Disclosure Day Movie Review

Released: 12th June 2026 (UK & and US)

Length: 145 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell and Colin Firth

For more than fifty years, Steven Spielberg has been one of the biggest names in the movie-making business. The director has also maintained his fascination with extra-terrestrial life, putting out E.T, Close Encounters and War of the Worlds through the decades. He returns to the subject of alien visitors with Disclosure Day, an intriguing but ultimately ineffective outing.

In modern day Kansas, strange events are afoot. The young Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) and his girlfriend Jane Blankenship (Eve Hewson) are on the run from the ruthless Wardex Corporation, led by Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth). They possess critical data and top-secret files that will shock the world. Meanwhile, news broadcaster Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) discovers some mind-bending abilities and sets out on her own journey. Leaning into government conspiracy and supernatural occurrences, Disclosure Day updates the superstitions of the 1950s and 1960s for the digital age, but it struggles to connect. For the most part, the film is a drab and plodding chase without much tension. Daniel and Jane go from place to place before we cut over to Margaret who is plagued with weak dialogue and quirky mannerisms. Most of the twists rely heavily on otherworldly powers and devices entering the picture, but they feel more like convenient escape routes than genuine plot twists. While the film does have a good sense of mystery, the bigger picture often falls short. We are told about rising tensions and the threat of another World War, but because the core action is small-scale, we rarely get a proper sense of build-up. While the conclusion to the mystery is quite thought-provoking, it can’t make up for other problems.

Steven’s films have had some great characters before, but the main players in Disclosure Day are painfully average. Daniel and Jane are performed well enough, but the finer details are left to the background, leaving the audience wanting. Emily Blunt is a brilliant actress and her performance feels rather melodramatic here; between a meltdown on a train and a moment where she simply walks into a Wardex base to rescue Daniel, there’s not enough depth or weight behind Margaret’s actions. Wyatt Russell’s role as Margaret’s partner is so miniscule and insignificant; he exits the stage around the halfway mark and has nothing else to do in the plot. Colin Firth had some potential as the villain, but we learn so little about him and his corporation throughout the plot. It doesn’t help that their foot soldiers often bumble around in broad daylight in their efforts to catch the duo. The same is true of Coleman Domingo as Hugo Wakefield. He leads a group of ex-Wardex employees; because he doesn’t meet the characters face-to-face until the final act, his faction also leaves an empty feeling.

Just about every film from Amblin Entertainment has been well produced and Disclosure Day is no different; every scene is shot with precision and careful cuts. There’s a great tracking shot where we follow Daniel crossing a field and sneaking into an enemy vehicle and the lighting is once again brilliant. The production crew know how to use lens flares to enhance the immersion and they do it again here with great success. Most of the supernatural powers blend seamlessly with the live action and some set piece, most notably a perilous rail crossing, are handled well. The use of news casting technology is always placed front and centre, a great fit for the main story while also tying into the rapid flow of information. John Williams once again composes the music and while it heightens the sense of mystery, it will sit as a more forgettable score.

In a rare dud for Spielberg, Disclosure Day doesn’t work very well at all. While it has glimpses of his whimsical storytelling and remains capably edited, the key ingredients are sorely lacking. Science fiction fans may get something out of it, but this is a big step down for such a revered auteur.

Rating: 2/5 Stars (Disappointing)