Skip to content
Motif
Reynaldo Villalobos

Reynaldo Villalobos

Cinematographer and director · Born November 9, 1940 (85) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Reynaldo Villalobos (born November 9, 1940) is an American cinematographer. He is best known for his work on comedy films, including Nine to Five (1980), Risky Business (1983), Major League (1989), and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997).

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 9, 1940 (85)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer and director
Titles
42 on Motif · 60 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 39 days to Oct 28Up 28% in 30 days

What are Reynaldo Villalobos' films like?

Across their 34 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy16 titlesTypical Motif score: 44th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama12 titlesTypical Motif score: 59th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Motif score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Motif score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
Bonds
30%
Self
29%
Morality
20%
Society
8%
Power
8%
Survival
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 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 17 · Serious 12 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 27 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 16 · Charged 11 · Intense 7

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 21 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 2

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 15 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Warm
10
Melancholic
11
Absurd
9
Joyful
9
Other
40

How their films linger

Hopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet15
  • Ambiguous3

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 Reynaldo Villalobos' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 42 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Reynaldo Villalobos' titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

60 credits, 42 with a Motif page.

  • Then Came You(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Devil Has a Name(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Windows on the World(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Pueblo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Cinematographer

  • Big Stone Gap(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Redemption of Henry Myers(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Carriers(2009)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Like Dandelion Dust(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Breaking Bad(2008)

    Show 6 episodes · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Bordertown(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Flip the Script (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • Women vs. Men(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Juwanna Mann(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Not Another Teen Movie(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Love & Basketball(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Return to Paradise(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Loved (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Telling Lies in America(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Romy and Michele's High School Reunion(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Confidential (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Sliders(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • PCU(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • A Bronx Tale(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Roosters (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • Sinatra (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • American Me(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Conagher(1991)

    Director

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Sibling Rivalry(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Coupe de Ville (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Denial(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Major League(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Midnight Caller (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

  • Punchline(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Running Man(1987)

    Additional Photography

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Tour of Duty (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • A Smoky Mountain Christmas(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Saving Grace(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Band of the Hand(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Lucas(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Desert Bloom(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Deadly Intentions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Windy City (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Grandview, U.S.A.(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Mike's Murder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Blame It on Rio(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Risky Business(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Prime Suspect (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • American Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

  • Personal Best(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Patricia Neal Story(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Children Nobody Wanted(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Our Family Business (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • 9 to 5(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Urban Cowboy(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The China Syndrome(1979)

    Additional Camera

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore(1974)

    First Assistant Camera

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 59 titles from 1974 to 2020.

Biggest box office

9 to 5 (1980)

$103M worldwide

Highest rated

A Bronx Tale (1993)

Motif 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing6 of 59: 6 only directing, 0 with another roleCinematography50 of 59: 50 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Motif score60thOther crew3 of 59: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s2 · crew1980s25 · crew1990s17 · crew2000s9 · 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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Reynaldo Villalobos' films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 40; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Motif score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · cinematographer

Denial (1990)

86th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Breaking Bad (2008)

Motif 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 65/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Reynaldo Villalobos' work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 Motif titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles12–73 · median 31 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles24–76 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity13 titles44–90 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles32–58 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles13–61 · median 20 · mildlighter 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 Reynaldo Villalobos work with?

People who share at least 2 of Reynaldo Villalobos' Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Edward James Olmos shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Producers

Mixed roles