Which movies have the best Cinematography?

[Maira Fravel]

What camera did they use to shoot?

 

[Phil Holland]

What camera did they use to shoot?

Investigate your favorite films ever shot.

To determine why they looked so good and told the story so effectively focus on:

- The Director
- The Cinematographer
- The Gaffer
- Production Designers, Production Designers, Wardrobe, etc.
- Likely fun to look at the glass the filmed with. Spherical, Anamorphic, which lenses and why.

You'll find the best cinematography provides a range of cameras.

 

[Marc Wielage]

This website has some of that information:

https://shotonwhat.com/

I think it's fair to say that it's more about who shot the movie (that is, what cinematographer did the work) than what camera was used. The lighting, the lenses, and the exposure arguably shape the image a lot more than just the camera alone. I think at this point, just about any camera over $20,000 is going to yield great pictures under the right conditions.

 

[Raymond Zananiri]

You'll notice that many answers you'll get here will dance around this fact: They were all shot with film cameras. Days of Heaven, the Last Emperor and the Conformist would definitely be in the top 10.

 

[Jamil Stubbs]

I maybe shunned for this but Scott Pilgrim VS The World

Director Edgar Wright
DP Bill Pope

ARRIFLEX 435 ES
Beaumont Vista Vision
Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2
Phantom HD Camera and Panavision ATZ 70-200 mm T3

From beautifully crafted transitions to FX. I thought it was well done..

 

[David Mullen ASC]

We've had over 100 years of cinema so even if you limited your list to three movies per decade, that's over 30 titles...

 

[Phil Holland]

We've had over 100 years of cinema so even if you limited your list to three movies per decade, that's over 30 titles...

Agree.

It's been impossible for me to come up with a short list of "best", like a top 5 or 10. I have longer "great cinematography" lists and all those goodies that inspired me to get into the industry when I was younger. Some of which certainly aren't the "best or great", but inspiring in different directions.

A complete side note for younger DPs particularly in your 20s. If you want a fun journey I find a lot of younger filmmakers don't seek out films before their generation start date. If you have time it's nice to go way back and watch things filmed across the past century to see emerging trends, outstanding unique visual stories, and sort of everything in between. I'd say a good place to start is always looking at the Academy Award winners over the years, but also the nominees and certainly some that somehow didn't make that list.

Really fun in particular to see how lighting has evolved over the years and certainly the evolution of camera movement.

 

[dio Zafi]

https://ascmag.com/

 

[Raymond Zananiri]

Many films with amazing cinematography have failed commercially and are actually not good films overall. Heaven's Gate and Reds come to mind. Cinematography is only one part of the equation albeit a very important part.

 

[Sabovic Adis]

My altime favorite is Alien.

 

[Maira Fravel]

Many films with amazing cinematography have failed commercially and are actually not good films overall. Heaven's Gate and Reds come to mind. Cinematography is only one part of the equation albeit a very important part.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Martin Stevens]

My favorites are still "Blade Runner" 1982, "The Duellists" 1977, "Legend" 1985, and "Alien" 1979, all Ridley Scott films.

Oh, ya, and "Apocalypse Now".

 

[Tom S]

I have come to appreciate set design, CGI, compositing, location, and lighting as far more important to the overall look of a film. As well as editing/coloring to tell the story. I think most decent cameras/lens and competent DPs can achieve pretty similar results. The exception of course is lighting technique. I have had to force myself to stop looking at lens tests, filter tests, and camera tests as I am somewhat addicted to gear, and try to focus on other components of the image.