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Ben Smithard

Ben Smithard

Cinematographer · USA

Primetime Emmy winner

Ben Smithard, B.S.C., is a British cinematographer known for his work on period pieces, such as the films The Damned United (2009), My Week with Marilyn (2011), Goodbye Christopher Robin, The Man Who Invented Christmas (both 2017), Blinded by the Light and Downton Abbey (both 2019). In television, Smithard served as cinematographer on the 2007 BBC One series Cranford (2007). He returned for the subsequent series, Return to Cranford, in 2009, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography. In 2012, Smithard received a nomination for Best Cinematography in a Television Drama by the British Society of Cinematographers for his work on the "Henry IV, Part I" and "Henry IV, Part II" episodes of the BBC Two series The Hollow Crown Description above from the Wikipedia article Ben Smithard, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

From
USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 47 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 42% in 30 days

What are Ben Smithard's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy 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
30%
Self
30%
Society
15%
Power
10%
Morality
9%
Survival
6%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 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 9 · Serious 5 · Dark 9

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 9 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

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

A split, not a type: Steady 12 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 3

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

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 12 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 5

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 7 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
17
Warm
11
Contemplative
8
Hopeful
7
Other
25

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

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 Ben Smithard's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ben Smithard'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, 36 with a MovieCove page.

  • Bunker(2026)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • VisionQuest(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Lonely Planet(2024)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Freud's Last Session(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Allelujah(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Son(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Bubble(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Father(2020)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Downton Abbey(2019)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Blinded by the Light(2019)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • King Lear(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Invented Christmas(2017)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Goodbye Christopher Robin(2017)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Diana and I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Cinematographer

  • Viceroy's House(2017)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Dresser(2015)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel(2015)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Roald Dahl's Esio Trot(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Off the Page: Death of England (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Cinematographer

  • Saving Mr. Banks(2013)

    Additional Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Alan Partridge(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Belle(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Hollow Crown(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • True Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 5 episodes · Cinematographer

  • I, Anna(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • My Week with Marilyn(2011)

    "A" Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Trip(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Trip(2010)

    Show 6 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Day of the Triffids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • 10 Minute Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

  • Freefall(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Damned United(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • A Short Stay in Switzerland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Cranford(2007)

    Show 7 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Glastonbury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • The Street(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Eleventh Hour(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Vincent(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Wire in the Blood(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • MI-5(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Jean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Cold Feet(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Royle Family(1998)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Assistant Camera

Career shape

A full career of 46 titles, 45 of them dated from 1991 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Downton Abbey (2019)

$195M worldwide

Highest rated

The Father (2020)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

VisionQuest (2026)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography45 of 46: 33 only cinematography, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thOther crew13 of 46: 1 only other crew, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score77th

46 titles, 12 with more than one role — cinematography and other crew overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1990s2 · crew2000s13 · crew2010s21 · crew2020s9 · 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

Won a Primetime Emmy in 2010, Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie.

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 Ben Smithard's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · cinematographer

Bunker (2026)

79th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Father (2020)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 72/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 77, 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 Ben Smithard's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles7–38 · median 27 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles11–42 · median 22 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles17–80 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles23–54 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles12–53 · median 31 · mildnear 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 Ben Smithard work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ben Smithard's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Simon Curtis shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers