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Andrew Lesnie

Andrew Lesnie

Cinematographer · Died April 27, 2015, aged 59 · Sydney, Australia

Oscar winner · BAFTA Award winner · 1 other major award body

Andrew Lesnie ACS ASC (1 January 1956 – 27 April 2015) was an Australian cinematographer. He was best known for his collaboration with director Peter Jackson on The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014) and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003), for which the letter earned him the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 2002 for his work on The Fellowship of the Ring. Description above from the Wikipedia article Andrew Lesnie, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1956
Died
April 27, 2015 (aged 59)
From
Sydney, Australia
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 47 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 10% in 30 days

What are Andrew Lesnie's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 95th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
31%
Self
19%
Morality
15%
Survival
12%
Ideas
10%
Power
7%
Society
6%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 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 7 · Serious 4 · Dark 8

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 11

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 6 · Intense 9

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 2

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 10 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 3

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 8 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 4

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 9 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Hopeful
9
Melancholic
9
Joyful
4
Thrilling
6
Other
17

How their films linger

Hopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Andrew Lesnie's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Andrew Lesnie'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

47 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Water Diviner(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Healing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Cinematographer

  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Turning(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Rise of the Planet of the Apes(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Last Airbender(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Lovely Bones(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Bran Nue Dae(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Shine a Light(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • I Am Legend(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Last Mimzy(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Happy Feet(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • King Kong(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Love's Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King(2003)

    Cinematographer · as Corsair of Umbar (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Long and Short of It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Grizzled Painter

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Sugar Factory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • Babe: Pig in the City(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Doing Time for Patsy Cline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Two If by Sea(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Babe(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Fatal Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Spider and Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • Temptation of a Monk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • Daydream Believer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Strictly Ballroom(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Shrimp on the Barbie(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Delinquents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • Incident at Raven's Gate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Camera Operator

  • Boys in the Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • The Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Around the World in Eighty Ways (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

  • Dark Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Australian Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Cyclone Tracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Fair Game(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Unfinished Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Telegraph Boy

  • Fantasy Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • Dead Easy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Focus Puller

  • Early Frost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Additional Photography

  • The Killing of Angel Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Clapper Loader

  • The Comeback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 45 titles from 1980 to 2014.

Biggest box office

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

$1.1B worldwide

Highest rated

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 45: 2 only acting, 1 with another roleCinematography39 of 45: 36 only cinematography, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score76thOther crew6 of 45: 4 only other crew, 2 with another role

45 titles, 3 with more than one role — cinematography and other crew overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s16 · 1 acting · 15 crew1990s10 · crew2000s11 · 2 acting · 10 crew2010s8 · 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

an Oscar and a BAFTA Award from 5 major nominations, 2002–2010.

WinNomination
  1. 2010
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  2. 2004
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Cinematography
  3. 2003
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  4. 2002
    • Oscar, won · 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 Andrew Lesnie's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Last Airbender (2010)

74th percentile spread · 58% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 76/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 57. 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 Andrew Lesnie's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and sex & nudity and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles33–72 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles7–36 · median 15 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles4–39 · median 21 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles7–36 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles42–78 · median 65 · intenseheavier 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 Andrew Lesnie work with?

People who share at least 2 of Andrew Lesnie's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Peter Jackson shares the most, 8.

Directors

  • Peter Jackson8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Peter Jackson

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles