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Steve Gainer

Steve Gainer

Cinematographer, also producer · Born October 25, 1962 (64) · Alexandria, Louisiana, USA

Born
October 25, 1962 (64)
From
Alexandria, Louisiana, USA
Works as
Cinematographer, also producer
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 49 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 38 days to Oct 27Up 14% in 30 days

What are Steve Gainer's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Family2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Family 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
32%
Bonds
20%
Morality
19%
Survival
12%
Society
9%
Power
7%
Coming of age7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 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 14 · Serious 3 · Dark 9

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 3

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 8 · Intense 10

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 7

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 7

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2

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 14 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Absurd
13
Warm
9
Hopeful
6
Joyful
7
Other
32

How their films linger

Fun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous8

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 Steve Gainer's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Steve Gainer'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

49 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Life by Ella(2022)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • With Love(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Puppy Place(2021)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Last Laugh(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Mayhem(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • An American Girl Story - Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Cinematographer

  • An American Girl Story: Maryellen 1955 - Extraordinary Christmas(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Sweet/Vicious(2016)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Everly(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Catch Hell(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Happyland(2014)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Movie 43(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • A Haunted House(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Our Wild Hearts(2013)

    Cinematographer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Nature Calls(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Set Up(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Awkward.(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Super(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Girl(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Taking Chances(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • One Night Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Punisher: War Zone(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • While She Was Out(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Remember the Daze(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Before You Here(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Friendly Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • Wassup Rockers(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Mysterious Skin(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • A Dirty Shame(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Lonely Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Cinematographer

  • Black Cloud(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Erotic Misadventures of the Invisible Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Teenage Caveman(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Bully(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Donnie Darko(2001)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Facade(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Road Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • Three Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • Club Vampire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • MP Da Last Don(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Sex Files: Double Identity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

  • Exposé (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Secrets Revealed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Butterscotch: Lost But Found (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Don't Sleep Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Macon County Jail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Shadow Dancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Ceremony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 44 titles from 1994 to 2021.

Biggest box office

A Haunted House (2013)

$60M worldwide

Highest rated

Mysterious Skin (2004)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Movie 43 (2013)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 44: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleCinematography42 of 44: 42 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score27thOther crew1 of 44: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1990s13 · crew2000s16 · crew2010s14 · crew2020s1 · 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.

How do Steve Gainer's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 28th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 25th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 33 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · cinematographer

MP Da Last Don (1998)

93rd percentile spread · 70% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Mysterious Skin (2004)

Midcredits 97th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 49/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 61, detractors 33. 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 Steve Gainer's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles35–95 · median 87 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles21–84 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles80–93 · median 88 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles40–88 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles24–91 · median 76 · intenseheavier 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 Steve Gainer work with?

People who share at least 2 of Steve Gainer's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Larry Clark shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles