This bespoke BFI IMAX season is designed as the perfect lead‑up to DISCLOSURE DAY (2026), Spielberg’s wholly original new event film. From 10 June, DISCLOSURE DAY will screen in IMAX with Laser at BFI IMAX, immersing audiences in his latest exploration of humanity’s response to confirmed intelligent life beyond Earth.
To celebrate this release and Spielberg’s legacy in science fiction, the limited engagement CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH SPIELBERG programme brings back five landmark titles, each carefully chosen to showcase his range: wonder, terror, nostalgia and futuristic spectacle.
Sharks, climate and JAWS
On Sunday 31 May, audiences can experience:
- SHARK KINGDOM 3D (Dave Duce, Matt Tomaszewski, 2025) – IMAX with Laser 3D + Q&A at 11:00, BFI IMAX.
Viewers come face to face with ancient, awe‑inspiring shark species while marine scientists Dr David Curnick and Joanna Barker from ZSL (Zoological Society of London) discuss apex predators, shark behaviour and how our future is intertwined with theirs. - JAWS (Steven Spielberg, 1975) – IMAX with Laser + extended introduction at 13:00, BFI IMAX.
The modern blockbuster that changed cinema, JAWS follows a sheriff, marine biologist and grizzled fisherman hunting a killer shark off Long Island. The screening includes an extended intro from Dr Curnick and Joanna Barker, highlighting how on‑screen nature representation still shapes public perception of marine wildlife more than fifty years after the film’s release.
This pairing forms part of the BFI’s extended participation in London Climate Action Week, connecting iconic cinema to contemporary ocean science and conservation.
Dinosaurs, Antarctic fossils and JURASSIC PARK
On Sunday 28 June, the programme shifts to deep time and dinosaur science:
- DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D (David Clark, 2020) – IMAX with Laser 3D + Q&A at 11:30, BFI IMAX.
The documentary explores how dinosaurs once roamed a lush Antarctic landscape and how today’s frozen continent still holds fossil clues beneath ice and snow. A post‑screening Q&A with Dr Cassius Morrison (University College London, former Natural History Museum student) reveals how JURASSIC PARK inspired his scientific career and his research into dinosaur brains and diets. - JURASSIC PARK 3D (Steven Spielberg, 1993) – IMAX with Laser 3D + extended intro at 13:00, BFI IMAX.
Spielberg’s landmark blockbuster about a supposedly safe dinosaur theme park gone catastrophically wrong combines cutting‑edge visual effects with classic suspense. In an extended introduction, Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, examines how this science‑fiction classic is increasingly close to fact for modern conservationists, from de‑extinction debates to habitat restoration and species protection.
Classic Spielberg Adventures on the UK’s Largest Screen
Beyond the science‑linked special events, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH SPIELBERG brings back three core crowd‑pleasers that define Spielberg’s cinematic vision.
E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL (1982)
- IMAX with Laser: Sun 7 June, 11:00 – BFI IMAX
- Digital 4K: Thu 11 June, 20:45 – BFI Southbank NFT3
- Digital 4K: Sat 13 June, 12:15 – BFI Southbank NFT3
Often hailed as one of the greatest family films ever made, E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL tells the story of an alien accidentally left on Earth who befriends a young boy, Elliott. As Elliott introduces E.T. to his siblings and hides him from suspicious adults and government agents, he races against time to send his friend home. On IMAX and in 4K, the emotional intimacy and iconic imagery of BMX bikes against the moon gain new scale and clarity.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
- Digital 4K: Sun 14 June, 11:00 – BFI IMAX
Widely regarded as one of Spielberg’s finest works, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND is both a wondrous alien‑contact story and a deeply human family drama. Electrician Roy Neary experiences a mysterious visitation during a power outage in rural America. Haunted by visions and an inexplicable obsession with UFOs, his life intertwines with others who have had similar experiences, leading to a profound and emotional meeting between humanity and an extraterrestrial civilisation.
READY PLAYER ONE (2018)
- IMAX with Laser: Sun 21 June, 20:00 – BFI IMAX
Set in a near‑future world where most people escape harsh reality through a vast virtual universe called The OASIS, READY PLAYER ONE follows a group of young players competing in a multi‑layered challenge left by eccentric creator James Halliday. The prize is control of his entire empire, but they must outwit a ruthless mega‑corporation determined to dominate both real and virtual worlds. Spielberg’s adaptation of Ernest Cline’s bestseller becomes a pure big‑screen thrill ride, especially in IMAX, where its dense tapestry of pop‑culture references and digital spectacle truly fills the frame.
DISCLOSURE DAY (2026): Spielberg’s New Sci‑Fi Event
At the heart of the season is DISCLOSURE DAY (2026), Steven Spielberg’s wholly original new science‑fiction event film.
- Format: IMAX with Laser
- Venue: BFI IMAX
- From: Wednesday 10 June
Based on a story by Spielberg himself and written by his frequent collaborator David Koepp (known for JURASSIC PARK and WAR OF THE WORLDS), DISCLOSURE DAY asks a deceptively simple question:
If you discovered proof that we are not alone in the universe – that intelligent life exists and someone could show it to you beyond any doubt – would you be afraid?
The film stars Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson and Colman Domingo, and is positioned as a major big‑screen event, particularly on the UK’s largest cinema screen at BFI IMAX. With Spielberg returning to speculative, character‑driven science fiction, DISCLOSURE DAY is designed to sit alongside CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and E.T. as a new, generation‑defining exploration of human response to the unknown.
Details of ticket on‑sale dates for DISCLOSURE DAY at BFI IMAX will be announced separately.
Tickets and On‑Sale Dates
For CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH SPIELBERG at BFI IMAX, tickets follow a tiered access schedule:
- BFI Patrons: from 5 May
- BFI Members: from 6 May
- General public: from 8 May
This staggered release gives supporters and members first access to premium seats for the limited‑engagement IMAX screenings and science Q&As.
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