Triumph, the American spirit, freedom, summer, fireworks, barbecues, and patriotism are the feelings I kept in mind when compiling this list.
10. Joe Dirt
The firework stand scene alone is what initially made me think of this movie as a Fourth of July movie but upon further examination I’ve found a whole lot more of America wrapped up in this comedic gem. There’s something unexplainably American about that lovable, underdog, loser Joe Dirt, plus his name is Joe and that’s always a plus around here.
9. Jaws
There’s a lot of Fourth of July wrapped up in this one in the form of the mayor not wanting to close the beach because of a shark. The town depends on the income gained from tourists and can’t afford to be closed on Fourth of July weekend. The movie itself came out a few days before the 4th of July in 1975, is known as the first “summer blockbuster” and proceeded to make everyone afraid of going into the water.
8. National Treasure
Nicolas Cage looking for a treasure map written on the back of the declaration of independence…I can relate wholeheartedly, I mean, who hasn’t looked for a treasure map on the back of the declaration of independence? It’s totally a right of passage. This movie is like The Goonies but for adults, minus One Eyed Willy of course.
7. Team America
MERICA, F$&% YEAH! COMING AGAIN TO SAVE THE MOTHER F^*%ING DAY!
6. Miracle
A movie about a young group of Americans that are battling the Soviet Union but instead of using guns they’re using hockey sticks. Based on the American Hockey team’s victory over the “unbeatable” Soviet Union hockey team during the 1980 Olympics. The win came at a time when Americans needed something to believe in, they needed a miracle.
5. Captain America: Civil War
The Avengers movie that’s considered a Captain America specific movie and I don’t know why because the rest of the Avengers are very much in the movie.
4. Independence Day
Like the previous movie this one has a war going on and they’re fighting for their freedom but they’re fighting aliens. This one narrowly beats The Patriot because of one simple reason and that reason is:
3. American Sniper
Based on the life of Chris Kyle, one hell of a model American, who saved the lives of countless soldiers on the battlefield. He was an awesome person, a great sniper,
2. Rocky IV
Rocky goes up against not just a man, but an entire country in this David vs. Goliath tale. What would come to be the last true Rocky movie (five was the worst, in Rocky Balboa he was well past his prime, and the Creed series was about a different character).
Unlike Miracle, which was real life moral boost, this fictional story still delivers a moral boost when American desperately needed one on the tale end of the cold war.
1. The Patriot
I watched this for the first time a few years ago at the request of my wife who figured it would rank highly once I saw it…she was right.
That’s my list, I’m sticking to it, and I am forever grateful to be living in a country where I have the freedom to create such a list. “I’m proud to be an American. Where I know at least I’m free.”