Twenty years is a long time to wait for a sequel. By the time Roland Emmerich finally dropped the follow-up to his 1996 masterpiece, the world had moved on from floppy disks to cloud computing. But when it comes to the Independence Day Resurgence rating, there’s a massive gap between what the official certificates say and how the movie actually feels when you’re sitting in the dark with a bucket of popcorn.
Honestly, the "PG-13" label on the poster only tells half the story. You see that rating and you think: "Cool, standard summer blockbuster stuff." But the reality of Independence Day: Resurgence is a weird, gooey, and sometimes surprisingly dark mix that left a lot of parents and fans scratching their heads back in 2016.
The MPAA Stamp: Why It Got a PG-13
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave the film a PG-13 rating for "sequences of sci-fi action and destruction, and for some language." On paper, that’s the same rating the original film had. But the way Emmerich uses that rating in the sequel is... different.
In the first movie, the destruction felt personal. We saw the White House explode. We saw the dog, Boomer, barely escaping the fireball in a tunnel. In Resurgence, the scale is so massive—we're talking a 3,000-mile-wide ship that has its own gravity—that the destruction almost becomes abstract. When you're dropping the Burj Khalifa onto London, the human cost is basically impossible to process.
The "language" part of the rating is actually pretty standard. You've got your usual "s-words" and a few "assholes" thrown around by Jeff Goldblum and the new guys. There’s also a crude finger gesture that feels very "1990s edgy."
💡 You might also like: Brother May I Have Some Oats Script: Why This Bizarre Pig Meme Refuses to Die
The "Goo" Factor and Alien Violence
If you’re wondering if it’s too scary for younger kids, you’ve gotta look at the aliens themselves. These aren't just guys in rubber suits anymore. The CGI allowed for much more "visceral" stuff.
- Alien Autopsies: There’s a scene where an alien suit is sliced open and the creature inside spills out like "vomit," as some critics put it.
- The Queen: The final battle involves a massive Alien Queen who is way more aggressive and "toothy" than the original invaders.
- Machete Kills: There’s a subplot with an African warlord named Dikembe Umbutu (played by Deobia Oparei) who literally hunts aliens with two machetes. He’s seen standing over alien corpses, and while the "blood" is green and gooey rather than red, it's still pretty intense for a "family" movie.
Critics vs. Fans: The Rating That Matters Most
Let’s talk about the other kind of rating: the scores. This is where things get messy. If you look at Rotten Tomatoes, the Independence Day Resurgence rating sits at a dismal 29% from critics. That’s a "certified rotten" splat.
Why did critics hate it so much? Basically, they felt it was a "hollow" retread. Without Will Smith’s charisma to ground the movie, many felt the plot was just a series of "bigger is better" set pieces that lacked heart. The Guardian called it "planet-smashingly boring," which is a pretty brutal way to describe a movie where the moon gets shot at.
But here’s the thing: the audience score is often a bit more forgiving. There’s a certain type of moviegoer who just wants to see big things go "boom" and Jeff Goldblum being quirky. On IMDb, the movie holds a 5.2/10, which isn't great, but it suggests a "it was okay for a Friday night" vibe.
📖 Related: Brokeback Mountain Gay Scene: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the Gap Exists
- Nostalgia Trap: If you grew up with the 1996 original, the sequel feels like it’s trying too hard.
- CGI Overload: The first film used practical models for the ships. They had weight. The sequel is almost 100% digital, which makes the "spectacle" feel less real.
- Missing Protagonist: You can't just replace Will Smith with a Hemsworth and expect the same magic. It doesn't work that way.
Is It Appropriate for Kids?
Most parenting guides, like Common Sense Media or Plugged In, suggest the movie is okay for kids aged 11 or 12 and up.
If your kid is a fan of The Avengers or Jurassic World, they aren't going to be traumatized by this. The violence is mostly "bloodless" in terms of human gore. You don't see people being ripped apart; you just see cities being flattened.
The real risk is the emotional weight. There’s a scene where a school bus full of kids is chased by a giant alien. For a 6-year-old, that’s nightmare fuel. For a 13-year-old, it’s just a cool chase scene. Also, fair warning: three different teen characters watch their parents die in this movie. It's a bit of a downer for a "fun" summer flick.
The Box Office "Rating"
In Hollywood, the only rating that really keeps a franchise alive is the dollar sign. Resurgence had a massive $165 million budget (not including the tens of millions spent on marketing).
👉 See also: British TV Show in Department Store: What Most People Get Wrong
It grossed about $389 million worldwide. In a vacuum, that sounds like a lot of money. But when you factor in the theater's cut and the marketing costs, the movie barely broke even. It was a "financial disappointment" for 20th Century Fox. This is why, as of 2026, we still haven't seen the third movie that the ending of Resurgence clearly set up.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch
If you're planning on diving back into the world of Independence Day: Resurgence, or showing it to your family for the first time, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Lower Your Expectations for the Plot: Don't go in expecting a deep narrative. This is a "visuals-first" movie. If you treat it as a tech demo for 2016-era CGI, you’ll enjoy it more.
- Watch the Original First: The sequel relies heavily on you knowing who Dr. Okun and President Whitmore are. Without that context, the "big reveals" won't land.
- Check the Parents Guide: If you have sensitive kids under 10, skip the "Queen chase" scene or the alien autopsy moments.
- Look for the Easter Eggs: The movie is packed with references to the 1996 film. Finding the "Welcome to Earth" parallels is half the fun.
Whether you think the Independence Day Resurgence rating is fair or a bit harsh, it remains one of the most polarizing sequels of the last decade. It’s a loud, messy, green-goo-filled reminder that sometimes, the first time is more than enough.