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Ric Waite

Cinematographer · Died February 18, 2012, aged 78 · Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA

Ric Waite (July 10, 1933 – February 18, 2012) was an American cinematographer. His film and television credits include Red Dawn, Footloose, 48 Hrs., and The Long Riders. Waite received four Emmy nominations during his career, winning for his work on the 1976 television miniseries Captains and the Kings.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 10, 1933
Died
February 18, 2012 (aged 78)
From
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
39 on Motif · 59 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 39 days to Oct 28Up 21% in 30 days

What are Ric Waite's films like?

Across their 37 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their Motif 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
30%
Morality
22%
Survival
17%
Self
14%
Power
9%
Society
7%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 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 11 · Serious 11 · Dark 15

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

Grounded 28 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 17 · Intense 14

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 5

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 23 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 7

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 17 · Full focus 1

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

Easy watch 13 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 32 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Melancholic
13
Thrilling
10
Warm
9
Hopeful
8
Other
29

How their films linger

Hopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet14
  • 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 Ric Waite's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 39 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ric Waite's titles on Motif; 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

59 credits, 39 with a Motif page.

  • The Triangle(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Love and Treason (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • A Mother's Fight for Justice(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Ratz (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Absence of the Good(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Woman Wanted(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Money Play$(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Hope (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Truth or Consequences, N.M.(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Last Stand at Saber River(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Heart Full of Rain(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Andersonville (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • On Deadly Ground(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Last Light(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Scam(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Rapid Fire(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Out for Justice(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Marked for Death(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Police Story: Burnout (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • The Great Outdoors(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Rambo III(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Adventures in Babysitting(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • You Ruined My Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Cobra(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Volunteers(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Summer Rental(1985)

    Cinematographer · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Midas Valley (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Brewster's Millions(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Red Dawn(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Footloose(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Uncommon Valor(1983)

    Additional Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Class(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • 48 Hrs.(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Tex(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Border(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Baby Comes Home (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Revenge of the Stepford Wives(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • A Perfect Match (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • The Long Riders(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • On the Nickel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • The Comeback Kid (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Defiance(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Nero Wolfe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • And Baby Makes Six(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Charleston (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • A Guide for the Married Woman(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Leave Yesterday Behind (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • A Question of Guilt(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Other Side of the Mountain: Part II(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Initiation of Sarah(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Red Alert (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Dead of Night(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Life and Assassination of the Kingfish (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Tail Gunner Joe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • The November Plan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Nakia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Goodnight Jackie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • The Day of the Wolves(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 57 titles from 1971 to 2001.

Biggest box office

Rambo III (1988)

$189M worldwide

Highest rated

The Long Riders (1980)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Out for Justice (1991)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography57 of 57: 56 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stOther crew1 of 57: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s17 · crew1980s23 · crew1990s13 · crew2000s4 · 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 Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ric Waite's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · cinematographer

Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill (1979)

86th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Long Riders (1980)

Midcredits 79th · 70% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 54/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 60, detractors 40. 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 Midcredits 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 Ric Waite's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 Motif 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 & Gore15 titles16–93 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles17–61 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles42–88 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles30–67 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles14–71 · median 52 · 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 Ric Waite work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ric Waite's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Flynn shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers