Steven Spielberg is returning to familiar extraterrestrial territory with Disclosure Day, one of the most anticipated films of 2026. The upcoming sci-fi mystery marks the legendary filmmaker's latest exploration of humanity's place in the universe, a theme that has defined some of his most celebrated works, from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Written by longtime Spielberg collaborator David Koepp and featuring a cast led by Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, and Wyatt Russell, Disclosure Day has generated considerable attention following the release of its first trailer. The project also reunites Spielberg with composer John Williams for their 30th collaboration.

While the trailer offers only glimpses of the film's story, it has already sparked curiosity among fans eager to learn more about the production. That includes one question many viewers have been asking since the first footage arrived: where exactly was Disclosure Day filmed?

Although the film's story appears to span multiple locations, New Jersey played a significant role in bringing Steven Spielberg's latest sci-fi epic to life. Majority of the principal photography of Disclosure Day was filmed throughout the Garden State under the production codename Non-View. Confirmed filming locations include Jersey City's McGinley Square, as well as Woodbine, Morristown, Montville, Tuckahoe, Buena Vista, and Upper Township.

Several of those locations were used during large-scale production sequences. In Tuckahoe, filming reportedly took place near railroad tracks, with roads temporarily closed around the production area. Spielberg was also spotted directing scenes involving stunt performers, while locals observed crews working with large blue-screen setups likely intended for visual effects work.

The production also recruited local residents as paid background performers. Casting calls sought drivers and vehicle owners in Middlesex County, allowing community members to appear in scenes while helping create the everyday atmosphere that often grounds Spielberg's larger-than-life stories.

Beyond serving as filming backdrops, the New Jersey locations contributed an economic boost to local communities. Hundreds of crew members worked across the state during production, with businesses benefiting from the influx of cast, crew, and support personnel.

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But New Jersey wasn't the only place Spielberg turned to while building the world of Disclosure Day.

The production also traveled extensively through New York, particularly in areas that helped establish the film's small-town Americana aesthetic.

Among the confirmed New York filming locations are Huntington, New York City, Catskill, Haines Falls, and Fosterfields Living Historical Farm. Several scenes were reportedly filmed in and around the Catskills during the spring of 2025, with local businesses and residents participating in the production.

Casting calls sought extras for scenes set in diners, hotels, and roadside locations, helping create the grounded rural environments seen throughout the trailer. Those locations provide a striking contrast to the film's apparent global stakes, which revolve around humanity confronting evidence that it may not be alone in the universe.

The choice of filming locations feels particularly fitting given Spielberg's history with alien-focused storytelling. Many of his most memorable science-fiction films have balanced extraordinary events with ordinary communities, using familiar settings to make the unknown feel even more unsettling.

That approach appears to continue in Disclosure Day. While the trailer teases crop circles, strange atmospheric events, and mysterious encounters, the film's locations remain rooted in recognizable American landscapes—from small towns and rural roads to bustling urban centers.

When Disclosure Day arrives in theaters on June 12, 2026, audiences will be watching a story that spans the cosmos. But much of that journey began in the streets, farms, towns, and neighborhoods of New Jersey and New York.

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Which Disclosure Day filming location are you most interested in spotting when Steven Spielberg's latest sci-fi mystery arrives in theaters? Let us know in the comments.