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Lee Smith

Lee Smith

Editor, also actor · Born June 10, 1960 (66) · Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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

Lee Smith, ACE (born June 10, 1960), is an Australian film editor who has worked in the film industry since the 1980s. He began his film career as a sound editor before establishing himself as an editor. His breakthrough came when he began collaborating with director Peter Weir. Smith is best known for his work on several of Christopher Nolan's films, including Batman Begins (2005), The Prestige (2006), The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Interstellar (2014) and Dunkirk (2017), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lee Smith (film editor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 10, 1960 (66)
From
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Works as
Editor, also actor
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 49 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 9% in 30 days

What are Lee Smith's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 94th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: 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
Morality
28%
Self
22%
Power
18%
Bonds
11%
Survival
11%
Ideas
5%
Society
5%
Identity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 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 5 · Dark 20

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

Grounded 10 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 8

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 19

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 5

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 2

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 6

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 20 · Full focus 6

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 6 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 14

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

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Melancholic
14
Dread
8
Contemplative
8
Thrilling
8
Other
27

How their films linger

Thought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet20
  • Ambiguous6

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 Lee Smith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lee Smith'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, 38 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Beatles: George (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    Editor

  • The Beatles: John (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    Editor

  • The Beatles: Paul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    Editor

  • The Beatles: Ringo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    Editor

  • The Unholy Trinity(2024)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Better Man(2024)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Argylle(2024)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Empire of Light(2022)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The 355(2022)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • 1917(2019)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • X-Men: Dark Phoenix(2019)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Dunkirk(2017)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Spectre(2015)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Interstellar(2014)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ender's Game(2013)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Elysium(2013)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Knight Rises(2012)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • X-Men: First Class(2011)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Way Back(2010)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Inception(2010)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Knight(2008)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Prestige(2006)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Batman Begins(2005)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World(2003)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Rage in Placid Lake(2003)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Black and White(2002)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Buffalo Soldiers(2001)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Risk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Editor · Sound Designer

  • Holy Smoke(1999)

    Sound Designer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Two Hands(1999)

    Editor · Sound

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Truman Show(1998)

    Editor · Sound Designer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Joey(1997)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Lilian's Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Editor

  • Little Women(1994)

    Sound Designer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Fearless(1993)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Piano(1993)

    Sound Designer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Lorenzo's Oil(1992)

    Sound Designer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Blinky Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Editor

  • Turtle Beach(1992)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • RoboCop 2(1990)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Communion(1989)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Bangkok Hilton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 3 episodes · Sound Designer

  • Dead Calm(1989)

    Sound Designer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Howling III(1987)

    Editor · Sound Editor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Dead End Drive-In(1986)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Burke & Wills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Sound Effects Editor

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

    Assistant Editor

  • The Chain Reaction(1980)

    Additional Sound Re-Recordist

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Sirius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 49 titles, 44 of them dated from 1980 to 2025.

Biggest box office

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

$1.1B worldwide

Highest rated

Interstellar (2014)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 49: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleEditing39 of 49: 35 only editing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rdOther crew13 of 49: 9 only other crew, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rd

49 titles, 4 with more than one role — editing and other crew overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1980s8 · crew1990s12 · crew2000s8 · crew2010s11 · crew2020s5 · 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

an Oscar and 3 other major awards from 11 major nominations, 1994–2020.

WinNomination
  1. 2020
    • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Editing
  2. 2018
    • Oscar, won · Best Achievement in Film Editing
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Editing
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Editing
  3. 2015
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Editing
  4. 2011
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Editing
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Editing
  5. 2009
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Film Editing
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Editing
  6. 2004
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Film Editing
  7. 1994
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Sound

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 Lee Smith's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 73rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 38 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · editor

Joey (1997)

64th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · editor

Interstellar (2014)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the pacing 51/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 60, detractors 29. The element that speaks to their work as an editor.

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 Lee Smith's work okay for kids?

Across up to 24 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 & Gore21 titles45–84 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity24 titles6–50 · median 22 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity22 titles30–78 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles22–46 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense21 titles41–81 · median 65 · 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 Lee Smith work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lee Smith's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Christopher Nolan shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles