Skip to content
MovieCove
Barry Ackroyd

Barry Ackroyd

Cinematographer · Born May 12, 1954 (72) · Manchester, England, UK

BAFTA Award winner · Oscar nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Barry Ackroyd (born 12 May 1954) is an English cinematographer and director. Ackroyd has frequently worked with directors Ken Loach and Paul Greengrass. He worked on Kathryn Bigelow's 2008 war film, The Hurt Locker, and with Greengrass on the critically acclaimed 2013 biographical thriller Captain Phillips, the former earning him a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography. In 2014, Ackroyd became the president of the British Society of Cinematographers. Description above from the Wikipedia article Barry Ackroyd, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 12, 1954 (72)
From
Manchester, England, UK
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 71 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 16% in 30 days

What are Barry Ackroyd's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
Morality
22%
Bonds
20%
Self
17%
Survival
17%
Power
11%
Society
10%
Ideas
3%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 4 · Dark 35

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

Grounded 30 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 12 · Intense 27

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 26 · Whiplash 7

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 33 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 25 · Full focus 8

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

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 24

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 24 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
36
Melancholic
23
Dread
14
Bittersweet
6
Contemplative
7
Other
26

How their films linger

Thought-provoking21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous13
  • 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 Barry Ackroyd's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barry Ackroyd'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

71 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • A House of Dynamite(2025)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Old Guard 2(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Sympathizer(2024)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Cinematographer

  • Sweet Girl(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Old Guard(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Bombshell(2019)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Outlaw King(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Detroit(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Last Face(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Jason Bourne(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Cafe Regular

  • The Big Short(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Dark Places(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Captain Phillips(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Parkland(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Easy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Cinematographer

  • The Newsroom(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Angels' Share(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Contraband(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Coriolanus(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Special Relationship(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Green Zone(2010)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Looking for Eric(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Hurt Locker(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Battle in Seattle(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • British Film Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Wind That Shakes the Barley(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • United 93(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Carry On Ken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Gideon's Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • Love + Hate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • Friends & Crocodiles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • A Fond Kiss(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Immortals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Eroica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Concert for George(2003)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Prince(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Sweet Sixteen(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Out of Control (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • Sunday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • The Navigators(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Dust(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Very Annie Mary(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Bread and Roses(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Escort(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Beautiful People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lost Son(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Boogie Nights in Suburbia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Camera Operator

  • My Name Is Joe(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Under the Skin(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Stella Does Tricks(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Butterfly Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Carla's Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Flowers of the Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Hillsborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Anne Frank Remembered(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Land and Freedom(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Life After Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • Ladybird Ladybird(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Raining Stones(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Too White for Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Riff-Raff(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Hunters and Bombers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Time to Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Big George Is Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Inside the Labyrinth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Train of Thought (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Focus Puller

Career shape

A full career of 71 titles from 1984 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Jason Bourne (2016)

$415M worldwide

Highest rated

Captain Phillips (2013)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

The Big Short (2015)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 71: 3 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting1 of 71: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleCinematography64 of 71: 60 only cinematography, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndOther crew7 of 71: 4 only other crew, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score72nd

71 titles, 4 with more than one role — cinematography and other crew overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1980s4 · crew1990s21 · crew2000s22 · 2 acting · 20 crew2010s17 · 1 acting · 16 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 Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

a BAFTA Award and 1 other major award from 8 major nominations, 1997–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Cannes award, won · Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography Award
  2. 2014
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  3. 2010
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  4. 2007
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  5. 2004
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Photography and Lighting (Fiction/Entertainment)
  6. 1997
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Short Film

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 Barry Ackroyd's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 42; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Last Face (2016)

77th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Captain Phillips (2013)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 63/100 in their films, across 32 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 45. 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 Barry Ackroyd's work okay for kids?

Across up to 23 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and sex & nudity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore19 titles12–89 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity23 titles6–56 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity20 titles39–86 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs18 titles6–55 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles35–90 · median 59 · 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 Barry Ackroyd work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barry Ackroyd's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ken Loach shares the most, 11.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles