The Visual Element
Cinematography is one of the most important parts of filmmaking. When you look at the best movies ever made, almost all of them had good cinematography. Color, lighting, framing, background scenery—it all makes a massive difference. On the other hand, even some bad movies have had good cinematography. We look at the movies with the best cinematography ever. Some of these picks are guaranteed to surprise you!
Ad Astra (2019)
Few movies have equalled Ad Astra in capturing the vast emptiness of space while also giving a sense of its grandeur. Lauded for his previous work on Dunkirk (2017), Hoyte van Hoytema received several nominations from different academies for his work on this one.
Twentieth Century, Ad Astra (2019)
Marie Antoinette (2006)
This biopic of the famed French queen was praised for its depiction of the sumptuous interior settings of the period. Lance Acord’s cinematography was aided by outstanding costume and period design for director Sofia Coppola.
Columbia, Marie Antoinette (2006)
The Last Jedi (2017)
This installment of the space epic won awards for its visual effects, but its cinematography is no less impressive. Steve Yedlin’s work was praised for enhancing the plot’s elements and its use of light.
Walt Disney, Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
The French Connection (1971)
One of the greatest chase scenes ever put on film is the highlight of this classic starring Gene Hackman. Owen Roizman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography in this movie that was very influential with other filmmakers.
Twentieth Century, The French Connection (1971)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A film ahead of its time, the cinematography in this classic is of the high quality that is a mark of director Stanley Kubrick. The space scenes are memorable, of course, but its sequence set in prehistoric times on Earth was also compelling for many filmgoers.
MGM, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Days Of Heaven (1978)
Cinematographer Nestor Almendros won an Academy Award for his work in this dramatic film set in the hardscrabble farm belt of the Texas Panhandle. The film was a critical success for director Terence Malick, though it didn’t do very well at the box office.
Paramount, Days of Heaven (1978)
The Conformist (1970)
This critically acclaimed political drama by director Bernardo Bertolucci was shot on location in Paris and Rome. Its cinematography was hailed by reviewers, marking the beginning of the remarkable career of Vittorio Storaro.
Paramount, The Conformist (1970)
The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
This technicolor classic was the result of the cinematography of Harold Rosson. The land of Oz still looks as fantastic as it did 86 years ago and even better than the Oz of the recent movie Wicked (2024). How did that happen?
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
This film raised the bar for fantasy movies with its captivating recreation of the famous JRR Tolkien novels. Andrew Lesnie deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Godfather (1972)
The masterful use of light and shadow was a key element of the cinematography used in Francis Ford Coppola’s mafia masterpiece. Cinematographer Gordon Willis returned for the two sequels as well and received a lifetime achievement award for his work from the Academy in 2009.
Paramount, The Godfather (1972)
Black Robe (1991)
This meticulously researched film about the first contacts between Canada's Native people and Jesuit missionaries was filmed on location in the Saguenay region of Quebec. Peter James was awarded best cinematography honors by both the Canadian and Australian film academies.
Citizen Kane (1941)
The use of deep focus, cross-fading, and low-angle shots were marks of this Orson Welles-directed production. The film is regularly placed at the top of lists of the best films ever. The cinematography is a big part of the reason why.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
The stunning imagery of this Vietnam War film won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Vittorio Storaro. Along with Best Sound, these were the only two of the film’s eight nominations to win that year.
United Artists, Apocalypse Now (1979)
Blade Runner (1982)
Outstanding cinematography helped set the mood of this dystopian sci-fi classic. Jordan Cronenweth claimed the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for his cinematography.
Warner Bros., Blade Runner (1982)
Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
The ambition of director David Lean was legendary, and it all came together in this retelling of the classic desert adventures of Lawrence. The sweeping visual spectacle won several awards for cinematography for Freddie Young.
Columbia, Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
The Matrix (1999)
The mind-bending originality of this sci-fi classic was surpassed only by its spectacular cinematography. Several of its scenes were groundbreaking for their time. See it again!
Warner Bros., The Matrix (1999)
The English Patient (1996)
The Sahara Desert is a barren wasteland, but it’s also a cinematographer’s paradise, as this film proves. John Seale received an Academy Award for his efforts, one of nine overall that the film claimed.
Miramax, The English Patient (1996)
LA Confidential (1997)
If you were concentrating on the complex plot of this absorbing noir thriller, you may have missed its great cinematography featuring the area in and around Los Angeles. Dante Spinotti was nominated for an Academy Award and won the British Society of Cinematographers prize for his memorable work.
Warner Bros., L.A. Confidential (1997)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
The sizzling opening scene of this WWII film made an immediate and lasting impression on filmgoers when it appeared in theaters. Janusz Kaminski had come a long way since his solid work in Cool As Ice (1991), claiming the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
DreamWorks, Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Cool As Ice (1991)
Remember at the beginning when we said even some bad movies have good cinematography? This otherwise forgettable film featuring the big-screen debut of Vanilla Ice received praise in one unexpected area. Janusz Kaminski, who later won Academy Awards for his work in Schindler’s List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998), provided some gorgeous cinematography to alleviate the inanity of the plot.
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Lush scenes of a jungle paradise accompany the mayhem of WWII in this memorable film by director Terence Malick. John Toll was nominated for Best Cinematography for his work, which was done partly on location in the Solomon Islands, and partly in Queensland, Australia.
Twentieth Century, The Thin Red Line (1998)
American Beauty (1999)
This movie’s story line perhaps hasn’t aged well, but its cinematography certainly still looks impressive. Bringing suburbia to life was Conrad Hall, who won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
DreamWorks, American Beauty (1999)
The Florida Project (2017)
A child’s sense of wonder transcends her grim surroundings in this poignant film. The cinematography of Alexis Zabe made a big difference in helping The Florida Project achieve its thematic goals.
A24, The Florida Project (2017)
The Master (2012)
This Paul Thomas Anderson film is about a WWII veteran trying to adjust to peacetime life. The cinematography of Mihai Malamaire Jr won praise, especially for the extensive scenes shot on board a ship at sea.
Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019)
Sweeping landscape shots are one of many highlights of this acclaimed period piece directed by Celine Sciamma. Cinematographer Claire Mathon’s panoramic shots and use of color won praise.
Arte, Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
The Lighthouse (2019)
This haunting film by director Robert Eggers was memorable for its cinematography. Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke used a style of black-and-white film stock that hasn’t been used in a century to help viewers step back in time. Blaschke was nominated for an Academy Award for his work.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
The first Blade Runner set a high standard for its camera work, and director Denis Villeneuve’s long-awaited follow-up didn’t disappoint. Encompassing desert scenes and sprawling dystopian cityscapes, the film won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Cinematography for Roger Deakins.
Columbia, Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Moonlight (2016)
This coming-of-age story was shot in and around Miami, Florida. The ocean horizon and natural beauty is balanced by the gritty street scenes, which gained James Laxton an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography.
The Shining (1980)
The trailing shots of a child barreling down twisting hotel corridors on his Big-wheel are a remarkable visual from this striking horror movie by Stanley Kubrick. While some aspects of the film were a disappointment, its cinematography by John Alcott was a strong point.
Warner Bros., The Shining (1980)
Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)
This seagoing adventure is a visual delight from start to finish. The challenges of shooting a film on the ocean were handled brilliantly by cinematographer Russell Boyd and director Peter Weir.
Twentieth Century, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
The Aviator (2004)
The use of early color film was one part of this film’s success. The first 52 minutes of the film feature only red and cyan blue. The amazing flight sequences were the film’s other strong point. The Howard Hughes biopic won five Academy Awards, including best cinematography for Robert Richardson.
No Country For Old Men (2007)
The vast landscape of West Texas is the backdrop of this haunting Coen brothers film bearing the imprint of cinematographer Roger Deakins. Whether it’s wide shots of a desolate landscape or closeups of a character’s face, the movie is exceptional for its visual storytelling. That more than makes up for Javier Bardem’s atrocious haircut!
Paramount, No Country for Old Men (2007)
Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
All of Wes Anderson’s films are recognized for their cinematography. Robert Yeoman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for the film’s fascinating use of color and light.
Searchlight Pictures, The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Vertigo (1958)
This Alfred Hitchcock film was the first to use the so-called dolly zoom to create a sense of disorientation for the viewer. Although it was not universally well-reviewed when it was released, it’s now widely recognized as one of Hitchcock’s best.
Interstellar (2014)
This ambitious film by Christopher Nolan featured striking visual images along with its theme of time travel. Cinematography was by Hoyte Van Hoytema, who also worked with Nolan on Dunkirk (2017) and Oppenheimer (2023).
Paramount, Interstellar (2014)
Birdman (2014)
This remarkable film wasn't filmed in one long take, but it sure seemed like it. However, it wasn't just the duration of the shots, but their content that gained Emmanuel Lubezki his second Best Cinematography Oscar in a row after winning for Gravity (2013) the year before.
Searchlight Pictures, Birdman (2014)
The Brutalist (2024)
A three-and-a-half hour movie about an architect may sound daunting, but The Brutalist is also three and a half hours of great cinematography. The first full-length feature since the 50s shot entirely in the high-resolution widescreen VistaVision format, The Brutalist won Lol Crawley the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
Barry Lyndon (1975)
The third Kubrick film on our list, this period piece set during the American Revolution was filmed almost entirely using natural light. This quality, along with the outstanding framing of still wide-angle shots earned John Alcott the Oscar for Best Cinematography.
Warner Bros., Barry Lyndon (1975)
Point Break (1991)
Long before Birdman (2014) made use of long-take tracking shots, director Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break was making use of the same technique. But this was only the start of this film’s brilliant cinematography involving fantastic surfing sequences, mid-air shots of skydivers, and an intense foot chase involving Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. The cinematography was by Donald Peterman, who worked on a raft of well-known movies in the 80s and 90s. In Point Break, he was never better.
