👋 Your watchlist just got better — here’s what to watch this week…

• 🎥 Havoc | 4.25

• 🎥 The Accountant 2 | 4.25

• 🎥 The Legend of Ochi | 4.25

Read time: 3 minutes | 549 words

TRENDING

• 🔪 First trailer for I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel reveals Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt return, theaters July 18.

• 🛁 Sebastian Stan credits Hot Tub Time Machine residuals with saving his pre-MCU career, revealing $65,000 during financial struggle.

• 🎬 Jamie Foxx reveals tense Django Unchained script reading moment when Quentin Tarantino lost his cool with him.

• 🩸Ryan Coogler's wife Zinzi stunts with Sinners' "Bleeding Pearl" necklace at European premiere for the film.

• 🎵 Neil Diamond tribute musical Song Sung Blue unites Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as performing couple, hits theaters Christmas Day.

TOGETHER WITH BUZZTOWN

We've been talking about this guy for six months...

Luke Barnett's short, The Crossing Over Express, got nearly 2 million views in 30 days, for a personal gut-wrenching story (shot in just 1 day with a skeleton crew). 

Here's what else happened: 

• 6 managers / agents reached out to rep him

• 100s of fans reached out about the emotional core

• Countless industry pros re-shared the post 

• Featured in Variety, Deadline, No Film School, etc. 

• Currently developing a pitch for a full feature version 

If you’re a serious filmmaker or screenwriter and want to learn Luke’s playbook, we’re chatting with him live today at 12pm PST / 3pm EST.

FEATURE 

🎭 Steven Soderbergh: Champion of Mid-Budget Cinema

Steven Soderbergh remains one of Hollywood's most versatile and prolific directors, consistently delivering thoughtful, character-driven films for adult audiences despite the industry's shifting landscape.

Since bursting onto the scene with "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" in 1989, Soderbergh has built a remarkably diverse filmography spanning genres from heist capers ("Ocean's Eleven") to psychological thrillers ("Unsane"), biographical dramas ("Erin Brockovich"), and experimental works ("The Girlfriend Experience").

What makes Soderbergh unique is his commitment to the increasingly endangered mid-budget film. While studios focus primarily on blockbuster franchises or micro-budget horror, Soderbergh continues crafting sophisticated $20-40 million dramas and thrillers that prioritize story and performance over spectacle.

His efficiency is legendary—often serving as his own cinematographer (under pseudonym Peter Andrews) and editor (as Mary Ann Bernard)—allowing him creative control while keeping budgets reasonable. This approach has enabled him to maintain artistic independence while remaining commercially viable.

Despite announcing "retirement" in 2013, Soderbergh returned with renewed purpose, experimenting with distribution models for films like "Logan Lucky" and embracing streaming platforms for projects like "High Flying Bird" and "The Laundromat."

Perhaps most impressively, Soderbergh refuses to compromise his artistic vision or pander to algorithms. His recent works including "No Sudden Move," "Kimi," and "Black Bag" demonstrate his ongoing commitment to intelligent, character-driven narratives for adult audiences.

In an era where theatrical mid-budget dramas are increasingly rare, Soderbergh stands as one of the last filmmakers consistently fighting to preserve this vital cinematic middle ground—creating films that challenge viewers while remaining accessible and entertaining.

"If mid-level budget, star-driven movies can't get people over 25 to theaters, that's not a good thing for movies... They're movies for grown-ups, and those can't just go away."

More on Soderbergh:

• Soderbergh’s Oscar acceptance for the film, Traffic

• Looking back at that Carano-Fassbender fight scene

• SS’s upcoming film The Christophers stars Ian McKellen

PUNCHLINES