`INDEPENDENCE DAY' BLASTS AWAY AT BOX-OFFICE LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.

Byline: Janet Weeks Daily News Staff Writer

20th Century Fox's ``Independence Day'' continued to blast box-office records Monday when grosses hit an estimated $100 million after seven days in theaters - the fastest climb to nine digits in Hollywood history.

The record is the fourth to fall to the sci-fi disaster flick since it set a new pre-opening-day high of $11.1 million on July 2. Other ``ID4'' watermarks include highest five-day opening ($84.9 million), biggest opening for a Fox film and best Fourth of July opening. The Fourth of July record previously was held by ``Apollo 13,'' which grossed $38.5 million over five days last summer.

``ID4,'' a sci-fi adventure about aliens with a penchant for destruction, is also credited with pushing total ticket sales for all movies to new heights over the long holiday.

Combined box-office totals for the five-day weekend soared to $190 million - $30 million more than the $158.6 million record set this past Thanksgiving when ``Toy Story'' opened.

``It's been a great weekend. Extraordinary. A wild ride,'' said Jeffrey Godsick, senior vice president of publicity and promotions for Fox.

``We knew from the test screenings that the reaction from the film was unbelievable,'' Godsick said. ``It plays like a rock concert. There's clapping and cheering throughout. People are coming back because they couldn't hear things the first time.''

As of Monday morning, ``Independence Day's'' total ticket sales were $96.1 million, according to John Krier, president of Exhibitor Relations, a box-office tracking service. He said the movie would reach $100 million by Monday evening.

``What's going on is a combination of marketing, subject matter and hype,'' said Krier. ``And the fact that Fox started promotions so early.''

But Godsick credits the success of the film to spectacular special-effects combined with a simple, can't-miss theme: good vs. evil.

``We have a universal bad guy that everybody can appreciate,'' he said. ``All of the petty problems of the world become so small when there are ships 15 miles long over the rooftops. That is part of the appeal of the movie.''

Godsick also downplayed the role of marketing, although Fox gave ``ID4'' a huge push with several early trailers and other promotional tricks reminiscent of old Tinseltown ballyhoo.

``The promotion has been successful in making the public aware of the movie,'' he said. ``But ultimately you have to attribute the success to the movie itself.''

The release of a much-anticipated film like ``ID4'' on the Fourth of July week - traditionally a big box-office time - helped all movies in theaters this weekend.

``A big, mega-event picture ignites the whole marketplace,'' said Godsick. ``People might come to see `Independence Day,' but if they can't get in they go to another movie.''

Eddie Murphy's new comedy, ``The Nutty Professor,'' grossed $25.8 million over the five days, placing second in the box-office race behind ``ID4.''

John Travolta's ``Phenomenon'' came in third with a five-day total of $24.5 million. The animated family film ``The Hunchback of Notre Dame'' placed fourth with $13.7 million, followed by Arnold Schwarzenegger's ``Eraser'' with $13.4 million.

If ``Independence Day'' continues on its record-annihilating course, it could overtake Universal's ``Jurassic Park'' as the most successful film of all time. And, of course, talk of a sequel is already under way.

But Godsick said Fox executives aren't looking too far down the road.

``We can't even think that big,'' he said. ``We're just going to enjoy it as it goes.''

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Chart: The weekend's top 10