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John Toll

John Toll

Cinematographer · Born June 15, 1952 (74) · Cleveland, Ohio, USA

2 Oscars · BAFTA Award winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · 2 other major award bodies

John Toll, ASC (born June 15, 1952) is an American cinematographer and television producer. Toll's filmography spans a wide variety of genres, including epic period drama, comedy, science fiction, and contemporary drama. He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in both 1994 and 1995 for Legends of the Fall and Braveheart, respectively, and has also won numerous BAFTA, ASC, and Satellite Awards. He has collaborated with such directors as Francis Ford Coppola, Edward Zwick, Terrence Malick, Mel Gibson, Cameron Crowe, the Wachowskis, and Ang Lee. Outside of film, he has shot several commercials, the pilot episode of the Emmy Award-winning drama series Breaking Bad, and has served as chief cinematographer on the Netflix original series Sense8 by the Wachowskis, on which he also got executive producing credit in its second season. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Toll, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 15, 1952 (74)
From
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 53 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 31% in 30 days

What are John Toll's films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Action9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
30%
Bonds
25%
Morality
19%
Ideas
7%
Society
7%
Survival
6%
Power
6%
Identity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 7 · Dark 9

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 11 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
14
Hopeful
8
Warm
6
Bittersweet
7
Other
27

How their films linger

Hopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch John Toll's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Toll's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

53 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • 80 for Brady(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Matrix Resurrections(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Harriet(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Sense8(2015)

    Show 24 episodes · Cinematographer · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Jupiter Ascending(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Iron Man 3(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Cloud Atlas(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The 'E.T.' Journals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • The Odd Life of Timothy Green(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Adjustment Bureau(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • It's Complicated(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Gimme Shelter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Cinematographer

  • The Burning Plain(2008)

    Additional Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Tropic Thunder(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Wanted(2008)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Shine a Light(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Breaking Bad(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Gone Baby Gone(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Rise: Blood Hunter(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Seraphim Falls(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Elizabethtown(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Joni Mitchell: Refuge of the Roads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Camera Operator

  • The Last Samurai(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Orange County(2002)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Vanilla Sky(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Captain Corelli's Mandolin(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Almost Famous(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Simpatico(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Thin Red Line(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Rainmaker(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Jack(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Braveheart(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Legends of the Fall(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Wind(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Always(1989)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Blaze(1989)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Tequila Sunrise(1988)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The China Odyssey: 'Empire of the Sun', a Film by Steven Spielberg(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Peggy Sue Got Married(1986)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Beach Boys: An American Band(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Dreams(1985)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Falcon and the Snowman(1985)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Scarface(1983)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Twilight Zone: The Movie(1983)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Zorro: The Gay Blade(1981)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Bustin' Loose(1981)

    Camera Operator · Second Unit

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Urban Cowboy(1980)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • FM (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Camera Operator

  • Whiffs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    First Assistant Camera

  • The Hoax (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • The Young Graduates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 53 titles from 1971 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Iron Man 3 (2013)

$1.2B worldwide

Highest rated

Braveheart (1995)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Iron Man 3 (2013)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 53: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleProducing1 of 53: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography38 of 53: 37 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score75thOther crew14 of 53: 14 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1970s4 · crew1980s13 · crew1990s8 · crew2000s17 · crew2010s9 · crew2020s2 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

2 Oscars, a BAFTA Award and 1 other major award from 8 major nominations, 1995–2019.

WinNomination
  1. 2019
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures
  2. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour)
  3. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a One-Hour Series
  4. 1999
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Berlinale award, won
  5. 1996
    • Oscar, won · Best Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Cinematography
  6. 1995
    • Oscar, won · Best Cinematography

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do John Toll's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 44; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 71st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

96thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 46 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · cinematographer

The China Odyssey: 'Empire of the Sun', a Film by Steven Spielberg (1987)

67th percentile spread · 15% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Breaking Bad (2008)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 71/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 56. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is John Toll's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore19 titles17–86 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles17–66 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity19 titles34–73 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles23–51 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense19 titles27–66 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does John Toll work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Toll's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tom Cruise shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers