When Steven Spielberg announced a new sci-fi film, the hype was astronomical. With a legendary resume, fans expected his 2020s entry to rival his best work. A secretive campaign and glowing teasers set Disclosure Day up for greatness—until it wasn't. While Emily Blunt's performance earned praise, the film's alien elements felt like an afterthought. Even Spielberg's own catalog offers better extraterrestrial tales.
For those craving a palate cleanser, we've rounded up eight alien movies that outshine Disclosure Day. From bone-chilling horror to mind-bending drama, these films put aliens front and center—where they belong.
1. Alien (1979)
Ridley Scott's Alien rewrote the rules of sci-fi horror. A commercial spaceship crew wakes to a distress signal on a desolate moon, only to discover a nest of alien eggs. When crew member Kane (John Hurt) is attacked by a parasitic organism, a deadly, acid-blooded creature erupts from his chest and stalks the ship. Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) must survive the Xenomorph—one of cinema's most terrifying villains. Alien ditched little green men for a claustrophobic space haunted house, exploiting primal fears of the unknown and corporate greed. Scott's restraint—showing only glimpses of H.R. Giger's monster—maximizes suspense. Disclosure Day buries its aliens under political conspiracy; Alien makes them the star.
2. Arrival (2016)
Denis Villeneuve's Arrival shares DNA with Disclosure Day—both explore linguistics and alien communication—but does it far better. Linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is recruited by the military when giant Heptapod crafts land on Earth. Alongside astrophysicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), she deciphers their circular language, unlocking non-linear time perception and preventing global war. Based on Ted Chiang's novella, Arrival avoids explosions and landmarks for a painstaking intellectual challenge. Its theme of language as a metaphor for understanding others resonates deeply. The film's emotional core—grief, love, and acceptance of fate—elevates it beyond standard sci-fi. Arrival thrives in stillness, a quality Disclosure Day lacks.
3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Spielberg's own Close Encounters of the Third Kind remains a benchmark. Electrical lineman Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) becomes obsessed after a UFO encounter, while single mother Jillian Guiler (Melinda Dillon) searches for her abducted son. French scientist Claude Lacombe (François Truffaut) investigates. The film builds to a transcendent, benevolent first contact—a stark contrast to Disclosure Day's conspiracy-heavy approach. Close Encounters captures wonder and obsession without losing sight of the aliens themselves.
4. Independence Day (1996)
Roland Emmerich's Independence Day is pure blockbuster spectacle. When alien ships decimate Earth's cities, a ragtag group—including pilot Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and scientist David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum)—fights back with a computer virus. It's loud, patriotic, and unapologetically fun. Disclosure Day aims for serious drama but forgets to entertain. Independence Day delivers iconic moments and alien action that keeps audiences cheering.
5. District 9 (2009)
Neill Blomkamp's District 9 uses aliens as a metaphor for apartheid. When a stranded alien race is confined to slums in Johannesburg, bureaucrat Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) undergoes a transformation after exposure to alien biotechnology. The film blends documentary-style realism with visceral action, critiquing xenophobia and exploitation. Disclosure Day touches on political themes but lacks this raw, allegorical power.
6. The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter's The Thing is paranoia perfected. In an Antarctic research station, a shape-shifting alien assimilates and imitates the crew. Kurt Russell's MacReady leads a desperate fight to identify the monster. The film's practical effects and creeping dread make it a horror masterpiece. Disclosure Day offers no such visceral terror; The Thing proves that true alien horror lies in not knowing who to trust.
7. Project Hail Mary (2026)
Based on Andy Weir's novel, Project Hail Mary follows astronaut Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) who wakes alone on a spaceship with amnesia, tasked with saving Earth from a cosmic threat. His unlikely friendship with an alien named Rocky is the heart of the film—a blend of science, humor, and emotion. Disclosure Day keeps its aliens distant; Project Hail Mary makes you fall in love with one.
8. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Doug Liman's Edge of Tomorrow stars Tom Cruise as a soldier caught in a time loop during an alien invasion. Each death resets the day, allowing him to learn and adapt alongside warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). The film is a clever, action-packed thrill ride that uses its alien Mimics as a relentless force. Disclosure Day also features Blunt, but Edge of Tomorrow gives her a far more dynamic role—and a better alien story.
These eight films prove that when it comes to extraterrestrial cinema, Disclosure Day is just the beginning. Whether you crave horror, drama, or spectacle, these alien movies deliver the goods.
