Before ‘Disclosure Day,’ Steven Spielberg’s Divisive $603 Million Sci-Fi Action Thriller Invades New Streaming Home

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Steven Spielberg’s upcoming movie, Disclosure Day, is generating huge excitement. The recently released trailer offered the first look at the film’s story, which, similar to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, appears to be a captivating portrayal of humanity’s first contact with aliens and the impact it has on our world. Before diving into that, though, fans can now stream Spielberg’s 2005 alien invasion film on a new platform.

I remember when War of the Worlds came out – it really stuck with me! Seeing Tom Cruise in that movie, it made you think about what would happen if aliens weren’t the friendly types we often imagine. It’s based on the classic H.G. Wells story, and this 2005 version felt like both a fresh take on the book and a remake of the older 1953 film. What I found really interesting was how Spielberg updated the story for our time. The original movie played on fears from the Cold War, but this one felt much more connected to the anxieties after 9/11. It was all about the chaos, the fear, and just trying to survive, and honestly, people either loved it or hated it – there wasn’t much middle ground!

Released on June 29, 2005, and featuring Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, and Tim Robbins alongside Tom Cruise (with Morgan Freeman providing narration), War of the Worlds had a hugely successful opening weekend – the biggest of Cruise’s career at that time. The film tells the story of a father trying to keep his children safe during an alien attack, and it clearly resonated with audiences. Ultimately, War of the Worlds grossed $603.9 million worldwide, making it the fifth highest-grossing film directed by its filmmaker. Here’s what the movie is about:

Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is a dockworker who has a hard time connecting with his kids, Rachel and Robbie. When his ex-wife leaves them with him for the weekend, it feels like things will be strained as usual. But everything changes when a series of strange lightning strikes signal the start of an alien invasion. Now, Ray must do everything he can to keep his children safe as they try to find shelter.

‘War of the Worlds’ Remains a Divisive Classic


Paramount Pictures

Critics generally liked War of the Worlds, giving it a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences weren’t as impressed, with a score of only 42%. This makes it one of Steven Spielberg’s most controversial films – people either love it or hate it.

Honestly, it’s been wild seeing the reactions to this movie. The critics are raving about it, calling it amazing and a real spectacle, even saying it’s a fantastic fun movie. But the fans? Well, a lot of us just haven’t felt it. We’ve used words like awful, annoying, and just plain silly. One person actually wrote this in their review:

The character’s behavior is completely illogical and unrealistic. This movie really tried my patience – there’s no coherent plot, and it’s honestly the most frustrating film I’ve ever seen. If you enjoy being annoyed, then this movie is for you.

As we mentioned, War of the Worlds is a bit of a mixed bag. However, despite its flaws, it’s a really fun movie to watch when you just want to relax and be entertained. If you haven’t seen this sci-fi thriller, or if you’re in the mood for a re-watch, it will be available on Tubi starting January 1, 2026.

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2025-12-19 03:33