Disclosure Day ★★★★★

Released: 10 June 2026

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth

I’m not a gambler but I would put money on the fact I am convinced that Steven Spielberg knows the true reality of alien existence. The genius behind Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T and War of the Worlds has never given up allowing audiences the opportunity to believe that we are not alone in this universe. Back in 2024 when it was first reported that the director was working on a ‘UFO’ project, with screenwriter David Koepp conceptualising his ideas, fans were ecstatic and expectations instantly were high. Disclosure Day is here and proves that Spielberg is always on top form, while keeping up with the ever-evolving shift in modern filmmaking.

The concept surrounding Disclosure Day comes from Spielberg rekindling his interest in the subject of extra-terrestrials after reading the 2017 New York Times article “Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O Program’. The first half of the film is essentially a politically-charged thriller, highlighting the potential worries of a global World War III – which in this climate, is factually correct. Daniel (Josh O’Connor) was a cybersecurity specialist before he stole classified documents, including a piece of alien technology from his now former employer, Wardex Corp – a top-secret extension of the government, similar to those working at Area 51. The documents in question are the key into the confirmation of life existing outside of Earth, with Daniel wanting to pull off a full disclosure day, exposing the truth to the planet’s eight billion plus population.

While Daniel is on the run, Kansas City TV meteorologist Margaret (Emily Blunt) is having breakfast with her partner Jackson (Wyatt Russell) when a cardinal flies through their apartment window. Her eyes are locked in on the bird before it flies away and Margaret’s head begins to ache. Suddenly she begins to speak Russian to Jackson – a language she doesn’t know. As she sings along to Gwen Stefani’s The Sweet Escape while driving to work, she is pulled over by the police. What comes next is the discovery that she can read the thoughts and feelings of those in front of her, in whatever language they speak in. As she makes it into work, flustered and unaware of what is wrong with her, she starts her live weather report, and just like we saw in the film’s first trailer, she begins to talk in an alien tongue. Social media then goes into a frenzy with everyone thinking the world is about to be over soon.

O’Connor and Blunt’s chemistry is phenomenal, as we see Daniel and Margaret’s special bond and shared experiences slowly becoming unravelled through its complexities. Blunt especially is the star of Disclosure Day both learning new languages for the role and also being brave enough to record her own alien sound. In an interview during the film’s press run, Blunt has detailed how she would send Spielberg voice memos of herself clicking and humming mixed with morse code sounds. After playing more of a background role in The Devil Wears Prada 2 back in May, Blunt takes her moment and owns it, marking arguably her best performance to date.

Prior to release, it was reported that Spielberg refused to hand over the third act of footage of marketing, with the worries of them using it for press materials and trailers. That choice was the right one. The final act of Disclosure Day is bold and surprisingly emotional. Progressing through the film you could question its intentions as being slightly messy. Where are the aliens we were promised? Spielberg’s creative direction in how he exposes the truth in the film is an alarmingly genius move. It’s shocking to a point it almost feels like it could come true in our own reality at any point.

Spielberg is one of the most prolific directors of our generation. It feels like an honour to be able to sit in the cinema and watch his films, knowing how much he cares about original storytelling. Disclosure Day is a prime example of that in this modern climate of filmmaking. It’s fresh yet familiar to his previous projects. It takes risk and feels relatable in our own societal issues going on in the newsphere, while also allowing us the opportunity to believe in something again. Perhaps Spielberg is hinting our own Disclosure Day is upon us.