10 Great Films to Watch for Cinematography

[@daltonlee5839]

Channels like yours make me feel a lot better about not being able to go to film school. No matter what I’ve got going on in life, I know I’ve always got a playlists upon playlists of free film knowledge to absorb thanks to your dedication and love for the art.

[@lamhuynh3107]

You don’t miss too much for not going to a film school. IMHO, Filmmaking is one of those endeavors that can be self taught and mastered from practice and lots of trials and errors. Film schools might give you the connections you need to climb up but at the end of the day, your talent, communication skills, leadership and artistic vision will be the deciding factors.

[@jeffreylawrence6928]

And let’s remember Orson Welles, David Lynch Christopher Nolan never went to film school and look what they produced

[@bushbae]

I had a dream of a film years ago and i wish to make this film but where i am and who i am makes it almost impossible. Dont know if my dream will come true

[@jedgould5531]

Right about film school. But I didn’t know even if you had terrible unedited 8mm films to give them, at USC you could still get in. I did not have a) even a rotten assembled reel to submit, 2) the connections needed at that time, 3) have parents who would encourage an education I couldn’t “fall back on.” I also wish I had tried more zealously. 😔

[@jedgould5531]

@@bushbaeTry to make even a ‘proof-of-concept?”

[@y.rg.s1510]

The one movie that truly opened my eyes to cinematography is Chungking Express. I was astonished at the beauty of every frame, the colors, the techniques executed.

[@patrickcasella]

I love that movie, especially the use of time and all of the in-camera effects. Hong Kong was definitely the perfect location to pull off all of those night time shots too. But I'd hardly add that movie to a list that features Seven Samurai and Citizen Kane. Christopher Doyle said in an interview that he shot the whole film on a 6.5mm lens! It certainly gives a stylized effect, but I'm not sure that using an extreme fisheye for every shot can compete with the two movies mentioned above. Chungking Express definitely stands out, but mainly for how different it is in style - by breaking a ton of conventional cinematography rules like shutter angle and lens choice.

[@MegaFount]

Obviously, there are too many other great films to limit the list to ten films. I would add some of these films: The Conformist, Blow Up, The Virgin Spring, Chinatown, Heaven’s Gate, My Darling Clementine, The Magnificent Ambersons, Don’t Look Now, Ashes and Diamonds, The Wild Bunch, Dr. Zhivago. So many astounding films with cutting edge cinematography that takes your breath away!

[@Blunderman-rl1hc]

I may also add: Psycho; Lawrence of Arabia; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; Schindler's List; The Shawshank Redemption; and basically every Wes Anderson film.

[@alfieukudeev-freeman6338]

The Conformist has incredibly beautiful shots too.

[@NoOne-uh9vu]

Thats an understatement. Most throwaway shots in The Conformist are better than anything on the silver screen today combined

[@jv8studios]

Sounds cool! Where can I watch this film ?

[@RalphS223]

@@jv8studios it can be found for free on youtube

[@c.a.savage5689]

Bertolucci made very fine films, "Last Tango in Paris" is beautifully filmed. So is "1900" and "The Last Emperor."

[@Winnerrr-nz7pm]

@@c.a.savage5689 most of the guys don't know about 1900 but it is an masterpiece 😌😌😌😌one of the favourite movies of all time

[@mayukh9536]

Still can't believe these 2 things: _Citizen Kane_ was Orson Wells debut movie _The Night of the Hunter_ bombed so badly that Laughton never helmed another movie again!

[@carolfromhr9900]

It's fascinating just how many great looking films didn't get their due credit upon release.

[@rrendre4138]

A common thing for most known artists is their work will find appreciation only after they die.

[@4CardsMan]

Night of the Hunter has an ugly boom down shot where the camera wobbles. It's distracting. It's an interesting film, but I agree with the audience at the time. I didn't like it and I can't give a good reason why.

[@monicacall7532]

“The Night of the Hunter” blew me away the first time I saw it and continues to do so every time that I watch it. It was very much ahead of its time. The decision to film it in black and white heightened the contrast between good (the two children and the older lady who cares for children who are orphans played by Lillian Gish) and evil as portrayed so menacingly by Robert Mitchum as the preacher/stepfather from hell. I’m also glad that “M” made your list.

[@norbertfarrell4723]

Mayukh: We have seen Night of the Hunter several times at Pacific Film archive. I saw it as a kid, loved it. Most people hated it. I found the lighting and the constant use of "Leaning on the Everlasting arm" and Lillian Gish sitting in shadow with her gun ready to protect the innocents. Footage has been found in Elsa Lancaster's garage, reconstructed and added in appropriately. The way Mitchum worked with the child actors was remarkable. They loved him. One of the very best films I've ever seen.

[@argusfest]

Carl Th. Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc is also incredible.

[@archnof0]

Gawd yes

[@argusfest]

@@spanishprisoner Seen it.

[@TheVetusMores]

_Cries and Whispers,_ Ingmar Bergman. Astounding cinematography.

[@sreenidhibharadwaj7411]

Citizen Kane was at least 50yrs ahead in terms on cinematography . That shot of 7:46 is truly masterpiece I think you sound have included Birdman by Emmanuel Lubezki

[@MagnitudeReviews]

my #1 favorite shot in all of cinema. There's so much going on in that one frame that I could easily write a 10-page college paper explaining it.

[@andreeadobre3190]

I'm guessing he left Birdman out because of what he said in the beginning about special effects. It's amazing though, of course.

[@MagnitudeReviews]

I personally would've tossed in either Chungking Express or In the Mood For Love in this list. They are both just absolutely ridiculous at how good the cinematography is considering the budget being used, especially for Chungking express. And for a more recent film that I would've added to the list? Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Maybe Roma or Cold War as well.

[@jasonkirsch2553]

If you thought Roma was good watch The Painted Bird on Amazon Prime. Makes Roma look like a student film.

[@drewgoin8849]

The cinematography in "The Duelists" is golden, very similar to that in "Barry Lyndon".

[@alshirsoyunjov9204]

Some other films with fantastic cinematography: Days of Heaven, Manhattan, Paris Texas, Theeb, Assasination of Jesse James by Coward Robert Ford, Tree of Life, Three Colors:Red, In Cold Blood, Klute, Road To Perdition and Godfather Part I

[@ayalacastillo8128]

Theeb is gold

[@beyondtheend9144]

There will be Blood

[@sclogse1]

A lot of pre code films are very visual.

[@carolfromhr9900]

Road to Perdition is gorgeous. I was shocked when I found out Deakins wasn't cinematographer.

[@Grace-gp5mz]

@@sclogse1 what do you mean by pre code?

[@GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy]

Also, The Hero's of Telemark (1965) starring Kirk Douglas has great cinematography, with scenes of the Norwegian mountains.

[@herzogseth3506]

"Counting down from number 10 because most cinematographers can't count past f/11 anyway" Iconic.

[@Coastfog]

I don't get it, too slow...

[@windwardpictures]

@@Coastfog haha

[@dangeloadrian3102]

a trick: watch series on Flixzone. I've been using them for watching a lot of movies lately.

[@jettdexter6719]

@Dangelo Adrian definitely, have been watching on Flixzone} for since december myself =)

[@tomsharman]

Love your bluntness, tone of voice, honesty and humour. That made the video for me!

[@thesagar2068]

recently saw Kwaidan(1964) ... its epic.. and the achievement in its era is just mind-boggling..

[@norbertfarrell4723]

I agree with your choices 100%. I almost freaked in my seat when I saw a great painting in Barry Lyndon. I had just come back from europe where I saw the real deal and I recognized a Painting of a mother and her child at a table in a peasant hovel right there in the movie. You really picked some wonderful films. Thanks a bunch.

[@petesimmonds8846]

As you say, everybody's list will be different, but this is a bloody fine list. Good work mate.

[@andrewgray9487]

Great list mister Kubrick! I was fortunate enough to see prints of maybe half of these films at school over 20 years ago, including Sunrise (miraculously!) which I still think of often. Sunrise was gorgeous and creepy. Lyrical might be the right word. I was struck by how the story was so well told visually that it required very few titles. I still admire it very much. The way the camera moved autonomously was a revelation to my young mind. I am curious which version of Blade Runner the clip you used was from and which you prefer visually. I think I like the one that was more blue than green but I have lost track of the grading history. Anyways thank you for sharing and for featuring El Topo which was also an astonishing film to see in a crowded theatre (at midnight of course)!

[@chavakern3124]

I agree with you. Seven Samurai is the perfect film and the greatest film ever made, and incredibly beautiful on so many levels.

[@1nelsondj]

The best thing about "Blade Runner" is there was not CGI involved, it was all practical effects, lighting, smoke, etc. The same can't be said of the sequel but it's also a feast for the eyes. 2 other films I love looking at: "The Shining" and "The Hudsucker Proxy".

[@rrendre4138]

My idea of depth always dates back to the one film I saw in class. It was a boy seen in the distance while people discuss his fate in the foreground. It packs meaning, interest and a staple for what I’d love to include in my film photography. Im so glad I was reminded that “Citizen Kane” dawned so much for cinema.

[@VinceFS]

Last Year at Marienbad is one of the best shot movies of all time.

[@johnprudent3216]

100% Citizen Kane for #1. I finally got to see it during the early midpoint of the Pandemic. Visually and narratively stunning. The opening with the faux news reel and what seemed like early handheld had me picking my jaw off the floor because my naive contemporary-centric thinking had been that a lot of the camera techniques were created in the past 50 years or so. Imagine my surprise when I saw all these things being done in Citizen Kane.

[@norijean3279]

My recent personal favorite in terms of cinematography is Anna Biller's 'The Love Witch' (2016). Every shot in that movie is a stunning work of art. The attention to detail is mesmerizing, visually it's one of the most breathtaking films ever shot and it's an indie movie.

[@rishisk8]

The cinematography in The Lighthouse is incredible as well. If you haven’t seen it yet I highly recommend it

[@JarredWrightMusic]

Check out the Soviet film “The Cranes Are Flying” for some more great cinematography. One of my personal favorites.

[@albertolobelle]

Sure. It's an amazing film, and another masterpiece of Kalatozov and Urusevsky is Soy Cuba.

[@JarredWrightMusic]

@@albertolobelle Along with Letter Never Sent. I Am Cuba is one I have not been able to see however, as it has never been released to DVD, Blu-ray, or any streaming service.

[@sclogse1]

Best scenes on youtube.

[@leighcochran7303]

The burning staircase!

[@ebinrock]

I generally agree with the latter ones on your list. Haven't seen the first ones to make a judgment one way or another. Although what pops in my mind isn't exactly highbrow cinema, I do have a soft spot for certain shots/scenes/sequences in certain well-known American movies, such as: 1. The first half of The Black Stallion, with all the beautiful island scenes. 2. The sunset in Dances With Wolves, as the protagonist John Dunbar waves goodbye to the Sioux in the middle of the movie. 3. The deep red-orange sunset during Gone With the Wind's "I'll never go hungry again" scene. 4. The golden sun field scenes in Legends of the Fall.

[@wolfgangusbanana93]

Army of Shadows is one of the best looking movies I've ever seen, and it was filmed in 1969.

[@sclogse1]

Russians and Chinese are making amazing war films.

[@adameggers8146]

I love the video and the attitude. All these great films combine a number of distinct arts that combine to create cinema: cinematography, direction, set design costumes etc. Can we get an Honorable mention for Battleship Potemkin?

[@Lynne-28]

What a refreshment! And creative distraction during this treacherous pandemic: Thank you! The Art of film- making has made the World a better place.🕊

[@Celestialrob]

Just love this. So happy to see Night of the Hunter in your list. Your comment about a painting coming to life..... thank you!

[@tomviethoang]

Great list. I think you'll appreciate "In the Mood for Love" if you haven't seen it yet.

[@mountart2]

The Conformist; The Godfather I & II, Apocalypse Now; Metropolis, 2001: A Space Odyssey; The Searchers; Hugo; Pan's Labyrinth; Roma; There Will Be Blood; The Third Man; The Conversation; Days Of Innocence; Vertigo; Schindler's List; Doctor Zhivago; In The Mood For Love are all worthy mentions as well.

[@ryanwhittaker2167]

Love the cinematography in the films Marketa Lazarová and letters never sent

[@ryanwhittaker2167]

@chubbyurma my 4th favourite movie, absolutely mind blowing. It’s also free on KZbin

[@technodroog]

Letters Never Sent and the other two Urusevsky/Kalatozov collabs ("I Am Cuba," "The Cranes are Flying") are next level stuff. Still look breathtaking 60 years later

[@danferraro3598]

Once I get my new projector I am going to tackle these movies one by one with a notepad in hand and start to up my visual game...thanks for doing all the legwork to find these films and make the recommendations!

[@richreyes4640]

Absolutely love your list. Apocolypse Now falls in that realm as well.

[@jeffreylawrence6928]

Citizen Kane not only was Welles a great writer producer and director he was also a magician...

[@johnlinley4375]

Great choice and a good narration. I remember watching M in the nineteen seventies; the film was grainy and often the the emulsion was streaked. The color was faded throughout. I saw a restored version and it was the perfection you describe. The obvious questions are how much of the masterful cinema photography was in the computer restoration and how much did the audience end up seeing?

[@mdrewpix1]

Opinions being like colonic exits in that everybody has one but two that I think deserve a mention are The Last Picture Show and The Duelists, the latter giving Barry Lyndon a run for its money. And, what the hell, let's throw in Days Of Heaven, too.

[@alakhazom]

I agree having Kurosawa with two movies here. He is probably,the best director ever to walk on eart. Other mentions should be Three Colors movies by Kieslowski, any movie by Wong Kar Wai, most movies by Yimou Zhang,Chang Park Wook...

[@karthick6330]

Movies of terrnce malick for incredible cinematography scene and David lean especially Lawrence of Arabic, doctor zhivago and all of his large scale movies which have some of the most beautiful cinematic moments in movie history

[@leighcochran7303]

Lawrence yesss! The famous shot of the burning match dissolve to the desert sun! And I love the scenes in Cairo--the courtyard fountain with the ducks. I could go on and on!

[@c.a.savage5689]

I really, really enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@baileygower1967]

Great List! however, if you were to add an honorable mention, I believe Napolean (1927) would be a great pick. The sheer amount of beauty (especially in the childhood segment) left me in awe. Anyways great videos man! Learning a lot!

[@eldareldar3554]

Yaas, Napoleon should be up there in top 3 So underrated

[@TwistVisuals]

Yes. I still can't imagine how in the absolute hell they pulled off such an epic and high budget movie like Seven Samurai in 1954.

[@c.a.savage5689]

A year later and I still enjoy re-watching this excellent top 10 list.

[@aarondawkins1472]

Once Upon A Time In The West! "Talk about every frame a painting."

[@schmebulockjizz]

I fucking love that movie. Best western of all time.

[@arttoegemann]

Too many close ups. Music sucked too. Western by Italians. Old master color, sure.

[@aarondawkins1472]

@@arttoegemann Ennio Morricone...wow! Only the greatest film score composer of his time. But hey, everything isn't for everybody. Just curious what movie would you tout?

[@arttoegemann]

@@aarondawkins1472 I should have clarified: I don't think the score fit the movie. I don't think a European sensibility can fit in the western US. All that lushness is lost in the US. Interesting.

[@arttoegemann]

@@aarondawkins1472 I should have clarified: I don't think the score fit the movie. I don't think a European sensibility can fit in the western US. All that lushness is lost in the US. Interesting. How did this list fail to mention anything by John Ford?

[@FuDziWuDzi]

I saw Citizen Kane the 1st time after hearing the hype around it and didn’t appreciate it. I thought it’s just a fab for pretentious people. 5 years later I actually start my career in filmmaking and after a while I saw it again... It’s like I was watching a totally different movie.

[@jackmccallum3224]

Amazing list. I love your videos and how they deconstruct cinematography and they really help me learn and improve my craft. I know this is pretty basic but I would have also added in films by Roger Deakins and Emmanuel Lubetzki because they are acclaimed cinematographers for a reason

[@georgestreng]

10 excellent choices for sure. I was immediately engaged just looking at your clips.

[@rodotoledo2034]

El Topo is my favorite on this list. Wish in the mood for love was on it as well

[@leighcochran7303]

I was terrified by El Topo and walked out. But that was 40 years ago. MAYBE I'll give it another try.

[@BombshellCelluloid]

Wonderful list. It's always great to see stuff like this because I feel I always take away something from them, no matter how small. I'd quibble a little and probably swap your #1 and #2 but I'm such a Kurosawa fanatic that the bias is heavy. :D Also, I honestly don't know how you'd swap it out (and I haven't seen #8 or #9 so I get homework!) but a more contemporary example of stunning master class in filmmaking and cinematography is Mad Max: Fury Road. Every time I see that movie my jaw is on the floor the entire run time.

[@somnathchakravarty3658]

Well the list I guess was incomplete without "In the mood for love". Although all other was perfect but "Stalker" should have been the No.1.

[@vinods146]

Each scene was a pleasure to the eyes

[@gloryon5609]

Great list! Check out Shadows of forgotten ancestors, it is great also

[@sclogse1]

We saw it the what, late 60's, and loved it. I have the poster!! Styled as a woodcut on tan paper.

[@pinkpink10430]

Apocalypse Now? A Clockwork Orange? 2001 : A Space Odyssey? Blue Velvet?

[@Finarphin]

I think Miyagawa was the best. Take a look at Kagemusha -- not a very interesting movie on the whole, but the cinematography was scintillating. A lot of the impact of the visuals in The Seven Samurai is due to the film editing, as opposed to the camera work itself. One might also have a look at Psycho, and Touch of Evil.

[@PURPLE_SHADE_SMOOTHIE]

Wow what a collection you have presented for us. Instantly liked and subscribed. Thanks to you we watched M for the first time last night.

[@hopelessent.1700]

I guess it’s just me but I’d like to see Sergio Leone to have a mention. The man has such a talent of showing epic shots.

[@aliensconfirmed3498]

Cinematography of Once Upon a Time in the West is one of the best and may be on par with some of these.

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

Raise The Red Lantern (1991) Cinematographer: Zhao Fei This one is a every frame a beautiful photograph. With friends I have them stop randomly on a frame and each one tells a story. Beautiful film

[@jonathanneil5901]

Would be cool to have some release dates included with the countdown. Even in the description.

[@mirandac8712]

Beautifully done, truly.

[@brigittecastrucci6541]

Your humbled knowledge and sense of humour made me hit the like and subscribe buttons.👏🏻

[@bookmanjb]

The Third Man - every frame etc.

[@m.s.769]

That is a great list. I have always been partial to Freddie Young's work on Lawrence of Arabia.

[@tylermason140]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe the Zeiss lenses Kubrick used to shoot the Barry Lyndon candle scenes were actually f/0.7, rather than f/0.95, same as the lenses Zeiss manufactured for NASA to photograph the dark side of the moon. But of course, I don't mean to be nitpicky. Your videos are always great and full of fantastic info. And I was very intrigued by your choices for this list. They were bold and sometimes quite unconventional: not what I would have expected. But you gave a great analysis and justification for the placement of each film.

[@richardmcleod1930]

People are afraid to mention D W. Griffith which is a shame as he truly was the father of film. Lillian Gish titled her autobiography, "The Movies, Mr.Griffith and me". I think you get the point. Just the volume of films directed by D. W. Griffith should humble any film maker.

[@StormJaw]

My list and yours are very similar. Love it. But I couldn't list a top ten in any order. It's too tough. But idave personally thrown the conformist in there. Can't imagine myself making a list without it

[@Alexander-tj2dn]

No Italian film? Some of Fellini´s or Antonioni´s movies have the most beautiful cinematography I have ever seen.

[@archnof0]

You beat me too it. The list is superb but needs to be expanded to include Fellini and antonioni

[@akshaypratimfilm3349]

Every film of Kubrick is masterpiece of cinematography

[@TheSaltydog07]

Fabulous compilation. Thank you. Please look at F.W. Murnau and Zhang Yimou. I'm betting you have.

[@DennisCNolasco]

Nice list, I've only seen a few of these movie, now I'll have to watch the rest.

[@CristianGeelen]

I love the list. But I do believe that either "The Turin Horse" or "Satantango" deserves a spot on it. I can't think of movies that come even close. Maybe Bela Tarr, Fred Kelemen, and Gábor Medvigy are just not that well known. :)

[@GubernareMens]

Hey wolfcrow, do you have a personal list of series/shows with amazing cinematography? I'd say The Handmaid's Tale does a fantastic job as a modern example (look up the Lincoln Memorial scene from season 3)

[@alejoparedes2388]

I like that 6 out of 10 are in black and white.

[@gordjackson9650]

My list would have to include the John Alton shot "T Men and "He Walked By Night" along with the James Wong Howe shot "Sweet Smell of Success" and "Hud."

[@jlovebirch]

Great list -- Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast (1946) would be my #2 film. The Hidden Fortress ranks high as well.

[@smalltalk.productions9977]

thanks for the effort and sharing. heck of a list! thumbs up.

[@jv8studios]

This is interesting! I’m feeling inspired for my next shoot ! I can use these styles when I’m shouting music videos

[@pixel8films]

Needed this right now! Thank you 🙏

[@gtfourziggy2]

Thank you for putting this together, keep up the good work.

[@ajayakumarkareepra6631]

Citizen Kane and blade runner are awesome

[@mv8202]

I think it's the first time that I hear Corkidi mentioned on a cinematography video... great!

[@curtiscarpenter9881]

A movie can represent a idea but how to its portrayed is its cinematography.🎯I knew citzen kane from the start would be #1.🌄

[@artirony410]

dude that outro might be the coldest thing I've ever heard lol, just casually murdered all his haters in the friendliest voice ever

[@jasoncarreiro3210]

"The Cranes Are Flying" Cinematography: Sergey Urusevsky

[@MrAthul22]

What about "soy Cuba" ?

[@sclogse1]

@@MrAthul22 uhuh. Same director, no?

[@MrAthul22]

@@sclogse1 ya same director and cinematographer

[@leighcochran7303]

The burning staircase!

[@davidfrancis6947]

I have no reason to disagree. yours is as good a list as any on the subject of cinematography... some might argue for The Searchers.. but I wouldn't. well done.

[@PedroVencore]

The two-tones in stalker was not a design decition, stalker was shot with koda equipment which by the time had an unknown storage problem (it could easily be damaged) , that sepia-like filter is the product of it, stalker was meant to be color all along, but in my opinion is so beautifully done that I don't really care about it.

[@augustodmc]

The best, for me, is The Mirror (1975) from Tarkovsky. No other movie come closer to this.

[@nireviews8492]

I would say some of the best shot films are: The Revenant, Blade Runner 2049, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Barry Lyndon and Citizen Kane.

[@Grace-gp5mz]

Thank you for this great list, but where can we find these movies. A lot are hard to find. Thx.

[@VernusFilm]

Amazing video as always! 10 Other Great Films to Watch for CInematography. I count only Directors of Photography not mentioned in your video yet. Vertigo (Robert Burks) Kwaidan (Yoshio Miyajima) PlayTime (Jean Badal & Andréas Winding) 2001: A Space Odyssey (Geoffrey Unsworth) Il conformista (Vittorio Storaro) Solyaris (Vadim Yusov) Viskningar och rop (Sven Nykvist) The Godfather Part II (Gordon Willis) Paris, Texas (Robert Müller) There Will Be Blood (Robert Elswit)

[@snehasishnaskar800]

wow! impeccable choices.

[@gregorylagrange]

You can add "Gilda" to the list and also to a list if you want to make a video about dialogue.

[@blakecscott5525]

Respectable list! Missing: The conformist, Days of Heaven, Mirror, Paris Texas, Lawrence of Arabia, and Apocalyse Now. I’d rather double Tarkovsky than Kurosawa... and you NEED Days of Heaven right?

[@IliaCinema]

Hello! there was a video about low-light noise. It seems you hid it. Did you do it because there was something wrong in what you told in the video or for some other reasons? Thank you!

[@kamhash1]

"The world of M is painstakingly... lit" -Sareesh Sudhakaran (2020)

[@sclogse1]

I've seen M in it's proper big box format. (Castro Theater San Diego Francisco) Stunning film. Imax would be perfect to show these 1x1 ratio films. I saw a preview to The Lighthouse in an Imax theater. Wow.

[@vladmirhoopnagle1170]

How about Fellini? Maybe his Satyricon or Cassanova?

[@vfortezz]

Great stuff. Thanks.

[@peterkortvel]

A great list!! Need to watch all of them from 10 to 1 :) Looks like something for my 2020 evenings :)

[@geniusloci915]

Brilliant list.