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5 perfect movies to watch on July 4th, including The Sandlot

As you gather around on this July 4th for a celebration of our nation’s independence, you might want to fire up a classic movie on your television to help really complete the holiday.

While there are some excellent movies in theaters right now, perhaps you’re in the mood for something you’ve seen a few times already. That’s perfectly understandable for the holiday season, after all!

We’ve compiled five films that make us think of the Fourth of July, ranging from a couple of great Steven Spielberg films to one of the most beloved sports films ever. Let’s list them out and tell you why they fit.

Jaws

The quintessential July 4th movie will forever be Jaws, as Steven Spielberg’s definitive summer blockbuster brings the American holiday to terrifying focus. It’s one of the best movies ever made, and it’ll make you cling to your couch as you munch down on hot dogs and hamburgers … and keep you out of the ocean until July 5th, at least.

Where to Watch: Peacock, Starz, premium video on demand

Independence Day

Watching Will Smith take on an entire invading alien force feels like a right of passage every single July 4th, as Independence Day remains one of the main films attached to the holiday. You’ll be fist-pumping aplenty with all of your friends and family as Bill Pullman’s iconic speech and Smith’s devastatingly awesome “Welcome to Earth!” alien punch help make this one an annual watch.

Where to Watch: Hulu, Fubo, PVOD

The Sandlot

Perhaps the most beloved sports film of all time, The Sandlot feels like another July 4th staple as this “forever summer” classic brings together a bunch of neighborhood pals on the makeshift baseball diamond as they try to retrieve a precious baseball from the clutches of a scary dog. The Sandlot lives eternal for its translatable memories of summers gone by, the ones we can only reminisce as we get older and leave those “good ol’ days” behind.

Where to Watch: Disney+, Hulu, Fubo, PVOD

Lincoln

Another Spielberg movie for your July 4th holiday is Lincoln, his gripping Abraham Lincoln biopic set against the backdrop of the 13th Amendment’s creation and passage. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers one of his truly great performances as Lincoln, as he brings the former President to life with such urgent power and deep empathy. If you want to watch one of the most important moments in our nation’s history dramatized in epic fashion, Lincoln is a vital holiday watch.

Where to Watch: PVOD

Hamilton

Don’t throw away your shot to watch (or, let’s be real, rewatch) the live recording of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway masterwork with its original cast. It’s a generational work in and of itself, one fully alive with searing revisions of monumental history and breathtaking artistry. As a film, it gives you exactly what you probably missed almost a decade ago as Hamilton made its original Broadway run, as the best seat in the house goes from the front row to your couch. There’s a reason people are starting to make a watch of this a July 4th tradition.

Where to Watch: Disney+

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