Disclosure Day first reactions hail Steven Spielberg's "best film in 20 years" and "astounding" Emily Blunt

There are just two weeks to go before we can see the iconic director's new summer blockbuster.

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Published: Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 10:59 am

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The release of a new Steven Spielberg film is always cause for celebration – but the iconic director's new film Disclosure Day is all the more exciting given it marks his return to summer blockbuster filmmaking.

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Not only that, the film will see him revisit the topic of UFOs previously explored in classics Close Encounters of the Third Kind, ET the Extra-Terrestrial and more recently War of the Worlds. And there's a great cast including Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson and Colman Domingo.

We're still a couple of weeks out from the film's release on Wednesday 10 June, but while the full review embargo has not yet lifted, the first social media reactions have started to filter through from journalists who have already attended preview screenings.

And if those reactions are anything to go by, it looks like Disclosure Day could well be another classic Spielberg popcorn movie.

"I loved Disclosure Day," wrote Gizmodo senior entertainment reporter Germain Lussier on X, describing the film as "A dense roller coaster ride blending chase film, love story, & mystery, all wrapped in sci-fi wonder."

He added: "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."

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Lussier wasn't the only one to give an enthusiastic response, with Collider’s editor-in-chief, Steven Weintraub declaring it "another towering home run" from Spielberg, and recommending that viewers go in as blind as possible.

"The one thing I will say: Emily Blunt is incredible," he continued. "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..."

The Wrap senior writer Drew Taylor also heaped praise on Blunt, calling her performance "astounding" while writer Jairo Jiménez wrote that she and O'Connor formed "a magnetic & beautifully human couple" and gave "the best performances of both their careers."

He added that the film was a "hypnotic, captivating UFO thriller" and "an astonishing masterpiece."

Josh O'Connor in Disclosure Day, directed by Steven Spielberg

Josh O'Connor in Disclosure Day. Universal

Meanwhile, reporter Bill Bria called the film "the weirdest movie Spielberg’s ever made" – adding he meant that as a compliment. He continued that "David Koepp’s X-FILES-meets-The Bible script is one big high-wire act" and concluded that it was "riveting, moving stuff".

Polygon's deputy entertainment editor Jacob Kleinman was a little more measured in his reaction, saying: "I regret to inform you that Disclosure Day is not the best Spielberg movie in 20 years or whatever people have been saying."

However, he added: "It is quite good. Beneath a mess of half-baked ideas and plotlines, the bones of classic Spielberg sci-fi are still strong enough to deliver a good romp."

There's not too much longer before the full review embargo lifts – or, indeed, before the film is released – so it will be fascinating to see where the consensus lands once more people have seen it.

The official, rather cryptic, synopsis for the film reads: "If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people. We are coming close to... Disclosure Day."

Disclosure Day is released in cinemas on Wednesday 10 June 2026.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Patrick Cremona, smiling against a lime green background.

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.

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