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{{Short description|American filmmaker (born 1963)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Steven Soderbergh
| image              = 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Steven Soderbergh 07 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Soderbergh in 2024
| other_names        = Sam Lowry<br />Peter Andrews<br />Mary Ann Bernard
| birth_name         = Steven Andrew Soderbergh
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1963|1|14}}
| birth_place        = [[Atlanta]], Georgia, U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film director|film producer|screenwriter|cinematographer|film editor}}
| years_active       = 1981–present
| works              = [[Steven Soderbergh filmography|Filmography]]
| movement           = [[independent films|Independent cinema]]
| spouse             = {{Plainlist| 
* {{Marriage|[[Betsy Brantley]]|1989|1994|end=div}} 
* {{Marriage|[[Jules Asner]]|2003}} 
}}
| children           = 2
}}
 
'''Steven Andrew Soderbergh''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|oʊ|d|ər|ˌ|b|ɜr|ɡ}} {{Respell|SOH|dər|burg}}; born January 14, 1963)<ref>{{Britannica|760671}}</ref> is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor. A pioneer of modern [[Independent film|independent cinema]], Soderbergh later drew acclaim for formally inventive films made within the [[studio system]].

Soderbergh's directorial breakthrough, the indie drama ''[[Sex, Lies, and Videotape]]'' (1989), lifted him into the public spotlight as a notable presence in the film industry. At 26, Soderbergh became the youngest solo director to win the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[Cannes Film Festival]], and the film garnered worldwide commercial success, as well as [[Sex, Lies, and Videotape#Accolades|numerous accolades]]. His next five films, including the critically lauded [[King of the Hill (1993 film)|''King of the Hill'']] (1993), found limited commercial success. He pivoted into more mainstream fare with the crime comedy ''[[Out of Sight]]'' (1998), the biopic ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'' (2000) and the crime drama ''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]'' (2000), for which he won the [[Academy Award for Best Director]].

Soderbergh found further popular and critical success with the [[Ocean's (film series)|''Ocean's'' trilogy and film franchise]] (2001–18), ''[[Che (2008 film)|Che]]'' (2008), ''[[The Informant!]]'' (2009), ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]'' (2011), ''[[Haywire (2011 film)|Haywire]]'' (2011), the ''[[Magic Mike]]'' trilogy (2012–2023), ''[[Side Effects (2013 film)|Side Effects]]'' (2013), ''[[Behind the Candelabra]]'' (2013), ''[[Logan Lucky]]'' (2017), ''[[Unsane]]'' (2018), ''[[Let Them All Talk]]'' (2020), ''[[No Sudden Move]]'' (2021), ''[[Kimi (film)|Kimi]]'' (2022), ''[[Presence (2024 film)|Presence]]'' (2024), and ''[[Black Bag]]'' (2025). His film career spans a multitude of genres but his specialties are [[psychological thriller|psychological]], [[Crime fiction|crime]], and [[heist film]]s. His films have grossed over US$2.2 billion worldwide and garnered fourteen [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nominations, winning five.

Soderbergh's films often revolve around familiar concepts which are regularly used for big-budget Hollywood movies, but he routinely employs an [[avant-garde]] [[art film|arthouse]] approach. They center on themes of shifting [[Personal identity|personal identities]], vengeance, [[Human sexuality|sexuality]], morality, and the [[human condition]]. His feature films are often distinctive in the realm of [[cinematography]] as a result of his having been influenced by [[Experimental film|avant-garde cinema]], coupled with his use of unconventional [[Film format|film]] and [[Camera|camera formats]]. Many of Soderbergh's films are anchored by multi-dimensional storylines with [[plot twist]]s, [[Nonlinear narrative|nonlinear storytelling]], [[Experimental film|experimental sequencing]], suspenseful [[soundscape]]s, and third-person vantage points.

==Early life==
Soderbergh was born on January 14, 1963, in [[Atlanta]], Georgia, to Mary Ann ({{nee|Bernard}}) and Peter Andrew Soderbergh, who was a university administrator and educator. Soderbergh has [[Sweden|Swedish]], [[Irish-American|Irish]], and [[Italy|Italian]] roots.<ref name=Vulture>{{Cite web |first=Mary Kaye |last=Schilling |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/01/steven-soderbergh-in-conversation.html |title=Steven Soderbergh on Quitting Hollywood, Getting the Best Out of J.Lo, and His Love of Girls |date=November 8, 2014 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |access-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-date=November 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102184136/https://www.vulture.com/2013/01/steven-soderbergh-in-conversation.html |url-status=live}}</ref> His paternal grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Stockholm.<ref>Sherrill, Martha (August 27, 1989). [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/50535831.html?dids=50535831:50535831&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT "What next after 'sex, lies{{nbsp}}...'?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729213147/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/doc/262679275.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=&author=&pub=&edition=&startpage=&desc= |date=July 29, 2017}}, ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]''. pg 1F; retrieved April 16, 2018.</ref>

As a child, he moved with his family to [[Charlottesville, Virginia]], where he lived during his adolescence, and then to [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]], where his father became Dean of Education at [[Louisiana State University]] (LSU).<ref name=Vulture/> Soderbergh discovered filmmaking as a teenager and directed short films with a [[Super 8 film camera|Super 8]] and [[16 mm film|16&nbsp;mm cameras]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/Steven_Soderbergh/194792|title=Steven Soderbergh at Hollywood.com|access-date=December 20, 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629074127/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/194792/Steven_Soderbergh|archive-date=June 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> He attended the [[Louisiana State University Laboratory School]] for high school before graduating and moving to [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] to pursue professional filmmaking.

In his first job, he worked as a game show [[score (game)|score keeper]] and cue card holder; soon after which he found work as a freelance film editor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.225batonrouge.com/article/see-you-in-l-a|title=See you in L.A.|date=31 January 2009|work=225}}</ref> During this time, he directed the concert video ''[[9012Live (video)|9012Live]]'' for the rock band [[Yes (band)|Yes]] in 1985, for which he received a [[Grammy Award]] nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Music Film|Best Music Video, Long Form]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/steven-soderbergh-p112040 |title=Steven Soderbergh {{!}} Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos |website=[[AllMovie]] |access-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822024212/https://www.allmovie.com/artist/steven-soderbergh-p112040 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Career ==
=== 1989: directorial debut ===
After Soderbergh returned to Baton Rouge, he wrote the screenplay for ''[[Sex, Lies, and Videotape]]'' on a [[legal pad]] during an eight-day cross-country drive.<ref name="hindu032">{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/07/18/stories/2003071801230100.htm|title=A filmmaker's celluloid feats|last=Mahadevan-Dasgupta|first=Uma|date=July 18, 2003|work=The Hindu|access-date=March 4, 2008|archive-date=December 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216125216/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/07/18/stories/2003071801230100.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The film tells the story of a troubled man who videotapes women discussing their lives and sexuality, and his impact on the relationship of a married couple.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2015/apr/17/my-favourite-cannes-winner-sex-lies-and-videotape|title=My favourite Cannes winner: sex, lies and videotape |last=Barnes |first=Henry |date=April 17, 2015 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> Soderbergh submitted ''Sex, Lies, and Videotape'' to the [[1989 Cannes Film Festival]] where, at age 26, he became the youngest solo director to win the [[Palme d'Or]], the top prize.<ref name=":3"/><ref name="Canby2">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/27/movies/critic-s-notebook-for-the-cannes-winner-untarnished-celebrity.html |title=Critics' Notebook; For the Cannes Winner, Untarnished Celebrity |last=Canby |first=Vincent |author-link=Vincent Canby |date=May 27, 1989 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription}} Although Canby does not note it in the cited article, [[Louis Malle]] was 23 when he won the Palme d'Or [[1956 Cannes Film Festival|in 1956]] with co-director Jacques-Yves Cousteau for ''[[The Silent World]]''.</ref> Its critical performance led it to become a worldwide commercial success, grossing $36.7&nbsp;million on a $1.2&nbsp;million budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sexliesandvideotape.htm|title=sex, lies and videotape (1989) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref>

''Sex, Lies, and Videotape'' is considered to be the most influential catalyst of the 1990s [[Independent film|Independent Cinema]] movement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/01/how-steven-soderberghs-sex-lies-and-videotape-still-influences-sundance-after-25-years-31300/|title=How Steven Soderbergh's 'sex, lies and videotape' Still Influences Sundance After 25 Years|last=Axmaker|first=Sean|date=January 15, 2014|work=IndieWire|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sex-lies-and-videotape-1989 |title=sex, lies, and videotape Movie Review (1989) |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=August 1, 1989|website=www.rogerebert.com |access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] called Soderbergh the "[[Poster child|poster boy]] of the [[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]] generation".<ref name="rogerebert.suntimes.com2">{{cite news |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060126/REVIEWS/60117006/1023 |title=Reviews: Bubble |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=January 27, 2006 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |access-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-date=September 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928223902/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060126%2FREVIEWS%2F60117006%2F1023 |url-status=dead}}</ref> His relative youth and sudden rise to prominence in the film industry had him referred to as a "sensation" and a prodigy.<ref name="Baron">{{Cite news|url=https://www.gq.com/story/steven-soderbergh-destroy-hollywood|title=This Man Has a Brilliant Plan to Destroy Hollywood|last=Baron|first=Zach|date=August 1, 2017|work=GQ|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/75289/10-facts-about-sex-lies-and-videotape|title=10 Facts About ''sex, lies, and videotape''|last=Aquino|first=Tara|date=February 12, 2016|work=Mental Floss|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> In 2006, ''Sex, Lies, and Videotape''  was selected by the [[Library of Congress]] for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]], being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and the [[American Film Institute]] nominated it as one of the greatest movies ever made.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58277 |title=SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE |work=AFI Catalog |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skylineindiefilmfest.org/sex-lies-videotape-50-favorite-indie-films/|title=Sex, Lies, and Videotape: 50 Favorite Indie Films – Skyline Indie Film Fest|website=www.skylineindiefilmfest.org |access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref>

=== 1990–1997: critical and commercial downturn ===
{{quote box
| quote = When I say this is the most important motion picture you'll ever attend, my motivation is not financial gain, but a firm belief that the delicate fabric that holds all of us together will be ripped apart unless every man, woman, and child in this country sees this film and pays full ticket price, not some bargain [[wikt:matinee|matinée]] cut-rate deal.
| source = – Soderbergh's introduction to ''[[Schizopolis]]'' (1996)<ref name="Tobias">{{Cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/schizopolis-1798226095|title=Schizopolis|last=Tobias|first=Scott|work=Film|access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref>
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Soderbergh's directorial debut was followed by a series of low-budget box-office disappointments.<ref name="Tobias"/><ref name="COLLINS">{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-16-tm-29124-story.html |title=The Funk of Steven Soderbergh |last=Collins |first=Scott |date=February 16, 1997 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=April 16, 2018 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1991, he directed ''[[Kafka (film)|Kafka]],'' a biographical film of [[Franz Kafka]] written by [[Lem Dobbs]] and starring [[Jeremy Irons]]. The film returned one tenth of its budget and received mixed reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/kafka/review/|title=Kafka|last=Newman|first=Kim|date=January 1, 2000|website=Empire |access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]]'s review stated: "Soderbergh does demonstrate again here that he's a gifted director, however unwise in his choice of project".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/kafka-1992|title=Kafka Movie Review & Film Summary (1992) |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=February 7, 1992 |website=www.rogerebert.com}}</ref> Two years later, he directed the drama ''[[King of the Hill (1993 film)|King of the Hill]]'' (1993), which again underperformed commercially, but fared well with critics.<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/steven_soderbergh|title=Steven Soderbergh|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> Based on the memoir of writer [[A. E. Hotchner]], the film is set during the [[Great Depression]] and follows a young boy (played by [[Jesse Bradford]]) struggling to survive on his own in a hotel in [[St. Louis]] after his mother falls ill and his father is away on business trips.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/20/movies/king-of-the-hill-a-boy-of-the-30-s-with-grit-and-wit.html |title=King of the Hill; A Boy of the 30s With Grit and Wit |last=Maslin |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |date=January 1, 1993 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212231304/https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9905E5DD1E3AF933A1575BC0A965958260 |url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 1995, he directed a remake of [[Robert Siodmak]]'s 1949 film noir ''[[Criss Cross (1949 film)|Criss Cross]]'', titled ''[[The Underneath (film)|The Underneath]]'', which grossed $536,020 on a $6.5&nbsp;million budget and was widely panned by critics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/steven-soderbergh-s-the-underneath-plays-like-a-dry-run-1798240927|title=Steven Soderbergh's The Underneath plays like a dry run to later triumphs|last=Hassenger|first=Jesse|date=November 30, 2013|work=Film|language=en-US}}</ref> Soderbergh has since called the film "dead on arrival" and described the making of it as his bottoming out.<ref name="Perez">{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/03/steven-soderbergh-throws-himself-under-the-bus-for-the-underneath-talks-criterion-king-of-the-hill-88388/|title=Steven Soderbergh Throws Himself Under The Bus For 'The Underneath'; Talks Criterion 'King of The Hill'|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|date=March 11, 2014|work=IndieWire|access-date=April 13, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Soderbergh, formerly a member of [[Writers Guild of America West]], left and maintained [[financial core]] status in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WGAW Financial Core List |url=https://www.wga.org/members/membership-information/wgaw-financial-core-list |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=www.wga.org}}</ref>

Soderbergh directed ''[[Schizopolis]]'' in 1996, a comedy which he starred in, wrote, composed and shot as well as directed. The film was submitted to the [[Cannes Film Festival]] to such a "chilly response" that he reworked the entire introduction and conclusion before releasing it commercially.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/schizopolis-1798226095|title=Schizopolis|last=Tobias|first=Scott|date=June 16, 2011|work=Film|access-date=April 16, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104402/https://film.avclub.com/schizopolis-1798226095|url-status=live}}</ref> In the movie's introduction, he said: "In the event that you find certain sequences or events confusing, please bear in mind this is your fault, not ours. You will need to see the picture again and again until you understand everything".<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/schizopolis-1798226095|title=Schizopolis|last=Tobias|first=Scott|date=June 16, 2011|work=Film|access-date=April 13, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104405/https://film.avclub.com/schizopolis-1798226095|url-status=live}}</ref> He starred in ''Schizopolis'' as Fletcher Munson, a spokesman for a [[Scientology]]-esque lifestyle cult, and again as Dr. Jeffrey Korchek, a dentist having an affair with Munson's wife.<ref name=":02" /> The film switched languages multiple times mid-scene without subtitles, leaving large parts of it incomprehensible.<ref name=":02" /> It was viewed by a critic as a "directorial palate cleanse" for Soderbergh.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-16-tm-29124-story.html |title=The Funk of Steven Soderbergh |last=Collins |first=Scott |date=May 16, 1996 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 14, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104421/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-16-tm-29124-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> During the months following his debut of ''Schizopolis'', he released a small, edited version of the [[Spalding Gray]] monologue film ''[[Gray's Anatomy (film)|Gray's Anatomy]].'' Soderbergh would later refer to ''Schizopolis'' as his "artistic wake-up call".<ref name=":02" /> Soderbergh co-wrote the script for the 1997 horror-thriller ''[[Nightwatch (1997 film)|Nightwatch]]'' with Danish filmmaker [[Ole Bornedal]]. ''Nightwatch'' is an English-language remake of Bornedal's own [[Nightwatch (1994 film)|film of the same name]], which was produced three years earlier in Denmark.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hornaday|first1=Ann|title='Nightwatch': morbid, bloody, yet ordinary|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/04/17/nightwatch-morbid-bloody-yet-ordinary/|website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|access-date=May 13, 2018|date=April 17, 1998}}</ref>

===1998–2008: reemergence and ''Ocean's'' trilogy===
Soderbergh's reemergence began in 1998 with ''[[Out of Sight]]'', a stylized adaptation of an [[Elmore Leonard]] novel, written by [[Scott Frank]] and starring [[George Clooney]] and [[Jennifer Lopez]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/73232/17-fast-paced-facts-about-out-sight|title=17 Fast-Paced Facts About ''Out of Sight''|last=Cormier|first=Roger|date=January 11, 2016|work=Mental Floss|access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104420/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73232/17-fast-paced-facts-about-out-sight|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was widely praised, though only a moderate box-office success.<ref name=":12">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/the-100-greatest-movies-of-the-90s-w486390/out-of-sight-1998-w487880|title=The 100 Greatest Movies of the Nineties|last=Krepps|first=Daniel|date=July 12, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 14, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104429/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/the-100-greatest-movies-of-the-nineties-195513/out-of-sight-1998-196245/|url-status=live}}</ref> The critical reception of the movie began a multi-movie artistic partnership between Clooney and Soderbergh. Soderbergh followed up on the success of ''Out of Sight'' by making another crime caper, ''[[The Limey]]'' (1999), from a screenplay by [[Lem Dobbs]] and starring actors [[Terence Stamp]] and [[Peter Fonda]]. The film was well-received and established him within the [[Film genre|cinematic niche]] of thriller and heist films.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-new-cult-canon-the-limey-filmmaker-commentary-trac-1798215723|title=The New Cult Canon: The Limey filmmaker commentary track|last=Tobias|first=Scott|date=November 2, 2009|work=Film|access-date=April 14, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104428/https://film.avclub.com/the-new-cult-canon-the-limey-filmmaker-commentary-trac-1798215723|url-status=live}}</ref> He ventured into his first biographical film since <i>Kafka</i> in 2000 when he directed ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'', written by [[Susannah Grant]] and starring [[Julia Roberts]] in her [[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-winning role as a single mother taking on industry in a civil action.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0101,lim,21165,1.html|title=Both Sides Now. Having Your Way With Hollywood, or the Further Adventures of Steven Soderbergh|author=Dennis Lim|date=January 3, 2001|access-date=March 23, 2006|archive-date=December 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210132428/http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0101,lim,21165,1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In late 2000, Soderbergh released ''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]'', a social drama written by [[Stephen Gaghan]] and featuring an ensemble cast.<ref name=":22">{{Cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2047516,00.html|title=Soderbergh's Choice The director hits homers with Erin Brockovich and Traffic, thus facing off against himself in the Oscar race|last=Cagle|first=Jess|date=March 19, 2003|magazine=Time|access-date=April 14, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0040-781X|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104408/https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/230919112.js|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' compared him to a baseball player hitting [[home run]]s with ''Erin Brockovich'' and ''Traffic''.<ref name=":22" /> Both films would be nominated at the [[73rd Academy Awards|2001 Academy Awards]], making him the first director to have been nominated in the same year for [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for two different films since Michael Curtiz in 1938. He was awarded the [[Academy Award for Best Director]] for ''Traffic'' and received best director nominations at the year's [[Golden Globes|Golden Globe]] and the [[Directors Guild of America]] Awards.<ref name="Germain">{{Cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/magazine/20010319academy.asp|title=Dual nominations for director Soderbergh|last=Germain|first=David|date=March 22, 2001|website=old.post-gazette.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Haygood">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/13/oscars/gladiator-captures-12-oscar-nominations.html |title='Gladiator' Captures 12 Oscar Nominations |last=Haygood |first=Clare Bundy |date=November 13, 2001 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 14, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104409/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/13/oscars/gladiator-captures-12-oscar-nominations.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Christopher_Nolan,_London,_2013_(crop).jpg|thumb|214x214px|Soderbergh supported director [[Christopher Nolan]] ''(pictured)'' in his transition from [[Independent film|independent]] to [[Film studio|studio filmmaking]].]]
In early 2001, he was approached to direct ''[[Ocean's Eleven]]'', a reboot of the 1960s [[Rat Pack]]-movie ''[[Ocean's 11]]'' written by [[Ted Griffin]]. After Griffin wrote the screenplay, Soderbergh signed on to direct. The film opened to critical acclaim and widespread commercial success.<ref name=":32">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-oceans-eleven-movies-w449145|title=5 Things You Didn't Know About the 'Ocean's Eleven' Movies|last=Murray|first=Noel|date=November 28, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 14, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104432/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-oceans-eleven-movies-123424/|url-status=live}}</ref> It quickly became Soderbergh's highest-grossing movie to date, grossing more than $183&nbsp;million domestically and more than $450&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=stevensoderbergh.htm|title=Steven Soderbergh Movie Box Office Results|access-date=December 19, 2007|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104408/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/name/nm0001752/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/|title=All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses|access-date=May 18, 2009|archive-date=October 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023105800/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' credited the movie with "[spawning] a new era of heist movies".<ref name=":32" /> In the same year, Soderbergh made ''[[Full Frontal (film)|Full Frontal]]'', which was shot mostly on digital video in an improvisational style that deliberately blurred the line between which actors were playing characters and which were playing fictionalized versions of themselves.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Soderbergh bares 'Full Frontal' |last=Archerd |first=Army |date=July 24, 2002 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/columns/soderbergh-bares-full-frontal-1117870204/ |access-date=April 14, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104414/https://variety.com/2002/film/columns/soderbergh-bares-full-frontal-1117870204/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A year later, he was asked by executives at [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros]] Studios to direct the psychological thriller ''[[Insomnia (2002 film)|Insomnia]]'' (2002), starring Academy Award winners [[Al Pacino]], [[Robin Williams]], and [[Hilary Swank]]. Despite their insistence, Soderbergh declined, preferring to see it directed by up-and-coming director [[Christopher Nolan]].<ref>[[Sharon Waxman|Waxman]] (2005), p. 15</ref>

Before returning to the ''Ocean's'' series, Soderbergh directed ''[[K Street (TV series)|K Street]]'' (2003), a ten-part political [[HBO]] series he co-produced with George Clooney.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431770|title=Clooney and Soderbergh's 'K Street'|last=Bianculli|first=David|date=September 15, 2003|work=NPR|access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104423/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431770|url-status=live}}</ref> The series was both partially improvised and each episode being produced in the five days prior to airing to take advantage of topical events that could be worked into the fictional narrative.<ref name="NPR.org">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431770|title=Clooney and Soderbergh's 'K Street'|work=NPR|access-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104415/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431770|url-status=live}}</ref> Actual political players appeared as themselves, either in [[Cameo appearance|cameos]] or portraying fictionalized versions of themselves, notably [[James Carville]] and [[Mary Matalin]].<ref name="NPR.org"/>{{quote box
| quote = The reason my career took such a left turn at a certain point was because I realized I was in danger of becoming a [[Formalist film theory|formalist]]. But that wasn't the best representation of me–even as a person. It's easy to fall into that because it's a very isolated position to occupy and it's easy to keep other elements–people and ideas–at a distance.
| source = – Soderbergh (in 2008) on his transition from ''[[Sex, Lies, and Videotape]]'' to more stylized, heist and [[psychological thriller]]s<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/stephen-soderbergh-che|title=Steven Soderbergh – Interview Magazine|last=Sigerson|first=Davitt|date=November 22, 2008|work=Interview Magazine|access-date=April 9, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104428/https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/stephen-soderbergh-che|url-status=live}}</ref>
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}} Soderbergh directed ''[[Ocean's Twelve]]'', a sequel to ''Ocean's Eleven'', in 2004. The second installment received muted critical reviews, and was another commercially successful film, grossing $362.7&nbsp;million on a $110&nbsp;million budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=oceanstwelve.htm|title=Ocean's Twelve (2004) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 14, 2018|archive-date=August 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817115858/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=oceanstwelve.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Matt Singer of ''[[IndieWire]]'' called it a "Great Sequel About How Hard It Is to Make a Great Sequel."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/02/oceans-twelve-is-a-great-sequel-about-how-hard-it-is-to-make-a-great-sequel-128461/|title='Ocean's Twelve' Is a Great Sequel About How Hard It Is to Make a Great Sequel|last=Singer|first=Matt|date=February 5, 2013|work=IndieWire|access-date=April 14, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104409/https://www.indiewire.com/2013/02/oceans-twelve-is-a-great-sequel-about-how-hard-it-is-to-make-a-great-sequel-128461/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{Cite news|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-heist-movies-of-all-time/|title=75 Best Heist Movies of All Time|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=April 14, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=December 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222153527/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-heist-movies-of-all-time/|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2004, Soderbergh produced and co-wrote the adapted screenplay for the film ''[[Criminal (2004 film)|Criminal]]''—a remake of the Argentine film ''[[Nine Queens]]''—with his longtime assistant director [[Gregory Jacobs]], who made his directorial debut with the film.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chocano |first=Carina |title='Criminal' pulls off a fresh caper drama |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-10-et-criminal10-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 13, 2018 |date=September 10, 2004 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104419/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-10-et-criminal10-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

A year later, Soderbergh directed ''[[Bubble (2005 film)|Bubble]]'' (2005), a $1.6&nbsp;million film featuring a cast of nonprofessional actors. It opened in selected theaters and [[HDNet]] simultaneously, and four days later on [[DVD]]. Industry heads were reportedly watching how the film performed, as its unusual release schedule could have implications for future feature films.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/fa/2006/01/20060124_fa_02.mp3?dl=1|title=Will Soderbergh's 'Bubble' Burst on Hollywood?|date=January 24, 2006|access-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/columns/risky_business_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002198452|title=Distributors hold firm against day-and-date|author=Anne Thompson|date=March 17, 2006|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> Theater-owners, who at the time had been suffering from dropping attendance rates, did not welcome so-called "[[Simultaneous release|day-and-date]]" movies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002197235|title=Challenges Seen for Film Biz After 2005 Slide|last=Thompson|first=Anne|date=March 15, 2006|work=[[Backstage (magazine)|Backstage]]|access-date=April 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422210551/http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002197235|archive-date=April 22, 2006|author-link=Anne Thompson (film critic)}}</ref> [[National Association of Theatre Owners]] chief executive John Fithian indirectly called the film's release model "the biggest threat to the viability of the [[Film industry|cinema industry]] today."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-01-18-bubble-theater-threat_x.htm|title='Bubble' hits theaters, TV, DVD on same day|author=Gary Gentile|date=January 18, 2006|work=USA Today|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104417/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-01-18-bubble-theater-threat_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Soderbergh's response to such criticism: "I don't think it's going to destroy the movie-going experience any more than the ability to get takeout has destroyed the restaurant business."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B46OAwAAQBAJ&q=don%27t+think+it%27s+going+to+destroy+the+movie-going+experience+any+more+than+the+ability+to+get+takeout+has+destroyed+the+restaurant+business&pg=PA187|title=Film Firsts: The 25 Movies That Created Contemporary American Cinema|last=Alter|first=Ethan|date=May 17, 2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781440801884|access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104412/https://books.google.com/books?id=B46OAwAAQBAJ&q=don%27t+think+it%27s+going+to+destroy+the+movie-going+experience+any+more+than+the+ability+to+get+takeout+has+destroyed+the+restaurant+business&pg=PA187|url-status=live}}</ref> A romantic drama set in post-war Berlin, ''[[The Good German]]'', starring [[Cate Blanchett]] and Clooney, was released in late 2006. The film performed poorly commercially grossing $5.9&nbsp;million worldwide against a budget of $32&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=goodgerman.htm|title=The Good German (2006) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 14, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104417/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3780412929/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Soderbergh next directed ''[[Ocean's Thirteen]]'', which was released in June 2007 to further commercial success and increased critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/oceans-thirteen-2007 |title=Danny Ocean all at sea |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |website=RogerEbert.com |access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104420/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/oceans-thirteen-2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Grossing $311.3&nbsp;million on an $85&nbsp;million budget, it is the second highest-grossing film of his career after the first ''Ocean's''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=oceans13.htm |title=Ocean's Thirteen (2007) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104428/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl442926593/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The film concluded what would later be known as the [[Ocean's (film series)|''Ocean's'' trilogy]], a collection of heist movies that would go on to be described as defining a new era of heist films.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-oceans-eleven-movies-w449145|title=5 Things You Didn't Know About the 'Ocean's Eleven' Movies|last=Murray|first=Noel|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104432/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-oceans-eleven-movies-123424/|url-status=live}}</ref> Soderbergh directed ''[[Che (2008 film)|Che]]'', which was released in theaters in two parts, titled ''The Argentine'' and ''Guerrilla'', and was presented in the main competition of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, on May 22. [[Benicio del Toro]] played the Argentine guerrilla [[Che Guevara|Ernesto "Che" Guevara]] in an epic four-hour double bill which looks first at his role in the [[Cuban Revolution]] before moving to his campaign and eventual death in Bolivia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/dossierPresse/id/10803637.html|title=Che|work=Festival de Cannes|date=May 21, 2023}}</ref> Soderbergh shot his feature film ''[[The Girlfriend Experience]]'' in New York in 2008. Soderbergh cast adult film star [[Sasha Grey]] as the film's lead actress to great reception and controversy.<ref>Original news release: David Sullivan, [http://www.avn.com/performer/articles/32834.html "Sasha Grey Stars in Steven Soderbergh Feature"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104422/https://avn.com/business/articles/video/adam-eve-offers-apple-to-women-32834.html |date=March 20, 2021}}, in: ''Adult Video News'', AVN Media Network (online), October 14, 2008</ref><ref>David Sullivan, [http://www.avn.com/performer/articles/32868.html "Video: Soderbergh Directs Sasha Grey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104423/https://avn.com/business/articles/video/microsoft-ignores-own-advice-pays-32868.html |date=March 20, 2021}}, in: ''Adult Video News'', AVN Media Network (online), October 15, 2008</ref>

===2009–2016: mainstream success and brief hiatus===
Soderbergh's first film of 2009 was ''[[The Informant!]]'', a black comedy starring [[Matt Damon]] as corporate whistleblower [[Mark Whitacre]]. Whitacre wore a wire for {{frac|2|1|2}} years for the [[FBI]] as a high-level executive at a [[Fortune 500]] company, [[Archer Daniels Midland]] (ADM), in one of the largest [[price-fixing]] cases in history. The film was released on September 18, 2009. The script for the movie was written by [[Scott Z. Burns]] based on [[Kurt Eichenwald]]'s book, ''[[The Informant (book)|The Informant]]''. The film grossed $41&nbsp;million on a $22&nbsp;million budget and received generally favorable reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=informant.htm |title=The Informant! (2009) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104420/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4166747649/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-informant-2009 |title=An exceedingly peculiar case of whistle-blowing |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |website=RogerEbert.com |access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511121426/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-informant-2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2009, Soderbergh shot a small improvised film with the cast of the play, ''The Last Time I Saw Michael Gregg'', a comedy about a theatre company staging Chekhov's ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]''. He has stated that he does not want it seen by the public, and only intended it for the cast. Soderbergh nearly filmed a feature adaptation of the baseball book ''[[Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game|Moneyball]]'', starring [[Brad Pitt]] and [[Jonah Hill]]. The book, by [[Michael Lewis (author)|Michael Lewis]], tells of how [[Billy Beane]], general manager of [[Oakland Athletics]], used [[Statistics|statistical analysis]] to make up for what he lacked in funds to beat the odds and lead his team to a series of notable wins in 2002. Disagreements between Sony and Soderbergh about revisions to [[Steven Zaillian]]'s version of the screenplay led to Soderbergh's dismissal from the project only days prior to filming in June 2009. In 2010, Soderbergh shot the action-thriller ''[[Haywire (2011 film)|Haywire]]'', starring [[Gina Carano]], [[Ewan McGregor]], [[Michael Fassbender]] and [[Channing Tatum]] which, though shot in early 2010, was not released until January 2012.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/haywire-and-its-haymakers|title="Haywire" and its Haymakers|last=Brody|first=Richard|date=January 1, 2012|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=April 15, 2018 |issn=0028-792X|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104422/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/haywire-and-its-haymakers|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Liberace Cannes 2013.jpg|thumb|left|Soderbergh (second from left) with cast and crew of ''[[Behind the Candelabra]]'' at the 2013 [[Cannes Film Festival]]]]
In 2010, Soderbergh shot the epic virus thriller ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]'', another film written by Burns.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36738/script-details-leak-out-steven-soderberghs-contagion|title=Script Details Leak Out for Steven Soderbergh's Contagion|author=Barton|first=Steve|date=April 1, 2010|access-date=April 15, 2018|website=[[Dread Central]]|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104426/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36738/be-one-of-the-first-to-see-sinister-dread-central-to-co-host-a-screening/|url-status=live}}</ref> With a cast including Damon, [[Kate Winslet]], [[Gwyneth Paltrow]], [[Laurence Fishburne]], [[Marion Cotillard]] and [[Jude Law]], the film follows the outbreak of a lethal [[pandemic]] across the globe and the efforts of doctors and scientists to discover the cause and develop a cure. Soderbergh premiered it at the [[68th Venice Film Festival]] in Venice, Italy on September 3, 2011, and released it to the general public six days later to commercial success and widespread critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/contagion-2011|title=Contagion Movie Review & Film Summary (2011) |last=Ebert |first=Roger |website=www.rogerebert.com |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104425/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/contagion-2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Grossing $135.5&nbsp;million on a $60&nbsp;million budget, [[Manohla Dargis]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called his film a "smart, spooky thriller about a thicket of contemporary plagues—a killer virus, rampaging fear, an unscrupulous blogger—is as ruthlessly effective as the malady at its cool, cool center."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/movies/contagion-steven-soderberghs-plague-paranoia-review.html|title='Contagion,' Steven Soderbergh's Plague Paranoia – Review |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=September 8, 2011 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=September 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919034933/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/movies/contagion-steven-soderberghs-plague-paranoia-review.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2011, Soderbergh served as a [[second unit director]] on ''[[The Hunger Games (film)|The Hunger Games]]'' and filmed much of the District 11 riot scene.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1681105/hunger-games-avox-cut.jhtml|title='Hunger Games' Director Gary Ross 'Sorry' About Cuts|work=MTV News|access-date=April 22, 2013|archive-date=December 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204110817/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1681105/hunger-games-avox-cut.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/steven-soderbergh-hunger-games/|title=Steven Soderbergh is Directing Second Unit on The Hunger Games|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|date=August 4, 2011|website=Collider|access-date=January 8, 2012|archive-date=August 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816141328/http://collider.com/steven-soderbergh-hunger-games/107523/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September and October 2011, he shot ''[[Magic Mike]]'', a film starring Tatum, about the actor's experiences working as a male stripper in his youth. Tatum played the title mentor character, while [[Alex Pettyfer]] played a character based on Tatum. The film was released on June 29, 2012, to a strong commercial performance and favorable critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/movies/magic-mike-by-steven-soderbergh-with-channing-tatum.html |title=Review: 'Magic Mike,' by Steven Soderbergh, With Channing Tatum |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=June 28, 2012 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104425/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/movies/magic-mike-by-steven-soderbergh-with-channing-tatum.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout 2012, Soderbergh had announced his intention to retire from feature filmmaking. He stated that "when you reach the point where you're saying, 'If I have to get into a van to do another scout, I'm just going to shoot myself,' it's time to let somebody who's still excited about getting in the van, get in the van."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nffty.org/photos/is-steven-soderbergh-retiring-or-not|title=Is Steven Soderbergh Retiring Or Not?|last=Syn|first=Theresa|date=October 3, 2012|website=[[National Film Festival for Talented Youth]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111601/http://www.nffty.org/photos/is-steven-soderbergh-retiring-or-not|archive-date=December 24, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=April 20, 2014}}</ref> Soderbergh later said that he would retire from filmmaking and begin to explore painting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/artinfo/steven-soderbergh-confirm_b_940528.html|title=Steven Soderbergh Confirms Plans to Leave Hollywood and Become a Painter|date=August 29, 2011|work=Huffington Post|access-date=August 29, 2011|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104428/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/steven-soderbergh-confirm_b_940528|url-status=live}}</ref> A few weeks later, Soderbergh played down his earlier comments, saying a filmmaking "[[sabbatical]]" was more accurate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/05/steven-soderbergh-not-retiring-sabbatical_n_949124.html|title=Steven Soderbergh Now Denies Retiring|last=Zakarin|first=Jordan|date=September 5, 2011|access-date=November 26, 2011|website=Huffington Post|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104429/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/steven-soderbergh-not-retiring-sabbatical_n_949124|url-status=live}}</ref> For his then-final feature film, he directed the psychological thriller ''[[Side Effects (2013 film)|Side Effects]]'', which starred Law, [[Rooney Mara]], Tatum and [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]]. It was shot in April 2012 and was released on February 8, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/exclusive-blake-lively-jude-law-channing-tatum-will-lead-steven-soderberghs-the-side-effects|title=Exclusive: Rooney Mara, Jude Law & Channing Tatum Will Lead Steven Soderbergh's 'The Side Effects'|last=Lyttelton|first=Oliver|date=January 9, 2012|work=[[indieWire]]|access-date=January 19, 2012|archive-date=November 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107055754/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/exclusive-blake-lively-jude-law-channing-tatum-will-lead-steven-soderberghs-the-side-effects|url-status=dead}}</ref> Screened at the [[63rd Berlin International Film Festival]], [[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' stated that Soderbergh "[handled] it brilliantly, serving notice once again that he is a crackerjack genre technician."<ref name="Berlin2">{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_16404.html|title=Berlinale Competition 2013: Another Nine Films Confirmed|work=berlinale|access-date=January 11, 2013|archive-date=April 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410152613/http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_16404.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the end, while promoting ''Side Effects'' in early 2013, he clarified that he had a five-year plan that saw him transitioning away from making feature films around his fiftieth birthday.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323375204578270080612623840 |title=Steven Soderbergh: Restless Behind the Camera |last=Steinberg |first=Don |date=January 31, 2013 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 21, 2014 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104429/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323375204578270080612623840 |url-status=live}}</ref> Around that time, he gave a much publicized speech at the [[San Francisco International Film Festival]], detailing the obstacles facing filmmakers in the current corporate Hollywood environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/04/steven-soderbergh-state-of-cinema-address-486368/|title=Steven Soderbergh's State of Cinema Talk|date=April 30, 2013|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=April 21, 2014|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104433/https://deadline.com/2013/04/steven-soderbergh-state-of-cinema-address-486368/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Soderbergh had planned to commence production in early 2012 on a feature version of ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]'', also written by Burns. [[George Clooney]] was set for the lead role of [[Napoleon Solo]] but had to drop out due to a recurring back injury suffered while filming ''[[Syriana]]''.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a339178/george-clooney-back-injury-forced-man-from-uncle-exit-says-writer.html George Clooney back injury forced 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' exit, says writer – Movies News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104441/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a339178/george-clooney-back-injury-forced-man-from-uncle-exit-says-writer/ |date=March 20, 2021}}. Digital Spy (September 7, 2011). Retrieved on January 22, 2012.</ref> In November 2011 Soderbergh withdrew from the project due to budget and casting conflicts,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/exclusive-steven-soderbergh-opts-out-of-directing-warners-the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e|title=Exclusive: Steven Soderbergh Spies Other Plans, Won't Direct 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'|date=November 18, 2011|access-date=August 5, 2013|archive-date=February 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212185321/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/exclusive-steven-soderbergh-opts-out-of-directing-warners-the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was eventually replaced by [[Guy Ritchie]]. His final televised project before heading into retirement was ''[[Behind the Candelabra]]''. Shot in the summer of 2012, it starred [[Michael Douglas]] as legendarily flamboyant pianist [[Liberace]] and Damon as his lover [[Scott Thorson]]. The film is written by [[Richard LaGravenese]], based on Thorson's book ''[[Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace]]'', and produced by [[HBO Films]].<ref>[http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/hbo_films_backs_steven_soderberghs_liberace_pic_behind_the_candelabra_set_f/ HBO Films Backs Steven Soderbergh's Liberace Pic 'Behind The Candelabra'; Set For Summer 2012 Shoot | The Playlist] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120707143801/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/hbo_films_backs_steven_soderberghs_liberace_pic_behind_the_candelabra_set_f/|date=July 7, 2012}}. Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved on January 22, 2012.</ref> It was selected to compete for the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[2013 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="Cannes20132">{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/article/59652.html|title=2013 Official Selection|date=April 18, 2013|work=Cannes|access-date=April 18, 2013|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211120304/http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/article/59652.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2013—only months into his retirement—Soderbergh announced that he would direct a ten-part miniseries for [[Cinemax]] called ''[[The Knick]]''. The series followed doctors at a fictionalized version of the [[Knickerbocker Hospital]] in Manhattan in the early twentieth century. The series starred [[Clive Owen]], [[Andre Holland]], [[Jeremy Bobb]], [[Juliet Rylance]], [[Eve Hewson]] and [[Michael Angarano]] and was filmed in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/soderbergh-old-school-nyc-knick-time-article-1.1511114|title=Steven Soderbergh takes NYC back a century or so for Cinemax series 'The Knick'|last=Bailey|first=Maria|date=November 9, 2013|work=Daily News|access-date=April 21, 2014|location=New York|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104443/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/soderbergh-old-school-nyc-knick-time-article-1.1511114|url-status=live}}</ref> It began airing in August 2014 to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-footage-from-steven-soderberghs-the-knick-more-2014-tv-highlights-20131217|title=Watch: First Footage From Steven Soderbergh's 'The Knick' & More 2014 TV Highlights|last=Brock|first=Ben|date=December 17, 2013|website=Indiewire Blogs|access-date=April 21, 2014|archive-date=February 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208112728/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-footage-from-steven-soderberghs-the-knick-more-2014-tv-highlights-20131217|url-status=live}}</ref> After completing the second season, Soderbergh revealed he was finished directing for the show, and said: "I told them [Cinemax] that I'm going to do the first two years and then we are going to break out the story for seasons 3 and 4 and try and find a filmmaker or filmmakers to do this the way that I did. This is how we want to do this so that every two years, whoever comes on, has the freedom to create their universe."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/steven-soderbergh-says-more-the-knick-is-coming-reveals-rough-plan-for-season-3-beyond-20151221|title=Steven Soderbergh Says More 'The Knick' Is Coming, Reveals Rough Plan For Season 3 & Beyond|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|date=December 21, 2015|work=Indiewire|access-date=December 21, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222184423/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/steven-soderbergh-says-more-the-knick-is-coming-reveals-rough-plan-for-season-3-beyond-20151221|url-status=live}}</ref> 
[[File:Steven Soderbergh Deauville 2013.jpg|thumb|246x246px|Soderbergh at the [[Deauville American Film Festival]] in 2014]]
After his work with ''The Knick'', Soderbergh began working on a variety of personal projects starting with directing an [[Off-Broadway]] play titled ''[[The Library (play)|The Library]]'', starring [[Chloë Grace Moretz]] in January 2014.<ref name="Brantley">{{cite news |date=April 16, 2014 |last=Brantley |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Brantley |title=Cruel Truths Always Survive a Shooting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/theater/steven-soderbergh-directs-the-library-at-the-public.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416195700/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/theater/steven-soderbergh-directs-the-library-at-the-public.html |archive-date=April 16, 2014 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 30, 2022}}</ref> 
On February 24, 2014, Soderbergh released a mash-up of Alfred Hitchcock's [[Psycho (1960 film)|''Psycho'' (1960)]] and Gus Van Sant's [[Psycho (1998 film)|1998]] shot-by-shot remake on his website, titled ''Psychos''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Soderbegh |first1=Steven |title=Psychos |url=https://extension765.com/blogs/soderblog/psychos |website=extension765.com |access-date=March 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Grinwald |first1=Adam |title=Steven Soderbergh Gave Us His Own Take On 'Psycho' Without Any New Footage |url=https://collider.com/psychos-steven-soderbergh/ |website=Collider |access-date=March 11, 2024 |date=August 22, 2023}}</ref>
On April 21, 2014, Soderbergh released an alternate cut of [[Michael Cimino]]'s controversial 1980 Western ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]'' on his website. Credited to his pseudonym Mary Ann Bernard and dubbed "The Butcher's Cut", Soderbergh's version runs 108 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HEAVEN'S GATE: THE BUTCHER'S CUT |url=https://extension765.com/blogs/soderblog/heavens-gate-the-butchers-cut |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=extension765.com}}</ref><ref name=":23">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/steven-soderbergh-cuts-heavens-gate-down-to-size|title=Steven Soderbergh Cuts "Heaven's Gate" Down to Size|last=Adams|first=Sam|date=April 22, 2014|work=[[Indiewire]]|access-date=April 27, 2014|archive-date=April 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427014444/http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/steven-soderbergh-cuts-heavens-gate-down-to-size|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/67024 |title=Steven Soderbergh Takes A Cleaver To Michael Cimino With HEAVEN'S GATE: THE BUTCHER'S CUT! |date=April 21, 2014 |publisher=[[Ain't It Cool News]] |access-date=April 27, 2022}}</ref> On September 22, 2014, he uploaded a black-and-white silent version of ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', with [[Trent Reznor]] and [[Atticus Ross]]'s score of ''[[The Social Network]]''. The purpose of it is to study the aspects of [[Staging (theatre)|staging]] in filmmaking.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Extension 765, Raiders|url=https://extension765.com/blogs/soderblog/raiders|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104436/https://extension765.com/blogs/soderblog/raiders|archive-date=March 20, 2021|access-date=|website=Extension 765}}</ref> It was announced in June 2014 that Soderbergh would be executive producing a series based on his earlier film ''[[The Girlfriend Experience]]'' for the [[Starz]] network, to premiere sometime in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/06/starz-girlfriend-experience-anthology-series-steven-soderbergh-movie-794433/|title=Starz Orders Steven Soderbergh Anthology Series 'The Girlfriend Experience' Based on His Movie|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 23, 2014|access-date=January 9, 2016|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104442/https://deadline.com/2014/06/starz-girlfriend-experience-anthology-series-steven-soderbergh-movie-794433/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2015, Soderbergh was announced to be directing ''[[Mosaic (murder mystery)|Mosaic]]'', a series for HBO. Starring [[Sharon Stone]], it was a dual-media project; it was released as both an [[interactive movie]] app in November 2017 and as a six-part miniseries airing in January 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Steven Soderbergh Sets Up Mystery Project 'Mosaic' at HBO, Sharon Stone Set to Star |last=Wagmeister |first=Elizabeth |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=September 24, 2015 |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/steven-soderbergh-mosaic-hbo-series-1201601807/ |access-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104440/https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/steven-soderbergh-mosaic-hbo-series-1201601807/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.looper.com/89713/steven-soderbergh-hbo-mosaic-trailer/|title=Steven Soderbergh's interactive storytelling project Mosaic gets a trailer|last1=Bianco|first1=Julia|website=Looper|access-date=October 9, 2016|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104434/https://www.looper.com/89713/steven-soderbergh-hbo-mosaic-trailer/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2016–present: return to filmmaking ===
In February 2016, Soderbergh officially came out of his retirement to direct a [[NASCAR]] heist film, ''[[Logan Lucky]]'', starring [[Channing Tatum]], [[Adam Driver]], and [[Daniel Craig]], among others. The film was produced entirely by Soderbergh, with no studio involved in anything other than [[Film distribution|theatrical distribution]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Steven Soderbergh to End Film Retirement for Channing Tatum Movie |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=February 4, 2016 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/steven-soderbergh-channing-tatum-heist-retirement-1201695944/ |access-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104439/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/steven-soderbergh-channing-tatum-heist-retirement-1201695944/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was released on August 18, 2017, by [[Bleecker Street (company)|Bleecker Street]] and Fingerprint Releasing, his own distribution and production company.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Steven Soderbergh |author=<!--not stated--> |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 17, 2017 |url=https://variety.com/exec/steven-soderbergh |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104454/https://variety.com/exec/steven-soderbergh/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/logan-lucky-steven-soderbergh-bleecker-street-1201914113/|title=Bleecker Street Inks U.S. Deal For Steven Soderbergh's 'Logan Lucky', Sets August Release|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=February 16, 2017|work=Deadline|access-date=April 16, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104444/https://deadline.com/2017/02/logan-lucky-steven-soderbergh-bleecker-street-1201914113/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Logan Lucky'' was met with widespread critical acclaim, [[Matt Zoller Seitz]] writing for [[RogerEbert.com]] stated: "The odds seem stacked in ''Logan Lucky'''s favor the instant you spot 'Directed by Steven Soderbergh' in the [[opening credits]]".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/logan-lucky-2017 |title=Logan Lucky Movie Review & Film Summary (2017) |last=Seitz |first=Matt Zoller |website=www.rogerebert.com |access-date=August 17, 2017 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104440/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/logan-lucky-2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2017, it was revealed that Soderbergh had also secretly shot a horror film using [[IPhone|iPhones]] titled ''[[Unsane]]'', and starring [[Claire Foy]] and [[Juno Temple]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tracking-board.com/steven-soderbergh-claire-foy-team-for-secret-movie-shot-on-iphone-exclusive/|title=Steven Soderbergh, Claire Foy Team for Secret Movie Shot on iPhone (Exclusive)|date=July 18, 2017|work=The Tracking Board|access-date=April 16, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807140838/http://www.tracking-board.com/steven-soderbergh-claire-foy-team-for-secret-movie-shot-on-iphone-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Juno Temple to Co-Star With Claire Foy in Steven Soderbergh's Next Movie (Exclusive) |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=July 18, 2017 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/juno-temple-claire-foy-in-steven-soderbergh-pic-exclusive-1202499189/ |access-date=April 16, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720023431/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/juno-temple-claire-foy-in-steven-soderbergh-pic-exclusive-1202499189/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was released on March 23, 2018<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/claire-foy-juno-temple-steven-soderbergh-unsane-march-23-release-1202208079/|title=Steven Soderbergh's 'Unsane' Gets Spring Release From Bleecker Street; New Regency Nabs International Rights|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=November 15, 2017|work=Deadline|access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204713/https://deadline.com/2017/11/claire-foy-juno-temple-steven-soderbergh-unsane-march-23-release-1202208079/|url-status=live}}</ref> and was well received by critics, with Scott Meslow of ''[[GQ]]'' noting its relevance to the modern plight of women in [[Patriarchy|patriarchal]] societies, and called it a "nerve-jangling modern-day [[Franz Kafka|Kafka]] story".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gq.com/story/unsane-review|title='Unsane' Is a Horror Movie About What It's Like to Be a Woman|last=Meslow|first=Scott|date=March 22, 2018|work=GQ|access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104439/https://www.gq.com/story/unsane-review|url-status=live}}</ref> His usage of an iPhone in [[4K resolution|4K]] to film the movie was considered "inspirational to aspiring filmmakers" for breaking down the perceived costs associated with producing a feature film in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://salemweeklynews.com/2018/04/soderberghs-unsane-is-an-inspiration-to-aspiring-filmmakers/|title=Soderbergh's Unsane is an inspiration to aspiring filmmakers – Salem Weekly News|last=Salem Weekly|date=April 13, 2018|work=Salem Weekly News|access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506202150/http://salemweeklynews.com/2018/04/soderberghs-unsane-is-an-inspiration-to-aspiring-filmmakers/|archive-date=May 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, Soderbergh directed ''[[High Flying Bird]]'', starring [[André Holland|Andre Holland]] who played the role of a sports agent representing his rookie client with an intriguing and controversial business opportunity during an [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] lockout.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thefilmstage.com/news/steven-soderbergh-reteams-with-andre-holland-for-nba-drama-high-flying-bird-shooting-this-month/|title=Steven Soderbergh Reteams with André Holland for NBA Drama 'High Flying Bird,' Shooting This Month|last=Raup|first=Jordon|date=February 5, 2018|work=The Film Stage|access-date=April 16, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> The film began production in February 2018<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/steven-soderbergh-wraps-high-flying-bird-andre-holland-first-cut-1201939835/|title=Steven Soderbergh Wraps André Holland Film 'High Flying Bird' and Has First Cut Done Three Hours Later|last=Sharf|first=Zack|date=March 18, 2018|work=IndieWire|access-date=April 16, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> and was released on February 8, 2019, by [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Slamdance Festival Selects Steven Soderbergh for Founders Award |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |first=Dave |last=McNary |date=December 11, 2018 |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/slamdance-festival-steven-soderbergh-founders-award-1203086401/ |access-date=February 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/high_flying_bird|title=High Flying Bird|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021111546/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/high_flying_bird|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/high-flying-bird|title=High Flying Bird|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230053158/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/high-flying-bird|url-status=live}}</ref> Soderbergh's film ''[[The Laundromat (2019 film)|The Laundromat]]'' is a political thriller about the international leak of the [[Panama Papers]], written by [[Scott Z. Burns]] and based on the book ''Secrecy World'', by Pulitzer Prize-winner [[Jake Bernstein (journalist)|Jake Bernstein]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theplaylist.net/steven-soderbergh-panama-laundromat-20180412/|title=Steven Soderbergh Shooting 'Panama Papers' Movie Next, Title Revealed|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|date=April 12, 2018|work=The Playlist|access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> It stars [[Meryl Streep]], [[Gary Oldman]], [[Antonio Banderas]], [[Jeffrey Wright]], [[Matthias Schoenaerts]], [[James Cromwell]] and [[Sharon Stone]] and premiered at the [[Venice Film Festival]] on September 1, 2019<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2019/venezia-76-competition/laundromat |title=The Laundromat Venezia 76 Competition |date=July 15, 2019 |publisher=La Biennale di Venezia |access-date=August 19, 2019 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725104840/https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2019/venezia-76-competition/laundromat |url-status=live}}</ref> before airing on Netflix. Soderbergh's 2020 film ''[[Let Them All Talk]]'', was written by [[Deborah Eisenberg]], and starred [[Meryl Streep]], [[Candice Bergen]], [[Gemma Chan]], [[Lucas Hedges]] and [[Dianne Wiest]]. It was shot in 2019, primarily aboard the ocean liner {{RMS|Queen Mary 2||2}}, and also in New York and the UK, and premiered on December 10, 2020, on [[HBO Max]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hbo-max-picks-up-steven-soderbergh-comedy-starring-meryl-streep-gemma-chan-1232909 |title=HBO Max Picks Up Steven Soderbergh Comedy Starring Meryl Streep, Gemma Chan (Exclusive) |work=The Hollywood Reporter |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |last2=Ford |first2=Rebecca |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 20, 2021}}</ref>

