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Michael Chapman

Michael Chapman

Cinematographer, actor and director, also writer · Died September 20, 2020, aged 84 · New York City, New York, USA

Michael Crawford Chapman, A.S.C. (November 21, 1935 – September 20, 2020) was an American cinematographer and film director well known for his work on many films of the American New Wave of the 1970s and in the 1980s with directors such as Martin Scorsese and Ivan Reitman. He shot more than forty feature films, over half of those with only three different directors. Description above from the Wikipedia article Michael Chapman (cinematographer), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 21, 1935
Died
September 20, 2020 (aged 84)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Cinematographer, actor and director, also writer
Titles
57 on MovieCove · 64 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 37% in 30 days

What are Michael Chapman's films like?

Across their 44 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Thriller 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
Morality
25%
Self
20%
Bonds
20%
Society
12%
Survival
11%
Power
8%
Ideas
5%
Justice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 43 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 18 · Serious 14 · Dark 11

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 24 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 23 · Intense 14

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 8

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 22 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 10

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 5

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

A split, not a type: Casual 20 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 8

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

Easy watch 17 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Melancholic
18
Absurd
12
Warm
10
Thrilling
10
Other
48

How their films linger

Bittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous10

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 Michael Chapman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 57 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Chapman'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

64 credits, 57 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Rapist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Retired Filmmaker

  • Walking on Sunshine(2014)

    as Holiday Maker

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Peter Gabriel: Live in Athens 1987(2013)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Youssou N'Dour et Le Super Etoile de Dakar - Fatteliku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Bridge to Terabithia(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Hoot(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Eulogy(2004)

    Cinematographer · as Adult Film Cameraman

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Suspect Zero(2004)

    Cinematographer · as Prosecutor #1

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • House of D(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Evolution(2001)

    Cinematographer · as Sheriff Long

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Watcher(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Story of Us(1999)

    Cinematographer · as Waiter

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The White River Kid(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Six Days Seven Nights(1998)

    Cinematographer · as Mechanic

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Space Jam(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Primal Fear(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Viking Sagas(1995)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Fugitive(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Rising Sun(1993)

    Cinematographer · as Fred Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Whispers in the Dark(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Doc Hollywood(1991)

    Cinematographer · as Shooting Gallery Operator

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Peter Gabriel - POV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Kindergarten Cop(1990)

    Cinematographer · as Firefighter

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Quick Change(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Abyss(1989)

    as Dr. Berg

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Ghostbusters II(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Third Degree Burn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Dan Rourke

  • Scrooged(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Gotham(1988)

    Cinematographer · as Landlord

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Shoot to Kill(1988)

    Cinematographer · as Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Boys(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Annihilator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • The Clan of the Cave Bear(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • All the Right Moves(1983)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Man with Two Brains(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Personal Best(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Howling(1981)

    as Man at End of Bar (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Raging Bull(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Wanderers(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Hardcore(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1978)

    Cinematographer · as Health Dept. Floor Cleaner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Shoot the Sun Down(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Last Waltz(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Fingers(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • King(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Next Man(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Front(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Taxi Driver(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Jaws(1975)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Death Be Not Proud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • The White Dawn(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Last Detail(1973)

    Cinematographer · as Taxi Driver

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Up the Sandbox(1972)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Godfather(1972)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Klute(1971)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Little Murders(1971)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The People Next Door(1970)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Landlord(1970)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Loving(1970)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Thanksgiving Visitor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Assistant Camera

  • Who Killed Teddy Bear(1965)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 64 titles from 1965 to 2021.

Biggest box office

The Fugitive (1993)

$369M worldwide

Highest rated

Taxi Driver (1976)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

Film career

  • 1973Screen debut· The Last Detail

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting17 of 64: 5 only acting, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thDirecting7 of 64: 6 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 64: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleCinematography42 of 64: 30 only cinematography, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thOther crew10 of 64: 10 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score77th

64 titles, 13 with more than one role — cinematography and acting overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1960s2 · crew1970s22 · 2 acting · 22 crew1980s16 · 5 acting · 13 crew1990s13 · 5 acting · 13 crew2000s7 · 3 acting · 7 crew2010s3 · 1 acting · 2 crew2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 18th · top billed in 0% of 10 roles
7393

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. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Michael Chapman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 68th percentile, the median of all 56; across their 43 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Midcredits score across 57 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 57 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · director, writer

The Viking Sagas (1995)

66th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Taxi Driver (1976)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 69/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 54. 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 Michael Chapman's work okay for kids?

Across up to 28 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore24 titles32–78 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity28 titles25–68 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity23 titles36–86 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs20 titles22–58 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense19 titles23–74 · median 59 · 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 Michael Chapman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Chapman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Martin Scorsese shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles