Steven Soderbergh is one of the most fascinating filmmakers of the last few decades—a true chameleon behind the camera who's reinvented himself countless times while still leaving a distinctive mark on everything he does.
From redefining indie cinema with his groundbreaking debut "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" (which basically launched the Sundance Film Festival) to crafting slick Hollywood hits like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Magic Mike," this guy has done it all.
He's won an Academy Award ("Traffic"), made daring experiments with form and distribution ("Bubble," anyone?), and even retired for five minutes before coming back and making more bold, inventive films ("Logan Lucky" was worth it).
Soderbergh isn't afraid to tackle different genres—crime thrillers, intimate character dramas, sci-fi, capers, and even a pandemic movie ("Contagion") that became uncomfortably prophetic. He's a director who seems equally at home making a blockbuster with big stars or shooting an indie film on an iPhone.
It's all part of why he's so unpredictable and fun to follow as a filmmaker—you never know what he'll do next, but you do know it will be smart, stylish, and interesting.
Ranking his films has been a blast, though not an easy task because, let's face it, the man doesn't miss much. He's one of the most talented directors working today, and even when one of his experiments doesn't fully land, you've got to admire the guts it took to try.
So, without further ado, here's my ranking of Steven Soderbergh's feature films. Let's dive into the brilliance, the boldness, and the occasional WTF moments of a filmmaker I admire tremendously.
STEVEN SODERBERGH: RANKED (in order of preference)
7) CHE (2008)
10) PRESENCE (2025)
11) CONTAGION (2011)
12) KAFKA (1991)
16) HAYWIRE (2011)
19) SOLARIS (2002)
23) KIMI (2022)
29) BUBBLE (2005)
Thanks for reading, and please SUBSCRIBE to my weekly NEWSLETTER!
Join me on Patreon as a paid subscriber to help keep this thing going.
Thanks again!