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Sergio Salvati

Sergio Salvati

Cinematographer, also actor · Died September 17, 2025, aged 87 · Roma, Italy

Sergio Salvati is an Italian cinematographer. His father, Aldofo Salvati, was a key grip in the early days of Italian cinema, and through his father's contacts Sergio began his career developing negatives in a small photographic laboratory in Rome. In 1956, his father was working with Enzo Serafin, who asked Sergio to work with him as camera assistant on Raw Wind in Eden starring Esther Williams and Jeff Chandler. Many other films shot in Italy would follow, both cult classics and commercial cinema.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 16, 1938
Died
September 17, 2025 (aged 87)
From
Roma, Italy
Works as
Cinematographer, also actor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 51 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 35% in 30 days

What are Sergio Salvati's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Horror8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Fantasy 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
Survival
34%
Morality
27%
Bonds
12%
Ideas
8%
Power
8%
Self
6%
Society
6%
Survival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFate4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 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 7 · Serious 4 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 4 · Stylized 10 · 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 2 · Charged 7 · Intense 12

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 14 · 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 9 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 3

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 7 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Dread
11
Thrilling
6
Warm
4
Absurd
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Haunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous8

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 Sergio Salvati's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sergio Salvati'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

51 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Gli Arcangeli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Additional Director of Photography

  • Red Riding Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Wax Mask(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Rome, November 12, 1994 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • Ricky & Barabba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • Vacanze di Natale '91(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Il Conte Max (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Faccione (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Beyond Kilimanjaro, Across the River of Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Christmas Vacation '90 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Puppet Master(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Cellar Dweller(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Transformations(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Catacombs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Spellcaster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Ghoulies II(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Crawlspace(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Cobra Mission(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Thunder(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • 1990: The Bronx Warriors(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The House by the Cemetery(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Beyond(1981)

    Cinematographer · as Mob Member (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Black Cat(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • City of the Living Dead(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Contraband(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Flying Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Zombie(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Hello Nì! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • SuperAndy - Il fratello brutto di Superman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Silver Saddle(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Psychic(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Von Buttiglione Sturmtruppenführer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Il maestro di violino (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Amore grande, amore libero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • Four of the Apocalypse(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Piange… il telefono (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • My Name Is Nobody(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Desert of Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • Metello(1970)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Medea(1969)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Camille 2000(1969)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • I Protect Myself Against My Enemies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Assistant Camera

  • Anyone Can Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Assistant Camera

  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly(1966)

    First Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Witch(1966)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Possessed(1965)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Loves of Hercules(1960)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 50 titles from 1960 to 2008.

Biggest box office

Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot (1979)

$514K worldwide

Highest rated

Sad Hill Unearthed (2017)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

The Beyond (1981)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 50: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleCinematography41 of 50: 40 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score36thOther crew9 of 50: 9 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score70th

By decade

1960s8 · crew1970s15 · crew1980s15 · 1 acting · 15 crew1990s10 · crew2000s2 · 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 Sergio Salvati's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 28; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 37th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 28 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned3
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · cinematographer

Thunder (1983)

61st percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

My Name Is Nobody (1973)

Midcredits 90th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 61/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 45. 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 Sergio Salvati's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles68–98 · median 90 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles8–65 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles19–69 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles22–49 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles53–93 · median 91 · severeheavier 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 Sergio Salvati work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sergio Salvati's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Lucio Fulci shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles