Best Independence Day travel movies of all time

America’s Independence Day is a time of celebration with friends, family and maybe a few thousand other people at a festival or event. Over the holiday weekend there might also be time to watch a movie or two and there is no shortage of patriotic films to view.

Kaboose.com has a top ten list and Kaboose movie expert Jane Louise Boursaw and associate producer, Bethany Porter, have chosen their picks for the top ten patriotic movies of all time. Take a look at this list of the best Independence Day travel movies of all time.

On the Town
Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin are three sailors on shore leave in New York City. They’ve got 24 hours to fill up with fun and romance before they’re due back on the ship. When those guys get off the boat and burst into song-wow!

They’re jazzed about being on shore leave, even more so in “New York, New York,” one of the greatest cities in the world, complete with the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. Brings to mind that famous Life Magazine photo of the sailor who grabbed and kissed the first girl he could find after WWII. Those were the days!

Rocky
Sylvester Stallone plays Rocky Balboa, a struggling boxer working in a meat factory in Philadelphia. Heavyweight champ Apollo Creed is supposed to win their exhibition fight, but someone forgot to tell Rocky, who makes the best of his shot at the big time.

Rocky has a one-in-a-million shot at winning the fight on the 4th of July, but he goes for it anyway. Go for your dreams – especially in America where opportunities lurk around every corner-or, in Rocky’s case, up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Independence Day
The aliens are coming! The aliens are coming! Don’t worry, though. With Bill Pullman and Will Smith on the job, humanity will prevail!

Things look bleak, but the Pres bolsters the troops with his “fight the aliens” speech: “We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

The Music Man
A con man comes to a Midwestern town with a scam using a boy’s marching band program, but things don’t go according to plan. Especially not with Marion the Librarian in the neighborhood.

A snappy parade, a marching band with 76 trombones, and a town united – don’t you love happy endings?

Miracle
It was the moment that stopped the 1980 Olympics. Lead by coach Herb Brooks, a group of formerly slacker college kids caused one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, winning the gold medal over the Soviets.

Because nothing stirs patriotism like a good Olympics movie-especially when you’ve got Kurt Russell watching your back.

Apollo 13
It’s 1971, and astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert are en-route to the moon in Apollo 13-but when an explosion shuts down the craft’s electrical power, their chances of getting home are slim to none as the nation holds its collective breath.

This dramatization of real-life events has you believing in the power of the human spirit. Sure, “Houston, we have a problem,” but thanks to the ingenuity of NASA and the perseverance of the Apollo 13 crew, this story is nothing short of miraculous. Their suspenseful re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere is the longest four minutes ever!

Forrest Gump
In this Oscar-award winning film the main character, Forrest Gump, tells the story of his life as he waits at a bus stop. Although he is of below average intelligence, the lovable Forrest Gump has an extraordinary tale to tell and you’ll fall in love with his unique personality in this comedy-laced drama.

As the film progresses Forrest meets famous historical figures and fights for America on the battlefields of Vietnam. You’ll also recognize several uniquely American pop-culture phenomenons and historical events that Forrest takes part in.

American Legends
In this animated feature, viewers learn about real American heroes and legends through classic Disney storytelling.

From Johnny Appleseed to Paul Bunyan and John Henry, kids will love this adventure-filled glimpse of American history.

Schoolhouse Rock: America
This fun-filled, animated feature is the perfect way to teach younger children about milestones and big events in American history.

With its memorable patriotic songs and lively storytelling this film teaches kids all about America while keeping them engaged and entertained.

Top Gun
This piece of 80s pop-culture quickly became a classic with all-American super-star Tom Cruise as the rebel pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. We follow Maverick as he trains at the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School and attempts to play by all his own rules.

This is the perfect mix of American rebel attitude and kitsch. We get a glimpse of the lives of daring American pilots (fictitious though they may be) and we get to watch Tom Cruise sing “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin'” who could complain?

Flickr photo by Qfamily