If You Love America, You Will Love These 9 Patriotic Movies For Your July 4th Weekend (As Chosen By The NRCC Communications Team)
Here we go again – time for cookouts, hot dog eating competitions, and fireworks. But most importantly, it’s about celebrating the birth of a nation based on freedom for all and the sacrifices that many have made over the years to ensure it stays free.
Once the burgers are cooked and the fireworks have exploded, kick back with your loved ones and check out one of these movies—the patriotic picks of the NRCC Communications Team.
Happy 238th Birthday America!
Superman: Man of Steel
selected by Michael Byerly, Communications and Digital Coordinator
Growing up in the heartland of America, Superman has always been one of my favorite superheroes. I like to think that Clark and I experienced the same summer nights of catching fireflies and firing Roman candles into the Kansas sunset. Superman said it best – “I grew up in Kansas, General. I’m about as American as it gets.”
Zero Dark Thirty
selected by Jordan Davis, Policy Director and Communications Adviser
Probably an unorthodox choice but when I see the ruthless efficiency of the Navy Seal team storm the Bin Laden compound in near real-time and eliminate Osama bin Laden at the climax of this film, I swell with pride. A 10 year manhunt of an evil man that forever changed my generation. Justice delivered on behalf of a grateful nation.
Air Force One
selected by Matt Gorman, Rapid Response Director
“Get off my plane!”
There’s nothing more American than a president literally kicking a terrorist off his plane. This mid-90s action classic also features Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman at their finest.
Rocky IV
selected by Katie Prill, Regional Press Secretary
“He’s cut!” Rocky IV is a great movie that highlights the strength of America and our love of freedom. How can you not love this Cold War era film which shows Rocky Balboa fighting against Communism and proves that American ingenuity will always triumph? USA, USA, USA!!!
Iron Man
selected by Mollie Young, Director of TV and Radio
No movie fires up my patriotic guns quite like Iron Man. Tony Stark is a superhero unlike any other: he isn’t powered by something supernatural, but instead, by his own intelligence, confidence, and innovation. Everything about this movie screams American exceptionalism, and makes me want to go out and build something of my own…unfortunately, I won’t be inventing a super military suit anytime soon.
Top Gun
selected by Tyler Houlton, Regional Press Secretary and Deputy Policy Director
If you haven’t seen Top Gun, stop what you’re doing and watch it immediately. Top Gun is the epitome of American exceptionalism in cinema and the plot reminds us why America is the greatest nation the world has ever known. Top Gun is arguably the best movie of all time.
Independence Day
selected by Andrew Clark, Digital Press Secretary and 
Andrea Bozek, Communications Director
Andrew: Watching Independence Day is perhaps the best way to rekindle a modern twist of that that revolutionary spirit that overtook millions of colonists two centuries ago. After a massive alien invasion threatens to destroy all life on Earth, the rest of the world turns to the United States to lead the fight for freedom and mankind. Led by the cowboy-like Will Smith, the nerdy scientist Jeff Goldblum, and the brave president Bill Pullman, the Americans prove on the 4th of July that they have what it takes to lead the world (and blow up aliens in the process.)
Andrea: If this cheesy speech doesn’t make you want to kill some mean aliens I don’t know what will. Almost as good as President Andrew Shepherd’s speech in the American President, in this clip Bill Pullman reminds us why we are proud to wear the red, white and blue… oh and why you should never mess with Will Smith or Jeff Goldblum. “We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
selected by Daniel Scarpinato, National Press Secretary
Plucked from obscurity, wide-eyed Boy Scout leader Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart) becomes an accidental U.S. Senator and takes on D.C. in this epic Capra classic loaded with Americana. But Smith’s outside-the-beltway honesty and integrity quickly collides with the Washington establishment – and yes, even the press – as he goes to war against a corrupt land deal his seatmate is scheming for campaign contributors. This film may be 75 years old, but its message is distinctly American and one for the ages: “Liberty’s too precious a thing to be buried in books.”
Band Of Brothers
selected by Ian Prior, Regional Press Secretary
There may be no better World War II chronicle than Band of Brothers. Chronicling the mission of the Easy Company of the 101st Airborne from its training through the end of the war, we gain as close an understanding of what these brave soldiers went through on behalf of their country as is possible through the medium of television. While there are a number of patriotic pride-inducing scenes in the mini-series, none gets me more than the one here. Struggling to find someone to lead Easy Company after the promotion of Dick Winters, Ronald Speirs takes command and shocks his own men and the Germans with a stunning display of fearlessness. The Goosebumps start at 6:33.