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Russell Boyd

Russell Boyd

Cinematographer · Born April 21, 1944 (82) · Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Russell Boyd ACS ASC (born 21 April 1944) is an Australian cinematographer. He rose to prominence with his highly praised work on Picnic at Hanging Rock, the first of several collaborations with director Peter Weir. He is also a member of the Australian Cinematographers Society and the American Society of Cinematographers. Boyd won an Oscar for Master and Commander: Far Side of the World. As a staple of Australian film production, he worked with Weir, Gillian Armstrong, and the Crocodile Dundee films. In American cinema, Shelton is most known for his comedy films, such as White Men Can't Jump, Dr. Doolittle, and Liar Liar.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 21, 1944 (82)
From
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 60 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 28Down 9% in 30 days

What are Russell Boyd's films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
23%
Morality
22%
Self
20%
Society
12%
Survival
12%
Power
7%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 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 15 · Serious 6 · Dark 8

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 13 · Intense 7

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

A split, not a type: Steady 16 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 1

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 13 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 17 · Engaged 11 · 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 15 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Joyful
9
Melancholic
10
Hopeful
10
Warm
7
Other
30

How their films linger

Fun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous4

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 Russell Boyd's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Russell Boyd'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

60 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Tourism Australia: Dundee - The Son of a Legend Returns Home(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Defector (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Cinematographer

  • The Telegram Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Creative Consultant

  • The Way Back(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Rider(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Stealth(2005)

    Location Manager

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Puttin’ on the Show: The Making of Starstruck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Deeds(2002)

    Location Manager

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • American Outlaws(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Serenades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Company Man(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Dolittle(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Liar Liar(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Tin Cup(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Operation Dumbo Drop(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Cobb(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • No Escape(1994)

    Production Assistant

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Forever Young(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • White Men Can't Jump(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Turtle Beach(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Talker(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Almost an Angel(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Blood Oath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • In Country(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Rescue(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Crocodile Dundee II(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • High Tide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • The Challenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 6 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Crocodile Dundee(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Perfectionist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Burke & Wills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Mrs. Soffel(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • A Soldier's Story(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Stanley: Every Home Should Have One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Phar Lap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Tender Mercies(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Year of Living Dangerously(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Starstruck(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Gallipoli(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • A Town Like Alice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • ...Maybe This Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • The Chain Reaction(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Dawn! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • The Night Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • Gone to Ground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • Tapak Dewata - Path of the Gods: Java and Bali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Camera Operator

  • The Last Wave(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Benny Hill Down Under (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Backroads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • The Singer and the Dancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • The Alternative (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Break of Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Summer of Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Is There Anybody There? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Picnic at Hanging Rock(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • The Man from Hong Kong(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Between Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Private Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Camera Operator

Career shape

A full career of 60 titles from 1973 to 2018.

Biggest box office

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

$328M worldwide

Highest rated

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Ghost Rider (2007)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 60: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleCinematography53 of 60: 53 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thOther crew6 of 60: 6 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s17 · crew1980s19 · crew1990s12 · crew2000s8 · 1 acting · 7 crew2010s4 · 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 Russell Boyd's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 33; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Rescue (1988)

61st percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Midcredits 94th · 82% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 72/100 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 Russell Boyd's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles30–66 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles15–62 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles28–54 · median 46 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles26–44 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles8–66 · median 40 · 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 Russell Boyd work with?

People who share at least 2 of Russell Boyd's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Peter Weir shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers