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James Crabe

Cinematographer · Died May 2, 1989, aged 57 · Los Angeles, California, USA

James Crabe (August 19, 1931 – May 2, 1989) was an American cinematographer known for his work in the 1970s and '80s on numerous films, including Rocky, The China Syndrome, Night Shift, The Karate Kid, and Thank God It's Friday. He was a part of the 1960s underground film collective known as Gay Girls Riding Club, a group of gay men in the industry, who spoofed Hollywood movies in a series of elaborate amateur films.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 19, 1931
Died
May 2, 1989 (aged 57)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 51 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 53% in 30 days

What are James Crabe's films like?

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

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th 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
Self
25%
Bonds
20%
Morality
18%
Power
14%
Society
10%
Survival
10%
Ideas
5%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 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 12 · Serious 6 · Dark 11

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

Grounded 21 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 15 · Intense 6

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 11 · 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 16 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 15 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 3

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 11 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 11

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

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
10
Warm
8
Hopeful
7
Absurd
5
Other
30

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous6

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 James Crabe's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Crabe'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

51 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Karate Kid Part III(1989)

    In Memory Of

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Baby M (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • For Keeps?(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Happy New Year(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Her Secret Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Deadly Care (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • When the Bough Breaks(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • The Karate Kid Part II(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Covenant(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Hugga Bunch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Concrete Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • The Karate Kid(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Family Secrets(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Two Kinds of Love(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Night Shift(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • The Formula(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • How to Beat the High Cost of Living(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Baltimore Bullet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Players (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The China Syndrome(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Thank God It's Friday(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Sextette(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • A Death in Canaan(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Rocky(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Disappearance of Aimee(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • F. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Dead Don't Die(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Rhinoceros (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Save the Tiger(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Great American Beauty Contest(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • All About Alice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • The Honkers(1972)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Sweet, Sweet Rachel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • A Step Out of Line(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Lost Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • Zig Zag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • Sole Survivor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • Agent for H.A.R.M.(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Bold Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Cinematographer

  • Everybody Loves It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • The Roman Springs on Mrs. Stone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • What Really Happened to Baby Jane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • Always on Sunday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director

  • The Proper Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 51 titles from 1960 to 1989.

Biggest box office

Rocky (1976)

$117M worldwide

Highest rated

Rocky (1976)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing3 of 51: 3 only directing, 0 with another roleCinematography47 of 51: 47 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thOther crew1 of 51: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s7 · crew1970s23 · crew1980s21 · 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 James Crabe's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 30 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · cinematographer

Sextette (1977)

86th percentile spread · 65% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Rocky (1976)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 58/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 63, detractors 41. 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 James Crabe's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles33–57 · median 47 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles14–52 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles29–51 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles29–41 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles23–53 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all 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 James Crabe work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Crabe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John G. Avildsen shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers