We just can't stop talking about Disclosure Day - and we're not alone, it seems. Steven Spielberg's first foray back into moviemaking in years has generated a lot more buzz than anticipated - which sounds alien to sound considering that we're talking about Steven Spielberg here! - with the film now defying expectations, projections, and naysayers to produce a stellar opening weekend at the box office.
The sci-fi spectacle stars Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Wyatt Russell, and it centers on three peoples' attempt to prove to the world that there really is life out there. Daniel Keller (O'Connor) becomes a whistleblower who seeks to alert the world of the truth about the company he works for - which has covered up the existence of aliens over the years - while meteorologist Margaret Fairchild (Blunt) becomes an unlikely allow after seemingly learning to speak in an alien dialect that only Keller understands. Together, they set out to tell the world. And, well, the world has shown up for Disclosure Day.
Disclosure Day is Steven Spielberg's best domestic opener in 18 years
Disclosure Day has defied expectations in its opening weekend at the box office. Steven Spielberg's newest adventure has grossed $44 million domestically, adding another $48 million from international audiences to take in a worldwide opening gross of $92.9 million. That makes it easily the No. 1 movie in the world - including in the U.S. of course - which it was always on track to secure, but the real story here is how it overperformed - and set a Spielberg record in the process.
The Emily Blunt-led sci fi was originally expected to rake in around $30 million from domestic markets in its debut, which would have been respectable but underwhelming for a Steven Spielberg science fiction film. But generally strong word-of-mouth and sustained audiences across that weekend saw it come in well above expectations - which has put it in with a real chance to reaching its profitability goals (which are reportedly around $300 million).
In defying expectations, it has become Spielberg's highest opening at the US box office in 18 years. It was always going to be difficult to surpass 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but its $44 million haul did help it to jump over 2018's Ready Player One - something it wouldn't have been able to do if it had come in in-line with initial projections.
As it currently stands, here are the domestic box office openings for every Steven Spielberg movie of the past 18 years:
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - $100.1 million
- Disclosure Day (2026) - $44 million
- Ready Player One (2018) - $41.8 million
- Lincoln (2012) - $21 million
- The Post (2017) - $20 million
- The BFG (2016) - $18.8 million
- Bridge of Spies (2015) - $15.4 million
- West Side Story (2021) - $10.5 million
- The Adventures of Tintin (2011) - $9.7 million
- War Horse (2011) - $7.5 million
- The Fabelmans (2022) - $3.4 million
Perhaps what's even more impressive is that Disclosure Day's $44 million opening has placed it fifth among Spielberg's all-time domestic openings, behind Jurassic Park's $47 million, War of the Worlds' $65 million, The Lost World: Jurassic Park's $72 million, and Indiana Jones' aforementioned $100 million. That puts it in very good company and once again highlights how Spielberg's films benefit from box office legs.
Disclosure Day might endure despite initial hesitation
Yes, the legendary director's movies have a knack for lingering around for weeks, meaning that they don't always have to frontload their box office totals in the first week like most modern blockbusters do, so that puts Disclosure Day in with a real shot of mirroring that approach. After all, this is the same year that Project Hail Mary - a fellow original non-franchise sci-fi movie - managed to endure at a time when superhero movies and franchise favorites are among the few that manage to significantly move the needle. Perhaps Disclosure Day that recreate that momentum - especially with Spielberg's reputation for enduring films.
The film is performing well with critics, currently boasting an 81% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is a little more mixed at 73% but, obviously still leaning significantly in the positive direction. The mixed feelings about the film and its thought-provoking ending have also generated a lot of buzz online, which will undoubtedly work in its favor in the long-run. The best way to have an opinion on something is to see it for yourself and actually form one. Perhaps that could draw in some younger audiences as the days and weeks roll by.
Disclosure Day's core audience does appear to be older, which makes sense considering that it's likely to consist of Spielberg and sci-fi fans eager to consume a healthy dose of nostalgia from a genre that was everywhere in the '90s, but there is enough appeal for younger audiences too. Like Project Hail Mary, it feels like an event film - and event films should be seen on the big screen - and a rare non-franchise one in a summer full of franchise blockbusters (Toy Story 5, Supergirl, Spider-Man: Brand New Day).
it also benefits from featuring some beloved faces that younger audiences adore. Emily Blunt is having an incredible year after the success of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Josh O'Connor is a fan-favorite of this generation after acclaimed performances in Challengers, Knives Out sequel Wake Up Dead Man, and The History of Sound. Colman Domingo is on the run of his career, Colin Firth is a fan-favorite who we've all seen in at least six major projects in our lifetime, and Marvel and MonsterVerse star Wyatt Russell is another modern favorite.
All in all, Disclosure Day overperformed and defied expectations in its opening weekend at the box office - not just in the US but around the world too. $93 million is a massive improvement for a movie that was originally projected to land around $65 million, and that has allowed it to make a huge stride towards breaking even for Universal Pictures. Its $115 million budget is almost covered, but if the movie matches Spielberg's previous longtail performances, it could quite easily reach the $300 million breakeven point. Here's hoping that it pulls it off!
Disclosure Day has arrived in theaters now.
Add us as a preferred source on Google