Movie Reviews 2026: Disclosure Day, Scary Movie, Office Romance

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2026 – your out of this world guide to film.

Now, do you remember last week, when I said the summer blockbuster season was beginning to hot up with the release of Masters of the Universe? Well, brace yourself as the temperature rises once again for the release of three big movies vying for your attention.

On the small screen is the romantic comedy, Office Romance starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein, while on the big screen there’s spoofing madness in Scary Movie, as  well as sci-fi shenanigans in Spielberg’s Disclosure Day! This last one promises to reveal whether or not we are truly alone in the universe.

But alien life aside, will this trio of titles prove to be surefire hits or will they burn out pretty quickly? You’ll have to keep reading to find out.

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In cinemas…

Scary Movie (2026)

First up this week, it’s off to the flicks for the return of spoof horror franchise, Scary Movie. The series returns for a sixth instalment, simply titled Scary Movie (not Scary Movie 6), and reunites many of the original cast members, including Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Jon Abrahams, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, and Dave Sheridan.

Directed by Michael Tiddes, the film is a loose continuation of the first two Scary Movie films (ignoring 3 – 5) and sees old friends brought back together when a masked killer strikes. Madcap mayhem soon follows, along with plenty of gross-out gags and, well, the usual schtick audiences have come to expect from this series.

Now for those who have dipped in and out of the Scary Movie films over the past 26 years, there are two significant points to note about this new instalment. The first is the return of multiple former cast members, some of which haven’t been back for years.

Not everyone has returned from Part 1, but a large number of players have. There is a sense this sixth chapter is a sort of rebirth and reconnection of the series, with familiar faces being brought back to push things forward.

The second point of note is the creative involvement of the Wayans brothers. Shawn and Marlon Wayans co-wrote Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2, with Keenan Ivory Wayans directing both instalments, and all three are on script duties for this sixth film (along with Craig Wayans and Rick Alvarez).

Shawn, Marlon, and Keenan departed the franchise after the first two films due to creative differences with producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein. From here, the series changed hands, with David Zucker (Airplane!, The Naked Gun) taking on director duties for parts 3 and 4, and Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man, Undercover Brother) helming part 5. 

Yet despite all this, it’s fair to say with original cast members or without original cast members, and with the Wayans or without the Wayans, two things have remained consistent: None of the movies have been particularly well-received by critics, yet all of the films have made money at the box office. As a general rule of thumb, audiences tend to show up for these movies as they find them appealing, and critics advise against it.

And 2026’s Scary Movie is more of the same. The spoofs, the crass humour, and the stream of gags will put bums on seats, but not everyone is going to enjoy what’s on offer and the critic in me is advising you to save your time and money.

Some will be offended, others won’t, but most will be bored. For all the big hoopla about the Wayans’ return, as well as the extensive ad campaign Paramount Pictures is using to promote this film, Scary Movie is very, very disappointing.

Using 2022’s Scream as the template for the story, Scary Movie has a loose framework to position its characters around, and then from here it chucks various movie spoofs at the screen. Amongst the offering you’ll find nods to Get Out, Weapons, Sinners, and The Substance, as well as Longlegs and Scream VI.

A couple of the spoofs work, many of them don’t – it’s very hit and miss (and miss again) – and the whole thing is very patchwork in its approach. Scary Movie plays better if the general audience knows what is being poked fun at, but at times there are a few deep cuts that you’ve got to be a big film fan to truly appreciate.

Now, this wouldn’t be a huge problem if the gags were killer and landed as intended, but here’s the rub: They don’t. The vast majority of the gags in Scary Movie are either obvious or they are simply dead on arrival.

This isn’t to say that some of the jokes aren’t funny; but instead of being belly laughs it’s mild titters at best. And even then, the chuckles are few and far between.

The worst part about the less-than hilarious material is that a few of the very simple gags get explanations to ensure everyone understands the joke. Not only is this patronising, but it’s simply not needed.

We’re not talking high-brow comedy here, we’re talking about a film where Ghostface gets pummelled with dildos. It’s fine if you need to explain what movie is being spoofed (not everyone watches every movie), but if you have to explain jokes to get a laugh, then the jokes simply aren’t worth it.

And this movie isn’t worth it. Not really.

The tagline to Scary Movie is that “every line will be crossed”, and this latest sequel certainly makes no bones about firing off shots here, there, and everywhere. But it isn’t the offensive nature of the jokes that’s the problem – if you get offended easily then this isn’t for you – the problem is the quality of the jokes is mostly poor and the whole thing is just a mass of ideas and skits glued together in a haphazard way.