''[[No Sudden Move]]'' (formerly ''Kill Switch'') is a 1950s period crime film shot in Detroit from September<ref name="deadline.com">{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/no-sudden-move-steven-soderbergh-don-cheadle-benicio-del-toro-jon-hamm-hbo-max-movie-1234586267/ |title='No Sudden Move': Steven Soderbergh Sets Starry Cast For HBO Max Crime Thriller |work=Deadline |last=N'Duka |first=Amanda |date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104445/https://deadline.com/2020/09/no-sudden-move-steven-soderbergh-don-cheadle-benicio-del-toro-jon-hamm-hbo-max-movie-1234586267/ |url-status=live}}</ref> to November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://today.wayne.edu/news/2020/11/16/students-take-tour-of-soderberghs-no-sudden-move-at-maccabees-building-40942 |title=Students take tour of Soderbergh's 'No Sudden Move' at Maccabees Building |publisher=Wayne State University |date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104436/https://today.wayne.edu/news/2020/11/16/students-take-tour-of-soderberghs-no-sudden-move-at-maccabees-building-40942 |url-status=live}}</ref> From [[Mosaic (murder mystery)|''Mosaic'']] writer [[Ed Solomon]], it stars [[Don Cheadle]], [[Benicio del Toro]], [[David Harbour]], [[Amy Seimetz]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/movies/steven-soderbergh-amy-seimetz-pandemic.html |title=Steven Soderbergh and Amy Seimetz Made the Pandemic Movies of the Moment |last=Buchanan |first=Kyle |date=July 31, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 11, 2020  |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104444/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/movies/steven-soderbergh-amy-seimetz-pandemic.html |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jon Hamm]], [[Ray Liotta]], [[Kieran Culkin]], [[Brendan Fraser]], [[Noah Jupe]], [[Bill Duke]], [[Frankie Shaw]] and [[Julia Fox]]. It had its world premiere at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]] on June 18, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tribecafilm.com/news/steven-soderberghs-no-sudden-mive-premieres-at-the-tribeca-festival|title= Steven Soderbergh's "No Sudden Move" Premieres at the Tribeca Festival|website=[[Tribeca Film Festival]]|date=May 20, 2021|access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref> It was released on [[HBO Max]] on July 1, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/no-sudden-move-tribeca-film-festival-centerpiece-steven-soderbergh-hbo-max-1234760013/|title= Steven Soderbergh's 'No Sudden Move' Gets Tribeca Film Festival Centerpiece Slot; First-Look Teaser & Photos|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=May 20, 2021|access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Kimi (film)|Kimi]]'', released on HBO Max in 2022, was shot in Seattle and Los Angeles in April and May 2021.<ref name="Slog">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/03/31/56270784/wanna-be-in-a-soderbergh-movie|title=Wanna Be in a Soderbergh Movie?|last=Keimig|first=Jasmine|work=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|Slog]]|date=March 31, 2021|access-date=June 28, 2021|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413200915/https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/03/31/56270784/wanna-be-in-a-soderbergh-movie|url-status=live}}</ref> It stars [[Zoë Kravitz]] as an agoraphobic tech worker who discovers evidence of a violent crime, and reunites Soderbergh with ''Traffic'' actors [[Erika Christensen]] and [[Jacob Vargas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/parenthood-erika-christensen-new-line-kimi-cheaper-by-the-dozen-remake-disney-1234726008/|title='Parenthood' Alum Erika Christensen Cast In New Line's 'KIMI' For HBO Max & 'Cheaper By The Dozen' Remake At Disney+|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=April 1, 2021|accessdate=June 28, 2021|archive-date=April 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401202614/https://deadline.com/2021/04/parenthood-erika-christensen-new-line-kimi-cheaper-by-the-dozen-remake-disney-1234726008/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/jacob-vargas-steven-soderberghs-kimi-new-line-1234715774/|title=Jacob Vargas Joins Steven Soderbergh's Next Film 'KIMI' at New Line|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=March 16, 2021|accessdate=June 28, 2021|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316173632/https://deadline.com/2021/03/jacob-vargas-steven-soderberghs-kimi-new-line-1234715774/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Magic Mike's Last Dance]]'', was filmed in London in early 2022. This third episode in the ''[[Magic Mike]]'' franchise brought back Channing Tatum and also introduced [[Salma Hayek]] to the series. The film was originally set to premiere on HBO Max,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/salma-hayek-magic-mike-last-dance-thandiwe-newton-1235002023/|title=Salma Hayek Joins 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' as Thandiwe Newton Steps Away from Project Due to Personal Reasons|date=April 13, 2022}}</ref> but was instead released in theaters on February 10, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/magic-mike-last-dance-february-2023-theatrical-release-1235222389/#recipient_hashed=e755a82660bace874238723e7f5ad7e36db578c17063fd1140d09c47f0b6c5d9 | title='Magic Mike's Last Dance' Pivots from HBO Max to February 2023 Theatrical Release | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=September 16, 2022}}</ref>

''[[Full Circle (miniseries)|Full Circle]]'' is a six-part miniseries starring [[Zazie Beetz]], [[Claire Danes]], [[Jharrel Jerome]] and [[Timothy Olyphant]]. It was written by Ed Solomon, who also wrote ''Mosaic'', and follows "an investigation into a botched kidnapping" that "uncovers long-held secrets connecting multiple characters and cultures in present-day New York City".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/timothy-olyphant-cast-steven-soderbergh-ed-solomons-hbo-max-limited-series-full-circle-1235117627/ | title=Timothy Olyphant to Star in Steven Soderbergh's 'Full Circle' HBO Max Limited Series | date=September 14, 2022}}</ref> It premiered on [[Max (streaming service)|Max]] on July 13, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/full-circle-steven-soderberghs-max-limited-series-premiere-date-trailer-1235371889/ | title='Full Circle': Steven Soderbergh's Max Limited Series Gets Premiere Date, First-Look Teaser | date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> Also in July 2023, Soderbergh debuted his science fiction web series ''[[Command Z]]'', which is inspired by [[Kurt Andersen]]'s 2020 book, ''[[Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America]]''.<ref>{{cite web | last=Zuckerman | first=Esther | title=Steven Soderbergh Debuts Sci-Fi Series 'Command Z' at Secret New York Screening | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=July 17, 2023 | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/steven-soderbergh-command-z-secret-screening-1235538169/ | access-date=July 17, 2023}}</ref> His film, ''[[Presence (2024 film)|Presence]]'', a haunted house thriller starring [[Lucy Liu]] and [[Julia Fox]], premiered at the [[2024 Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |date=December 6, 2023 |title=Sundance 2024: Kristen Stewart, Saoirse Ronan and Steven Yeun lead lineup |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/06/sundance-film-festival-lineup-2024-kristen-stewart-saoirse-ronan-steven-yeun |access-date=December 8, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Soderbergh filmed the 2025 spy thriller ''[[Black Bag]]'', written by ''Kimi'' and ''Presence'' screenwriter [[David Koepp]] and starring [[Cate Blanchett]] and [[Michael Fassbender]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=January 19, 2024|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cate-blanchett-michael-fassbender-black-bag-1235793319/|title=Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender Attached to Star in Steven Soderbergh Spy Thriller 'Black Bag' (Exclusive)|access-date=January 20, 2024|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> from May to June 2024 in London.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/michael-fassbender-paramount-remake-the-bureau-1235981733/ | title=Michael Fassbender to Star in Paramount+'s Remake of 'The Bureau' | date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> He also produced the Off-Broadway play ''The Fears'', his first stage credit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/steven-soderbergh-play-the-fears-1235326793/ |title=Soderbergh to Produce Off-Broadway Play 'The Fears' (Exclusive) |website=The Hollywood Reporter |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=February 16, 2023 |access-date=February 16, 2023}}</ref> He shot ''[[The Christophers (film)|The Christophers]]'', a dark comedy from ''Full Circle'' writer Solomon, in London in early 2025. It stars [[Ian McKellen]], [[Michaela Coel]] and [[James Corden]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/steven-soderbergh-casts-the-christophers-michaela-coel-james-corden-1236199786/ |title=Steven Soderbergh Taps Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel & James Corden For Dark Comedy 'The Christophers' |work=Deadline |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=December 10, 2024 |access-date=January 29, 2025}}</ref> and premiered in September 2025 at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/09/the-christophers-review-ian-mckellen-steven-soderbergh-michaela-cole-1236528402/|title=‘The Christophers’ Review: Ian McKellen Is The Art And Soul Of Steven Soderbergh’s Bohemian London Drama – Toronto Film Festival|first=Damon|last=Wise|date=September 11, 2025}}</ref> In April 2025, it was announced that he was at work on a documentary about the final interview given by [[John Lennon]] and [[Yoko Ono]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/steven-soderbergh-prepping-doc-john-lennon-interview-1236374201/ | title=Steven Soderbergh Shopping Documentary on Final Interview of John Lennon | date=April 22, 2025 }}</ref>

