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John Mathieson

John Mathieson

Cinematographer · Born May 3, 1961 (65) · Purbeck, Dorset, England, UK

BAFTA Award winner · Oscar nominee · 1 other major award body

John Mathieson (born 3 May 1961) is an English cinematographer and commercial director. He is one of a group of filmmakers who emerged from the music video industry of the late 1980s and 1990s. He frequently collaborates with director Ridley Scott, winning a BAFTA Award and being nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Gladiator (2000). Description above from the Wikipedia article John Mathieson (cinematographer), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 3, 1961 (65)
From
Purbeck, Dorset, England, UK
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 49 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 31% in 30 days

What are John Mathieson's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: 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
Morality
23%
Bonds
19%
Self
19%
Power
13%
Survival
13%
Society
9%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 9 · Dark 17

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 10

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 9 · Intense 20

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 7

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

Straight-faced 24 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 4

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

Easy watch 3 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 14

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 20 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
22
Melancholic
18
Dread
9
Thrilling
9
Hopeful
9
Other
24

How their films linger

Bittersweet17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous5

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 John Mathieson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Mathieson'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

49 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Naughty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Cinematographer

  • Jurassic World: Rebirth(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Gladiator II(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Shepherd(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Dolittle(2020)

    Additional Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon: Detective Pikachu(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Mary Queen of Scots(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • American Woman(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • King Arthur: Legend of the Sword(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Logan(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Pan(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Dracula Untold(2014)

    Additional Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • 47 Ronin(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Great Expectations(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • KM3D-1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Cinematographer

  • X-Men: First Class(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Burke and Hare(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Brighton Rock(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Robin Hood(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Boogie Woogie(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Cracks(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Flashbacks of a Fool(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • August Rush(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Stoned(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Kingdom of Heaven(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom of the Opera(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Trauma(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Matchstick Men(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • K-PAX(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Hannibal(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Gladiator(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Plunkett & Macleane(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Enemy of the State(1998)

    VFX Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Vigo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • Twin Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Mirror, Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • 3 Chains o' Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Remembrance of Things Fast: True Stories Visual Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Prince And The New Power Generation: Act I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Live at The Paradiso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Never Come Morning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Hello & Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

  • Lincoln in the Bardo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

  • Remote Control (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 49 titles, 45 of them dated from 1989 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

$956M worldwide

Highest rated

Gladiator (2000)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 49: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleCinematography48 of 49: 48 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s11 · crew2000s11 · crew2010s16 · crew2020s6 · 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

a BAFTA Award and 1 other major award from 4 major nominations, 2001–2005.

WinNomination
  1. 2005
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
  2. 2001
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · 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 John Mathieson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 35; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · cinematographer

Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. (2024)

68th percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Gladiator (2000)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 74/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 58. 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 John Mathieson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 26 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore21 titles38–90 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity26 titles9–69 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity21 titles21–52 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs20 titles9–50 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense20 titles39–83 · median 58 · moderateheavier 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 John Mathieson work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Mathieson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ridley Scott shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles