Russel Casse: "I picked a helluva day to quit drinkin'."
Lantern-jawed American president Bill Pullman, irritating boffin Jeff Goldblum and gung-ho fighter pilot Will Smith battle to save the day when nasty extraterrestrials pitch up, leaving grim calling cards in Europe before moving onto America.
A vast mothership hovers over Uncle Sam's front yard, occasionally taking out anything that seems remotely threatening. Do you hear that, Afghanistan?
It's jingoistic, Yank wish-fulfilment hokum from a master of the art - director Roland Emmerich - but guiltily enjoyable nonetheless.
Yet some of the special effects weren't up to much - despite a £75m budget - with an over-reliance on modelwork (CGI was still in its infancy as far as big bangs were concerned) and some extremely iffy setpieces.
