The return of the mid-budget film
Between blockbusters and micro-indies, a squeezed middle is finding room again — largely thanks to disciplined budgets.
For years the industry told itself the middle was dead. A run of modest, profitable releases suggests otherwise.
The common thread is restraint: contained stories, short shoots, and marketing that trusts word of mouth.
None of these films will top an annual chart. Collectively, they may matter more.
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