In the years since the Wayans left the franchise they’ve not upped their game, meaning Scary Movie falls into the same old pitfalls as before. The result is two gags that work, 100 that don’t, and tumbleweeds in between.

So, with this in mind, I’m going to be one of those critics who tells you not to bother with Scary Movie – it’s just not that funny. Of course, you are more than welcome to ignore me, watch it regardless, and see it rake in money… which it inevitably will.

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Now streaming…

Office Romance (2026)

Over to streaming now for the romantic comedy, Office Romance. Directed by Ol Parker, the movie stars Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein (Goldstein also co-wrote the movie with Joe Kelly) and follows the story of two co-workers who embark in a romance.

In the movie Jackie Cruz is an American who owns an airline, Daniel Blanchflower is a British lawyer, and the pair join forces when dealing with a legal case. Later the same day, he randomly gets a boner, she seems to like him, and sparks soon fly.

But is this a quick fling or something more? And is an office romance really a good idea?

Jeez, what is it with the quality of comedy this week? First Scary Movie fails to stir up enough laughs and now Office Romance falls short too.

Boy, oh boy is this a bland movie. The office setting is too corporate and far too boring to conjure up any kind of romance; the chemistry between Lopez’s Jackie and Goldstein’s Daniel is nonexistent; and the humour seems to have largely gone AWOL. 

The majority of the jokes revolve around Daniel being British and saying British things, including the repeated use of the C-bomb (we honestly don’t say it that much), and at times it’s about as funny as being slapped around the back of the legs with a wet tea towel. You can see Lopez and Goldstein are doing their best, but it just doesn’t work and the film gets less enjoyable as it progresses.

Director Ol Parker delivered the brilliant Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), and the not-bad Julia Roberts/George Clooney rom-com, Ticket to Paradise (2022), so hopes were high for Office Romance,but it just feels undercooked. Such a shame.

Anyway, you can take a look on Netflix if this review hasn’t put you off, but don’t expect to be wowed. Going into the office on your day off is arguably more enjoyable than this, which could and should have been better.

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In cinemas…

Disclosure Day (2026)

Not a great selection of movies so far, but let’s improve things with the final new offering this week, Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated sci-fi thriller, Disclosure Day. Starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell, and Colman Domingo, the movie follows the story of a cyber security expert and a TV weather woman who may be able to answer the age-old question of whether or not aliens exist.

In the movie, Daniel Kellner is a cyber specialist who recently fled his job at Wardex – a shadowy organisation run by Noah Scanlon. When Daniel left Wardex he took with him key information, including video files which may prove the existence of extra-terrestrial life.

Meanwhile, while Daniel is on the run, over in Kansas, TV weather woman Margaret Fairchild is experiencing strange phenomena. All of a sudden, she seems to know what people are thinking and she can speak in different languages, including a dialect which appears alien in origin.

As Daniel and Margaret’s stories play out and intertwine, the planet is facing a significant event. The world is on the brink of World War III, with nuclear conflict looming.

With Earth facing its darkest hour, can Daniel and Margaret join forces and make a difference? And will the knowledge and skills they possess change the course of human history and finally reveal the truth about aliens?

OK, so Steven Spielberg has had a long and varied directing career with many hits under his belt. From Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark, to Jurassic Park and Saving Private Ryan he has captured the audiences’ attention and imagination, and from time-to-time has touched upon the subject of extra-terrestrials too.

He did it back in ‘77 with Close Encounters of the Third Kind; he did it again in ‘82 with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial; and then he did it once again with 2005’s War of the Worlds. In fact, if we look beyond these films, strange beings popped up in the plot of 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and even Spielberg’s debut feature, Firelight (now largely lost to the mists of time) was about aliens.

So, it’s fair to say he’s got form, and he’s got an interest in this subject matter. And this interest rears its head once again in Disclosure Day – a sci-fi movie which seems to be hitting screens at the right time.

There has been much discussion recently about the existence of aliens, with even the White House promising to reveal formerly classified information to the public, so Disclosure Day is certainly timely. As to whether it is on the nose about its revelations over UFOs and little grey men, well that remains to be seen.

But what is clear is that Spielberg has put his skills, his passion for filmmaking, and his interest in this subject matter into a film which for the most part works rather well. This isn’t to say Disclosure Day is top tier Spielberg, as this ain’t no Schindler’s List, but it is to say this is a fairly strong thriller from the director.

And it’s important to make it clear that Disclosure Day is a thriller. Anyone thinking of heading off to the flicks to watch something akin to Independence Day may come away slightly disappointed.

There are a couple of action set pieces in Disclosure Day, but for the most part the film is about drama, suspense, and revelations. So, not a huge action movie, but what you get instead is something interesting, something contemplative, and something which feels like Spielberg through and through.

It also feels like this is his final word on the subject of aliens. Whatever he has had to say about extra-terrestrials in the past, it all ends here in Disclosure Day.

And that’s perfectly fine. This is not a bad way to close the book.

Leading the film is an ensemble which includes Colin Firth and Colman Domingo, who are both excellent in their roles, however, it’s Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor who are the standout stars. Blunt in particular is brilliant in the role of Margaret, who one minute is having a conversation about moving home and the next is speaking fluent Russian.

The way in which Blunt switches from every day conversation to another language is marvellously handled. She doesn’t miss a beat, her line delivery is excellent, and she commands attention.

But she’s not the only one commanding attention. The central mystery which is weaved throughout the picture is also intriguing enough to keep audiences focused.

I won’t spoil the end result, I’ll simply say Spielberg builds up tension by dropping in little nuggets here and there which start to create a picture of the truth. And while he’s doing this, he throws a chase into the narrative to keep up the pace.

In fact, in large part Disclosure Day is one long chase movie. It’s a chase as Daniel tries to escape the clutches of Wardex, and it’s a chase, or rather a race, for Daniel and Margaret to expose their information.

So, does it all work? Well, mostly.

I’d argue Disclosure Day is a touch longer than it needs to be and it may not go as big as it could. I also have a feeling the somewhat abrupt finale may frustrate some audiences who are expecting more.

But once again, this is a thriller, not an action movie. Adjust your expectations accordingly and watch as Spielberg does his thing, along with some trusted collaborators, including David Koepp on scripting duties and a formerly retired John Williams handling the music.

What you get with Disclosure Day is solid Spielberg and something with which to engage your brain. It should slot in nicely amongst some of the more fantastical films of the summer and heck, maybe it’ll finally lead us to the truth about our place in the universe.

Only time will tell.

Anyway, should you wish to take a look, Disclosure Day is now playing in UK cinemas, and opens in the US on Friday.

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Recent Releases

Not quite done yet? Want more movies? The above suggestions aren’t enough?! Well, here’s what’s also doing the rounds:

Masters of the Universe (2026)

“If you’ve been around since the beginning, and you grew up on the ‘80s ‘toon you will be more than happy with what’s on offer in this new movie. And if you’re a complete newbie, who has no clue what Masters of the Universe is, then grab some popcorn and buckle up for a bloody bonkers summer blockbuster.”

Tuner (2026)

“Slick, cool, and very likeable, Tuner is an excellent crime caper. It’s top drawer entertainment backed by a solid lead performance from Leo Woodall, and expert direction from director and co-writer Daniel Roher.”

Backrooms (2026)

“Backrooms is as mad as a box of frogs, and occasionally a bit like that Treehouse of Horror episode of The Simpsons where Homer gets lost in 3D, but it’s marvellous nonetheless.”

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Movie of the Week

Onto Movie of the Week which this week is going to Disclosure Day. The sci-fi spectacular offers blockbuster entertainment Spielberg-style!

And if you like Disclosure Day you might also like:

• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) – Steven Spielberg directs this sci-fi drama about humanity’s attempts to communicate with extraterrestrials.
• Independence Day (1996) – Earth’s days are numbered when a destructive alien race attempts to takeover the planet in Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi action blockbuster.
• The X-Files (1998) – Rob Bowman directs this feature-length spin-off movie of the hit TV show, which brings FBI Agents Mulder and Scully closer to the truth about the existence of aliens. 

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Forthcoming attractions 

And that’s your lot for this week, but fear not, the summer blockbuster season keeps on trucking with more epic movies coming down the track. In fact, on the horizon are Voicemails for Isabelle, Jackass: Best and Last, Enola Holmes 3, Moana, Evil Dead Burn, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Spa Weekend.

But before all that, Supergirl swoops into cinemas (with Krypto and Lobo not far behind); and Buzz, Woody, and Jessie reunite for Toy Story 5. Plus, Hugh Jackman’s days could be numbered in The Death of Robin Hood.

Alex 

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2026. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.