The central mystery of Disclosure Day: Why would aliens use Emily Blunt's meteorologist as a communication vessel? What are they trying to say — and are they friend or foe?
Theory 1: Benevolent Warning
They're Here to Help
The aliens chose to communicate through a trusted public figure (local meteorologist) to deliver an urgent warning. They bypassed governments because authorities would suppress the message.
Supporting Evidence
- Spielberg's aliens are typically benevolent (E.T., Close Encounters)
- The communication method is non-violent
- Josh O'Connor's character seems to support disclosure
Theory 2: Hostile Takeover
The Possession Is Just the Beginning
The broadcast event is the first wave — the aliens are demonstrating they can take control of any human at will. Disclosure Day is actually Invasion Day.
Supporting Evidence
- The possession imagery is inherently threatening
- David Koepp also wrote War of the Worlds (hostile aliens)
- The title could be ironic — disclosure of humanity's doom
Theory 3: Neutral Observation
They're Just Scientists
The aliens have been observing humanity and accidentally made contact. They're not good or evil — they're researchers who made a mistake exposing themselves.
Supporting Evidence
- The "possession" might be unintentional contact
- Explains why it happened through a random person
- Spielberg often explores unintended consequences
Theory 4: They ARE Us
The Time-Traveler Hypothesis (Viral on Reddit)
In a 2023 interview with Stephen Colbert, Spielberg suggested UAPs might be "us 500,000 years into the future." Reddit theorists have connected this to the "seven billion" line — O'Connor says truth belongs to "seven billion people" but Earth has 8+ billion. What if the extra billion aren't from this timeline?
Supporting Evidence
- Spielberg's own Colbert interview about time-traveling UAPs
- The deliberate "seven billion" error in the trailer
- Eye-color shifts and "biological glitches" in Emily Blunt's footage
Theory 5: The Forgotten Origins (Reddit Viral)
We Were Never Human
A massive Reddit theory gaining traction: the characters aren't waiting for aliens — they ARE the "Non-Human Intelligences" who have lived as humans so long they've forgotten their origin. "Disclosure Day" isn't aliens revealing themselves to humanity — it's humanity discovering they were never fully human to begin with.
Supporting Evidence
- The "seven billion" population discrepancy
- The possession seems to "activate" something already inside Blunt
- Colman Domingo said the script made him cry about "our humanity"
What Spielberg Has Said
From interviews, Spielberg has asked: "If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?"
He's also stated: "I don't believe we're alone in the universe. I think it's mathematically impossible that we are the only intelligent species in the cosmos."
This suggests the film is more about humanity's reaction than alien motivation — we may never fully understand their intentions.