For decades, Steven Soderbergh was the king of the hill when it came to the “one for them, one for me” model. We’re talking following up one of the highest-grossing movies of its year, Ocean’s Eleven, with the $2 million Full Frontal, along with balancing the Ocean’s trilogy with indies, classic Hollywood homages and four-plus-hour biopics on Argentine revolutionaries. More than 35 years into his career, Soderbergh has been the champion of mid-budget fare. But when it doesn’t succeed as intended, what’s the reaction?

Speaking with The Independent, Steven Soderbergh said it’s a bit of a disappointment that movies like his most recent, Black Bag — which had a budget around $50-$60 million — don’t have big turnouts at the theatre. “This is the kind of film I made my career on. And if a mid-level budget, star-driven movie can’t seem to get people over the age...