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Janusz Kaminski

Janusz Kaminski

Cinematographer and director, also producer and actor · Born June 27, 1959 (67) · Ziebice, Dolnoslaskie, Poland

2 Oscars · BAFTA Award winner · 3 other major award bodies

Janusz Zygmunt Kamiński (born June 27, 1959) is a Polish cinematographer and director of film and television. He has established a partnership with Steven Spielberg, working as a cinematographer on his films since 1993. He has been nominated for and won several awards, including one Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on his holocaust drama Schindler's List, and another one for the World War II epic Saving Private Ryan.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 27, 1959 (67)
From
Ziebice, Dolnoslaskie, Poland
Works as
Cinematographer and director, also producer and actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 58 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 26Up 53% in 30 days

What are Janusz Kaminski's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 94th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: 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
Bonds
24%
Morality
22%
Self
19%
Survival
11%
Power
9%
Society
8%
Ideas
7%
Justice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 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 8 · Dark 14

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 22 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 8

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 20 · Intense 10

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 23 · 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 20 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 16 · 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

A split, not a type: Casual 19 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 8

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 14 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 13

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

Resolved 34 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Hopeful
18
Contemplative
13
Warm
11
Melancholic
11
Other
41

How their films linger

Hopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2

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 Janusz Kaminski's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Janusz Kaminski'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

58 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Disclosure Day(2026)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • IF(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Fabelmans(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Ukrainians in Exile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer

  • West Side Story(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Oslo(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • American Dream(2021)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Call of the Wild(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Ready Player One(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Post(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The BFG(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Bridge of Spies(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Judge(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Divide(2014)

    Show Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Making a Scene | 11 Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Broken Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Cinematographer

  • Lincoln(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • War Horse(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Tintin(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • How Do You Know(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Event(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Funny People(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Hania (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • The Diving Bell and the Butterfly(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Munich(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • War of the Worlds(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Terminal(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Catch Me If You Can(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Minority Report(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • A.I. Artificial Intelligence(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Lost Souls(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Saving Private Ryan(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Amistad(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Lost World: Jurassic Park(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Jerry Maguire(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • How to Make an American Quilt(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Tall Tale(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Little Giants(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Schindler's List(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Class of '61 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • The Adventures of Huck Finn(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Trouble Bound(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • One False Move(1991)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Star Time(1992)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Mad Dog Coll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Pyrates(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Wildflower(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Cool as Ice(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Terror Within II(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Grim Prairie Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • The Rain Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • After Midnight(1989)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Dance of the Damned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Gaffer

  • Lisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer · Editor · Producer

  • Lady America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • The Cunning Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Petrichor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 57 titles, 56 of them dated from 1951 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

$787M worldwide

Highest rated

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Disclosure Day (2026)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing5 of 57: 4 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 57: 1 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography49 of 57: 47 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score85thEditing1 of 57: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew4 of 57: 3 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · crew1980s4 · crew1990s20 · crew2000s11 · crew2010s12 · crew2020s8 · 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

2 Oscars, a BAFTA Award and 3 other major awards from 18 major nominations, 1994–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  2. 2022
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  3. 2016
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  4. 2013
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  5. 2012
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Cinematography
  6. 2008
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Cinematography
  7. 2007
    • Cannes award, won
  8. 1999
    • Oscar, won · Best Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
Show 2 earlier years
  1. 1998
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Cinematography
  2. 1994
    • Oscar, won · Best Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Cinematography

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 Janusz Kaminski's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 43; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 71st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

96thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · cinematographer

Cool as Ice (1991)

93rd percentile spread · 67% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 74/100 in their films, across 36 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 57. 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 Janusz Kaminski's work okay for kids?

Across up to 30 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore27 titles11–89 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity30 titles4–68 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity28 titles18–68 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs27 titles10–40 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense27 titles19–89 · median 46 · moderatenear 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 Janusz Kaminski work with?

People who share at least 2 of Janusz Kaminski's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Steven Spielberg shares the most, 22.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers