Running Time: 145 minutes
This feature from Universal Pictures will be playing exclusively at theaters and on IMAX screens June 12th, 2026.
Famed director Steven Spielberg has made his fair share of science-fiction pictures, including the undisputed classics Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, as well as A.I. Artificial Intelligence, the War of the Worlds remake and, most recently, Ready Player One. This week marks another genre entry for the filmmaker. Disclosure Day is a new, original story with otherworldly elements. Admittedly, it’s impossible for Spielberg to top the first two iconic movies listed above, but does this attempt still inspire a sense of wonder?
With nations on the brink of World War III, the tale begins with cybersecurity expert Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) stealing secrets from a secret organization known as Wardex corporation. It is revealed that he and his girlfriend, Jane Blankenship (Eve Hewson), are on the run from Wardex head Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth). This is because Kellner claims he possesses 75 years of hidden material involving a UFO conspiracy that he plans on making public. In the meantime, Kansas City TV weather personality Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) begins exhibiting odd behavior. At times, it even appears as though she can read the minds of those around her. The villainous Scanlon’s team sees a connection between Kellner and Fairchild and pursues them both. Yet the pair find themselves drawn together and, with the help of some unexpected friends, attempt to fully understand what is occurring.
Spielberg is a master with the camera, and his work here along with cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (Schindler’s List, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, War of the Worlds, War Horse) is spectacular. The camera pushes into characters during lengthy takes with a moving camera, swirls around panicked passengers in a car, and delivers thrills during several pursuits – one particular standout involves a train. This is, for the majority of its running time, a chase movie and this filmmaker is one of the greatest at building tension and capturing action in creative ways.
The cast is also excellent. While stories about alien conspiracies can come across as silly, the actors all help maintain a degree of believability throughout most of the story. Blunt is fun to watch as Fairchild, who finds herself surprised to speak unexpectedly in different languages. There are also excellent bits where she uses her not-fully-understood skills to stun strangers with intimate comments and advice. The film also derives some humor out of Fairchild’s partner Jackson (Wyatt Russell) and his frustration at her odd behavior. And O’Connor is relatable as a frightened whistleblower on the run, constantly trying to think of ways to avoid capture.
But upon first viewing, not everything here works. The story certainly implies that both Kellner and Scanlon’s group have a solid understanding (or at least, a better idea than anyone else) of the advanced technology in their possession. And yet, antagonist Scanlon seems continually surprised by his targets and how the fugitives use similar powers to escape his grasp. There are also problems with the finale. One of the themes appears to be that we, as human beings, currently live in an age where we are losing empathy, an essential trait for our survival. This message is a welcome one, but it’s mentioned a couple of times in the film, and reiterated in a long and talky sequence towards the end. This important moment intersperses a lot of CGI and science-fiction elements into a real-world plea, and it doesn’t quite land effectively. Additionally, one anticipates a feeling of awe during the close of a Spielberg epic, and this picture doesn’t deliver it.
Disclosure Day is an exceptionally shot and staged feature. The performances are excellent and there are some exciting moments. But there is also a lot of repetition in the story, and the finale/resolution doesn’t wow as intended. It’s entertaining in the moment and well-intentioned, but doesn’t linger long in the memory after the credits roll, and ends up a decent but lesser entry in the filmmaker’s sci-fi catalog.
