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Don Burgess

Don Burgess

Cinematographer, also actor · Born May 28, 1956 (70) · Santa Monica, California, USA

Oscar nominee · BAFTA Award nominee

Don Michael Burgess, ASC (born May 28, 1956) is an American cinematographer best known for his collaborations with director Robert Zemeckis. He was nominated for the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for Zemeckis' Forrest Gump (1994). In 2024, he received the American Society of Cinematographers' Lifetime Achievement Award. Description above from the Wikipedia article Don Burgess (cinematographer), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 28, 1956 (70)
From
Santa Monica, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer, also actor
Titles
60 on MovieCove · 71 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 26Down 54% in 30 days

What are Don Burgess' films like?

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

Genres

Action13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation 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
35%
Self
20%
Survival
14%
Morality
13%
Society
11%
Ideas
5%
Power
2%
Family bonds21 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 50 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 29 · Serious 11 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 16 · Stylized 23 · Heightened 11

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

Gentle 12 · Charged 25 · Intense 13

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 30 · Whiplash 4

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 19 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 13

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 6

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

Casual 29 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 3

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 24 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 10

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

Resolved 40 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
21
Tense
19
Hopeful
19
Thrilling
16
Melancholic
13
Other
52

How their films linger

Feel-good26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy31
  • Bittersweet18

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 Don Burgess' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 47 of their 60 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Don Burgess' 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

71 credits, 60 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Thursday Murder Club(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Here(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • A Family Affair(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Pinocchio(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Witches(2020)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Sextuplets(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Aquaman(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Chronicles(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Wonder(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Same Kind of Different as Me(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Monster Trucks(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Allied(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Conjuring 2(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Skateboarding's First Wave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · as Self

  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1(2014)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Muppets Most Wanted(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Divergent(2014)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • 42(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Avengers(2012)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Flight(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Muppets(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Priest(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Source Code(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Book of Eli(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Aliens in the Attic(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Fool's Gold(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Enchanted(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • My Super Ex-Girlfriend(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Eight Below(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Christmas with the Kranks(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Polar Express(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • 13 Going on 30(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Noel(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Limp Bizkit: Behind Blue Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Radio(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Bourne Identity(2002)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Cast Away(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • What Lies Beneath(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Deep Impact(1998)

    Additional Camera

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Contact(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Evening Star(1996)

    Cinematographer · as Stage Manager

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Executive Decision(1996)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Forget Paris(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Richie Rich(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Forrest Gump(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Josh and S.A.M.(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Night Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Death Becomes Her(1992)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Mo' Money(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Two-Fisted Tales(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Nothing But Trouble(1991)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Breaking Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Blind Fury(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Under the Boardwalk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Too Young the Hero(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • World Gone Wild(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Summer Camp Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • The Night Stalker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Death Before Dishonor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Playboy: Bedtime Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Runaway Train(1985)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Happy Birthday to Me(1981)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Ruckus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 67 titles from 1981 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Aquaman (2018)

$1.2B worldwide

Highest rated

Forrest Gump (1994)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Spider-Man (2002)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 67: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting1 of 67: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleCinematography59 of 67: 58 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndOther crew7 of 67: 7 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1980s12 · crew1990s13 · 1 acting · 13 crew2000s16 · crew2010s19 · crew2020s7 · 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, 1995.

  1. 1995
    • Oscar, nominated · Best 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 Don Burgess' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 59; across their 50 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Reach · how many have seen their films

96thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Midcredits score across 60 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 60 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · cinematographer

Nothing But Trouble (1991)

70th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Forrest Gump (1994)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 63/100 in their films, across 38 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 49. 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 Don Burgess' work okay for kids?

Across up to 40 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore37 titles17–63 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity40 titles10–50 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity40 titles11–66 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs38 titles6–42 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense37 titles18–65 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Don Burgess work with?

People who share at least 2 of Don Burgess' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alan Silvestri shares the most, 12.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles