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Javier Agirre

Javier Agirre

Cinematographer · Died December 4, 2019, aged 84 · San Sebastián, España

Javier Aguirre Fernández (June 13, 1935 – December 4, 2019) was a Spanish film director , writer and producer. Aguirre was born in Donostia-San Sebastián in Spain . Aguirre developed an interest in film at an early age. When he was a teenager, he started collaborating for entertainment magazines like Radiocinema , Film Ideal , and others. In 1955, when he was around 20 years old, he founded and directed the San Sebastián Film Club. From 1956 to 1957, Aguirre organized film courses and film festivals. During those years, he also studied at the Institute of Cinematographic Research and Experiences (IIEC). He worked as an assistant director until he started directing his own short films in the 1960s. He began his work as a director in 1961, directing a short documentary titled Pasajes tres , which received the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián International Film Festival . He had a prolific career, directing 45 feature films, 10 short films, 2 documentaries, and 25 documentary shorts. Aguirre also wrote and produced most of his films. Spanish horror movie fans know him as the director of three popular Paul Naschy horror films, El hunchback de la Morgue (1973, aka Hunchback of the Morgue ), El gran amor del conde Drácula (1973, aka Count Dracula's Great Love ) and El asesino esta entre los trece (aka The Killer is One of the Thirteen ).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 13, 1935
Died
December 4, 2019 (aged 84)
From
San Sebastián, España
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
14 on MovieCove · 87 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 38 days to Oct 27Up 33% in 30 days

What are Javier Agirre's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
Survival
22%
Morality
20%
Self
17%
Bonds
14%
Society
14%
Ideas
8%
Power
6%
Survival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 4 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 4 · Intense 7

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

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

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

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 7

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 6 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Melancholic
7
Dread
3
Hopeful
3
Bittersweet
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Thought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous3
  • Other2

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 Javier Agirre's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 14 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (3).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Javier Agirre'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

87 credits, 14 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Karateka(2026)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Maspalomas(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Marco(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Maixabel(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Coven(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Advantages of Travelling by Train(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Endless Trench(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Giant(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Cliff(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Flowers(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Materialista, idealista, cinematógrafo, magnetófono, buen chico y sádico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Sahara Marathon(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Sara, una estrella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Zero/infinito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Voz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Sin film II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Sin film III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Continuum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • El amor sí tiene cura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Writer

  • La diputada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • La monja alférez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director · Writer

  • El polizón del Ulises (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director · Production Executive · Writer

  • Parchís entra en acción (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Continuum 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Vida/Perra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Writer

  • En busca del huevo perdido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • Las locuras de Parchís (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Writer

  • Ni te cases ni te embarques (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Writer

  • La segunda guerra de los niños (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Writer

  • La guerra de los niños (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Writer

  • Los pecados de mamá (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Consensus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Cariñosamente infiel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Del movimiento espontáneo de la materia (Antoni Tàpies) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Espacio interior (Eduardo Chillida) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Líneas de viento (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Superficies (Gerardo Rueda) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Rocky Carambola (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • Battered Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Acto de posesión (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director · Writer

  • Esposa de día, amante de noche(1978)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • La iniciación en el amor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Writer

  • Ligeramente viudas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Writer

  • El mejor regalo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • Exósmosis (Francisco Sobrino) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • Vibraciones oscilatorias (Günter Haese) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • Vida íntima de un seductor cínico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

  • El insólito embarazo de los Martínez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Screenplay · Songs · Story

  • Tautólogos plus X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Manifiesto Horizontal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Volveré a nacer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • The Killer Is One of Thirteen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Hunchback of the Morgue(1973)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Count Dracula's Great Love(1973)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Underwelles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Vau seis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Soltero y Padre en la Vida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Pierna creciente, falda menguante (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • El astronauta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • De profesión, sus labores (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • Espectro Siete (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • Che Che Che (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • Fluctuaciones entrópicas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • Impulsos ópticos en progresión geométrica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • Innerzeitigkeit (Temporalidad interna) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • Objetivo 40º (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • UTS Cero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • Unmarried and Mother in Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • Una vez al año ser hippy no hace daño (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • Los cuatro elementos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • Los que tocan el piano (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • Los chicos con las chicas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Writer

  • El Rastro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director

  • España insólita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Writer

  • Los oficios de Cándido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Espacio muerto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Mujer contra toro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Blanco vertical (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • Tiempo de pasión (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Toros tres (Guisando-Goya-Picasso) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • Playa insólita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director

  • Vizcaya cuatro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director

  • Espacio dos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Pasajes tres (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Tiempo de playa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Tiempo dos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 76 titles from 1961 to 2012.

Biggest box office

Maixabel (2021)

$3.2M worldwide

Highest rated

Maspalomas (2025)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

Advantages of Travelling by Train (2019)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 76: 2 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting73 of 76: 49 only directing, 24 with another roleWriting24 of 76: 0 only writing, 24 with another roleProducing1 of 76: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography1 of 76: 1 only cinematography, 0 with another roleOther crew2 of 76: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

76 titles, 24 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 24 of them.

By decade

1960s19 · crew1970s30 · crew1980s18 · crew1990s4 · crew2000s4 · 1 acting · 3 crew2010s1 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it.

How do Javier Agirre's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 14; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 73rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 14 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 14 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · cinematographer

Karateka (2026)

77th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Maspalomas (2025)

Midcredits 86th · 75% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 77/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 58. 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 Javier Agirre's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 65 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 58 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Javier Agirre work with?

People who share at least 2 of Javier Agirre's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Aitor Arregi shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers