10 Things You Didn’t Know About Independence Day

5. During The Shoot, People Thought They'd Witnessed A Genuine UFO

You probably remember the 'Welcome Wagon' scene, in which a helicopter pilot is sent to communicate with a large alien spaceship using an array of flashing lights. This is the scene where it's confirmed that the extra-terrestrial visitors are unfriendly, as the helicopter is shot out of the sky by their futuristic weaponry without warning.

While this scene was being filmed in Orange County, some members of the general public thought they'd witnessed a genuine UFO. Of course, what they'd actually seen was a very Earthly helicopter - a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane, to be precise - kitted out with some flashy extra gizmos.

Apparently, over 150 phone calls were made to the authorities, as Orange County inhabitants tried to report the UFO sighting. It's unknown what the authorities said in response, but I like to imagine that they confirmed that a film shoot was going on, giving Independence Day some extra publicity among the local UFO-loving community.