This Week Belongs to Spielberg — And It's Not Even Close

5 hours ago by Alex Reed 5 min read

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Steven Spielberg returns to alien sci-fi for the first time in 21 years with Disclosure Day, John Williams comes out of retirement at 94 to score it, and Emily Blunt faces extraterrestrials on live TV. Plus: two series finales and a romance novel adaptation on streaming.

There are weeks when the release calendar is a buffet — a little horror here, a comedy there, maybe a prestige drama to round things out. This is not one of those weeks. This week, there's one name on the marquee, and everything else is just trying not to get crushed.

The Main Event: Disclosure Day (June 12 — Theaters & IMAX)

Steven Spielberg is back. And not just "back" in the way directors return with a quiet drama nobody sees — back in the way that matters. Back with aliens.

Disclosure Day is Spielberg's first alien-focused film since War of the Worlds in 2005 — that's a 21-year gap. The man who gave us E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind is looking up at the sky again, and this time he brought Emily Blunt with him.

Here's the setup: Blunt plays Margaret Fairchild, a Kansas City TV meteorologist who encounters a mysterious extraterrestrial force during a live broadcast. Josh O'Connor is Daniel Kellner, a man with access to government secrets about alien existence who's ready to blow the whistle. Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, and Wyatt Russell fill out a cast that reads like someone raided every casting director's dream list.

But the real headline? John Williams. He came out of retirement at 94 years old to score this — his 30th collaboration with Spielberg. There's a very real chance this is the last John Williams score we'll ever hear in a theater. Let that sink in for a second.

David Koepp wrote the screenplay — the same David Koepp who adapted Jurassic Park and wrote War of the Worlds. The Super Bowl trailer drew comparisons to The Matrix for its tone and visual ambition. The full trailer in March only amplified the buzz.

This is the kind of event movie that doesn't come around often anymore — a master filmmaker working with his longest creative partner, telling the kind of story that made him famous in the first place. See it in IMAX. This is not a suggestion.

Anticipation: 10/10.

Also in Theaters: Stop! That! Train! (June 12)

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we have RuPaul starring as President Gagwell in a camp disaster comedy set aboard the Glamazonian Express luxury train during a catastrophic storm. Ginger Minj and Jujubee co-star as best-friend stewardesses trying to save the day. It's counter-programming in its purest form — and honestly, I kind of respect the audacity of opening against Spielberg.

Still in Theaters

• The Mandalorian and Grogu — Week 4. Star Wars is holding steady.
• Backrooms — Week 3. A24's viral horror keeps drawing crowds.
• Masters of the Universe — Week 2. He-Man's first real test against Spielberg.
• Scary Movie — Week 2. The Wayans reunion is doing its thing.

Streaming This Week

Every Year After (Prime Video, June 10 — All 8 Episodes)

Carley Fortune's bestselling novel gets the full-season treatment. Sadie Soverall and Matt Cornett star as a couple reconnecting at a lake years after their first meeting. Elisha Cuthbert adds veteran presence. All eight episodes drop at once — a rare Prime Video full-binge drop. If you loved The Summer I Turned Pretty, this is your next obsession.

Sweet Magnolias Season 5 (Netflix, June 11 — 10 Episodes)

Sweet Magnolias returns with its most ambitious season yet — a NYC girls' trip, more romance than ever, and JoAnna Garcia Swisher still holding the whole thing together. It's comfort TV at its finest, and Netflix knows exactly what it has here.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 5 (Starz, June 12 — Weekly)

The final season of the Power prequel. Kanan solidifies his place in the game as the series wraps up the origin story that Power fans have been following since 2021. Weekly drops, so pace yourself.

Grantchester Season 11 (PBS, June 14 — Final Season)

The beloved British mystery series Grantchester says goodbye with its final season, set in 1963. Robson Green and Rishi Nair close out the story. All 8 episodes available on PBS Passport on premiere day if you want to binge it in one sitting.

Bonus: The Vampire Lestat (AMC, June 7 — 6 Episodes)

Technically this premiered just before our window, but it's worth flagging — Interview with the Vampire Season 3 has been rebranded as The Vampire Lestat, with Sam Reid's Lestat becoming a rock star. Six episodes of gothic excess.

The Verdict

This is Spielberg's week. Disclosure Day is the kind of movie that reminds you why theaters exist — a visionary director, a legendary composer, and a story about first contact that could define the summer. Everything else is intermission.

See you in IMAX.