everyone in America is either an immigrant or descended from one. Given how that diversity helped make the nation’s culture so unique, it’s only fitting that we include a film that celebrates the story of coming to America. This Don Bluth classic was among the first movies that I ever watched as a kid, and while the “Giant Mouse of Minsk” scared me like crazy, I still loved watching Fievel’s journey to find his family. Plus, you can’t go wrong with Don Bluth!

There are too many!

There are honestly so many fun films that scream “America” that I can’t properly list them all without being here forever. What matters is that the USA has changed the world in so many ways, and the world has changed America. So go enjoy some barbecues and watch the fireworks!

By the way, I didn’t include Mel Gibson’s The Patriot on here for a reason. That movie is horribly inaccurate to actual history, and this wasn’t the first time Gibson did something like that. As a historian, I rank Braveheart as one of the most inaccurate movies of all time.