Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller Disclosure Day arrives in theaters Friday, June 12, 2026, with early reactions from critics hailing the film as the director’s best work in two decades and praising star Emily Blunt’s performance as extraordinary.
The film follows a Kansas City TV meteorologist, played by Blunt, who is overcome by a mysterious extraterrestrial force while taping a weather segment live on air. She teams up with Josh O’Connor, who plays an alien life believer determined to reveal the truth about extraterrestrial life to the world. The cast also includes Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, and Wyatt Russell.
Critics who attended early press screenings in late May have called Disclosure Day “Spielberg’s best film in 20 years,” according to reactions published by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Gizmodo senior entertainment reporter Germain Lussier wrote, “A dense roller coaster ride blending chase film, love story, & mystery, all wrapped in sci-fi wonder. It’s Spielberg’s best film in 20 years, filled w/ all the magic that makes his films so special, plus an all-time character/performance by Emily Blunt.”
Blunt’s performance has drawn particular acclaim. Collider’s Steven Weintraub stated, “Emily Blunt is incredible. I know big summer movies aren’t usually the kinds of performances that get awards-season attention, but once people see what she does in this…” SlashFilm critic Bill Bria called her work “Emily Blunt’s most accomplished performance,” while freelance critic Tessa Smith, who shed tears at the film’s ending, wrote, “Disclosure Day is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!”
Spielberg developed the story with screenwriter David Koepp, who previously collaborated with the director on Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The film marks Spielberg’s first original sci-fi feature since Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T., though he has directed other science fiction films including Minority Report and Ready Player One. Composer John Williams provides the score, which critics have also praised.
Disclosure Day represents Spielberg’s first theatrical release since 2022’s The Fabelmans. The film explores what would happen if humanity received definitive proof that we are not alone in the universe. When Spielberg appeared at South by Southwest in May, he stated, “I don’t know any more than any of you do, but I have a very strong suspicion that we are not alone here on Earth right now — and I made a movie about that.” Blunt told Empire magazine that the film answers questions posed by Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
The film’s release comes amid renewed public interest in UFO disclosure, following the Pentagon’s release of previously classified reports and videos regarding anomalous aerial activity. Universal is releasing Disclosure Day in theaters nationwide on June 12, with tickets now available.
Sources
- Variety — First reactions from critics calling Disclosure Day “Spielberg’s best film in 20 years” and praising Emily Blunt’s “all-time” performance; cast and plot details
- The Hollywood Reporter — Early reactions from critics including Steven Weintraub, Bill Bria, Jim Hemphill, and Germain Lussier; Spielberg’s statement on UFOs; Emily Blunt’s quote about Close Encounters
- IMDb — Cast members, release date, and basic film information
- Wikipedia — Paris premiere date (June 2, 2026) and U.S. release date (June 12, 2026)
