It was 250 years ago, on July 4, 1776, when the Founding Fathers of the United States of America signed the Declaration of Independence. Extraordinarily, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died 50 years later to the day. Now, it might surprise film fans, but there aren’t many war movies about the American Revolution or July 4th in general. Aside from the excellent HBO miniseries John Adams, here are our Top 5 recommendations to watch this weekend, in no particular order.

1776 (1972) – Rent or buy on Prime Video or Apple TV

This historical musical is based on the Broadway show of the same name and follows the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Starring the theatrical production’s cast of William Daniels, Howard da Silva, John Cullum and Ken Howard, parts of the script and some of the lyrics were directly lifted from letters and memoirs of those at the Second Continental Congress. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar, but lost both to Cabaret.

Independence Day (1996) – Disney+

Set on the 220th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Roland Emmerich’s epic sci-fi action film follows a human counterattack to an alien invasion of planet Earth. Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum star in this disaster movie that won the Best Visual Effects Oscar. The less said about the sequel with a killed-off Will Smith, the better.

Hamilton (2020) – Disney+

This filmed version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s performance in his hit musical was dropped on Disney+ in time for Independence Day 2020, after plans for a cinematic release were stalled due to COVID. The original Broadway production with Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr was inspired by Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography of Alexander Hamilton, the most famous Founding Father who never became US president. The hip-hop musical covers his life through the American Revolution and the early political history of the United States of America. The winner of 11 Tony awards, the filmed version was nominated for two Golden Globes.

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) – Rent or buy on Prime Video or Apple TV

Oliver Stone’s anti-war biopic is based on the 1976 autobiography of Ron Kovic, who is played by Tom Cruise (who was actually born on the third of July). The film follows Kovic across 20 years through his Vietnam War service and paralysis and into his anti-war activism. Originally, Al Pacino was set to play the role, but following years in development hell, it eventually went to Cruise. A critical and box office success, the film received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Cruise and went on to win Best Film Editing and Best Director for Stone, himself a Vietnam veteran.

The Patriot (2000) – Rent or buy on Prime Video or Apple TV

Another Roland Emmerich-directed epic, this historical war film stars Mel Gibson as an American colonist opposed to fighting the war against Great Britain. However, he’s soon swept up with his son (Heath Ledger) into the American Revolutionary War when another of his sons is murdered by a British officer. Nominated for three Oscars, The Patriot, although thoroughly entertaining, remains controversial for its fictionalised negative portrayal of the English, much like Braveheart.