If you want to see a masterclass in setting up a profound philosophical premise and then completely fumbling the execution, look no further than Steven Spielberg’s latest film, Disclosure Day.

I saw it yesterday, and like almost everything Spielberg touches, it is visually stunning and incredibly well-made. But as the credits rolled, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of frustration. It takes the ultimate sci-fi question of the first contact and completely ignores the most fascinating implications in favor of Hollywood hubris.

The Theological Loophole

To give credit where it is due, the movie handles the immediate shock of "Disclosure" brilliantly.

Historically, one of the biggest arguments against acknowledging extraterrestrial life is the assumption that it would instantly shatter human religion. Spielberg navigates this with a really smart narrative bridge: The Bible states that man was given dominion over the Earth. There is no scripture that explicitly states humanity is the sole, superior lifeform in the entire universe.

Using this theological loophole to allow religion to coexist with the cosmos is a grounded, intelligent way to handle the initial shock. It prevents the plot from immediately devolving into a cliché "faith vs. science" shouting match.

The Hubris of the "Cosmic Gift"

But this is where the movie—and most of pop-culture sci-fi—fails miserably.

The core premise of the third act relies on the idea that a highly advanced alien civilization would cross the galaxy just to "help us" or hand us magical technology out of pure empathy. This is pure human arrogance.

Let's think about this logically, applying the concept of the Great Filter. If a species has become interstellar, it means they survived their own evolutionary crucible. They would have had to overcome the exact same things that are currently tearing humanity apart:

• Unchecked, systemic greed.

• The societal breakdown fueled by algorithmic populism and social media.

• The self-destruction inherent in prioritizing short-term profit over long-term survival.

If they survived all of that, they fundamentally understand that evolution is brutal but necessary. A species has to earn its survival. An advanced lifeform wouldn't interfere with our rise and fall, because handing a volatile, greedy, divided species advanced technology is like handing a toddler a loaded handgun.

No "Greys" are going to show up and give us the answers to zero-point energy just because they feel bad for us.

The Missed Opportunity: The Societal Collapse

By focusing on the aliens acting as cosmic saviors, Spielberg completely ignores the most interesting question of First Contact: What does the arrival actually do to us?

The arrival of aliens is just logistics; the real story is the human reaction. What happens to our collective psyche?

• Do we devolve into apocalyptic religious wars because fundamentalist factions view them as demons or even gods?

• Does the global economy collapse overnight because our entire framework of value and scarcity is rendered meaningless?

• Or (and this is the most fascinating angle) do we suddenly stop our petty infighting, look up at the sky, and realize we have to behave because the "adults" are watching?

Choosing not to answer, or even deeply explore, that sociological impact is a massive missed opportunity. It leaves you with a visually pretty movie that ultimately has nothing meaningful to say about the human condition.

We don't need aliens to save us. We need to figure out how to save ourselves before we burn out our own planet. And it is a shame Spielberg didn't have the courage to make that movie while he had a chance, since he dared to make movies about Schindler's List where he dived deep in the darkest parts of humanity. Instead, he chose to give us a feel-good sci-fi that ultimately says nothing about the real challenges we face.

But maybe that’s just the Hollywood way. More complex sci-fi that challenges the audience to think is a hard sell. It’s easier to just give them a flashy spectacle and a comforting message that someone out there is looking out for us. And that’s the real tragedy of Disclosure Day. It had the potential to be a profound exploration of humanity’s place in the universe, but it settled for being a visually impressive but ultimately shallow sci-fi flick.