Skip to content
Motif
Michael Galbraith

Michael Galbraith

Cinematographer

I grew up with the film business in my blood. My father who was an electrician started working at a local television station in Toronto. From there he joined the IATSE and became a successful gaffer in his own right, working in commercials, TV and features. When I was a child I would go into his room and always see all these clothes pegs on his dresser and I always wondered where they came from. He explained to me that they were used to clip gels to lights. He would often take me into work with him and I was amazed to see all the lights surrounded by grip stands, flags, nets and diffusion. I often wondered how do these guys know how to do all this? Years later I started to go with him and work on commercials and the hook was set as they say. I joined the union and started to work my way up from sweeping floors in the construction department to working as a grip and electrician. I took some time out to actually get my electrical license in case this movie thing did not work out. While on sets, I kept my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open. Eventually I started working as a best boy then a gaffer. I was fortunate to work with great crews and talented DP's. I took every opportunity to go to dailies and see the results of the work as I was involved in every lighting setup on every show I worked on. Eventually I was able to gain the trust of my DP's and they allowed me to go off to shoot 2nd units. This lead me to opportunities to shoot my own stuff. How lucky are we to work in this business and although it can be long hours in sometimes difficult conditions, I would not trade it for any other job in the world.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
36 on Motif · 39 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 44% in 30 days

What are Michael Galbraith's films like?

Across their 13 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
35%
Self
20%
Power
14%
Morality
13%
Survival
12%
Society
5%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 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 6 · Serious 0 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 1 · Intense 5

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 2

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

A split, not a type: Casual 5 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

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 5 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Hopeful
7
Dread
4
Joyful
3
Warm
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

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 Michael Galbraith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 36 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Galbraith's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

39 credits, 36 with a Motif page.

  • You're Killing Me(2026)

    Show Cinematographer

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Shifting Gears(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films

  • True Justice: Family Ties(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • How to Die Alone(2024)

    Show Cinematographer

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Family History Mysteries: Buried Past(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Holiday Heritage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Cinematographer

  • Forgive Us Our Trespasses(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Lullaby(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Kings of Napa(2022)

    Show Cinematographer

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Dark Web: Cicada 3301(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 18th percentile of all films

  • My Spy(2020)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Double Holiday(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Silence(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Molly's Game(2017)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • A Song for Christmas(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • It(2017)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Wish Upon(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • xXx: Return of Xander Cage(2017)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Pixels(2015)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Poltergeist(2015)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • 12 Dates of Christmas(2011)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Dream House(2011)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Resident Evil: Afterlife(2010)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Love Guru(2008)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Rambo(2008)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium(2007)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Lars and the Real Girl(2007)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Dead Silence(2007)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Mean Girls(2004)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Dawn of the Dead(2004)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Against the Ropes(2004)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Encrypt (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • My Big Fat Greek Wedding(2002)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Hitched (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Gaffer

  • The Stalking of Laurie Show(2000)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Deadly Look of Love(2000)

    Gaffer

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • A Cool, Dry Place(1998)

    Best Boy Electric

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • To Die For(1995)

    Assistant Chief Lighting Technician

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Billy Madison(1995)

    Best Boy Electric

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 35 titles from 1995 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Wish Upon (2017)

$23M worldwide

Highest rated

Double Holiday (2019)

Motif 73rd

Most popular right now

How to Die Alone (2024)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography12 of 35: 12 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Motif score62ndOther crew23 of 35: 23 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Motif score51st

By decade

1990s3 · crew2000s13 · crew2010s12 · crew2020s7 · 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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Michael Galbraith's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Motif score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Kings of Napa (2022)

99th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Molly's Game (2017)

Motif 92nd · 84% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 55/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 63, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Michael Galbraith's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 Motif titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 66 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles16–51 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32

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 Michael Galbraith work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Galbraith's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joel S. Rice shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles