DirectorSteven Soderberghis known to perform several behind-the-camera duties himself. OnPresence, his new horror-drama, the filmmaker worked not only as director, but also as editor, cinematographer, and camera operator. He filmed the movie in less than two weeks, and had a cut ready on his laptop the day they wrapped production. That’s how he works, and that’s why any complaints about the film’s perceived under-performance are likely unwarranted. Released 10 days ago,Presencehas more than tripled its reported production budget.
The movie made $3.3 million in its first weekend, and a little over $1 million in its sophomore frame, registering a drop of 60%.Presence’s total domestic box office haul now stands at over $5 million, while itsglobal total stands at $6 million. Going by the rule of thumb that a movie needs to gross twice its production budget to break even,Presencehas long been in the clear. Themovie reportedly cost only $2 million to produce, and wasshot in a single location by Soderbergh himself.Presencehas been praised for its inventive spin onthe ghost story sub-genre of horror cinema; filmed in extended takes,the movie is presented from the perspective of a supernatural entity. It also doubles as a domestic drama, following a family’s trials and tribulations after they move into a new house.
Presenceopened to positive reviews, and currently holds a “fresh” 87% approval rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. The critics' consensus on the platform reads, “A slow-burning spectral thriller,Presencereaffirms that Soderbergh plays with form as deftly as he flits between genres.“In his review, Collider’sRoss Bonaimewrote that “Soderbergh’s ability to continually push boundaries and attempt to think outside the box in terms of normal genre tropes makes every film an expansion on himself and film in general.”
Some of the biggest mainstream horror movies have struggled to find an audience in recent years, with the year 2025 beginning withWolf Man’s disappointing performance. That being said, a string of art-house horror movies have broken through.Longlegscracked the $100 million mark domestically, whileNosferatuhas made over $170 million worldwide. Even films such asHereticandThe Substancemanaged to gross more than $50 million worldwide. The trend will likely continue with the upcoming filmThe Monkey, directed byLonglegsfilmmakerOsgood Perkins. you may watchPresencein theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Showcases a suburban house inhabited by an mysterious entity.
