Hollywood has told alien stories for decades. But the current wave of UFO productions is different from anything that came before. Steven Spielberg, the filmmaker who defined the modern UFO movie, is returning to the subject with Disclosure Day, a film about what happens when humanity learns the truth. Joseph Kosinski, who directed the most successful aviation film in a generation, is building a thriller around real Pentagon whistleblowers. The X-Files is coming back. These are not cheap B-movies or nostalgic reboots. They are prestige productions from top filmmakers, and they are arriving at the same moment that Congress is holding hearings on UAP and the government is declassifying military footage. The timing is not accidental.
TL;DR: Steven Spielberg’s film Disclosure Day, about global upheaval following confirmed extraterrestrial contact, is scheduled for release on June 12, 2026. It is one of several major Hollywood projects about UFOs and government disclosure that are in production or recently announced. Joseph Kosinski, director of Top Gun: Maverick, is developing a UAP thriller for Apple with former intelligence officer David Grusch attached as a consultant. The X-Files is being rebooted for Hulu. These projects are arriving during a period of heightened public interest in UAP driven by congressional hearings and military disclosures. Sources linked below.
Timeline
December 16, 2025 Universal Pictures releases the first trailer for Disclosure Day, directed by Steven Spielberg. The trailer is intentionally vague, showing a global announcement and the reactions of ordinary people to an unfolding contact event. The film is described as exploring “global panic and societal upheaval when humanity receives undeniable proof that aliens exist.”
February 8, 2026 A second Disclosure Day trailer airs during Super Bowl LX, reaching a massive national audience. The trailer provides more detail about the film’s premise while still avoiding direct depictions of aliens or their technology.
2025-2026 Joseph Kosinski, director of Top Gun: Maverick, begins development on a UAP thriller for Apple TV+. David Grusch, the former intelligence officer who testified before Congress about alleged government UAP programs, is attached as a consultant. The project is described as a thriller inspired by real whistleblower experiences.
2025 Scott Cooper signs on to direct a Roswell-themed film for 20th Century Studios. Ryan Coogler’s X-Files reboot receives a pilot order at Hulu. Multiple other UFO-related projects are reported in various stages of development across studios and streaming platforms.
June 12, 2026 Disclosure Day is scheduled for release in the United States by Universal Pictures. Filming took place from February to May 2025 in New York, New Jersey, and Atlanta.
The Films and Shows
Disclosure Day (Universal, June 12, 2026). Directed by Steven Spielberg. The film depicts the global reaction to confirmed extraterrestrial contact. Spielberg previously directed Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), two of the most influential UFO-related films in cinema history. His return to the genre during a period of active government disclosure efforts has drawn significant attention.
Untitled UAP Thriller (Apple TV+, in development). Directed by Joseph Kosinski. The project is described as a thriller inspired by real UAP whistleblower experiences. David Grusch, who testified under oath to Congress in 2023 about alleged government UAP retrieval programs, is attached as a consultant. Kosinski’s involvement brings Top Gun-level aviation filmmaking credibility to the UAP subject.
Roswell (20th Century Studios, in development). Directed by Scott Cooper. Details about the project are limited, but it is described as a film centered on the 1947 Roswell incident. The project would compete with an already crowded field of Roswell-related media.
The X-Files Reboot (Hulu, pilot ordered). Directed by Ryan Coogler. The original X-Files ran from 1993 to 2002 and was one of the most popular television series of the 1990s. The reboot is being developed during a period when the real-world UAP conversation has moved from fringe to mainstream, providing a very different cultural context than the original series.
Why This Matters
Hollywood’s interest in UFOs is not new. What is new is the convergence of three factors.
Credible source material. Previous UFO films drew on mythology, conspiracy theories, and fictional scenarios. The current wave draws on congressional testimony, declassified military videos, and documented government programs. The filmmakers have access to real whistleblowers, real military encounters, and real government records. This changes the nature of the stories being told.
Audience readiness. A November 2025 poll found that 47 percent of Americans believe aliens have visited Earth. Public interest in UAP has been rising since the 2017 New York Times report on AATIP and accelerated through the 2023 congressional hearings. The audience for these films already exists and is actively engaged with the topic.
Cultural normalization. When a filmmaker of Spielberg’s stature makes a serious film about extraterrestrial contact, it signals that the topic has moved from science fiction to mainstream cultural discourse. The film does not need to argue that UAP are real. It explores what happens after that question is settled. This framing treats disclosure as a realistic scenario rather than a fictional premise.
Opposing Perspectives
The cultural tipping point case: Supporters of disclosure argue that Hollywood’s investment in UAP content reflects and accelerates a cultural shift. When major studios commit tens of millions of dollars to prestige UFO productions, it signals that the industry believes public interest has reached critical mass. These films will introduce UAP concepts to audiences who have not followed congressional hearings or military encounters. The cultural impact could be significant, normalizing the conversation about government transparency on UAP.
The commercial exploitation case: Critics note that Hollywood is an entertainment industry, not a truth-seeking institution. Studios greenlight projects based on market research and audience demand, not evidence. The current wave of UFO films may reflect smart commercial timing rather than genuine cultural enlightenment. If congressional hearings generate public interest, and public interest generates ticket sales, the studios’ motivation is profit, not disclosure.
The stigma question: Some observers argue that Hollywood’s involvement could go either way. On one hand, serious productions from credible filmmakers could help destigmatize the UAP conversation. On the other hand, if the films are not well-received or if they take liberties with the facts, they could reinforce the perception that the UAP topic is entertainment rather than a legitimate policy concern. The quality and accuracy of these productions will determine whether they advance or hinder the public conversation.
Sources
Entertainment Industry
- Marca – Hollywood’s UFO Obsession Returns in 2026: Why Aliens Are Serious Business Now (March 7, 2026)
- UAP Digest – Hollywood UFO Films 2026: Spielberg, Kosinski, X-Files Reboot (2026)