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. 

If you saw the trailer for Disclosure Day, directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, you would not be alone in anticipating it to be one of the best films of the year. Even though not every film in his career has been a home run, he is still considered one of the greatest filmmakers in Hollywood history. Combine that with the fascinating concept of aliens actually existing within humanity’s reach and the possibility of that information being released to the general public, and it is obvious why this film would turn heads and pique the interest of audiences from all walks of life. While the performances are excellent and the film builds suspense effectively, it ultimately fails to deliver in its third act, leaving many viewers wanting more or walking out of the theater disappointed.

Leading the film is Emily Blunt, who completely steals the show. She dominates the marketing, appears throughout the trailers, and carries the majority of the film’s screen time, which was a smart decision by the filmmakers. She has everything necessary to sell this movie and delivers one of the strongest performances of her career. She is fantastic from beginning to end and even has several scenes in which she speaks three different languages, showcasing both her talent and impressive range as an actress.

Her character is paired with Wyatt Russell, and the chemistry between them is enjoyable to watch while also feeling believable. Coleman Domingo delivers another excellent supporting performance, bringing a mysterious presence that immediately makes you feel as though he is hiding something important. Unfortunately, his biggest drawback is that he simply is not in the film enough.

The film’s primary antagonist is played by Colin Firth, portraying a man willing to do absolutely anything to get what he wants. I’ll just say this: if I ever saw him in real life, I would run. I would not want him anywhere near me, which is a testament to just how sinister and manipulative his performance feels.

The story is where the film’s biggest problems begin, and unfortunately, it provides almost no payoff. Both the trailers and the film itself lead audiences to believe that a massive disclosure about the existence of extraterrestrial life is imminent. The mystery is established in the opening scenes and continues throughout the first and second acts. In fact, it is teased for nearly the entire runtime.

Then, when the opportunity finally arrives to reveal the truth and explore the consequences of that revelation, the film simply asks the audience to wait. But why? What is the reason? Instead of delivering on its central premise, the story sends viewers through multiple side quests that ultimately go nowhere and accomplish very little. There are no spoilers in this review, and I strongly recommend going into the film as blind as possible, but much of the plot feels unnecessary and ultimately like wasted time.

The film also centers on the question of how humanity would react if intelligent alien life truly existed on Earth or elsewhere in our solar system, yet we never actually get to experience those reactions. That is exactly what audiences are buying tickets to see. Would the global economy collapse? Would people abandon religion or become more devoted? Would society descend into chaos, or would humanity finally unite? The film refuses to answer any of these questions before the credits roll, and that decision is incredibly frustrating.

There are still several entertaining science fiction elements, particularly involving advanced technologies and what they are capable of accomplishing. Many of these concepts feel far beyond anything humanity could realistically achieve on its own, at least not for an incredibly long time without extraterrestrial influence.

As expected from a Spielberg film, the action sequences are expertly directed. He continues to demonstrate why he is one of the greatest visual storytellers of all time. His use of crane shots, dynamic camera movement, and large scale staging makes you feel as though you are standing on set alongside the characters.

Unfortunately, great action alone is not enough to make a great film. Strong performances, compelling characters, and an intriguing premise can only carry a movie so far. In the end, everything has to come together into a cohesive story, and Disclosure Day never quite accomplishes that. It is difficult to discuss the film’s biggest narrative problems without venturing into spoiler territory, but the story simply needed to move from Point A to Point B. Instead, it takes countless unnecessary detours before arriving at an ending that offers very few satisfying answers.

Video Review:

Official Trailer:

Final Trailer: