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John Shier

Cinematographer, also actor

Primetime Emmy winner · BAFTA Award nominee

Works as
Cinematographer, also actor
Titles
16 on MovieCove · 19 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

What are John Shier's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Ideas and Survival.

Themes

share of theme weight
Ideas
44%
Survival
30%
Bonds
9%
Society
8%
Self
7%
Power
2%
Nature12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
14
Warm
6
Thrilling
4
Tense
4
Hopeful
4
Other
3

How their films linger

Hopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical8

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 John Shier's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 16 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Shier'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

19 credits, 16 with a MovieCove page.

  • Kingdom(2025)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Americas(2025)

    Show Cinematographer · as Self - Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Planet Earth III(2023)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory(2022)

    Show Cinematographer · as Self - Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • A Perfect Planet(2021)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Our Planet(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Additional Photography · Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Earth from Space(2019)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Hostile Planet(2019)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Seven Worlds One Planet(2019)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Dynasties(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Kingdoms of the Sky(2017)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Mexico: Earth's Festival of Life(2017)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Life In The Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Additional Photography

  • Grizzly Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Cinematographer

  • Planet Earth II(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Wild West: America's Great Frontier(2016)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Hunt(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Grizzly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

  • Yellowstone(2009)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

Career shape

A full career of 7 titles from 2009 to 2019.

Highest rated

Seven Worlds One Planet (2019)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Planet Earth III (2023)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 7: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 7: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography4 of 7: 3 only cinematography, 1 with another roleOther crew3 of 7: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

2000s1 · crew2010s6 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy from 5 major nominations, 2017–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
  2. 2022
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Photography, Factual
  3. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
    • BAFTA Award, nominated ×2 · Best Photography: Factual

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.

Who does John Shier work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Shier's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rolf Steinmann shares the most, 8.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles