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David Watkin

David Watkin

Cinematographer, also actor · Died February 19, 2008, aged 82 · Margate, Kent, England, UK

David Watkin BSC (23 March 1925 – 19 February 2008) was an English cinematographer, an innovator who was among the first directors of photography to experiment heavily with the usage of bounce light as a soft light source. He worked with such film directors as Richard Lester, Peter Brook, Tony Richardson, Mike Nichols, Ken Russell, Franco Zeffirelli, Sidney Lumet and Sydney Pollack. In 1985, Watkin won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Out of Africa. He received lifetime achievement awards in 2004 from the British Society of Cinematographers and the cinematographic-centric Camerimage Film Festival in Łódź, Poland. In Chariots of Fire, he "helped create one of the most memorable images of 1980s cinema: the opening sequence in which a huddle of young male athletes pounds along the water's edge on a beach" to the film's theme music by Vangelis. Description above from the Wikipedia article David Watkin (cinematographer), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 23, 1925
Died
February 19, 2008 (aged 82)
From
Margate, Kent, England, UK
Works as
Cinematographer, also actor
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 76 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

What are David Watkin's films like?

Across their 50 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
27%
Morality
19%
Self
15%
Power
15%
Survival
11%
Society
8%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 49 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 16 · Serious 13 · Dark 20

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 22 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 15

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 21 · Intense 18

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

Steady 19 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 7

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 25 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 26 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 15 · Engaged 25 · Full focus 9

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

Easy watch 14 · Affecting 18 · Heavy 17

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

Resolved 28 · Open-ended 14 · Ambiguous 7

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Melancholic
24
Romantic
12
Dread
10
Absurd
11
Other
56

How their films linger

Bittersweet19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous11

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 David Watkin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Watkin'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

76 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Lover's Prayer(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Tea with Mussolini(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Gloria(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Critical Care(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Obsession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Night Falls on Manhattan(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Bogus(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Jane Eyre(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • It Is Now Our Time: Peter Sellars’ The Merchant of Venice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Milk Money(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Bopha! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • This Boy's Life(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Used People(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Object of Beauty(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Hamlet(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Memphis Belle(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Murder by Moonlight(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Last Rites(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Good Mother(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Journey to the Center of the Earth(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Masquerade(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Moonstruck(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Sky Bandits(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Out of Africa(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • White Nights(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Return to Oz(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes(1984)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Hotel New Hampshire(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Yentl(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Endless Love(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Chariots of Fire(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • La Cenerentola (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Cuba(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • That Summer! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Hanover Street(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Jesus of Nazareth(1977)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Joseph Andrews (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Cinematographer

  • Robin and Marian(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • To the Devil a Daughter(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Mahogany(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Four Musketeers(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Three Musketeers(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • A Delicate Balance(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Homecoming(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Boy Friend(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Devils(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Catch-22(1970)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Bed Sitting Room(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Charge of the Light Brigade(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Red, White, and Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • How I Won the War(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Marat/Sade(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Mademoiselle(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Help!(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Knack... and How to Get It(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Rhythm 'n' Greens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • The Six-Sided Triangle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

  • ...All That Mighty Heart... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Camera Operator

  • Robert Reid Reports on British Waterways (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • The Signal Engineers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • The Travolators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • They Take the High Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • Blue Pullman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • Diesel Trainride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Groundwork for Progress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Care of St Christopher’s (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • The Coasts of Clyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Under Night Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • A Desperate Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Lancashire Coast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • Service for Southend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Camera Operator

  • The England of Elizabeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • The Long Night Haul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Men on the Mend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 76 titles from 1956 to 2001.

Biggest box office

Out of Africa (1985)

$228M worldwide

Highest rated

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

This Boy's Life (1993)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography73 of 76: 73 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thOther crew3 of 76: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s12 · crew1960s16 · crew1970s15 · crew1980s16 · crew1990s16 · crew2000s1 · 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 David Watkin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 48; across their 49 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez (1991)

82nd percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Midcredits 95th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 67/100 in their films, across 46 reviewed titles; fans 75, 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 David Watkin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 25 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles12–75 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity25 titles16–62 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity16 titles0–62 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles16–38 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles11–74 · median 53 · 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 David Watkin work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Watkin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Richard Lester shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles