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Seamus McGarvey

Seamus McGarvey

Cinematographer, also producer · Born June 29, 1967 (59) · Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK

Oscar nominee · Primetime Emmy nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Seamus McGarvey (born 29 June 1967) is a cinematographer from Armagh, Northern Ireland. He lives in Tuscany, Italy. He has received two Academy Award nominations for his cinematography in Joe Wright's 2007 drama Atonement and his 2012 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. Description above from the Wikipedia article Seamus McGarvey, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 29, 1967 (59)
From
Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK
Works as
Cinematographer, also producer
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 65 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 15% in 30 days

What are Seamus McGarvey's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
29%
Survival
22%
Bonds
21%
Morality
17%
Ideas
6%
Society
4%
Power
2%
Identity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 35 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 10 · Serious 7 · Dark 18

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 7

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 9 · Intense 20

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 19 · 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 12 · Funny 2

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 7

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 8 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 16

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 19 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 7

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
20
Dread
10
Contemplative
8
Hopeful
9
Other
35

How their films linger

Haunting15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous7

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 Seamus McGarvey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Seamus McGarvey'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

65 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page.

  • Narnia: The Magician's Nephew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Cinematographer

  • Queer Edward II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Cinematographer · Executive Producer

  • Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Cinematographer

  • Die My Love(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Relay(2024)

    Additional Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Accountant 2(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Without Blood(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Mussolini: Son of the Century(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Cyrano(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Oaxacalifornia: The Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Cinematographer

  • Princess & Peppernose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Cinematographer

  • The Nevers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Greta(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Bad Times at the El Royale(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Human Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Cinematographer

  • The Greatest Showman(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Life(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Nocturnal Animals(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Accountant(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Kitty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Cinematographer

  • Pan(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Fifty Shades of Grey(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Godzilla(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction(2012)

    Cinematographer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • A Fuller Life(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Lost Angels: Skid Row Is My Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Cinematographer

  • Anna Karenina(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Avengers(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Black Mirror(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • We Need to Talk About Kevin(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Nowhere Boy(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Soloist(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Love You More (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Cinematographer

  • Atonement(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Charlotte's Web(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Destricted(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • World Trade Center(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Sahara(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Along Came Polly(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Rolling Stones: Tip of the Tongue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • The Actors(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Hours(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Wit(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Enigma(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Name of This Film Is Dogme95 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • High Fidelity(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Big Tease(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • A Map of the World(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • I Could Read the Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • The War Zone(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Stand and Deliver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • The End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • The Winter Guest(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Flying Saucer Rock 'n' Roll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • The Slab Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Jump the Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Harald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • Butterfly Kiss(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Hello, Hello, Hello (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • Marooned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Lighting Camera

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

    Assistant Camera

  • Floating (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Camera Technician

  • The Garden(1990)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Bare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 65 titles, 63 of them dated from 1990 to 2026.

Biggest box office

The Avengers (2012)

$1.5B worldwide

Highest rated

The Avengers (2012)

Midcredits 98th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Producing1 of 65: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography61 of 65: 60 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thOther crew4 of 65: 4 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1990s18 · crew2000s16 · crew2010s18 · crew2020s11 · 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

8 major nominations and no wins, 2008–2017.

  1. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Photography & Lighting: Fiction
  2. 2016
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  3. 2013
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  4. 2008
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • BAFTA 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 Seamus McGarvey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Reach · how many have seen their films

96thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · cinematographer

Without Blood (2024)

86th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Avengers (2012)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 73/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 79, 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 Seamus McGarvey's work okay for kids?

Across up to 27 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 & Gore24 titles27–79 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity27 titles13–77 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity25 titles26–69 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs24 titles12–53 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense25 titles31–83 · median 50 · 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 Seamus McGarvey work with?

People who share at least 2 of Seamus McGarvey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joe Wright shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles