‘Disclosure Day’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Drops — See What the Critics are Saying About Spielberg’s New Sci-Fi Epic
According to early reviews collected on Rotten Tomatoes, Steven Spielberg’s new sci-fi thriller Disclosure Day is off to a strong start. The film currently holds an 90% Fresh rating based on 77 reviews, giving Universal Pictures plenty of reason to be optimistic ahead of its wide theatrical release on June 12.
Disclosure Day marks Spielberg’s return to the world of extraterrestrial mysteries, a genre that helped define some of his most beloved films. The movie follows a whistleblower who finds themselves at the center of a massive government conspiracy tied to the possibility of alien life. As secrets begin to unravel, the race is on to reveal information that could change humanity forever.
The film stars Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo. It is directed and produced by Spielberg from a screenplay written by longtime collaborator David Koepp. The project premiered earlier this month in Paris before beginning its international rollout.
Many critics have praised the movie for capturing the sense of wonder and adventure that audiences often associate with Spielberg’s best work. While not every reviewer believes the story comes together perfectly, there seems to be broad agreement that the film delivers an entertaining and emotional experience.
Writing for The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey gave the film four out of five stars and described it as “exquisitely woven, capital ‘E’ entertainment, that’s funny and unabashedly sentimental in all the ways we expect Spielberg to be, with a particular action sequence primed to steal the breath out of your lungs.”
Jordan Hoffman of Fangoria also responded positively, highlighting Spielberg’s filmmaking style. He wrote, “Almost half a century after Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Steven Spielberg seeks to get us all up on that starship with the big-hearted Disclosure Day.”
Nerdist’s Michael Walsh praised the film’s energy and pacing, saying, “Spielberg, working with cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and editor Sarah Broshar, has put together a propulsive thrill ride. It’s just one where the macguffin isn’t an ark or a shark, but Truth.”
Emily Blunt’s performance has emerged as one of the movie’s most widely praised elements. Several reviews singled out her work as one of the film’s biggest strengths, helping ground the larger sci-fi story in something more personal and emotional.
Not every critic was completely convinced by the film’s script. Some reviewers felt the story becomes messy as it moves toward its bigger revelations. Financial Times critic Danny Leigh gave the film three out of five stars, writing, “The ride is rarely dull. You also have to let an awful lot slide. Scriptwriter David Koepp is another esteemed veteran, but here revelations are muddled and plot devices close to nonsensical.”
Den of Geek’s David Crow had similar reservations, though he still saw plenty to enjoy. He wrote, “Even if not all the pieces snap flawlessly into place, Disclosure Day is a reminder of how much magic is still left up Spielberg’s sleeve, how much excitement he and Koepp can bring to a story about government conspiracy.”
Perhaps one of the most telling reactions came from Monica Castillo of The AV Club, who gave the film a positive review and concluded, “Did Disclosure Day make me believe in aliens or want to seek out truther documentaries about unidentified anomalous phenomena? Eh …? Mostly, it just reminded me that I believe in Spielberg. Always have.”
With strong reviews, solid buzz, and box office tracking suggesting a major opening weekend, Disclosure Day is shaping up to be one of the biggest original movie events of 2026. Whether it can become Spielberg’s next blockbuster remains to be seen, but critics have made one thing clear: audiences are in for an entertaining ride.
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