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Francis Kenny

Cinematographer · Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Francis Kenny is an American cinematographer born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was raised by his grandfather Colonel Herman Adkins, and attended fifteen different grammar schools each in a different state and some abroad. He met his first mentor, David Hoffman, at Hofstra University. After graduation, Hoffman hired Kenny to work as a documentary cameraman and editor for his production company. Ed Lachman, ASC, gave Kenny his first opportunity to work on a feature film, Desperately Seeking Susan, where Kenny served as the camera operator. Kenny is an active working cinematographer who specializes in the use of the Red Digital Camera. He spends his off time teaching cinematography at UCLA, AFI, the ASC, and the Maine Photographic Workshop.

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Biography from TMDB.

From
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 48 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 16% in 30 days

What are Francis Kenny's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
31%
Morality
29%
Self
17%
Power
9%
Society
8%
Survival
5%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 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 7 · Dark 9

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 16 · Intense 8

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 3

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 10 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 15

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

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 18 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Absurd
13
Joyful
10
Melancholic
10
Warm
7
Other
26

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet10
  • 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 Francis Kenny's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Francis Kenny'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

48 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page.

  • S.W.A.T. Exiles(2026)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • S.W.A.T.(2017)

    Show 35 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Flint(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Gun Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Cinematographer

  • Bonnie & Clyde(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Steel Magnolias(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • One Hot Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Cover(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Getting Played(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Three Wise Guys(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Edison(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • From Justin to Kelly(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Keep the Faith, Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • How High(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Finder's Fee(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Kingdom Come(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Scary Movie(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • She's All That(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • A Night at the Roxbury(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Denial(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Bean(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Pretty Poison(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Dark Angel(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Harriet the Spy(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Colony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • A Thin Line Between Love and Hate(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Jason's Lyric(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Wayne's World 2(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Coneheads(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Ed and His Dead Mother(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Dying to Love You(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Flash III: Deadly Nightshade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Class Act(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Cold Heaven(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • House Party 2(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Flash II: Revenge of the Trickster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • New Jack City(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Within These Walls: A Tour of the White House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Additional Photography

  • Lou Reed and John Cale: Songs for Drella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Camera Operator

  • Sweet Bird of Youth(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Heathers(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Salvation!(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Campus Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Wings Over Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Desperately Seeking Susan(1985)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Redd Foxx: Video in a Plain Brown Wrapper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Strokes of Genius: Arshile Gorky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • REO Speedwagon - Live Infidelity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Camera Operator

Career shape

A full career of 47 titles from 1981 to 2017.

Biggest box office

Scary Movie (2000)

$278M worldwide

Highest rated

Heathers (1989)

Midcredits 88th

Most popular right now

S.W.A.T. Exiles (2026)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography43 of 47: 43 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndOther crew4 of 47: 4 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s9 · crew1990s22 · crew2000s11 · crew2010s5 · 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 Francis Kenny's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 32; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 35 titles are Mixed.

  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · cinematographer

From Justin to Kelly (2003)

97th percentile spread · 75% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Heathers (1989)

Midcredits 88th · 75% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 49/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 64, 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 Francis Kenny's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles27–82 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles32–77 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles31–88 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles30–86 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles6–73 · median 27 · mildlighter 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 Francis Kenny work with?

People who share at least 2 of Francis Kenny's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Doug McHenry shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles