After a busy week, I settled down to watch the latest Steven Spielberg film, starring Brits Emily Blunt and Colin Firth, alongside Irish actress Eve Hewson. Critics have been divided on this one, but most seem to agree on one thing: Emily Blunt is outstanding. They are right. She is excellent, although all three lead performances deserve praise.

It’s certainly a film that will appeal to many people, although I didn’t feel it was fair to score it immediately. There is a lot to take in, and I suspect it will benefit from a second viewing. Unfortunately, the screening I attended was hampered by several loud and rude audience members who talked throughout the film, making it difficult to fully immerse myself. I also know some cinema staff who claim this is the best film of 2026 so far. I need to view again. 

Disclosure Day is a dark, moody and undoubtedly expensive production. When I review films, I always focus on my own reaction, which is often very different from that of professional critics. I’m still not entirely sure where I stand on this one. The film’s optimistic message that confirmation of alien life could unite humanity in difficult times struck some critics as outdated or unrealistic. But does that really matter? This is a summer blockbuster, after all. Sometimes it feels as though critics are determined to pull films apart and overanalyse every detail. Critics can make or break a film, yet we all experience movies differently. A recent example is the excellent Masters of the Universe, which received poor critic reviews and it then struggled at the box office, despite many audience members praising it.

The film does an excellent job of establishing mystery from the outset. It is heavily story-driven, with enough action sprinkled throughout to keep things moving. Despite some comparisons online, this is not a sequel or follow-up to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It also feels very different in tone from E.T., with a more mature and grounded approach.

Emily Blunt plays a weather reporter, delivering a compelling performance that helps make the film consistently engaging. Eve Hewson is equally impressive, while Colin Firth excels in a role that feels quite different from the characters he is usually associated with.

As for the ending, without giving anything away, I found it slightly ambiguous and ended up looking online for some clarification afterwards. The film could probably have been trimmed slightly, but it remains an enjoyable and worthwhile cinema experience.

Finally, a message to the three or four audience members who talked throughout the screening: “learn some manners.”From the moment they arrived, loudly announcing themselves to everyone around them, I had a feeling they were going to be a problem. This wasn’t quiet whispering; it was full-volume conversation. At times, I could hear them above some of the film’s loudest sequences. People pay good money to enjoy a film, and I genuinely cannot understand this behaviour. Thanks for spoiling the experience for everyone else.

Disclosure Day follows a cybersecurity specialist who uncovers evidence that proof of extraterrestrial life has been hidden from the public for decades. As he digs deeper into the conspiracy, he teams up with a television meteorologist whose own unexplained experiences appear connected to the mystery. Together they find themselves pursued by powerful forces determined to keep the truth buried, leading to a race against time to reveal a discovery that could change humanity’s understanding of its place in the universe.

Online synopsis 

Certification: 12A
Running time: 145 minutes
Screening type: 2D