Disclosure Day Review: How Does Upstate NY Look on the Big Screen

The Master of Science Fiction is back...

Steven Spielberg is back on the big screen with his latest Sci-Fi Thriller, Disclosure Day, which was filmed in part in Upstate New York. So how is it?

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Disclosure Day

After the critical success of Spielberg's latest film, 2022's The Fableman's, he got right back to work, this time, with subject matter he thrived in: Aliens. From E.T. to Close Encounters, Spielberg loves the idea that we aren't alone in the universe.

And that's exactly what this film tackles. It's spends literally zero seconds of its runtime making you wonder, we're told that extraterrestrial life is on earth within the first scene. Instead, the film grapples on how humanity would react upon hearing the news that we're not alone.

The film is a directorial Tour De Force from Spielberg, almost playing as a "Greatest Hits" collection of his favorite camera tricks and blocking decisions. Every scene feels tactile, lived in, and real. The chases are heart pounding, the heart to hearts are gut wrenching, and the awe is, well, awe inspiring.

The script, written by David Koepp, is where a few major issues drop in. The second act doesn't hold as much substance as the rest of the film, and seems to drag on just a bit too long, but when it's good it's good. The last 30 to 45 minutes is some of the most masterful Sci-Fi filmmaking I've seen in ages (excluding Jordan Peele's NOPE, which might go down in history as one of the greats).

The plot, in my opinion, is stellar, though. The hiccups aren't enough to hinder the ideas at play here. It won't resonate with everyone, but the message is so hopeful and strong that the ending should make even the most stone-faced film watchers shed a tear.

How Does Upstate Look?

I've discussed this a few times, but much of the film was shot in Catskill, NY. These sequences, meant to be taking place just outside of Washington D.C., are the most breathtaking in the film. The "Crop Circles" moment, high speed car chases, and tender conversations are all surrounded by some of the most jaw-dropping natural scenery I've seen in a film in years.

Sure, I would've liked more, but a solid 50% of this film takes place in these areas, and it's instantly recognizable to someone living in the area. I almost pointed at the screen and said "WAIT, THAT'S CATSKILL" the first time they started wandering the streets.

Overall, it's another incredible addition (if not slightly undercooked) to Spielberg's filmography, and you should try to see it on the biggest screen possible.

Disclosure Day (2026) released on June 12. Only in Theaters.