The film "Independence Day" was filmed in Los Angeles, New York, Wendover, and Washington, USA.

Filming Locations:

First Lady's Hotel

In the Movie

Scene where the First Lady talks to the President on the phone from her hotel room in Los Angeles. After the aliens arrive, she escapes from the hotel on a helicopter mounted on the roof.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at The grand Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles opened in 1923 as the largest hotel west of the Mississippi. The hotel was designed by Schultze & Weaver in a blend of Mediterranean styles. The lavish interior includes frescoes by artist Giovanni Smeraldi, who also painted works for the Vatican and the White House. In addition to being featured in hundreds of films and TV shows over the years, it was also the venue where the Academy Awards were planned in 1927 and hosted the ceremony eight times over the years.

New Jersey Park

In the Movie

Scene where David and Julius play chess in the park before David has to go to work.

In Reality

Compact Cable

In the Movie

Scene where David arrives at work and notices a strange code embedded in their satellite signals.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at The former home of the Hughes H-4 Hercules aircraft before its relocation in 1980.

Diner

In the Movie

Scene where Russell drinks at a local diner when locals start discussing his alien abduction story. Built for filming next to one of the hangars.

In Reality

Jasmine's House

In the Movie

Scene where Captain Steven Hiller wakes up and finds neighbors in a panic, and when he goes outside, he sees a spaceship hovering over Los Angeles.

In Reality

Basketball Court

In the Movie

Scene where A group of children play basketball under a bridge when they see a spaceship emerging from the clouds.

In Reality

Panic on Wall Street

In the Movie

Scene where People panic as the spaceship flies over Wall Street.

In Reality

Crash Corner

In the Movie

Scene where A police officer stops in the middle of an intersection to look at the spaceship and causes a traffic accident.

In Reality

Empire State Building

In the Movie

Scene where The ship stops over the Empire State Building and then destroys it.

In Reality

White House

In the Movie

Scene where One of the alien spaceships lands over the White House.

In Reality

View from Jasmine's House

In the Movie

Scene where Jasmine goes outside and sees the alien spaceship that has arrived over downtown.

In Reality

Bike Ride Through Streets

In the Movie

Scene where David Levinson rides a bicycle through heavy traffic on his way out of the city.

In Reality

Julius's House

In the Movie

Scene where David heads to his father's house so they can leave the city together.

In Reality

Highway to Washington, D.C.

In the Movie

Scene where Julius drives David to Washington, D.C., against traffic.

In Reality

Highway to Washington, D.C.

In the Movie

Scene where Julius and David continue their journey to the Capitol.

In Reality

D.C. Street

In the Movie

Scene where Julius drives David through the deserted center of Washington towards the White House.

In Reality

Helipad

In the Movie

Scene where A military helicopter equipped with light panels for communication takes off and heads towards the alien spaceship.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at LAX - the fourth busiest airport in the world (2nd in the US), covering over 3,500 acres on the coast between Westchester and El Segundo. The airport first opened in 1930 as Mines Field and received its current name in 1949. The airport is served by four parallel runways, the longest of which is nearly 13,000 feet. LAX has nine passenger terminals with 128 gates, as well as a cargo terminal and a helipad. The distinctive Googie-style theme building at the center of the terminal complex was designed in 1961 by architect Paul Williams. The arched structure houses a panoramic retro-futuristic restaurant with views of the airport.

White House Lawn

In the Movie

Scene where The President and others leave the White House on Marine One.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Golden Oak Ranch, built on land purchased by Walt Disney in 1959, is an 890-acre movie ranch located at the entrance to Placerita Canyon east of Santa Clarita. The ranch features suburban and downtown sets, as well as various cottages and open areas for filming.

Tunnel

In the Movie

Scene where Jasmine is stuck in traffic with her son when she sees an explosion behind her. She runs into the tunnel and manages to hide in a service corridor.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at The tunnel running 4.5 blocks under downtown Los Angeles from Figueroa to Hill was opened in 1924 to relieve traffic on the adjacent 3rd Street tunnel. The tunnel is lined with distinctive glossy white tiles that cast distorted reflections, giving the tunnel a very interesting visual appearance, leading to its popularity in film and television.

Wells Fargo Center

In the Movie

Scene where A group of UFO enthusiasts party on top of a downtown skyscraper.

In Reality

US Bank Tower

In the Movie

Scene where Jasmine's friend Tiffany and a bunch of other UFO nuts stand on top of a building in downtown Los Angeles under the center of the giant alien spaceship.

In Reality

Los Angeles Street

In the Movie

Scene where People run out of their cars as the city explodes.

In Reality

Destroyed Los Angeles

In the Movie

Scene where Jasmine searches the streets for a way out of the city and gathers a small group of survivors, including the First Lady.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Once the largest steel mill on the West Coast, employing over 2,500 people at its peak, it closed in the 1980s and much of the site has been redeveloped. More information about this site can be found at the Land Use Interpretation Center.

El Toro (Gates)

In the Movie

Scene where Jasmine drives up to the gates of the air base and sees it is destroyed.

In Reality