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Brandon Trost

Brandon Trost

Cinematographer and director, also producer · Born August 29, 1981 (45) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Sundance award winner

Brandon Scott Trost (born August 29, 1981) is an American cinematographer, screenwriter, and film director whose credits include writing and directing The FP (2011) with his brother Jason, as well as being the cinematographer of several films, including Crank: High Voltage, Halloween II, MacGruber, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and That's My Boy. Trost also frequently collaborates with Seth Rogen, including the films This Is the End, Neighbors, The Interview, The Night Before and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Trost's first film as a solo director, An American Pickle, was released in 2020. Trost was also the cinematographer of the film Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and its 2024 sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the sequels to the 2020 film adaptation of the video game Sonic the Hedgehog. Description above from the Wikipedia article Brandon Trost, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 29, 1981 (45)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer and director, also producer
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 25% in 30 days

What are Brandon Trost's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
33%
Bonds
25%
Survival
17%
Morality
15%
Society
7%
Ideas
2%
Power
1%
Identity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 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 18 · Serious 4 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 9

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 12 · Intense 10

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 7

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 6 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 14

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 7

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

A split, not a type: Casual 15 · Engaged 12 · 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 7 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
14
Tense
11
Joyful
10
Melancholic
9
Dread
6
Other
38

How their films linger

Feel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5

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 Brandon Trost's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 40 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Brandon Trost'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

68 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Cinematographer

  • Coyote vs. Acme(2026)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Little Brother(2026)

    Cinematographer · as Cameraman

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Naked Gun(2025)

    Cinematographer · as Mug Shot Photographer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Nightbitch(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Knuckles(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Bros(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Studio 666(2022)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Dear Evan Hansen(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • What the Constitution Means to Me(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • An American Pickle(2020)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Slayer: The Repentless Killogy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Gangster

  • Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile(2019)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer · as Colorado Jailhouse Cameraman

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Endgame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Cinematographer

  • Can You Ever Forgive Me?(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Barry(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Future Man(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Disaster Artist(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Night Before(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Diary of a Teenage Girl(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Interview(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Neighbors(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • That Awkward Moment(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • This Is the End(2013)

    Cinematographer · as Cannibal (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Lords of Salem(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Wet and Reckless(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • That's My Boy(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The FP (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Cinematographer · Writer

  • MacGruber(2010)

    Cinematographer · as Brick's Boyfriend

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • A Buddy Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Cinematographer

  • Little Hercules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Additional Photography

  • Halloween II(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Weather Girl(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Crank: High Voltage(2009)

    Cinematographer · as White Slave Boy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Pulse 3(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Pulse 2: Afterlife(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Hottie & the Nottie(2008)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • He Was a Quiet Man(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Day The Dead Weren't Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Days of Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • The FP (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Hannibal Rising(2007)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Broken Glass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • Outside Sales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • Young, Single & Angry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Additional Photography

  • Karla(2006)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Feast(2005)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Wolf Creek(2005)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Salon(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • We All Fall Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • Lightning Bug (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Cinematographer · as Seismograph Drummer (uncredited)

  • Demon Slayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer · as 19th Century Sheriff

  • Indecent Proposal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Deuces(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Me, Myself & Irene(2000)

    Special Effects Assistant

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Bats(1999)

    Special Effects · Special Effects Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • American Pie(1999)

    Special Effects Assistant

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Rushmore(1998)

    as Vietnamese Soldier with Rocket Launcher (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Kazaam(1996)

    as Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Let It Kill You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

  • The Something (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 65 titles, 62 of them dated from 1996 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

$492M worldwide

Highest rated

Coyote vs. Acme (2026)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting11 of 65: 3 only acting, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting5 of 65: 3 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 65: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleCinematography50 of 65: 40 only cinematography, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thOther crew10 of 65: 9 only other crew, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score51st

65 titles, 10 with more than one role — cinematography and acting overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1990s4 · 2 acting · 2 crew2000s24 · 3 acting · 24 crew2010s22 · 4 acting · 21 crew2020s12 · 2 acting · 12 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

Won a Sundance award in 2015, Dramatic.

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 Brandon Trost's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 29 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 29

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · producer

Wet and Reckless (2013)

95th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rushmore (1998)

Midcredits 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 51/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 63, detractors 35. 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 Brandon Trost's work okay for kids?

Across up to 23 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore22 titles16–90 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity23 titles12–81 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity22 titles35–91 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs22 titles21–75 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense22 titles16–86 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all 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 Brandon Trost work with?

People who share at least 2 of Brandon Trost's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Marielle Heller shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles