Steven Spielberg is gearing up for "Disclosure Day," his first original sci-fi blockbuster in 25 years. The legendary director, a long-time champion of the theatrical experience, recently spoke on the podcast "The Rest is Entertainment" about the shift in movie-watching habits post-pandemic, revealing his stance on watching first-run films at home has somewhat softened.
In the past, Spielberg repeatedly emphasized that movies should be seen in theaters and criticized streaming platforms for their simultaneous release strategies. This time, however, he stated that he isn't completely against audiences watching new releases on their home screens—he just can't accept them being viewed on screens as small as a phone.
"This is very important to the long-term lifeblood of theatrical exhibition. Without it, everything becomes a home experience or, basically, a smartphone experience," Spielberg said. "I don't think anyone should see a first-run movie on a very small screen. It's okay to go home and see a first-run movie on a home screen, but I prefer the cinema. I like going to the movies and having that experience. That's how I was raised."
Spielberg also noted that the pandemic forced many people into their private spaces, but he believes the public is now rediscovering the importance of communal entertainment. "During the pandemic, we all retreated into our bunkers," he said, arguing that shared experiences that bring people together again—like concerts, plays, movies, operas, or ballets—are a crucial way to bridge divides.
"Disclosure Day" is being hailed as a new sci-fi work in the spirit of Spielberg's classics "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." Starring Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor, the story follows two strangers on the run from a shadow government organization trying to conceal the existence of aliens from the public.