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Ernest Dickerson

Ernest Dickerson

Director and cinematographer, also actor, producer and writer · Born June 25, 1951 (75) · Newark, New Jersey, USA

Ernest Roscoe Dickerson A.S.C. (usually credited as Ernest R. Dickerson or Ernest Dickerson, born June 25, 1951) is an American film and television director and cinematographer. He directed generally urban films sometimes with supernatural story like Juice, Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight, Bones and Never Die Alone. He is known for his frequent collaborations with Spike Lee.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 25, 1951 (75)
From
Newark, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Director and cinematographer, also actor, producer and writer
Titles
67 on MovieCove · 96 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 38% in 30 days

What are Ernest Dickerson's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Documentary9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
21%
Society
20%
Bonds
18%
Survival
11%
Morality
11%
Ideas
10%
Power
8%
Identity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 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 14 · Serious 10 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 13 · Charged 9 · Intense 10

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 4

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Contemplative
12
Melancholic
13
Warm
9
Thrilling
8
Other
29

How their films linger

Thought-provoking14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous7

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 Ernest Dickerson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 49 of their 67 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ernest Dickerson'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

96 credits, 67 with a MovieCove page; 28 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • V/H/S/Mixtape(2026)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Den of Vampires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Parish(2024)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Bosch: Legacy(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • DMZ(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • Raised by Wolves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Purge(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Seven Seconds(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Deuce(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Double Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director

  • Blindspot(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Man in the High Castle(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Bosch(2014)

    Show 12 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • State of Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Sleepy Hollow(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Low Winter Sun(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Under the Dome(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • House of Cards(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Revolution(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Once Upon a Time(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Last Man Standing(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Cape(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • The Walking Dead(2010)

    Show 11 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Treme(2010)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Stargate Universe(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Vampire Diaries(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Something with Bite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Miracle at St. Anna(2008)

    Second Unit Director · Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Fear Itself(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • In Plain Sight(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Tell Me You Love Me(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Burn Notice(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The V Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 9 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Eureka(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • For One Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Masters of Horror(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Invasion(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Weeds(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Miracle's Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • The 4400 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Never Die Alone(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The L Word(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Good Fences(2003)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Our America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • The Wire(2002)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Monday Night Mayhem(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Bones(2001)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Night Visions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Futuresport(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Strange Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Blind Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Ambushed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Bulletproof(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Surviving the Game(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Stephen King's Golden Tales(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Malcolm X(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Cousin Bobby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • Juice(1992)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Jungle Fever(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Ava & Gabriel - Un historia di amor(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Mo' Better Blues(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Spike & Co.: Do It a Cappella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Def by Temptation(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Spike & Co. Do It a-Cappella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Fright House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Do the Right Thing(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Laser Man(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • School Daze(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Eddie Murphy: Raw(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Enemy Territory(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Langston Hughes: The Dream Keeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Additional Camera

  • She's Gotta Have It(1986)

    Cinematographer · as Dog 8

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • Almacita, Soul of Desolato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Krush Groove(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Desiree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Cinematographer

  • The Brother from Another Planet(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Black Diamond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Morris Stokes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Revisiting The Learning Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

A full career of 96 titles, 93 of them dated from 1983 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987)

$51M worldwide

Highest rated

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

V/H/S/Mixtape (2026)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 96: 2 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting71 of 96: 66 only directing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thWriting1 of 96: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 96: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography25 of 96: 19 only cinematography, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thOther crew3 of 96: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

96 titles, 8 with more than one role — directing and cinematography overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1980s15 · 1 acting · 15 crew1990s21 · crew2000s32 · crew2010s19 · crew2020s6 · 1 acting · 5 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 Ernest Dickerson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 67 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 67 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · cinematographer

Stephen King's Golden Tales (1985)

80th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Wire (2002)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 64/100 and the pacing 47/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Ernest Dickerson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles25–88 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles28–83 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles49–97 · median 92 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles24–53 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles20–73 · median 64 · 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 Ernest Dickerson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ernest Dickerson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Spike Lee shares the most, 7.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers