special edition version, with 9 minutes of restored footage ***
- scene-specific commentary by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devin
- Commentary by Oscar-winning special effects supervisiors volker engel
and doug smith

- original theatrical and tv Spots
- "creating reality" 30-minute making-of
- id4 invasion"22-Minute mock-umentary
- "HBO first look:independence day"

On July 2nd, communications systems worldwide are sent into chaos by a
strange atmospheric interference. It is soon learned by the military that a
number of enormous objects are on a collision course with Earth. At first
thought to be meteors, they are later revealed to be gigantic spacecraft,
piloted by a mysterious alien species. After attempts to communicate with
the aliens go nowhere, David Levinson, an ex-scientist turned cable
technician, discovers that the aliens are going to attack major points around
the globe in less than a day. On July 3rd, the aliens all but obliterate New
York, Los Angeles, and Washington. The survivors set out in convoys
towards Area 51, a strange government testing ground where it is rumored
the military has a captured alien spacecraft of their own. The survivors
devise a plan to fight back against the enslaving aliens, and July 4th
becomes the day humanity will fight for its freedom. July 4th is their
Independence Day...