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Jan Kiesser

Cinematographer

Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
52 on MovieCove · 63 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 7% in 30 days

What are Jan Kiesser's films like?

Across their 40 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Horror 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
38%
Self
21%
Morality
15%
Survival
14%
Society
7%
Power
3%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAddiction4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 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 21 · Serious 10 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 29 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 16 · Charged 19 · Intense 5

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

A split, not a type: Steady 19 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 19 · Funny 6

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 23 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 28 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 1

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

Easy watch 14 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 10

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

Resolved 35 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Warm
16
Hopeful
14
Bittersweet
9
Absurd
7
Other
37

How their films linger

Hopeful23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

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 Jan Kiesser's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 52 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (26).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jan Kiesser'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

63 credits, 52 with a MovieCove page.

  • Christmas Princess(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Max 2: White House Hero(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Numb(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Mark & Russell's Wild Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Cinematographer

  • Pants on Fire(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Flash(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Everything Will Be(2014)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • No Clue(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Story 2(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Falling Skies(2011)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Pop Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Thaw(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Luna: Spirit of the Whale(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Fido(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Beowulf & Grendel(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Jack(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • It Must Be Love(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • An Unexpected Love(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Now & Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • Door to Door(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Rare Birds(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Holiday Heart(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Dr. T & the Women(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Trixie(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Bruno(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Such a Long Journey(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Baby Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • Nightmare Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • Dad's Week Off(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Murder in My Mind(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Bad Moon(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • A Holiday to Remember(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Man with a Gun(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Georgia(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • V.I. Warshawski(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Dad(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Clean and Sober(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Moderns(1988)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Made in Heaven(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Some Kind of Wonderful(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Check Is in the Mail...(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Fright Night(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The River Rat(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Choose Me(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Meatballs Part II(1984)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Purple Hearts(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Return Engagement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Blow Out(1981)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Heaven's Gate(1980)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Perfect Couple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Camera Operator

  • The Gauntlet(1977)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to L.A.(1976)

    First Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Jackson County Jail(1976)

    Camera Operator · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Idaho Transfer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Assistant Camera

  • This Is a Hijack(1973)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Premonition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    First Assistant Camera · Special Effects

Career shape

A full career of 62 titles from 1972 to 2017.

Biggest box office

Dad (1989)

$28M worldwide

Highest rated

Door to Door (2002)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Fright Night (1985)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography51 of 62: 51 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score50thOther crew11 of 62: 11 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score64th

By decade

1970s7 · crew1980s15 · crew1990s14 · crew2000s16 · crew2010s10 · 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 Jan Kiesser's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 50; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 52 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 52 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · cinematographer

A Christmas Story 2 (2012)

76th percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Door to Door (2002)

Midcredits 94th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 58/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 67, detractors 44. 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 Jan Kiesser's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles24–86 · median 78 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles13–56 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles15–73 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles10–58 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles23–69 · median 54 · 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 Jan Kiesser work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jan Kiesser's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alan Rudolph shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers