i'd wager that an ongoing, horrifying collective experience- one many of us are witnessing largely through screens- might be to blame for audience skepticism that a "shared moment of empathy" is possible, or even a solution to any of humanity's greatest afflictions
It's telling that the element of Disclosure Day that people are having the most trouble believing isn't the sci-fi , but the idea of humanity experiencing a shared moment of empathy. Which makes me think that must be the point Spielberg is going for - it's a plea for togetherness