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Matthew Libatique

Matthew Libatique

Cinematographer, also actor and producer · Born July 19, 1968 (58) · Queens, New York City, New York, USA

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

Matthew Libatique (born July 19, 1968) is an American cinematographer. He is best known for his collaborations with director Darren Aronofsky on the films Pi (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), Black Swan (2010), Noah (2014), and Mother! (2017). Libatique has received three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography nominations for his work on Black Swan (2010), A Star Is Born (2018), and Maestro (2023). Description above from the Wikipedia article Matthew Libatique, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 19, 1968 (58)
From
Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Cinematographer, also actor and producer
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 58 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 23% in 30 days

What are Matthew Libatique's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Biography2 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
22%
Morality
21%
Survival
16%
Society
12%
Bonds
12%
Power
8%
Ideas
8%
Identity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame5 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 41 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 9 · Serious 10 · Dark 22

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 12

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 13 · Intense 25

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 11

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 24 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 7

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 8

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 11

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 13 · Heavy 17

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 22 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 9

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Dread
14
Melancholic
17
Thrilling
11
Contemplative
12
Other
38

How their films linger

Thought-provoking17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 12 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous11
  • 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 Matthew Libatique's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Matthew Libatique'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

58 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Is This Thing On?(2025)

    Cinematographer · as Dave

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Caught Stealing(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Highest 2 Lowest(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Maestro(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Whale(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Don't Worry Darling(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Star-Crossed: The Film(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Prom(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Wake Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • Native Son(2019)

    Cinematographer · Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Different Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Drum Ass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Cinematographer

  • A Star Is Born(2018)

    Cinematographer · as Photographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Venom(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Mother!(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Circle(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Money Monster(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Pele: Birth of a Legend(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Chi-Raq(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Straight Outta Compton(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Jerrod Carmichael: Love at the Store(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Noah(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • La Petite Mort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Cinematographer

  • Ruby Sparks(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Cowboys & Aliens(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Black Swan: Metamorphosis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Thanks · as Self

  • Black Swan(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Despair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Cinematographer

  • Iron Man 2(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • My Own Love Song(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Passing Strange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Kobe Doin' Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Miracle at St. Anna(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Iron Man(2008)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Number 23(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Fountain(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Inside Man(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Everything Is Illuminated(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Tupac: Live at the House of Blues(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • She Hate Me(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Never Die Alone(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Gothika(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Phone Booth(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Abandon(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Josie and the Pussycats(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Xzibit: Restless Xposed(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Requiem for a Dream(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Tigerland(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Speed of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • The Party Crashers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • Pi(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Grinders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Redneck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • No Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Protozoa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 56 titles from 1993 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Venom (2018)

$856M worldwide

Highest rated

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 56: 0 only acting, 2 with another roleDirecting1 of 56: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 56: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography55 of 56: 49 only cinematography, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thOther crew3 of 56: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

56 titles, 6 with more than one role — cinematography and other crew overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1990s7 · crew2000s16 · crew2010s23 · 1 acting · 23 crew2020s10 · 1 acting · 10 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 11 major nominations, 1999–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  2. 2019
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  3. 2011
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • 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
  4. 2001
    • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Cinematography
  5. 1999
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Cinematography

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 Matthew Libatique's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 44; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 44 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · cinematographer

Xzibit: Restless Xposed (2001)

93rd percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Iron Man (2008)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 71/100 in their films, across 34 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 54. 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 Matthew Libatique's work okay for kids?

Across up to 31 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore28 titles26–85 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity31 titles26–76 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity29 titles30–91 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs26 titles24–71 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense26 titles27–88 · median 61 · 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 Matthew Libatique work with?

People who share at least 2 of Matthew Libatique's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Darren Aronofsky shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles