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Sean Bobbitt

Sean Bobbitt

Cinematographer · Born November 29, 1958 (67) · Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

Oscar nominee · Primetime Emmy nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Sean Francis Bobbitt, B.S.C. (born 29 November 1958) is a British cinematographer, known for his collaborations with directors Steve McQueen and Nia DaCosta. His accolades include nominations for an Academy Award, four British Academy Film Awards and an Emmy Award. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), which also earned him a BAFTA nomination. For Sense & Sensibility (2008), he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sean Bobbitt, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 29, 1958 (67)
From
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 49 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 17% in 30 days

What are Sean Bobbitt's films like?

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

Genres

Biography7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
26%
Bonds
22%
Society
13%
Power
12%
Self
12%
Survival
8%
Ideas
7%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 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 7 · Serious 4 · Dark 15

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 3

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 10 · Intense 11

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 5

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

Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 7

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 7 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 16

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
15
Dread
9
Warm
8
Hopeful
7
Other
29

How their films linger

Hopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous1
  • 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 Sean Bobbitt's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sean Bobbitt'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

49 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple(2026)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Hedda(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Marvels(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Judas and the Black Messiah(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Rhythm Section(2020)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Courier(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Widows(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • On Chesil Beach(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Stronger(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Queen of Katwe(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Rock the Kasbah(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Kill the Messenger(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Oldboy(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • 12 Years a Slave(2013)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Byzantium(2012)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Place Beyond the Pines(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Everyday(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Shame(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Hysteria(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Africa United(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Killer Inside Me(2010)

    Additional Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Static (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Unforgiven(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Hunger(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Things I Haven't Told You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Cinematographer

  • Sense & Sensibility(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Mrs. Ratcliffe's Revolution(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Baker(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Situation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • Weddings and Beheadings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • United 93(2006)

    Second Unit Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Cargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • The Long Firm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

  • Charlotte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Cinematographer

  • Second Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Canterbury Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Chunky Monkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Jeffrey Archer: The Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • Western Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • Lawless Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • MI-5(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Summer Things(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Wonderland(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Ancient Inventions(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 5 episodes · Camera Operator

  • Isle of Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 49 titles, 48 of them dated from 1994 to 2026.

Biggest box office

The Marvels (2023)

$206M worldwide

Highest rated

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography48 of 49: 45 only cinematography, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score79thOther crew4 of 49: 1 only other crew, 3 with another role

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

By decade

1990s3 · crew2000s24 · crew2010s15 · crew2020s6 · 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

1 major award from 8 major nominations, 2005–2021.

WinNomination
  1. 2021
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  2. 2014
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Cinematography
  3. 2012
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Photography: Factual
  4. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie
  5. 2005
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Photography and Lighting (Fiction/Entertainment)

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 Sean Bobbitt's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 28; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

94thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Marvels (2023)

65th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 71/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 53. 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 Sean Bobbitt's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles40–93 · median 68 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles23–78 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity19 titles29–87 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles27–68 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles35–92 · median 67 · intenseheavier 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 Sean Bobbitt work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sean Bobbitt's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Steve McQueen shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers