Liam Hemsworth leads "Independence Day: Resurgence".

Back in July 1996, a sci-fi summer blockbuster titled "Independence Day" made its debut in cinemas.

Best known for directing Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren in "Universal Soldier" (1992) as well as Kurt Russell in "Stargate" (1994), "Independence Day" was then a massive undertaking for filmmaker Roland Emmerich at that time, who was granted a hefty USD75 million to make the movie.

Needless to say, the huge gamble paid off and "Independence Day" went on to become one of the biggest movies of all time which grossed more than USD800 million at the worldwide box office. Not only was the movie a huge moneymaker, but "Independence Day" also helped redefine summer movies during the mid-1990s.

Now, 20 years later, Roland Emmerich returns to his most popular movie that made him one of the most sought-after Hollywood filmmakers during his heyday with "Independence Day: Resurgence".

Whether or not the long-awaited blockbuster sequel will be able to replicate the first movie's success remains to be seen, but there is one thing that most of us can't deny about the upcoming release of "Independence Day: Resurgence"; that this is the kind of summer blockbuster best experienced not on your HDTV or your computer, but on the big screen!

That said, here are five reasons "Independence Day: Resurgence" is a must-see on the big screen!

1. Spectacular special effects

More epic destruction in "Independence Day: Resurgence".

If you watched "Independence Day", you know that the movie's biggest selling point was its special effects. It is the kind of special effects done on a massive cinematic scale that can only be best experienced on the big screen. In fact, it even won the Best Visual Effects award at the 1997 Academy Awards. Fast-forward to 20 years later, both special effects and big screens are no longer the same as they used to be in 1996. Today, the special effects are more advanced than ever while the big screen has evolved to an all-digital technology, where we are able to choose various formats from the standard 2D to IMAX 3D. With a huge budget of USD200 million allocated for the sequel, you can expect that there will be plenty of technical improvements in the special effects department to make all the destruction scenes as epic and immersive as they can get.

2. More famous landmarks destroyed!

Petronas Twin Towers being destroyed.

Another reason why a movie like "Independence Day: Resurgence" is worth watching on the big screen is the way Roland Emmerich made full use of the special effects to (digitally) blow up iconic landmarks. Remember that time you watched the first movie at the cinema? It was no doubt a great cinematic experience witnessing U.S. landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the White House getting blown off in spectacular fashion. If you enjoyed watching such scenes in the first movie, the sequel will promise more famous landmarks destroyed by the invading aliens, and this time, it's going to be the world all over, including Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers and Singapore's Marina Bay Sands. No wonder David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) even said, "They like to get the landmarks" in one of the trailers.

3. This is Roland Emmerich's genre territory

Director Roland Emmerich on the set of "Independence Day: Resurgence".

When you mention the name; Roland Emmerich, it is often synonymous with scenes of destruction on epic proportions. Need proof? Apart from the first "Independence Day" movie, Emmerich loved going big with the destruction scenes in "Godzilla" (1998), "The Day After Tomorrow" (2004) and "2012" (2009). All of these aforementioned movies were designed to be best enjoyed on the big screen, and this is what Roland Emmerich always does best. The same can also be said with "Independence Day: Resurgence" (hey, it's Roland Emmerich's comfort zone after all!) as the German-born director will definitely be going all out in terms of scale to deliver the ultimate summer blockbuster.

4. The old gang is back

Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman in a scene from "Independence Day: Resurgence".

While the special effects were no doubt the major highlight of the first "Independence Day" movie, you have to admit that part of its critical and financial success was also owed to the on point performances by the ensemble cast. Sure, the sequel lacks the Will Smith factor this time around, but still, it is good to know that most of the cast from the first movie are returning for "Independence Day: Resurgence", and that includes Jeff Goldblum (when was the last time you got to see this criminally underrated actor headlining a blockbuster movie?) as well as Bill Pullman, who famously played the never-say-die U.S. President Thomas J. Whitmore in the first movie.

5. Plenty of money shots

One of the money shots from "Independence Day: Resurgence".

If you watched the trailers that have been released so far, "Independence Day: Resurgence" has teased us with plenty of great money shots. Now, imagine watching Jeff Goldblum and Liam Hemsworth flying a ship while dodging the debris dropping from the sky, or the massive dogfight between the humans and the aliens on the big screen!

"Independence Day: Resurgence" opens in cinemas nationwide on 23 June 2016.