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Eric Gautier

Eric Gautier

Cinematographer · Born April 2, 1961 (65) · Paris, France

BAFTA Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Éric Gautier (born 2 April 1961) is a French cinematographer. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including a César Award for Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train and an Independent Spirit Award for The Motorcycle Diaries. Gautier was born and raised in Paris; he grew up in eleventh, twelfth, nineteenth, and twentieth arrondissements with his construction engineer father, mother, and younger sister. During his youth, he excelled in music, and from the age of eleven played the piano and organ. He originally aspired to become a professional musician before becoming disillusioned with the field and deciding to pursue a career in cinema instead, which he felt combined many different creative pursuits. He attended the film school of the Louis Lumière College. After graduating from the Louis Lumière film school in 1982, Gautier began work as an assistant camera operator director on Alain Resnais's film Life Is a Bed of Roses. He left the job soon after, however, and chose instead to work as the director of photography on short films. He shot 60 films before returning to feature film work. The first feature-length film he photographed was La Vie des morts, released in 1991 and directed by Arnaud Desplechin. He won a César Award for his cinematography on Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train (1998), and received nominations for his work on Sentimental Destinies (2000), Clean (2004), Gabrielle (2005), Private Fears in Public Places (2006), and A Christmas Tale (2008). He has worked on many other French films, collaborating most often with Resnais and the directors Olivier Assayas, Arnaud Desplechin, and Claude Berri. Gautier began working in international film in the early 2000s, beginning with The Motorcycle Diaries, for which he won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography and the 2004 Cannes Film Festival Technical Grand Prize, and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography. After seeing The Motorcycle Diaries, American actor/filmmaker Sean Penn approached Gautier to shoot the 2007 film Into the Wild, for which he won a Lumière Award. He subsequently served as director of photography on the American films Taking Woodstock (2009) and Grace of Monaco (2014).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 2, 1961 (65)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 72 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 37% in 30 days

What are Eric Gautier's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st 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
Bonds
30%
Self
29%
Society
13%
Ideas
8%
Morality
8%
Survival
6%
Power
5%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 15 · Dark 11

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 20 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 19 · Intense 6

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

Steady 23 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 31 · Even-paced 5 · 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 8 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 7

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

Easy watch 10 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 11

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 16 · Ambiguous 11

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
23
Melancholic
20
Tense
13
Warm
13
Bittersweet
8
Other
26

How their films linger

Bittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous11

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 Eric Gautier's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Eric Gautier'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

72 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page.

  • Avec Kim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Cinematographer

  • The Fence(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Why War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Cinematographer

  • Caught by the Tides(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Suspended Time(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Like a Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Cinematographer

  • Shikun(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Les secrets de la princesse de Cadignan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Cinematographer

  • Stars at Noon(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Both Sides of the Blade(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Laila in Haifa(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • A Folk Horror Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Cinematographer

  • The Eddy(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The Truth(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Ash Is Purest White(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • A Tramway in Jerusalem(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Apparition(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Mercy(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Drôle de père(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Rabin, the Last Day(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Hitchcock/Truffaut(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Aloha(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Grace of Monaco(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Incident Urbain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Cinematographer

  • Capital(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Something in the Air(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • On the Road(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Miral(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Roses on Credit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Cinematographer

  • Wild Grass(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Taking Woodstock(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Tale(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Summer Hours(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Into the Wild(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Private Fears in Public Places (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • Some Widows of Noirmoutier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Paris, Je T'aime(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • Gabrielle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • L'un reste, l'autre part(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Kings & Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Cinematographer

  • Clean(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Motorcycle Diaries(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • His Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • A Housekeeper(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Pierre or, The Ambiguities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Savage Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Brief Crossing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Intimacy(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Esther Kahn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Sentimental Destinies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • HHH: A Portrait of Hou Hsiao-Hsien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • Pola X(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Sans Titre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Tykho Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Love, etc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Irma Vep(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • My Sex Life... or How I Got Into an Argument(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • One Hundred and One Nights(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Le fils préféré (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Nobody Loves Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Le Nombril du monde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • Travolta and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • La femme à abattre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • Albert souffre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • The Life of the Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Le scorpion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Knife Under the Throat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Camera Operator

Career shape

A full career of 72 titles from 1986 to 2026.

Biggest box office

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

$58M worldwide

Highest rated

Into the Wild (2007)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Intimacy (2001)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography71 of 72: 71 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55thOther crew1 of 72: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s2 · crew1990s16 · crew2000s24 · crew2010s17 · crew2020s13 · 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

2 major awards from 3 major nominations, 2004–2005.

WinNomination
  1. 2005
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Cinematography
  2. 2004
    • Cannes award, won

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 Eric Gautier's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · cinematographer

Laila in Haifa (2020)

78th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Into the Wild (2007)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 69/100 in their films, across 33 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 52. 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 Eric Gautier's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles6–44 · median 24 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles16–71 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles35–65 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles33–70 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles10–46 · median 32 · mildnear 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 Eric Gautier work with?

People who share at least 2 of Eric Gautier's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; François Gédigier shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles