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Brendan McGinty

Brendan McGinty

Cinematographer

Brendan McGinty is an award-winning cinematographer whose work encompasses dramas, commercials and landmark documentaries. The dynamic blending of these distinct photographic approaches has created a series of ground-breaking and award-winning films. His work on 'The Secret Life of Twins' received the Royal Television Society Award for Cinematography, and he also won Best Cinematography for his work on 'The Number' at San Gio Verona Film Festival. His just released 'The Devil on Trial' is listed for BAFTA consideration for its cinematography and he has been Emmy nominated for his Netflix 'Hidden Life' series. '

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Biography from IMDb.

Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 43 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 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are Brendan McGinty's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Ideas and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Ideas
35%
Self
16%
Society
15%
Survival
13%
Power
8%
Morality
7%
Bonds
7%
Nature14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 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 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 6 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 3 · Intense 2

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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 4 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 2

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 4 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 2

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
23
Tense
11
Hopeful
9
Warm
6
Melancholic
7
Other
16

How their films linger

Thought-provoking17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet12
  • Ambiguous9
  • Cyclical3

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 Brendan McGinty's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Brendan McGinty'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

43 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page.

  • Suez: 24 Hours That Broke the British Empire(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hanging by a Wire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Cinematographer

  • 102 Minutes: Inside the Towers(2026)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Human(2025)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Secrets of the Neanderthals(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Marilyn Manson Unmasked(2024)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Life on Our Planet(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · Additional Director of Photography · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Devil on Trial(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Freeway Killer: Lost Murder Tapes(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • First Contact: An Alien Encounter(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Our Great National Parks(2022)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • I, Sniper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Perpetual Planet: Heroes of the Oceans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Cinematographer

  • The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet(2021)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Mating Game(2021)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Welcome to Earth(2021)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Green River Killer: Mind of a Monster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Cinematographer

  • A World of Calm(2020)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Surgeon's Cut(2020)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • 3 Sleeps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Cinematographer

  • An Accidental Studio(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Jeremy Wade's Dark Waters(2019)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Jeremy Wade's Mighty Rivers(2018)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Number (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Cinematographer · Producer

  • Elizabeth I(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Secret Life of Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Henry VIII and His Six Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Secret Life of Twins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Camera Operator

  • Enchanted Kingdom(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Wild Weather(2014)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Hustling America(2013)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Secrets of Wild India(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Drugged(2011)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Long Lost Family(2011)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Wonders of the Universe(2011)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Drugs, Inc.(2010)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Fatal Attractions(2010)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • River Monsters(2009)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Octane(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Classic Albums: Cream - Disraeli Gears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Camera Operator

  • Vivian Stanshall: The Canyons of his Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Camera Operator

  • The Russell Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 21 titles, 20 of them dated from 2003 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Enchanted Kingdom (2014)

$8.8M worldwide

Highest rated

Wonders of the Universe (2011)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Life on Our Planet (2023)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Producing1 of 21: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography17 of 21: 16 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndOther crew4 of 21: 4 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

2000s2 · crew2010s8 · crew2020s10 · 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 Brendan McGinty's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 9; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · cinematographer

Octane (2007)

96th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Wonders of the Universe (2011)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 61/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 46. 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.

Who does Brendan McGinty work with?

People who share at least 2 of Brendan McGinty's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Chris Holt shares the most, 6.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles