The Universal and Amblin Entertainment sci-fi thriller is now projected to generate approximately $42.5 million during its opening weekend in North America, comfortably surpassing earlier industry forecasts that placed the film in the $35 million range.
The impressive debut marks what is expected to be the strongest opening weekend ever for an original Spielberg-directed feature produced under the Amblin banner, underscoring the enduring appeal of one of Hollywood's most celebrated filmmakers.
Strong Start Driven by Premium Screens
According to early box office estimates, Disclosure Day earned approximately $18.5 million on Friday, a figure that includes $6.5 million from Thursday preview screenings.
The film's performance has been boosted significantly by premium large-format auditoriums, including IMAX and other premium screens, where audience demand has remained particularly strong.
Produced on a reported net budget of $115 million, the film stars Emily Blunt, Colman Domingo and Josh O'Connor and is based on a story conceived by Spielberg himself, with longtime collaborator David Koepp handling screenplay duties.
Critical reception has been encouraging, with the film earning an 82 per cent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score hovering between 74 and 75 per cent.
Industry observers are awaiting CinemaScore results, which could provide further insight into audience reactions and the film's long-term box office prospects.
Best Original Spielberg Launch in Years
The opening places Disclosure Day alongside several recent genre hits in terms of preview earnings.
Its $6.5 million preview haul matches the launch pace of Alien: Romulus, exceeds Jordan Peele's Nope, and trails The Marvels by only a narrow margin.
While blockbuster openings remain important, Spielberg has historically built success through strong audience retention and sustained theatrical runs rather than front-loaded debuts.
That trend could work in the film's favor if positive word-of-mouth continues over the coming weeks.
The movie's audience reception compares favorably with several of Spielberg's previous science-fiction works. Its current audience ratings surpass those of E.T., A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and War of the Worlds, although they remain below classics such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Minority Report.
International Markets Deliver Strong Results
Overseas, Disclosure Day is also generating momentum across major markets.
Before Friday's international figures were fully accounted for, the film had already accumulated approximately $11.2 million internationally and was tracking toward a worldwide opening comfortably above the initially projected $65 million.
The United Kingdom and Ireland have emerged as particularly strong territories, where the film generated approximately $1.2 million during its first two days. The release has secured the widest-ever opening for a Spielberg film in the market, playing across 720 locations.
The film has dominated local box office charts and benefited significantly from IMAX screenings, with premium formats accounting for a substantial portion of ticket sales.
France also delivered a strong response, generating approximately $1 million across its first two days and easily claiming the number one position at the box office.
The film outperformed several notable science-fiction releases, including Arrival, Project Hail Mary, and Twisters, while more than doubling the admissions of the nearest competing title.
Australia, Mexico and Brazil Fuel Growth
Australia has proven to be another key market, where Disclosure Day has already surpassed $1.2 million in ticket sales and captured roughly 26 per cent of the market share.
In Mexico, the film generated nearly $900,000 during its first two days despite competition from FIFA World Cup broadcasts. The movie secured close to one-third of the country's total box office revenue, demonstrating strong audience interest.
Brazil also posted encouraging results. The film opened across 972 screens and quickly climbed to the number one position after grossing approximately $600,000 over its first two days.
Across these territories, premium formats continue to play an important role, with IMAX and other large-format screenings contributing significantly to revenue.
Europe and Asia Respond Positively
Several other major international markets have also embraced Spielberg's latest offering.
Italy recorded approximately $600,000 over two days while maintaining the highest screen average in the country. Germany matched that total, delivering strong attendance and favorable comparisons with previous science-fiction releases.
South Korea generated a similar two-day total of approximately $600,000, while the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Poland all reported number-one openings and healthy market shares.
The film's international rollout covers 73 markets and more than 50,000 screens worldwide, giving it one of the broadest global launches of the year.
Competition Remains Intense
Despite its strong debut, Disclosure Day enters a competitive marketplace.
Focus Features' surprise hit Obsession continues its remarkable run, heading toward an $18 million weekend and a domestic total of approximately $187 million. The film is expected to surpass the domestic earnings of Get Out this weekend, further cementing its status as one of the year's breakout successes.
Meanwhile, Paramount's Scary Movie is projected to earn $15.2 million in its second weekend despite a steep decline, while A24's Backrooms continues its successful theatrical run with an estimated domestic total exceeding $161 million.
Positive Signs for Long-Term Success
For Universal and Amblin, the early numbers represent a promising start for an original science-fiction property in an era increasingly dominated by franchises and established intellectual property.
The combination of strong international demand, healthy audience reactions and premium-format support suggests Disclosure Day could enjoy sustained momentum in the weeks ahead.
If current projections hold, Spielberg's latest extraterrestrial adventure will not only surpass initial expectations but also reinforce his reputation as one of the few filmmakers still capable of drawing global audiences to original big-screen storytelling.
With China and Spain only now joining the release schedule and additional international markets still contributing results, Disclosure Day appears poised to build significantly on its opening weekend performance and establish itself as one of the major cinematic successes of the year.