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Tom Stern

Tom Stern

Cinematographer, also director · Born December 16, 1946 (79) · Palo Alto, California, USA

Oscar nominee · BAFTA Award nominee

Thomas Evans "Tom" Stern (born December 16, 1946) is an American cinematographer best known for his work on films directed by Clint Eastwood. He has been Eastwood's primary cinematographer since Blood Work in 2002 and has worked as a gaffer since 1977. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tom Stern (cinematographer), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 16, 1946 (79)
From
Palo Alto, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer, also director
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 50 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 16% in 30 days

What are Tom Stern's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: 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
Morality
29%
Survival
25%
Bonds
22%
Self
13%
Society
6%
Power
4%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 9 · Dark 18

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 11 · Intense 17

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 6

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

Easy watch 3 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 17

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

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
19
Dread
8
Contemplative
11
Triumphant
5
Other
20

How their films linger

Bittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5

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 Tom Stern's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tom Stern'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

50 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Ice Road: Vengeance(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • In the Land of Saints and Sinners(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Last Voyage of the Demeter(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Luther: The Fallen Sun(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Almond and the Seahorse(2022)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Ice Road(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Meg(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The 15:17 to Paris(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Ceasefire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Cinematographer

  • Sully(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Broken Horses(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • American Sniper(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Jersey Boys(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Trouble with the Curve(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Hunger Games(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Sleepless Night(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • J. Edgar(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Hereafter(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Invictus(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Tsar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Tenderness(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Gran Torino(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Changeling(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Paris 36(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Things We Lost in the Fire(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Rails & Ties(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Midnight Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • Letters from Iwo Jima(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Flags of Our Fathers(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Last Kiss(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Romance & Cigarettes(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Baby(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Mystic River(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Blood Work(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Road to Perdition(2002)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Space Cowboys(2000)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • A Perfect World(1993)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Unforgiven(1992)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Spaceballs(1987)

    Chief Lighting Technician

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Heartbreak Ridge(1986)

    Gaffer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Pale Rider(1985)

    Gaffer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Goonies(1985)

    Gaffer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Tightrope(1984)

    Gaffer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • All the Right Moves(1983)

    Gaffer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bad Boys(1983)

    Gaffer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • White Dog(1982)

    Gaffer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Between the Lines(1977)

    Best Boy Grip

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fury 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 50 titles, 49 of them dated from 1977 to 2025.

Biggest box office

The Hunger Games (2012)

$695M worldwide

Highest rated

Gran Torino (2008)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

American Sniper (2014)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 50: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleCinematography37 of 50: 36 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thOther crew13 of 50: 13 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score81st

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s8 · crew1990s2 · crew2000s20 · crew2010s12 · crew2020s6 · 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 major nominations and no wins, 2009.

  1. 2009
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · 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 Tom Stern's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 46 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · director, cinematographer

The Almond and the Seahorse (2022)

69th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 65/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 51. 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 Tom Stern's work okay for kids?

Across up to 23 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and sex & nudity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore19 titles36–87 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity23 titles6–34 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity21 titles34–82 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs18 titles26–53 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles45–82 · median 60 · 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 Tom Stern work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tom Stern's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Clint Eastwood shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles