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Gabriel Beristain

Gabriel Beristain

Cinematographer and director, also producer and actor · Born May 9, 1955 (71) · Mexico City, Mexico

Luis Gabriel Beristáin, ASC, BSC, AMC, is a Mexican cinematographer, producer, and television director known for his work on numerous well-known films, including The Distinguished Gentleman, The Spanish Prisoner, Blade II, and Street Kings, and several entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the Agent Carter television series. He has collaborated with filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro, Derek Jarman, David Mamet, and David Ayer. He is an active member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Beristain was born in Mexico City, the son of actor Luis Beristáin. His interest in filmmaking began with his involvement in Mexico's independent film scene in the seventies. He studied engineering at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional and later joined a new film studies program at the school while also producing audiovisual training materials for the health department. After filming a number of documentaries, he founded a small commercial production company before moving to Italy in 1977. At the recommendation of director Sergio Leone, he relocated to the United Kingdom, where he enrolled in the prestigious National Film and Television School, which accepted only 25 students a year. He was one of only five foreigners to be accepted into the school and studied cinematography under Oswald Morris and Billy Williams. His first feature film as a cinematographer was the 1983 Colombian horror film Bloody Flesh (Spanish: Carne de tu carne, "Flesh of Your Flesh"), for which he won the Best Cinematography Award at the Bogotá Film Festival. His work on Derek Jarman's 1986 film Caravaggio earned him a Special Silver Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Beristain was one of several cinematographers on the 1987 anthology film Aria, which was nominated for a Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Allen Daviau suggested he move to Hollywood, where he could apply his talents and unique insight into both Mexican and Anglo cultures. Beristain has been a member of the British Society of Cinematographers since 1990 and the American Society of Cinematographers since 2002. While working on 2003's S.W.A.T., Beristain became friends with executive producer Louis D'Esposito, who, after helping form Marvel Studios, invited Beristain to do additional photography for Iron Man. He wound up in the same function in six other Marvel Cinematic Universe films and also served as cinematographer for the D'Esposito-directed Marvel One-Shot short films Item 47 (2012) and Agent Carter (2013), as well as the television series Agent Carter. Beristein would eventually have his first feature for the studio as cinematographer in 2021's Black Widow. Beristain had a son born in 1980 who lived in Austria and died in 2000. Beristain's influences are Gregg Toland, Freddie Young, Emmanuel Lubezki, and Roger Deakins. Description above from the Wikipedia article Gabriel Beristain, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 9, 1955 (71)
From
Mexico City, Mexico
Works as
Cinematographer and director, also producer and actor
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 59 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 155 days to Oct 26Up 7% in 30 days

What are Gabriel Beristain's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Short2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Short 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
28%
Morality
25%
Survival
14%
Self
14%
Power
9%
Ideas
7%
Society
2%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 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 10 · Dark 9

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 17 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 6

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 9 · Charged 13 · Intense 14

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 4

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 18 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 11

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 14 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 4

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 21 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Thrilling
11
Warm
7
Contemplative
9
Melancholic
9
Other
34

How their films linger

Fun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous9

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 Gabriel Beristain's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gabriel Beristain'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

59 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Gentleman(2025)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Harold and the Purple Crayon(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Beekeeper(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Monarch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

  • Solo Respira (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Co-Producer

  • The Foam of Days(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hawkeye(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · Additional Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Black Widow(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Havana Kyrie(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sergio and Sergei(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • MacGyver(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Agent Carter(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • The Strain(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Sabotage(2014)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Marvel One-Shot: Item 47(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Avengers(2012)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Magic City(2012)

    Show 8 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • There Be Dragons(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Princess Kaiulani(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • And Soon the Darkness(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Iron Man(2008)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Street Kings(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Invisible(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Sentinel(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Shaggy Dog(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Ring Two(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Blade: Trinity(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • S.W.A.T.(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Blade II(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • El Grito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Molly(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Jerry Seinfeld: 'I'm Telling You for the Last Time'(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Tale of the Mummy(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Spanish Prisoner(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Trial and Error(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Ghost and the Darkness(1996)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Dolores Claiborne(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Greedy(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Bienvenido-Welcome(1994)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Fatal Instinct(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Blood in Blood Out(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Distinguished Gentleman(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • K2(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Waiting for the Light(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Killing Dad or How to Love Your Mother(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Venus Peter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Joyriders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Troubles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Courier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Aria(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Caravaggio(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Oraingoz izen gabe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Christmas Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Bloody Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Godshot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Live 2 Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

  • Mia: See Clearly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 56 titles, 53 of them dated from 1983 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Black Widow (2021)

$380M worldwide

Highest rated

Blood in Blood Out (1993)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

The Beekeeper (2024)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing6 of 56: 4 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 56: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 56: 2 only producing, 0 with another roleCinematography46 of 56: 45 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thOther crew3 of 56: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s10 · crew1990s13 · crew2000s10 · crew2010s13 · crew2020s7 · 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.

How do Gabriel Beristain's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 40; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 46 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · producer

Havana Kyrie (2020)

89th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Blood in Blood Out (1993)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 63/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 52. 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 Gabriel Beristain's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles47–95 · median 78 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles15–59 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles32–91 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles27–83 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles48–85 · median 72 · 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 Gabriel Beristain work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gabriel Beristain's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David S. Goyer shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles