Reviews are now out for Steven Spielberg’s UFO thriller “Disclosure Day” and while the film seems to be widely liked, how liked it is appears to be a much more variable question.
On Rotten Tomatoes with 113 reviews counted, it sits at 89% with an average rating of 7.6/10. On Metacritic, it’s at a slightly more sobering 73/100.
Spielberg and Emily Blunt get almost universal praise, but the overall story, characters and pacing are more debated with some really gelling with its vibe, others finding it very ‘mid-tier’ Spielberg.
Here’s a sampling of reviews:
“Disclosure Day is never anything other than entertaining and grade-A fun; rare enough in the movies or anywhere else, rocketing along with barnstorming set-pieces, exhilarating chases, funny lines and a career-topper of a performance from Blunt.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“While Spielberg has never lost his sense of fun, Disclosure Day is uniquely fortified by the sense that he’s still searching for new ways to enrapture a jaded audience with his spectacle.” – David Ehrlich, Indiewire
“That cinematic Spielberg DNA is in Disclosure Day, and while this genre exercise may not hit the nosebleed heights of his best 21st century offerings, there’s more than enough of his presence to warrant a ticket purchase.” – David Fear, Rolling Stone
“Scene for scene, the movie is a vigorous and diverting ride. Yet coming after the mountains of real UAP footage we’ve seen, Disclosure Day never gives you the contact high of awe that “Close Encounters” did.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“Disclosure Day can be messy, but much of its beauty lies in that messiness. It’s an astoundingly personal film, and we can sense Spielberg trying to feel his way through the conflicting aspects of his vision.” – Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
“It’s so bombastic and enjoyable that it’s easy to forgive that the story doesn’t work. I won’t forget that the story doesn’t work, but it has my forgiveness.” – William Bibbiani, The Wrap
“At its very best, which is not infrequently, Disclosure Day delivers the kind of eye-popping, heart-racing wonder that Spielberg has become synonymous with… But all the fun and excitement must also sit uneasily along some distressingly thin characters.” – Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail
“With its ruminations on everything from responsible government to humanity’s innate religious drive, Disclosure Day is unquestionably a big swing. But with Spielberg, big swings should be a given, and this one only glancingly connects.” – Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph
“It’s still a thrill ride, thumbing its nose at authority and begging its audience for more empathy, not less. 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.” – Monica Castillo, AV Club
“That sensation of déjà vu with diminishing returns permeates the whole of Disclosure Day, which feels like a tour of tropes that Spielberg has tackled with greater skill and sensitivity earlier in his illustrious career.” – Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict
The reviews come as the $115 million budget feature is expected to open at around $35 million. Combined with marketing costs at $80 million, execs at rival studios estimate the film will have to do over $300 million to make a profit.
“Disclosure Day” opens in cinemas on Friday.
