Director Steven Spielberg makes his sci-fi genre comeback with Disclosure Day. The film, featuring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson and more, revolves around a key question: What if humans got proof of aliens’ existence? A lot goes down in the film. For starters, the world is on the brink of World War III. An evil corporation called WARDEX is gatekeeping decades-worth of information about extraterrestrials. And two people with mysterious abilities are drawn to each other. Disclosure Day‘s ending might leave you hanging. Luckily, we have a full breakdown of what happened and what it all means.
Disclosure Day ending explained
In a re-created set of Margaret Fairchild’s (Emily Blunt) childhood home, Hugo (Colman Domingo) shows her and Daniel Keller (Josh O’Connor) what happened in their childhood back in 1996. They were visited by aliens who took them to a Hansel and Gretel-esque cottage where they imbued them with powers. Just then, WARDEX arrives at the secret location. Margaret manages to use alien tech to help everyone escape undetected, and they head towards the KCXE broadcast station to show the world proof of alien life and experiments conducted over decades. WARDEX tries to sabotage the attempt by shutting down the power, but Jane (Eve Hewson) passes on another alien device (there are three) to Margaret in time to get the power back on. For some reason, Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth) also gives up, perhaps realising this was meant to be.
Margaret goes on air and tells the world that the US government has known about the existence of aliens and has been experimenting on them using extreme measures. Meanwhile, Daniel gets the studio to play archival footage that spreads across the globe as several networks start broadcasting the footage – hostage aliens, injured and dead aliens fill the screens. In the studio, an alien life-form is brought in on a wheelchair. This is Vivo 17, an alien Hugo released years ago. Margaret and Daniel embrace the alien who whispers something into Daniel’s ear in a mathematical language only he can understand. He then translates it for Margaret and whispers the message into her ear. She goes back on camera to deliver the message and utters a single word – “Listen”. This is where the credits roll.
How are Margaret and Daniel connected?
From the beginning of Disclosure Day, Margaret and Daniel are drawn together. While Margaret delivers the groundbreaking announcement, Daniel had spent years stealing data from WARDEX, which was ultimately broadcast to the world. Their coming together is crucial to the film’s plot. However, their bond goes back all the way to their childhood. The two shared a traumatic event – they were both abducted by aliens who gave them exceptional abilities. Margaret can read people’s minds just by looking into their eyes. She speaks multiple languages. She also develops a powerful intuition that ultimately led her to Daniel and, ultimately, Hugo. Meanwhile, Daniel’s knowledge of mathematics allows him to understand aliens. Their abilities are linked, and the two are key to saving the world.
What did the Alien whisper to Daniel?
The answer is not disclosed to the audience. Vivo 17’s message is intentionally left untranslated. Daniel understands what he hears in binary code and smiles. He is also able to relay the message to Margaret. Their reactions, however, indicate that the aliens carry a positive message for humanity. It is perhaps something that could stop a disastrous chain of events already set in motion. Moreover, Margaret’s declaration – “Listen” could be a call for humans to stop self-destructing.
This message is in line with the earlier announcement where Margaret involuntarily speaks in an alien language, which translates to “Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know.” Sounds like the aliens are harmless and have a message that could avoid catastrophe.
How does the alien technology work?
One of the biggest mysteries of the film is the palm-sized alien device that WARDEX has been developing and guarding. It can be used in a couple of ways – Scanlon uses it to find people and even control their minds when the connection is strong. That’s how he finds Jane’s location and gets her to try to kill Daniel. The drawback is that it takes a serious toll on the user’s body. We also see Margaret use the device to make Hugo and co. invisible to WARDEX’s people as they escaped. However, it crumbles after use. Later, we see the device being used to power up the KCXE. Despite its versatile applications, the tech is dangerous, and we see WARDEX soldiers wear gloves to handle it since it’s dangerous to touch with bare hands. When one of them touches it directly, he disappears and collapses. There is a lot we don’t know about the device, except that someone like Margaret, who is connected to the aliens, is able to use it intuitively.
What does the ending of Disclosure Day mean?
The final scene of Disclosure Day cuts abruptly after Margaret says, “Listen.” While we don’t get much to go on, the film ends on a hopeful note. It hints that there is still hope that humanity can, despite all signs pointing towards WWIII, stop and take a different course. The ending of the film isn’t bleak and is rather life-affirming. There is, after all, a shot at peace if people (and aliens?) connect.
Does Disclosure Day have a post-credits scene?
No, Disclosure Day does not have a mid-credits or post-credits scene. You can exit the theatre once the credits roll, and you won’t miss any additional scenes.
Disclosure Day is currently in theatres.
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
