To say that there’s a lot of buzz surrounding director Steven Spielberg’s new movie, Disclosure Day, would be an understatement. The phenomenal first trailer was recently released, finally giving us a glimpse into what the movie is about. Like Close Encounters of the Third Kind before it, Disclosure Day looks to be a compelling look at first contact with an alien species through the eyes of everyday people, and the effect that has on humanity. But before we get there, let’s not forget about Spielberg’s other alien invasion movie that came out in 2005 and just landed a new streaming home.
Starring Tom Cruise, War of the Worlds examined what would happen if the aliens we came in contact with weren’t so friendly. Based on the 1898 novel by H. G. Wells, the 2005 version serves as both a remake of the classic 1953 movie, and a new interpretation of the book that updates things for a modern setting. Gone were the themes of Cold War paranoia and communism, which were replaced to reflect a post-9/11 world. Mass panic, trauma, and survival were front and center in Spielberg’s movie, which all worked together to create a film that ended up being about as divisive as you can get.
Also starring Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, and Tim Robbins (with narration by Morgan Freeman), War of the Worlds hit theaters on June 29, 2005, and quickly gave Cruise his biggest opening weekend up to that point. It seemed a lot of people were interested in the tale of a simple dockworker doing all he could to protect his children during an alien invasion. By the time it was all said and done, War of the Worlds earned $603.9 million, which is enough to place it fifth on the list of highest-grossing movies the director has made. The official synopsis reads:
“Dockworker Ray Ferrier (Cruise) struggles to build a positive relationship with his two children, Rachel (Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin). When his ex-wife, Mary Ann (Otto), drops them off at Ferrier’s house, it seems as though it will be just another tension-filled weekend. However, when electromagnetic pulses of lightning strike the area, the strange event turns out to be the beginning of an alien invasion, and Ferrier must now protect his children as they seek refuge.”
‘War of the Worlds’ Remains a Divisive Classic
Boasting a Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score of 76% from critics, audiences weren’t as eager to give War of the Worlds high marks. Its audience rating sits at a dismal 42%, highlighting the fact that the sci-fi action thriller remains one of Spielberg’s most divisive movies.
While critics deemed it “superb,” “epic,” and “a superior popcorn flick,” fans called it everything from “terrible,” “irritating,” and “stupid.” As one user wrote in their review:
“The character’s actions make no sense, like they don’t have common sense at all. This movie made me question my patience. Plot? None. This is the stupidest movie I’ve ever watched. If you want your patience tested, then watch this.”
Like we said, divisive, right? Still, for all its faults, War of the Worlds is one of those movies you can just sit back and enjoy with not a lot of brain power needed to figure out what’s going on. If you’ve never seen this sci-fi thriller, or perhaps just want to give it another chance, look for it to appear on its new streaming home of Tubi starting January 1, 2026.
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