== Filmmaking ==
===Style===
<!-- Introduction  -->
Soderbergh's visual style often emphasizes wealthy urban settings, natural lighting, and fast-paced working environments.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/artist/steven-soderbergh|title=Steven Soderbergh – Festival de Cannes 2018|website=Festival de Cannes 2018 |access-date=April 14, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104451/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/artist/steven-soderbergh|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Vulture/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/23/movies/at-the-sundance-film-festival-art-and-commerce-square-off.html |title=At the Sundance Film Festival, Art and Commerce Square Off |last=James |first=Caryn |author-link=Caryn James |date=1992-01-23 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104449/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/23/movies/at-the-sundance-film-festival-art-and-commerce-square-off.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Soderbergh's experimental style and tendency to reject [[Cinema of the United States|mainstream film standards]] stems from his belief that "[filmmakers] are always, in essence, at the beginning of infinity{{nbsp}}... there is always another iteration{{nbsp}}... always will be."<ref>{{Citation|last=Movieclips Coming Soon|title=Side By Side Interview – Steven Soderbergh (2012) Film Documentary Movie HD|date=August 6, 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lepOQ2KfDwo|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104703/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lepOQ2KfDwo|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Technical aspects  -->

On a technical level, Soderbergh prefers sustained [[close-up]]s, [[tracking shot]]s, [[jump cut]]s, experimental sequencing and frequently skips [[establishing shot]]s in favor of audio and alternative visuals.<ref name=":3" /> Many of his films are noted for a milieu of suspense through the usage of [[Third-person effect|third-person]] vantage points and a variety of [[Over the shoulder shot|over-the-shoulder shots]]. In his film ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]'' (2011), he used a [[Hyperlink cinema|multi-narrative "hyperlink cinema" style]], first established within [[Ocean's (film series)|the ''Ocean's'' trilogy]]''.''<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/29667-thoughts-on-contagion/|title=Thoughts on 'Contagion' |last=Macaulay |first=Scott |work=Filmmaker Magazine |access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104503/https://filmmakermagazine.com/29667-thoughts-on-contagion/|url-status=live}}</ref> He is known for tracking aesthetic transitions with a variety of [[Color wash|colored washes]], most notably yellow to symbolize open, socially acceptable situations while blue washes typically symbolize illegal or socially illicit endeavors.<ref>Baker (2011), p. 13</ref> In line with these washes, Soderbergh is liberal in his usage of [[Montage (filmmaking)|montages]] as he believes that they are equally important story-telling as dialogue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aboutfilm.com/movies/l/limey.htm|title=The Limey (1999) – Review|last=Vorndam|first=Jeff|date=November 1999|website=About Film|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104443/https://www.aboutfilm.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Relationship with Hollywood & studio filmmaking  -->

Soderbergh is known for having a combative relationship with [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] and the standards of [[Film studio|studio filmmaking]].<ref name=Vulture/> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] has commented in this stylistic antagonism, "Every once in a while, perhaps as an exercise in humility, Steven Soderbergh makes a truly inexplicable film{{nbsp}}... A film so amateurish that only the professionalism of some of the actors makes it watchable{{nbsp}}... It's the kind of film where you need the director telling you what he meant to do and what went wrong and how the actors screwed up and how there was no money for retakes, etc."<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/full-frontal-2002|title=Full Frontal|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=August 2, 2002|website=Chicago Sun Times|access-date=January 22, 2012}}</ref>

In ''[[Ocean's Twelve]]'' (2004), he had actress [[Julia Roberts]] play the part of Tess, a character then forced to play a fictionalized version of Roberts.<ref name="Wilkinson">{{cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/8/18/16150632/steven-soderbergh-explained-brockovich-knick-mike-logan-oceans-unsane|title=Why Unsane director Steven Soderbergh's work is compulsively watchable|last=Wilkinson|first=Alissa|date=March 21, 2018|work=Vox|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104456/https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/8/18/16150632/steven-soderbergh-explained-brockovich-knick-mike-logan-oceans-unsane|url-status=live}}</ref> During the production stages of ''[[The Girlfriend Experience]]'' (2009) he cast adult film star [[Sasha Grey]] in the lead role.<ref name="Wilkinson"/> In ''[[Haywire (2011 film)|Haywire]]'' (2011), Soderbergh cast and eventually launched the film career of professional [[mixed martial arts]] (MMA) fighter [[Gina Carano]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_completist/2011/09/i_watched_every_steven_soderbergh_movie.html|title=I Watched Every Steven Soderbergh Movie|last=Kois|first=Dan|date=September 14, 2011|work=Slate|access-date=April 18, 2018|language=en-US|issn=1091-2339|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104454/https://slate.com/culture/2011/09/i-watched-every-steven-soderbergh-movie-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Soderbergh's ''[[Logan Lucky]]'' (2017) made reference to his trilogy by alluding to an "Ocean's [[7-Eleven|7–11]]", noting the trilogy's influence on the Southern heist film.<ref name="Wilkinson"/> <!-- Soundscape and scoring  -->

Soderbergh's films are centered on suspenseful and ambient [[soundscape]]s.<ref name=":4">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431770|title=Clooney and Soderbergh's 'K Street'|last=Bianculli|first=David|date=September 15, 2003|work=NPR|access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104456/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431770|url-status=live}}</ref> A primary way he achieves suspenseful soundscapes is by introducing audio before visuals in cut scenes, alerting the viewer of a sudden change in tone.<ref name=":4" /> His frequent collaborations with composers [[Cliff Martinez]], [[David Holmes (musician)|David Holmes]], and most recently [[Thomas Newman]], provide his films with "the thematic and sonic landscapes into which he inserts his characters."<ref name="NPR.org"/>

=== Method ===
<!-- Camera and film formats  -->
{{quote box
| quote = The simplest way that I can describe it is that a movie is something you see, and [[Cinematography|cinema]] is something that's made…. Cinema is a specificity of vision. It's an approach in which everything matters. It's the polar opposite of generic or arbitrary and the result is as unique as a signature or a fingerprint. It isn't made by a committee, and it isn't made by a company, and it isn't made by the audience.
| source = – Soderbergh (in 2013) on the influence his methodological choices have on his films<ref name="Brody">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/steven-soderbergh-dissects-hollywood|title=Steven Soderbergh Dissects Hollywood|last=Brody|first=Richard|date=November 30, 2013|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=April 13, 2018 |issn=0028-792X|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104458/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/steven-soderbergh-dissects-hollywood|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 246px
}}Soderbergh's early films—on account of his youth and lack of resources—were primarily filmed on [[Super 8 film|Super 8]] and [[16 mm film]] formats.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/07/logmar-super-8/|title=New Super 8 Camera Boosts Vintage Film With Digital Tech|last=Chun|first=Rene|date=July 13, 2014|magazine=WIRED|access-date=April 13, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104448/https://www.wired.com/2014/07/logmar-super-8/|url-status=live}}</ref> A variety of his feature films have been shot using a diverse range of camera equipment. He filmed all of ''[[The Girlfriend Experience]]'' (2009) on a [[Red Digital Cinema|Red One]] camera, which has retailed for $17,500<ref>{{Cite web|title=Red One Digital Cinema Camera Price List Now On Line, Still Not Shipping|url=https://gizmodo.com/red-one-digital-cinema-camera-price-list-now-on-line-s-243779|access-date=December 6, 2020|website=Gizmodo|date=March 13, 2007 |language=en-us|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104500/https://gizmodo.com/red-one-digital-cinema-camera-price-list-now-on-line-s-243779|url-status=live}}</ref>—a relatively inexpensive camera for a movie produced for $1.3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.intjournal.com/1114/the-girlfriend-experience/|title=The Girlfriend Experience (2009)|website=Interiors|language=en-US|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104450/https://www.intjournal.com/1114/the-girlfriend-experience/|url-status=live}}</ref> Soderbergh filmed the entirety of ''[[Unsane]]'' (2018) on an [[iPhone 7 Plus]] with its [[Digital cinema|4K digital camera]] using the app FiLMiC Pro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tracking-board.com/steven-soderbergh-claire-foy-team-for-secret-movie-shot-on-iphone-exclusive/|title=Steven Soderbergh, Claire Foy Team for Secret Movie Shot on iPhone|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|date=July 18, 2017|website=The Tracking Board|access-date=July 18, 2017|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807140838/http://www.tracking-board.com/steven-soderbergh-claire-foy-team-for-secret-movie-shot-on-iphone-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref> He filmed with three rotating iPhones using a [[Tripod (photography)|DJI stabiliser]] to hold the phone in place.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2137815/why-steven-soderbergh-shot-unsane-iphone-and-already-doing-it-again|title=Why Steven Soderbergh shot new thriller Unsane with an iPhone|last=Mottram|first=James|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104456/https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2137815/why-steven-soderbergh-shot-unsane-iphone-and-already-doing-it-again|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2018, he expressed an interest in filming other productions solely with iPhones going forward.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/01/steven-soderbergh-interview-sundance-iphone-unsane-1201921769/|title=Steven Soderbergh Says He's Done Directing Studio Movies and Wants to Only Shoot on iPhones – Sundance 2018|last=Kohn|first=Eric|date=January 26, 2018|work=IndieWire|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104437/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/01/steven-soderbergh-interview-sundance-iphone-unsane-1201921769/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Roles outside of directing  --> He then filmed the entirety of 2019's ''[[High Flying Bird]]'' on an [[iPhone 8]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2019/2/7/18214924/steven-soderbergh-high-flying-bird-iphone-tangerine-unsane-netflix |title=Steven Soderbergh's 'High Flying Bird' and the Rise of iPhone Films – the Ringer |date=February 7, 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104502/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2019/2/7/18214924/steven-soderbergh-high-flying-bird-iphone-tangerine-unsane-netflix |url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition to his directing, he is frequently a screenwriter for his films. Scott Tobias of [[The A.V. Club|''The A. V. Club'']] has noted his method of [[experimental film]]making as "rigorously conceived, like a mathematician working out a byzantine equation". Starting in 2000 with his film ''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]'', when directing films Soderbergh has used various pseudonyms in order to hide the fact that he edits, writes, and arranges.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/steven-soderbergh-p112040|title=Steven Soderbergh profile at|last=Marx|first=Rebecca Flint|publisher=AllMovie.com|access-date=February 10, 2013|archive-date=August 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822024212/https://www.allmovie.com/artist/steven-soderbergh-p112040|url-status=live}}</ref>

When working with actors, Soderbergh prefers to pursue a non-intrusive directorial style. "I try and make sure they're OK, and when they're in the zone, I leave them alone. I don't get in their way".<ref name=":7" /> This method has attracted repeat performances by many high-profile movie stars which has established a reoccurring collaboration between them and Soderbergh.<ref name=":7">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywood.com/feature/id/471293|title="Traffic": Steven Soderbergh Interview|author=Ellen A. Kim|date=December 3, 2000|work=Hollywood.com|access-date=March 23, 2006|archive-date=June 29, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629074129/http://www.hollywood.com/feature/Traffic_Steven_Soderbergh_Interview/471293|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Themes ===<!-- General overview  -->
Soderbergh's films often center the themes of shifting [[Personal identity|personal identities]], [[Human sexuality|sexuality]], and the [[human condition]].<ref name="The New Yorker">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/steven-soderbergh-dissects-hollywood|title=Steven Soderbergh Dissects Hollywood|date=April 30, 2013|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=April 16, 2018 |issn=0028-792X|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320104451/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/steven-soderbergh-dissects-hollywood|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Richard Brody]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' stated that Soderbergh is focused on the process of presenting ideas through film rather than their actual realization.<ref name="The New Yorker"/> In line with this actual realization, he presents themes to critically evaluate political and corporate institutions such as money and [[capitalism]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199791286/obo-9780199791286-0187.xml|title=Steven Soderbergh – Cinema and Media Studies – Oxford Bibliographies – obo|access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> Film critic [[A. O. Scott]] has noted that Soderbergh has a critical interest in exploring the impact capitalist economies have on living an ethical life and the detractions associated with [[Economic materialism|materialism]].<ref name="Scott">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/movies/steven-soderberghs-caper-film-side-effects.html |title=Steven Soderbergh's Caper Film 'Side Effects' |last=Scott |first=A. O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |date=February 7, 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> Money is central to many of his movies as Soderbergh believes that it serves as an obsession unrivaled by any other.<ref name="Scott"/> <!-- Heist films and thrillers  -->

Starting with ''[[Out of Sight]]'' (1998), Soderbergh's heist films explore themes of vengeance, characters on a mission, and the morality of crime.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/03/video-essay-peter-andrews-the-soderbergh-vision-133830/|title=Video Essay: Peter Andrews: The Soderbergh Vision|last=Carvajal|first=Matt Zoller Seitz, Nelson|date=March 21, 2013|work=IndieWire|access-date=April 16, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> He is generally said to have a [[Film genre|cinematic niche]] in these types of films. "I've always had an attraction to caper movies, and certainly there are analogies to making a film. You have to put the right crew together, and if you lose, you go to movie jail", the director noted in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/movies/steven-soderberghs-caper-film-side-effects.html |title=Steven Soderbergh's Caper Film 'Side Effects' |last=Scott |first=A. O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |date=August 7, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

=== Influences ===
When asked about the top eleven films he regarded among the best, Soderbergh listed the following, in order: ''[[The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.]]'' (1953), [[All the President's Men (film)|''All The President's Men'']] (1976), ''[[Annie Hall]]'' (1977), ''[[Citizen Kane]]'' (1941), ''[[The Conversation]]'' (1974), ''[[The Godfather]]'' (1972), ''[[The Godfather Part II]]'' (1974), ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' (1975), ''[[The Last Picture Show]]'' (1971), ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]'' (1950) and ''[[The Third Man]]'' (1949).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thefilmstage.com/news/steven-soderberghs-11-favorite-films/2/|title=Steven Soderbergh's 11 Favorite Films|last=Pearce|first=Leonard|date=June 30, 2015|work=The Film Stage|access-date=April 17, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> His directorial debut, ''Sex, Lies, and Videotape'' (1989), was influenced by [[Mike Nichols]]' 1971 American comedy-drama ''[[Carnal Knowledge (film)|Carnal Knowledge]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/career-arc-steven-soderbergh-director-the-knick/|title='I'm Not a Visionary': The Staggering Career Arc of Steven Soderbergh|last=Ryan|first=Sean Fennessey and Chris|date=August 8, 2014|work=Grantland|access-date=April 8, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> He has said that [[Peter Yates]]' 1972 crime-comedy ''[[The Hot Rock (film)|The Hot Rock]]'' inspired the tone of the ''Ocean's'' films.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailyblender.com/2017/02/singani-63-screenplays-interview-steven-soderbergh/|title=Screenplays and Singani 63: An Interview With Steven Soderbergh|last=Matthewson|first=Jennifer|date=February 22, 2017|work=Daily Blender|access-date=December 28, 2019|language=en-US}}</ref> Soderbergh listed [[Costa-Gavras]]'s film, ''[[Z (1969 film)|Z]]'' as an inspiration on his film ''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]'' and even stated that he: "wanted to make it like [Costa-Gavras]'s ''Z''".<ref>{{cite book |author1=Steven Soderbergh |editor1-last=Kaufman |editor1-first=Anthony |title=Steven Soderbergh – Interviews |date=2002 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781578064298 |page=107 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t2y9xsq0gUMC&dq=Steven+Soderbergh+Costa-Gavras+Z&pg=PA107 |access-date=July 12, 2021 |chapter=Ed Kelleher/1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Kaufman |editor1-first=Anthony |title=Steven Soderbergh – Interviews, Revised and Updated |date=2015 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781626745407 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ho3dBwAAQBAJ&dq=Steven+Soderbergh+Costa-Gavras+Z&pg=PT128 |access-date=July 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Palmer |editor1-first=R. Barton |editor2-last=Sanders |editor2-first=Steven M. |title=The Philosophy of Steven Soderbergh |date=January 28, 2011 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=9780813139890 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8z6ikCJ4wAgC&dq=Steven+Soderbergh+Costa-Gavras+Z&pg=PT190 |access-date=July 12, 2021 |quote=Soderbergh called Traffic his “$47 million Dogme film” and used hand-held camera, available light, and (ostensibly) improvistational performance in an attempt to present a realistic story about illegal drugs. He prepared by analyzing two political films made in a realist style: Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo, 1966) and Z (Constantin Costa-Gavras, 1969), both of which he described as having “that great feeling of things that are caught, instead of staged, which is what we were after.”}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Mark Gallagher |title=Another Steven Soderbergh Experience – Authorship and Contemporary Hollywood |date=April 4, 2013 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9780292748811 |page=55 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ucfjPQRtZDQC&dq=Steven+Soderbergh+Costa-Gavras+Z&pg=PA55 |access-date=July 12, 2021 |chapter=Hollywood Authorship and Transhistorical Taste Cultures}}</ref> Soderbergh also cites the Swiss-French director [[Jean-Luc Godard]] as "...{{nbsp}}a constant source of inspiration. Before I do anything, I go back and look at as many of his films as I can, as a reminder of what's possible".<ref>{{cite web |author1=The Observer |title=Godard only knows{{nbsp}}... |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/nov/26/features |website=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News & Media Limited |access-date=September 14, 2022 |date=November 26, 2022 |quote='Godard is a constant source of inspiration. Before I do anything, I go back and look at as many of his films as I can, as a reminder of what's possible.' – Steven Soderbergh}}</ref>

== Entrepreneurship ==
In 2018, Soderbergh launched a [[Bolivia|Bolivian]] grape spirit brand called "Singani 63". In 2014, he had teamed up with a [[Distillation|distillery]] based in [[Tarija]], Casa Real and became the sole exporter of the spirit from the mountains of Bolivia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2018/11/steven-soderbergh-not-looking-to-cash-out-on-singani-63/|title=Steven Soderbergh not looking to 'cash out' on Singani 63|date=November 7, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2018/07/steven-soderbergh-releases-bolivian-spirit-in-uk/|title=Steven Soderbergh releases Bolivian spirit in UK|last=says|first=Venugopal Nair|date=July 5, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> [[Singani]] is a traditional spirit of Bolivia, and Soderbergh doesn't like to label singani a [[brandy]], because he says, "Millennials hate brandy." To demonstrate this, he created a very short iPhone/YouTube video, "Brandy VS Singani 63", that asks people to give their thoughts regarding brandy and Singani 63.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanneobriencoffey/2018/05/23/steven-soderbergh-wants-you-to-demand-his-obscure-bolivian-spirit/|title=Steven Soderbergh Makes A Movie About Booze|last=Coffey|first=Jeanne O'Brien|website=Forbes |access-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref>

== Recurring collaborators ==
[[File:Flickr - nicogenin - 66ème Festival de Venise (Mostra), Matt Damon, Steven Soderbergh.jpg|thumb|Soderbergh, along with his most frequent collaborator [[Matt Damon]] (''left''), in 2009]]
Soderbergh has worked with various actors, composers, and screenwriters throughout his filmmaking career. His most prolific collaborators are considered to be [[George Clooney]] (who started [[Section Eight Productions]] with him and has appeared in six of his films), [[Matt Damon]] (his most frequent collaborator, who has appeared in nine of his films), [[Brad Pitt]], [[Julia Roberts]], [[Don Cheadle]], and [[Channing Tatum]]. Other actors who have appeared in numerous Soderbergh films include [[Luis Guzmán]], [[Jude Law]], [[Ann Dowd]], [[Joe Chrest]],<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jtGrAgAAQBAJ&q=Joe+Chrest+soderbergh&pg=PA172|title=The Cinema of Steven Soderbergh: Indie Sex, Corporate Lies, and Digital Videotape|last1=deWaard|first1=Andrew|last2=Tait|first2=R. Colin|date=November 4, 2013|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=9780231165501}}</ref> [[Benicio Del Toro]], [[Elliott Gould]], [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]], [[Michael Fassbender]], [[Michael Douglas]] and [[Albert Finney]].<ref name="cbclau">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/steven-soderbergh-s-inner-circle-meet-his-go-to-actors-1.4249338 |title=Steven Soderbergh's inner circle: meet his go-to actors |last=Lau |first=Melody |date=August 17, 2017 |work=[[CBC.ca]] |access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> Among those who have won awards for their work with Soderbergh, Roberts won an [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] for her lead in ''Erin Brockovich''; [[Benicio del Toro]] also won an Academy Award for his work in ''Traffic'', and later starred as the title role in ''Che''. [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]] received a [[Golden Globe]] nomination for her portrayal of Helena in ''Traffic'' and reteamed with him for ''Ocean's Twelve'' and ''Side Effects''.<ref name="cbclau"/>

Soderbergh has frequently relied on [[Jerry Weintraub]] to produce many of his films.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/michael-douglas-matt-damon-steven-soderbergh-jerry-weintraub-on-hbos-behind-the-candelabra-tca-397114/|title=Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Steven Soderbergh & Jerry Weintraub on HBO's 'Behind The Candelabra': TCA|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=January 4, 2013|work=Deadline|access-date=April 16, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Composer [[Cliff Martinez]] has scored eleven Soderbergh films starting with ''Sex, Lies, and Videotape'' (1989) and ending with ''Kimi'' (2022). Northern Irish composer [[David Holmes (musician)|David Holmes]] joined him in 1998 to score ''Out of Sight'' and rejoined him in scoring his ''Ocean's'' trilogy.<ref name="Baker">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bYP-versAbMC&q=The+Good+German+composer+david+holmes&pg=PP13|title=Steven Soderbergh|last=Baker|first=Aaron|date=November 3, 2011|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=9780252036057}}</ref> Soderbergh rejected Holmes' score for his 2006 film ''The Good German'', but brought him back for subsequent movies, most recently ''Logan Lucky'' (2017).<ref name="Baker"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2017/03/01/david-holmes-to-score-steven-soderberghs-logan-lucky/ |title=David Holmes to Score Steven Soderbergh's 'Logan Lucky' |website=filmmusicreporter.com |language=en-US |access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref> Starting in 2000, composer [[Thomas Newman]] has worked with four Soderbergh films, most recently in 2020 with ''Let Them All Talk''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Jon |last=Burlingame |title=Composer Thomas Newman Nods to Classic '60s Jazz Scores for Steven Soderbergh's 'Let Them All Talk' |date=December 14, 2020 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2020/artisans/awards/thomas-newman-let-them-all-talk-score-1234853120/}}</ref> Often editing the films himself, he also works with editor [[Stephen Mirrione]] and frequently collaborates with screenwriters [[Scott Z. Burns]], [[Lem Dobbs]], [[David Koepp]] and [[Ed Solomon]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/the-verdict-critics-review-scott-z-burns-steven-soderbergh-drama-the-library-com-217268 |title=The Verdict: Critics Review Scott Z. Burns-Steven Soderbergh Drama The Library |last=Hetrick |first=Adam |magazine=[[Playbill]] |access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref>

==Views on film industry ==
Soderbergh is a vocal proponent of the preservation of artistic merit in the face of Hollywood corporatism. He believes that "[[Cinema of the United States|cinema]] is under assault by the studios and, from what I can tell, with the full support of the audience".<ref name="The New Yorker"/> He claims that he no longer reads reviews of his movies. "After ''Traffic'' I just stopped completely", said the director.<ref name="SuicideGirls.com" /> "After winning the LA and New York film critics awards, I really felt like, this can only get worse".<ref name="SuicideGirls.com" />

Soderbergh dislikes [[possessory credit|possessory credits]], and prefers not to have his name front and center at the start of a film. "The fact that I'm not an identifiable brand is very freeing," Soderbergh stated in 2009, "because people get tired of brands and they switch brands. I've never had a desire to be out in front of anything, which is why I don't take a possessory credit."<ref name="SuicideGirls.com">{{cite web|url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Steven%20Soderbergh%3A%20The%20Girlfriend%20Experience/ |title=Steven Soderbergh: The Girlfriend Experience |website=[[SuicideGirls.com]] |date=May 21, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2009}}</ref> He often takes cinematography credits on his feature films under the alias Peter Andrews, the given name of his father, and editing credits under Mary Ann Bernard, that of his mother.

In 2009, Soderbergh appeared before the [[U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs]], and "cited the French initiative in asking lawmakers to deputize the American film industry to pursue copyright pirates", indicating he supports anti-piracy laws and Internet regulation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/business/global/09net.html?hp |title=France Moves to Crack Down on Internet Piracy |first=Kevin J. |last=O'Brien |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 8, 2009 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Steven Soderbergh 66ème Festival de Venise (Mostra) 3.jpg|thumb|Soderbergh with his wife, [[Jules Asner]], at the 2009 [[Venice International Film Festival]]]]
Soderbergh married actress [[Betsy Brantley]] in 1989; the couple had a daughter together before their 1994 divorce.<ref name="COLLINS"/> He has been married to [[Jules Asner]] since 2003, whom he often credits for influencing his female characters.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/01/13/steven-soderbergh-gets-busy/|title=Steven Soderbergh gets busy|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> He has a daughter, born in 2010, with a woman in Australia, where he was working during a separation from Asner.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Ted |last1=Casablanca |author-link1=Ted Casablanca |first2=Natalie |last2=Finn |title=Source: Steven Soderbergh Came Clean to Wife About Fathering a Child While Separated |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |date=February 3, 2011 |orig-date=February 2, 2011 |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/source-steven-soderbergh-came-clean-wife-about-fathering-child-while-wbna41417821 |access-date=November 19, 2021}}</ref> Soderbergh lives in New York City.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ny.curbed.com/2015/2/27/9986152/steven-soderbergh-buys-an-8-5m-tribeca-apartment|title=Steven Soderbergh Buys an $8.5M Tribeca Apartment|work=Curbed NY|access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> His 2023 web series ''[[Command Z]]'' was filmed inside his own home.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Murphy |first=J. Kim |title=Steven Soderbergh and Kurt Andersen Tell All About Their Secret Series 'Command Z' and Why Billionaires Can't Be Trusted |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 29, 2023 |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/features/command-z-steven-soderbergh-interview-kurt-andersen-secret-series-1235682612/ |access-date=March 30, 2024}}</ref>

In 2009, Soderbergh signed a petition in support of film director [[Roman Polanski]], calling for his release after Polanski was arrested in Switzerland in relation to his [[Roman Polanski sexual abuse case|1977 sexual abuse case]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://laregledujeu.org/2009/11/10/479/signez-la-petition-pour-roman-polanski/ |title=Signez la pétition pour Roman Polanski ! |date=November 10, 2009 |website=La Règle du jeu |language=fr |access-date=August 29, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210829153459/https://laregledujeu.org/2009/11/10/479/signez-la-petition-pour-roman-polanski/ |archive-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Main|Steven Soderbergh filmography}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Directed features
|-
! Year
! Film
! Distributor
|-
| 1989
|''[[Sex, Lies, and Videotape]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Miramax|Miramax Films]]
|-
| 1991
|''[[Kafka (film)|Kafka]]''
|-
| 1993
|''[[King of the Hill (1993 film)|King of the Hill]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Gramercy Pictures]]
|-
| 1995
|''[[The Underneath (film)|The Underneath]]''
|-
|rowspan=2| 1996
|''[[Schizopolis]]''
|Northern Arts
|-
|''[[Gray's Anatomy (film)|Gray's Anatomy]]''
|[[IFC Films]]
|-
| 1998
|''[[Out of Sight]]''
|[[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| 1999
|''[[The Limey]]''
|[[Artisan Entertainment]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 2000
|''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]''
|Universal Pictures / [[Columbia Pictures]]
|-
|''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]''
|[[Focus Features|USA Films]] / [[Initial Entertainment Group]]
|-
| 2001
|''[[Ocean's Eleven]]''
|[[Warner Bros. Pictures]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 2002
|''[[Full Frontal (film)|Full Frontal]]''
|Miramax Films
|-
|''[[Solaris (2002 film)|Solaris]]''
|[[20th Century Fox]]
|-
| 2004
|''[[Ocean's Twelve]]'' 
|Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
| 2005
|''[[Bubble (2005 film)|Bubble]]''
|[[Magnolia Pictures]]
|-
| 2006
|''[[The Good German]]''
|rowspan=2|Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
| 2007
|''[[Ocean's Thirteen]]''
|-
| 2008
|''[[Che (2008 film)#Part 1: The Argentine|Che: Part One]]''<br />''[[Che (2008 film)#Part 2: Guerrilla|Che: Part Two]]''
|IFC Films / [[Wild Bunch (company)|Wild Bunch]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 2009
|''[[The Girlfriend Experience]]''
|Magnolia Pictures
|-
|''[[The Informant!]]''
|rowspan=2|Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
|rowspan=2| 2011
|''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]''
|-
|''[[Haywire (2011 film)|Haywire]]'' 
|[[Relativity Media]]
|-
| 2012
|''[[Magic Mike]]''
|Warner Bros. Pictures / [[FilmNation Entertainment]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 2013
|''[[Side Effects (2013 film)|Side Effects]]''
|[[Open Road Films]] / FilmNation Entertainment
|-
|''[[Behind the Candelabra]]''
|[[HBO Films]]
|-
| 2017
|''[[Logan Lucky]]''
|Fingerprint Releasing / [[Bleecker Street (company)|Bleecker Street]]
|-
| 2018
|''[[Unsane]]'' 
|Fingerprint Releasing / Bleecker Street / 20th Century Fox
|-
| rowspan=2| 2019
|''[[High Flying Bird]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Netflix]]
|-
|''[[The Laundromat (2019 film)|The Laundromat]]''
|-
| 2020 
|''[[Let Them All Talk]]''
|rowspan=3|Warner Bros. Pictures / [[HBO Max]] 
|-
| 2021
|''[[No Sudden Move]]''
|-
| 2022
|''[[Kimi (film)|Kimi]]''
|-
| 2023
|''[[Magic Mike's Last Dance]]''
|Warner Bros. Pictures
|-
| 2024
|''[[Presence (2024 film)|Presence]]''
|[[Neon (company)|Neon]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2025
|''[[Black Bag]]''
|Focus Features / Universal Pictures
|-
|''[[The Christophers (film)|The Christophers]]''
|Neon
|}

== Accolades ==
Soderbergh's entire filmography is [[Steven Soderbergh bibliography|routinely analyzed and debated]] by fans, critics, [[Film industry|film academics]], and other film directors.<ref name="Brody" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199791286/obo-9780199791286-0187.xml|title=Steven Soderbergh – Cinema and Media Studies – Oxford Bibliographies – obo|work=Oxford University|access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref> His early work—particularly his 1989 film, ''[[Sex, Lies, and Videotape]]''—has been noted as foundational to the [[independent film]] movement.<ref name="Perez"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/01/how-steven-soderberghs-sex-lies-and-videotape-still-influences-sundance-after-25-years-31300/|title=How Steven Soderbergh's 'sex, lies and videotape' Still Influences Sundance After 25 Years|last=Axmaker|first=Sean|date=January 15, 2014|work=IndieWire|access-date=April 14, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sex-lies-and-videotape-1989 |title=sex, lies, and videotape Movie Review (1989) |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=August 1, 1989 |website=www.rogerebert.com |access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref> After directing his first film, Soderbergh's relative youth and sudden rise to prominence in the film industry had him referred to as a "sensation", a [[Child prodigy|prodigy]], and a [[Poster child|poster boy]] of the genre's generation.<ref name="rogerebert.suntimes.com2"/><ref name="Baron"/> In 2002, he was elected first Vice President of the [[Directors Guild of America]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Guild's National Board elects Martha Coolidge first woman president of DGA|date=March 9, 2002|publisher=Directors Guild of America|url=http://www.dga.org/news/pr_expand.php3?245|access-date=March 4, 2008|archive-date=November 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081117033829/http://www.dga.org/news/pr_expand.php3?245|url-status=live}}</ref>

After screening ''[[Sex, Lies, and Videotape]]'' at the 1989 [[Cannes Film Festival]], Soderbergh was given the festival's top award, the [[Palme d'Or]].<ref name=":3" /> At 26, he was the youngest solo director to win the award and second-youngest director after French directors [[Louis Malle]] and co-director [[Jacques Cousteau]] (Malle won it aged 23).<ref name="Canby2" /> For his script, Soderbergh received a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay]] at the [[62nd Academy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1990 |title=The 62nd Academy Awards |date=October 5, 2014 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402002952/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1990 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Soderbergh was nominated twice for [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for two separate films at the [[73rd Academy Awards]], the first occurrence of such an event since 1938. Apart from his first nomination (''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]''), he won the award for ''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]''.<ref name="Haygood"/> When the same thing happened at the [[Directors Guild of America]] Awards, the [[Associated Press]] called the category a "Soderbergh vs. Soderbergh" contest.<ref name="Germain"/>

For his work of ''Erin Brockovich'' and ''Traffic'', Soderbergh became one of the five directors (alongside [[Quentin Tarantino]], [[Curtis Hanson]], [[David Fincher]], and [[Barry Jenkins]]) to ever sweep "The Big Four" critics awards ([[Los Angeles Film Critics Association|LAFCA]], [[National Board of Review|NBR]], [[New York Film Critics Circle|NYFCC]], [[National Society of Film Critics|NSFC]]).

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Accolades for Soderbergh's directed features
|-
! rowspan="2"|Year
! rowspan="2"|Feature Film
! colspan="2"|Academy Awards
! colspan="2"|BAFTA Awards
! colspan="2"|Golden Globe Awards
|-
!Nominations
!Wins
!Nominations
!Wins
!Nominations
!Wins
|-
|1989
!scope="row"|''[[Sex, Lies, and Videotape]]''
|align=center|1
|
|align=center|2
|
|align=center|3
|
|-
|1998
!scope="row"|''[[Out of Sight]]''
|align=center|2
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2000
!scope="row"|''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]''
|align=center|5
|align=center|1
|align=center|6
|align=center|1
|align=center|4
|align=center|1
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Traffic (2000 film)|Traffic]]''
|align=center|5
|align=center|4
|align=center|4
|align=center|2
|align=center|5
|align=center|2
|-
|2006
!scope="row"|''[[The Good German]]''
|align=center|1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|2013
!scope="row"|''[[Behind the Candelabra]]''
|
|
|align=center|5
|
|align=center|4
|align=center|2
|-
! colspan="2"|Total
!14
!5
!17
!3
!16
!5
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[Steven Soderbergh's unrealized projects]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* [[Sharon Waxman|Waxman, Sharon]] (2005). ''Rebels on the Backlot: Six Maverick Directors and How They Conquered the Hollywood Studio System''. New York: [[HarperCollins|HarperEntertainment]]. {{ISBN|9780060540173}}.
* deWaard, Andrew, and R. Colin Tait (2013). ''The Cinema of Steven Soderbergh: Indie Sex, Corporate Lies, and Digital Videotape''. New York: Wallflower/[[Columbia University Press]].
* Baker, Aaron (2011). ''Steven Soderbergh''. Urbana: [[University of Illinois Press]].
* Gallagher, Mark (2013). ''Another Steven Soderbergh Experience: Authorship and Contemporary Hollywood''. Austin: [[University of Texas Press]].
* Wood, Jason (2002). ''Steven Soderbergh''. Harpenden, UK: [[The Pocket Essentials|Pocket Essentials]].
* Palmer, R. Barton, and Steven Sanders (2011). ''The Philosophy of Steven Soderbergh''. Lexington: [[University Press of Kentucky]].

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Charlie Rose guest|831}}
* [http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/soderbergh.html Steven Soderbergh Bibliography] (via UC Berkeley)

{{Steven Soderbergh|state=collapsed}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Steven Soderbergh
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestDirector 1981-2000}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaAwardMiniseriesorTVFilm}}
{{EmmyAward MiniseriesDirector 2001–2025}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}
{{IndependentAwardforBestDirector}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}
{{Satellite Award Best Director}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Director}}
{{Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soderbergh, Steven}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:American cinematographers]]
[[Category:American documentary film producers]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
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[[Category:Best Directing Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Directors Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:Directors of Palme d'Or winners]]
[[Category:English-language film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Film producers from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Best Director Independent Spirit Award winners]]
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