Take 233: E.T. & Disclosure Day - Spielberg In Review

Mostly FilmThis week, Jonathan and J.P. continue their Spielberg Series by exploring two films separated by more than four decades but connected by a lifelong fascination with the unknown: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Disclosure Day (2026). From one of the most beloved family films ever made to Spielberg's latest return to extraterrestrial storytelling, we're examining how the director's perspective on aliens, humanity, and wonder has evolved over nearly fifty years.We dive into the deeply personal heart of E.T., discussing childhood loneliness, empathy, friendship, and why the film remains one of the most emotionally resonant blockbusters ever created. Then we turn to Disclosure Day, a modern sci-fi epic that tackles truth, secrecy, first contact, and humanity's place in a much larger universe. Along the way, we compare Spielberg's approach to fear and wonder across generations, rank his alien films, and ask whether Disclosure Day serves as the final chapter in a story Spielberg has been telling since Close Encounters of the Third Kind.From bicycles flying across the moon to a world forced to confront the impossible, this episode is all about Spielberg's enduring belief that understanding begins when we're willing to reach out—and listen.