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Javier Aguirresarobe

Javier Aguirresarobe

Cinematographer · Born October 10, 1948 (78) · Guipúzcoa - Spain

BAFTA Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Javier Aguirresarobe Zubía (born 10 October 1948) is a Basque Spanish cinematographer. After garnering several Goya Awards in his home country, he became widely known internationally for his work on The Others (2001), directed by Alejandro Amenábar. Among many others, he has worked on Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), the Twilight film series (2009–2010), and Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Javier Aguirresarobe Zubía was born in Eibar, Guipúzcoa, Basque Country, Spain, on 10 October 1948. He has an older brother who was an industrial photographer, whom he used to help in the lab as a teenager, and this sparked his passion for photography. After earning a diploma in optics, he moved to Madrid to study journalism and worked at various newspapers before deciding to change tack. He studied cinematography at the Official School of Cinematography, which has close links to the Spanish film industry. Only the top nine students in the entrance exam were admitted to the cinematography course. The students used 35mm film. In 1983, Aguirresarobe's first work as a cinematographer was for "a very small movie," La Muerte de Mikel (The Death of Mikel), which turned out to be a success at the box office. He has mostly worked alone but once worked with Spanish cinematographer Luis Cuadrado (The Spirit of the Beehive). He first attracted international attention with the 1997 film Secrets of the Heart and even more in 2001 with The Others, directed by Alejandro Amenábar and starring Nicole Kidman. Aguirresarobe was the cinematographer for the 2015 feature film Goosebumps. Aguirresarobe has worked with Spanish directors such as Imanol Uribe, Montxo Armendáriz, Alejandro Amenábar, Pedro Almodóvar, Julio Médem, Montxo Armendáriz, and Fernando Trueba, and internationally, Miloš Forman, John Hillcoat, and Woody Allen. Aguirresarobe worked as a cinematographer for the film adaptation of New Moon, released in 2009, and on the Twilight film series. Description above from the Wikipedia article Javier Aguirresarobe, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 10, 1948 (78)
From
Guipúzcoa - Spain
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 101 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 20% in 30 days

What are Javier Aguirresarobe's films like?

Across their 37 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st 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
Bonds
25%
Survival
20%
Self
18%
Morality
13%
Power
13%
Ideas
8%
Society
3%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 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 8 · Serious 13 · Dark 16

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

Grounded 15 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 18 · Intense 12

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 4

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 20 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 8 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 14

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 20 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 9

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
16
Contemplative
9
Dread
9
Bittersweet
8
Other
41

How their films linger

Thought-provoking17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous8
  • Cyclical1

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 Javier Aguirresarobe's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Javier Aguirresarobe'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

101 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page.

  • Day Drinker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Cinematographer

  • Afraid(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Across the River and Into the Trees(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Dora and the Lost City of Gold(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Here and Now(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Operation Finale(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Etruscan Smile(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Thor: Ragnarok(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Healer(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Promise(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Finest Hours(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Goosebumps(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Poltergeist(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Dictatorship(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Blue Jasmine(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Identity Thief(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Warm Bodies(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Five-Year Engagement(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Fright Night(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • A Better Life(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Road(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Saga: New Moon(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The City of Your Final Destination(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Tear This Heart Out(2008)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Vicky Cristina Barcelona(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Nautical Chart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • Goya's Ghosts(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Bridge of San Luis Rey(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Sea Inside(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Mauvais esprit(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Soldiers of Salamina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Eric Clapton and Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • Talk to Her(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Others(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Obra maestra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • The Yellow Fountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • The Miracle of P. Tinto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • The Girl of Your Dreams(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • 99.9(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Secrets of the Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • The Dog in the Manger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Bwana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Earth(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Fiesta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • Antártida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • Numbered Days(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • On the Edge of the Horizon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • The Dead Mother(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Outrage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • Marathon(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Dream of Light(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Prince of Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • El sueño de Tánger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • The Black Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • The Enchanted Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Laura, del cielo llega la noche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • La Oveja Negra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • 27 Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Manon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Golfo de Vizcaya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Eternal Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Bihotzez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • El pico 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • The Secret Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Mikel's Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer · Executive Producer

  • Ikuska 20: Sailaren laburpena (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Que nos quiten lo bailao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Chillida: retrato en casa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 14: Zuberoako artzainak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 15: Euskaldunberriak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 16: Donibaneko arrantzaleak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 17: Matxitxako itsasguda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 13: Euskal kanta berria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • Escape From Segovia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 10: Kontrasteak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 11: Erribera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 12: Euskal emakumeak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 6: Euskara galdutako Nafarroa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 9: Euskal artistak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 4: Euskal Telebista (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 5: Elebistasuna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 7: Barandiaran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 8: Arabako herrien heriotza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikusmena (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • The Burgos Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 1: Ikastolak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 2: Gernika (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Ikuska 3: Bilboko hiri espekulazioa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Irrintzi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • ¿Qué hace una chica como tú en un sitio como éste?(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Erreferenduma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • En un París imaginario (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • La danza de lo gracioso: Barregarearen dantza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Margarita y el lobo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Still Photographer

  • El espíritu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Assistant Camera

  • El gran amante (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Assistant Camera

Career shape

A full career of 100 titles, 99 of them dated from 1969 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

$855M worldwide

Highest rated

Talk to Her (2002)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Producing1 of 100: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography96 of 100: 93 only cinematography, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thOther crew6 of 100: 4 only other crew, 2 with another role

100 titles, 3 with more than one role — cinematography and other crew overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1960s3 · crew1970s9 · crew1980s30 · crew1990s19 · crew2000s17 · crew2010s18 · crew2020s3 · 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

1 major award from 2 major nominations, 1992–2010.

WinNomination
  1. 2010
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  2. 1992
    • Berlinale award, won · Outstanding Artistic Achievement

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 Javier Aguirresarobe's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 40; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Promise (2016)

99th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Talk to Her (2002)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 70/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 54. 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 Javier Aguirresarobe's work okay for kids?

Across up to 21 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore18 titles27–77 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity21 titles19–49 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity18 titles22–64 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles18–46 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles29–72 · median 56 · moderateheavier 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 Javier Aguirresarobe work with?

People who share at least 2 of Javier Aguirresarobe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Chris Weitz shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles