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Phil Abraham

Phil Abraham

Director and cinematographer · USA

Primetime Emmy winner

Phil Abraham is an American cinematographer and television director.He worked on all six seasons of The Sopranos, initially as a cameraoperator, then as a cinematographer, and eventually as an episodic director. He won the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a One-Hour Series for his work on the pilot of Mad Men and has been nominated for four other Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series for his work on The Sopranos. Besides working as a cinematographer for Mad Men, he has also worked as a director for fifteen episodes. He picked up two more nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Mad Men episodes "The Jet Set" and "The Other Woman." He attended high school at York Preparatory School and graduated from Wesleyan University, along with Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

From
USA
Works as
Director and cinematographer
Titles
52 on Motif · 56 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 19% in 30 days

What are Phil Abraham's films like?

Across their 9 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Self
26%
Society
23%
Survival
13%
Ideas
9%
Morality
3%
Community3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 5 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 4 · Serious 1 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 0

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

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 2 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Hopeful
3
Thrilling
3
Joyful
2
Triumphant
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Hopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

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 Phil Abraham's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 52 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Phil Abraham'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

56 credits, 52 with a Motif page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dutton Ranch(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Boots(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Your Friends & Neighbors(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • FUBAR(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Social Distance(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Most Dangerous Game (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 27 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • Hunters(2020)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Jack Ryan(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Castle Rock(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Long Road Home(2017)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • The Defenders(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Ozark(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • GLOW(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Good Behavior(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Luke Cage(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • The Path(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Daredevil(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Bosch(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Strain(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Halt and Catch Fire(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Those Who Kill(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Writer

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Masters of Sex(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Hostages(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Orange Is the New Black(2013)

    Show 11 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Ray Donovan(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Bates Motel(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Following(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Missing(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Hell on Wheels(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Boss(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Killing(2011)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Breakout Kings(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Lights Out(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Walking Dead(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • White Collar(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Mercy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • I Love You, Beth Cooper(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Crash(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Sons of Anarchy(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Breaking Bad(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Mad Men(2007)

    Show 15 episodes · Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Annapolis(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Weeds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Our Town (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Cherry(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • For Love of the Game(1999)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • My Voyage to Italy(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Sopranos(1999)

    Show 47 episodes · Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Trouble on the Corner(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • George Marshall and the American Century (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • The Distinguished Gentleman(1992)

    First Assistant Camera

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York(1992)

    First Assistant Camera

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Witches of Eastwick(1987)

    Second Assistant Camera

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 56 titles from 1987 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Annapolis (2006)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

My Voyage to Italy (1999)

Motif 97th

Most popular right now

Boots (2025)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing45 of 56: 39 only directing, 6 with another role · typical Motif score86thWriting1 of 56: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing3 of 56: 0 only producing, 3 with another roleCinematography10 of 56: 8 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Motif score51stOther crew3 of 56: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

56 titles, 6 with more than one role — directing and cinematography overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s8 · crew2000s11 · crew2010s29 · 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.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy from 8 major nominations, 2000–2020.

WinNomination
  1. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
  2. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
  3. 2009
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
  4. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Cinematography for a One-Hour Series
  5. 2007
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
  6. 2006
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
  7. 2004
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
  8. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Phil Abraham's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 9; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Motif score across 52 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up29
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 52 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved19
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · director

Social Distance (2020)

72nd percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Breaking Bad (2008)

Motif 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 60/100 and the pacing 53/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Phil Abraham's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 52 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Phil Abraham work with?

People who share at least 2 of Phil Abraham's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Peter Hoar shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Producers