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Dean Semler

Dean Semler

Cinematographer, also director and actor · Born May 26, 1943 (83) · Renmark, South Australia, Australia

Dean Semler is an Australian cinematographer. Over his career, he has worked as a cinematographer, camera operator, director, second unit director, and assistant director. He is a three-time recipient of the AACTA Award for Best Cinematography and an Academy Award winner. He is a member of both the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) and the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). In 2002 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 26, 1943 (83)
From
Renmark, South Australia, Australia
Works as
Cinematographer, also director and actor
Titles
56 on MovieCove · 75 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 63 days to Oct 26Down 60% in 30 days

What are Dean Semler's films like?

Across their 52 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror 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
Bonds
31%
Self
18%
Morality
17%
Survival
15%
Society
7%
Power
6%
Ideas
6%
Family bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 52 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 27 · Serious 14 · Dark 11

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 23 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 13

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 23 · Intense 18

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 26 · Whiplash 9

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 22 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 21

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 30 · Relentless 12

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

Casual 31 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 45 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Thrilling
20
Absurd
19
Joyful
14
Hopeful
15
Other
49

How their films linger

Fun24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy27
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Dean Semler's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 40 of their 56 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dean Semler'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

75 credits, 56 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Summer Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Cinematographer

  • Playing with Fire(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Sandy Wexler(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Do-Over(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Ridiculous 6(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Last Witch Hunter(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Mad Max: Fury Road(2015)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Maleficent(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Heaven Is for Real(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Grudge Match(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Parental Guidance(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • In the Land of Blood and Honey(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Secretariat(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Date Night(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • 2012(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Appaloosa(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Get Smart(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Apocalypto(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Click(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Just My Luck(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Stealth(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Longest Yard(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Alamo(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Bruce Almighty(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • xXx(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • We Were Soldiers(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Dragonfly(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • D-Tox(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Heartbreakers(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Nutty Professor II: The Klumps(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Bone Collector(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Patriot(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Firestorm(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Trojan War(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Gone Fishin'(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Waterworld(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Cowboy Way(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Three Musketeers(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Last Action Hero(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Super Mario Bros.(1993)

    Cinematographer · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Power of One(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • City Slickers(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Baruya Muka Archival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Dances with Wolves(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Young Guns II(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Impulse(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • K-9(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Dead Calm(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Farewell to the King(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Young Guns(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Cocktail(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Clean Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lighthorsemen(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Going Sane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Bullseye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Passion Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • The Coca-Cola Kid(1985)

    Additional Dialogue · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Coolangatta Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Additional Photography

  • Bodyline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 7 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Razorback(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Human Face of Russia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Camera Operator

  • Return to Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Dismissal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Kitty and the Bagman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • The Road Warrior(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Hoodwink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Stepping Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Saturday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • A Good Thing Going (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • Do I Have to Kill My Child? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • A Steam Train Passes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • The Fifth Facade: The Making of the Sydney Opera House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Camera Operator

Career shape

A full career of 75 titles from 1973 to 2023.

Biggest box office

2012 (2009)

$791M worldwide

Highest rated

Dances with Wolves (1990)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

The Bone Collector (1999)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing3 of 75: 3 only directing, 0 with another roleCinematography68 of 75: 66 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score45thOther crew6 of 75: 4 only other crew, 2 with another role

By decade

1970s5 · crew1980s22 · crew1990s16 · crew2000s17 · 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 Dean Semler's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 56; across their 52 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Midcredits score across 56 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 56 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed11
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · cinematographer

In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011)

99th percentile spread · 62% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Dances with Wolves (1990)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 65/100 in their films, across 42 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 51. 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 Dean Semler's work okay for kids?

Across up to 42 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore38 titles26–77 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity42 titles17–60 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity39 titles24–70 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs35 titles11–43 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense37 titles18–72 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Dean Semler work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dean Semler's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Adam Sandler shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles