Do Aliens Exist? Steven Spielberg Believes They Do
6/14/202639 min
Almost 50 years ago, Steven Spielberg directed “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” the story of an average man who discovers that humanity may not be alone in the universe. Over the decades, Spielberg has directed several movies about what would happen if humanity made contact with aliens. Would the aliens be kind like the title character in “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial”? Would they be cruel like the murderous aliens of “War of the Worlds”? And regardless of what the aliens were like, would we humans be ready to receive them?
Spielberg returns to the question of whether we’re alone in the universe, and what it might mean if we’re not, with his new film “Disclosure Day.” Today, he sits down with Rachel Abrams, a host of “The Daily,” to talk about the film, and about what he has learned over five decades of making movies about aliens.
On Today’s Episode
Steven Spielberg, director of “Disclosure Day.”
Background Reading
‘Disclosure Day’ Review: Spielberg Plays His Greatest Cosmic Hits
What Steven Spielberg Taught Me About Fear, Catharsis, and Being Human
Photo credit: Paolo Pellegrin/Magnum, for The New York Times
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
I gave my brother a New York Times subscription.
Speaker 1· Soundbite0:03
We exchange articles.
Steven Spielberg· Guest0:04
And so having read the same article, we can discuss it.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:07
She sent me a year-long subscription so I have access to all the games.
Speaker 1· Soundbite0:11
The New York Times contributes to our quality time together. It enriches our relationship.
Speaker 00:16
It was such a, a cool and thoughtful gift. We're reading the same stuff. We're making the same food. We're on the same page.
Paul Tenorio0:24
Learn more about giving a New York Times subscription as a gift at nytimes.com/gift.
Rachel Abrams· Host0:29
Do you wanna check any shots?
Steven Spielberg· Guest0:31
Do you wanna check your shots?
Rachel Abrams· Host0:32
I, I, if you, if you, Steven Spielberg, want to take a look, I- Well, let's, let's see your shot ... would- How do, oh, there. Okay. So what do you think of that?
Steven Spielberg· Guest0:39
Okay. It's a good shot. I mean, it's like a nice framing. It's- Does it convey seriousness, like serious journalism? Yes. I like seeing all of this. Oh, you don't have me like that, do you ever?
Speaker 00:48
Almost.
Steven Spielberg· Guest0:49
Push back. [laughs] Back. What was that great line in Jawsie? You know, how far back do you have to go to make it look good? What about Cleveland?
Speaker 1· Soundbite0:58
[laughs] [laughs] That's great. I like that.
Rachel Abrams· Host1:00
[upbeat music] From The New York Times, I'm Rachel Abrams, and this is The Daily on Sunday. Steven Spielberg, the name is synonymous with big Hollywood blockbusters. Just to rattle off a few of them, Jaws.
Speaker 6· Soundbite1:18
You're gonna need a bigger boat.
Rachel Abrams· Host1:19
E.T.
Speaker 1· Soundbite1:20
E.T. phone home.
Rachel Abrams· Host1:22
Indiana Jones.
Speaker 7· Soundbite1:23
That belongs in a museum.
Rachel Abrams· Host1:25
Jurassic Park. [dinosaur roaring] This week, he's got