Steven Spielberg had predicted the legacy of Will Smith's $871 million film after the director called Man of Steel a “copycat”

Over the years, the world of blockbuster films has changed dynamically, with films pushing the boundaries of visual effects and storytelling while innovating and outdoing each other. Independence Day hit theaters in 1996 and quickly became a landmark in the science fiction genre, largely due to its sets and stunning special effects.

Independence Day (1996) | 20th Century Studios

The film made Will Smith a superstar and left a lasting impression on the industry. The film has influenced many modern superhero films, and one director foresaw this outcome.

The Legacy of Independence Day: Steven Spielberg's Prediction Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg (Image credit: Gage Skidmore/Cc By-sa 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

In an industry full of sequels, reboots and knockoffs, it's challenging to create something original, but 1996's Independence Day did just that, with groundbreaking CGI, large-scale destruction and a thrilling narrative that reshaped the entire genre.