The master of wonder returns to the big screen as director Steven Spielberg brings us ‘Disclosure Day’ (2026).
Written by David Koepp based on a story by Spielberg, the film is the latest in the director’s alien collection, which includes ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ (1978), ‘ET the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982) and ‘War of the Worlds’ (2005).
In Spielberg’s latest alien exploration, the world is on the brink of World War III. Additionally, a covert corporation named Wardex is trying to retrieve sensitive data from defecting cybersecurity specialist (Josh O’Connor) after kidnapping his girlfriend (Eve Hewson).
What the sensitive data refers to is disclosed in the film’s trailer, its promotional material and early on in the movie.
So, rather than foregrounding the aliens, the film introduces Daniel Kellner (O’Connor) and ‘weather girl’ Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), who have unwittingly been endowed with abilities to usher humanity into this new reality.
Unsurprisingly Wardex – particularly its chief executive, Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth) – wants to keep the whole “aliens are real” thing quiet. This is mainly because the alien tech is powerful. They think knowledge of extra-terrestrials will destroy the world order and there’s footage of them torturing the non-human beings.
Ruminating on whether a largely religious world could handle the confirmation of alien life, a fact that has been covered up since the Roswell incident (1947), ‘Disclosure Day’ hits some familiar government conspiracy film notes but with a huge dose of Spielberg’s particular magic.
The film also sees the return of notable Spielberg collaborators, cinematographer Janusz Kamiski and composer John Williams.
Fans of the director’s world-building will enjoy the films thrilling car chases, gripping use of the alien tech, its deeply human moments of connection, empathy and heroism and not least its harking back to beautifully-lit childhood moments of wonder, terror and awe.
“People are starved for the truth,” says Wardex whistleblower Hugo Wakefield, played by Colman Domingo. And the statement is one that resonates in the real world.
As artificial intelligence, fake news and disinformation muddy the waters of reality and verified journalism, the truth seems harder to get to than ever.
Even more so as traditional, authenticated media loses ground to the immediacy and hype that fuels social media.
While social media features in ‘Disclosure Day’, the big reveal is entrusted to traditional broadcast journalists. While this may seem a little nostalgic or dated, the detail seems pointed and speaks to ideas about accuracy and an enduring faith in old school media, as fallible and captured as it can be.
A scene in which a news anchor narrates the release of the very first verified footage of aliens on earth is poignantly portrayed by actress Courtney Grace and may leave you reaching for a tissue. Central performances by Blunt, O’Connor, Hewson, Domingo and Firth are excellent, with Blunt scene-stealing throughout.
Hopeful and human in times as bleak as these, ‘Disclosure Day’ is a thrillingly big picture that ends with one humble request.
‘Disclosure Day (2026) is now showing at Ster-Kinekor at Maerua Mall.
–martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com
