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Thomas Del Ruth

Thomas Del Ruth

Cinematographer · Born May 1, 1942 (84) · Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Born
May 1, 1942 (84)
From
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
57 on MovieCove · 77 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 27Down 23% in 30 days

What are Thomas Del Ruth's films like?

Across their 37 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd 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
Bonds
40%
Self
19%
Morality
18%
Survival
14%
Power
7%
Society
2%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 23 · Serious 7 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 28 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 15 · Charged 12 · Intense 10

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

Steady 20 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 3

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 15 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 12

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 29 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 35 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Warm
13
Absurd
9
Melancholic
11
Joyful
9
Other
37

How their films linger

Hopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2

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 Thomas Del Ruth's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 57 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Thomas Del Ruth'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

77 credits, 57 with a MovieCove page.

  • It Takes All Kinds: The Making of Motel Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Thanks

  • Flipped(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Code Breakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • Heartless(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 106 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Down Will Come Baby(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • It Came from the Sky(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Charmed(1998)

    Show 9 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Kissing a Fool(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Leave It to Beaver(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • When the Cradle Falls(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Asteroid(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Full Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Chasing the Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Abandoned and Deceived (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • My Brother's Keeper(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • One Christmas(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • ER: 24 Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Next Door(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Royce(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Shattered Image(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Amore!(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • House of Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • Donato and Daughter(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Barbarians at the Gate(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • T Bone N Weasel(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Mighty Ducks(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Little Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Kuffs(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Look Who's Talking Too(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Look Who's Talking(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Ladykillers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Satisfaction(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Cross My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • The Running Man(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Who Is Julia? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Stand by Me(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Blind Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Quicksilver(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Code of Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Additional Photography

  • The Breakfast Club(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Fandango(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Impulse(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Best Kept Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Get Crazy(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Intimate Agony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Who Will Love My Children?(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Hysterical(1982)

    Additional Photography · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • In Love with an Older Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • Paper Dolls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • Death Wish II(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Infield(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Help Wanted: Male (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • Elvis and the Beauty Queen(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • This House Possessed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Underground Aces(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Mark, I Love You(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Motel Hell(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • She's Dressed to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Crash(1978)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Rolling Thunder(1977)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Shootist(1976)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Outlaw Josey Wales(1976)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Sting(1973)

    First Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean(1972)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Fat City(1972)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Myra Breckinridge(1970)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Tora! Tora! Tora!(1970)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Patton(1970)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Happy Ending(1969)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here(1969)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Justine(1969)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Boston Strangler(1968)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Cool Hand Luke(1967)

    First Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Divorce American Style(1967)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 75 titles from 1967 to 2014.

Biggest box office

Look Who's Talking (1989)

$297M worldwide

Highest rated

Stand by Me (1986)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Running Man (1987)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 75: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleCinematography56 of 75: 55 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score39thOther crew19 of 75: 19 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score79th

By decade

1960s6 · crew1970s11 · crew1980s28 · crew1990s27 · crew2000s1 · crew2010s2 · 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 Thomas Del Ruth's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 53; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 57 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 57 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed23

Most divisive · cinematographer

Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981)

86th percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Stand by Me (1986)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 51/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 59, detractors 38. 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 Thomas Del Ruth's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles26–87 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles15–56 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles26–76 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles22–57 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles20–73 · median 41 · 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 Thomas Del Ruth work with?

People who share at least 2 of Thomas Del Ruth's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rob Reiner shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles