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Chris Menges

Chris Menges

Cinematographer, also director · Born September 15, 1940 (86) · Kington, Herefordshire, England, UK

Chris Menges BSC, ASC (born 15 September 1940) is a British cinematographer and film director. He is a member of both the American and British Societies of Cinematographers. Description above from the Wikipedia article Chris Menges, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 15, 1940 (86)
From
Kington, Herefordshire, England, UK
Works as
Cinematographer, also director
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 69 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 30% in 30 days

What are Chris Menges' films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th 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
Morality
28%
Bonds
21%
Survival
17%
Self
16%
Society
9%
Power
8%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 35 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 6 · Serious 5 · Dark 24

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

Grounded 21 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 12 · Intense 18

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 30 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 1

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 22 · Full focus 5

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 7 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 23

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 17 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Melancholic
20
Dread
8
Hopeful
9
Contemplative
7
Other
19

How their films linger

Thought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous10

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 Chris Menges' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Chris Menges' 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

69 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Waiting for the Barbarians(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Ex Machina(2014)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Redemption(2013)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Route Irish(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • London Boulevard(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Yellow Handkerchief(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Reader(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Stop-Loss(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Notes on a Scandal(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • North Country(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Criminal(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Concert for George(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Good Thief(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Dirty Pretty Things(2002)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Pledge(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Son(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Boxer(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Michael Collins(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Heroin Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Camera Operator

  • Second Best(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • CrissCross(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • A World Apart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • Shy People(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • High Season(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Warlords of the Golden Triangle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • The Mission(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Fatherland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • A Sense of Freedom(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Marie(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Which Side Are You On? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Winter Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • The Killing Fields(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Comfort and Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • The Red and the Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Made in Britain(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • R.H.I.N.O.; Really Here in Name Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Tales Out of School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Walter and June (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Local Hero(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Walter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • Angel(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Battletruck(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Looks and Smiles(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • A Question of Leadership (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Auditions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Babylon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • The Gamekeeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Bloody Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Black Jack(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Dummy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Last Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • Israel: After the Earthquake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Talk About Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • Gumshoe(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Black Beauty(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Save the Children Fund Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • Loving Memory(1970)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Kes(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Tribe That Hides from Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • If....(1968)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Solo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • Poor Cow(1967)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Raid Into Tibet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • A Boy Called Donovan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • The War Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 69 titles from 1963 to 2020.

Biggest box office

The Reader (2008)

$109M worldwide

Highest rated

Concert for George (2003)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Reader (2008)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing4 of 69: 4 only directing, 0 with another roleCinematography61 of 69: 59 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score70thOther crew6 of 69: 4 only other crew, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score89th

By decade

1960s6 · crew1970s12 · crew1980s27 · crew1990s6 · crew2000s12 · crew2010s5 · crew2020s1 · 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 Chris Menges' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 40; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Reach · how many have seen their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

None of their 40 titles divides audiences: 24 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed6

Most loved · cinematographer

Concert for George (2003)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 73/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 56. 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 Chris Menges' work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 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 & Gore15 titles22–86 · median 60 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles12–60 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity16 titles33–87 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles25–48 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles28–71 · 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 Chris Menges work with?

People who share at least 2 of Chris Menges' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ken Loach shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles