April 20, 2025: Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has raised alarm bells over the declining fortunes of mid-budget, star-driven films at the box office. Despite receiving critical praise, Soderbergh’s latest espionage thriller Black Bag underperformed commercially — a trend he believes signals troubling times ahead for filmmakers aiming to tell adult-oriented stories.
In an interview with Deadline, Soderbergh expressed concern over the industry’s growing reliance on blockbuster fantasy films and low-budget horror, while films meant for audiences over 25 continue to struggle. “If a mid-level budget, star-driven movie can’t seem to get people over the age of 25 years old to come out to theatres — if that’s truly a dead zone — then that’s not a good thing for movies,” he said.
The director, known for hits like Erin Brockovich and Traffic, questioned whether such films would even be greenlit in today’s cinema landscape. “What’s gonna happen to the person behind me who wants to make this kind of film?” he asked, underlining the narrowing opportunities for storytellers who don’t fit the current box office mold.
Soderbergh argued for the need to rebuild an audience base for mid-range movies that don’t rely on fantasy spectacle or horror gimmicks. “We need to figure out a way to cultivate this audience for movies that are in this mid-range,” he said.
The filmmaker is currently working on The Christophers, a black comedy featuring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel. As he continues to push creative boundaries, Soderbergh remains a vocal advocate for preserving diverse storytelling in cinema.