Skip to content
MovieCove
Ross W. Clarkson

Ross W. Clarkson

Cinematographer and director, also writer and producer · Born January 11, 1963 (63) · Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Inspiration is all around us, if we will only open our eyes. Ross has been a cinematographer for 30+ years, and over that period of time he has developed a very unique energetic style. Ross Clarkson is an international director of photography who became popular for action films. His energetic visual style came to light with Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing which lead to a wave of martial arts films. Directed by Isaac Florentine, the film elevated the acting career of Scott Adkins. Together Ross and Isaac have worked on many films which gained high recognition in the martial art/action genre. Undisputed 3: Redemption, Assassin's Bullet, Ninja, Ninja 2: Shadow of a Tear. Ross has also been the 2nd unit director of photography for several big budget films for Millennium Films including Conan the Barbarian and The Legend of Hercules. DVD Review - Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013) May 12, 2014 by Gary Collinson Ninja: Shadow of a Tear, 2013. As one has come to expect from a Florentine and Adkins collaboration, the fight scenes are fantastic. Florentine, a martial artist himself, fully appreciates how to make a fight look good on screen, whilst they tend to use exceptionally imaginative fight choreographers. In this case it is Tim Man (who also appears as a vertically challenged, high kicking henchman). The cohesion of the choreography, the performers and the dynamic camera work of Ross Clarkson (serving as Director of Photography as well as operating) come together with great effect. It's hard to pick a stand out fight sequence because there's so many and they're all brilliantly delivered. The Thai locations give the film a nice look, and plenty of able and willing stunt performers to recklessly throw themselves around. Ross Clarkson, when he's not plunging his camera into the heart of the action, makes the film look great, and beyond it's low budget. This looks like a big screen picture. Ninja: Shadow of a Tear posted October 14, 2013 BY Mike Fury DOP Ross Clarkson, who frequently collaborates with Florentine, captures the tone, mood and refreshing 'East meets West' flavor with slick style. Particularly for fans of Hong Kong cinema, we sometimes take clean, crisp and legible action for granted, which only becomes apparent when served butchered, over-edited fights in American films. For anyone familiar with Isaac's work, that's simply never the case and once again he and Clarkson offer us stunning fights and exciting action set pieces - shot cleanly and framed widely so we can fully appreciate everything on offer.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
January 11, 1963 (63)
From
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Works as
Cinematographer and director, also writer and producer
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 48 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 28% in 30 days

What are Ross W. Clarkson's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 5th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
33%
Bonds
28%
Survival
14%
Self
11%
Power
6%
Society
5%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 17 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 15

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 16 · 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

Easy watch 12 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Thrilling
14
Warm
5
Dread
5
Melancholic
5
Other
22

How their films linger

Hopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet9
  • 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 Ross W. Clarkson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (25).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ross W. Clarkson'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

48 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page.

  • Hellfire(2026)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Vixen(2024)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Last Kumite(2024)

    Director · Cinematographer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Bring Him to Me(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • One Year Off(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Miss Willoughby(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Father Christmas Is Back(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Mister Mayfair: Serena's Game(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mister Mayfair: The Spyce of Life(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • My Dad's Christmas Date(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Captured(2020)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • General Commander(2019)

    Director · Cinematographer · Drone Operator

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Cursed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Cinematographer

  • Kickboxer: Retaliation(2018)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Sniper: Ultimate Kill(2017)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Mechanic: Resurrection(2016)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Never Back Down: No Surrender(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Bangkok Rush(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Wild City(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Stonehearst Asylum(2014)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Hercules(2014)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Ninja: Shadow of a Tear(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Expendables 2(2012)

    Steadicam Operator

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Assassin's Bullet(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • El Gringo(2012)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Conan the Barbarian(2011)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Full Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Camera Operator

  • Undisputed III: Redemption(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Ninja(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Direct Contact(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Push(2009)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Shark in Venice(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Shepherd(2008)

    "A" Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Black Dahlia(2006)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Russian Specialist(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Belly of the Beast(2003)

    "A" Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Alien Hunter(2003)

    as Falkland Man #1

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Looking for Mr. Perfect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Marines(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Dead Heat(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Derailed(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Replicant(2001)

    "A" Camera Operator · Camera Operator · Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Order(2001)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • The Suspect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • The Age of Miracles(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Shaolin Boxers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Production Manager

Career shape

A full career of 44 titles from 1974 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Wild City (2015)

$25M worldwide

Highest rated

Undisputed III: Redemption (2010)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Hellfire (2026)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 44: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting4 of 44: 0 only directing, 4 with another roleWriting2 of 44: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing1 of 44: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography31 of 44: 25 only cinematography, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score27thOther crew15 of 44: 12 only other crew, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score26th

44 titles, 6 with more than one role — cinematography and other crew overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · crew1990s3 · crew2000s15 · 1 acting · 14 crew2010s17 · crew2020s8 · 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 Ross W. Clarkson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 27th percentile, the median of all 42; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 27th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th20

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 42 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed26

Most divisive · cinematographer

Marines (2003)

93rd percentile spread · 54% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Undisputed III: Redemption (2010)

Midcredits 91st · 81% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 44/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 60, detractors 30. 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 Ross W. Clarkson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and profanity run heavier than most films and sex & nudity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles79–94 · median 86 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles6–68 · median 15 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles41–85 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 49 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 56 · moderateMedian 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 Ross W. Clarkson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ross W. Clarkson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Avi Lerner shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles